Entomology Commons^™

On The Mygalomorphae (Araneae) Of Michigan, Daniel R. Swanson

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The discovery of a population of Antrodiaetus unicolor (Hentz) in Michigan is reported, resulting in the first state record for the mygalomorph family Antrodiaetidae. New county records for another mygalomorph spider, Sphodros niger (Hentz) (Atypidae), including one which represents a significant Michigan range extension, are presented and the occurrence of the genus in Michigan is clarified.

New State Record And Notable Range Extension For Libellula Semifasciata (Odonata: Libellulidae), Ryan D. Rasmussen, Joshua G. Otten, Joseph W. Dixon

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The painted skimmer, Libellula semifasciata Burmeister (Odonata: Libellulidae), is an eastern species of dragonfly that has never been documented in Iowa. In this note we report two observations and the collection of a voucher for this species in southeast Iowa in the last three years. Based on other records of this species, including those from neighboring states and more northerly latitudes, we propose that these observations are evidence of a range extension.

An Annotated Checklist Of Scarab Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) From Northeastern Iowa, Reese J. Worthington, Kirk J. Larsen

The Great Lakes Entomologist

A survey of scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) was conducted during 2009 in the geographically distinct area of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties in extreme Northeast Iowa. Four plant communities distributed among 10 locations, including tallgrass prairie, mixed grassland and forest, oak-hickory forest, and pasture were sampled during 2009 using black light traps, banana- beer traps, rodent burrow pitfalls, manure-baited pitfalls, and gleaning. Additionally, previous specimen records were examined. Forty-nine scarab species were documented for Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, including five species not previously reported in Iowa. Mixed grassland and forest habitat contained the greatest scarab species richness (n=31); black light trapping …

Estimation Of Sorting Time For Arthropod Samples Collected With Tullgren Funnels, Ernest C. Bernard, Pennie J. Long

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Arthropods were sorted from samples obtained with Tullgren funnels. Each sorter maintained a log of time per session and arthropods removed per session. Five individuals removed all arthropods from 12 separate samples and sorted them into previously designated class or ordinal taxa. Each sample was sorted by a single student. Students were allowed to develop their own approaches to sorting and do it as time permitted. Mean sorting rate per sample was 2.43 arthropods per minute, with a range of 1.42-5.64, while mean sorting rate for a sorting session was 3.41 specimens per minute. Specimen density was only weakly correlated …

Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) Of The Kitty Todd Preserve, Lucas County, Ohio, Mike Arduser

The Great Lakes Entomologist

A survey of the bees occurring on the The Nature Conservancy’s Kitty Todd Preserve in the Oak Openings region of Lucas County Ohio was conducted in 2002-2004, using hand-netting techniques. Collecting effort totaled 24.5 hours spread over 11 different days in the three years. All sampling was done in natural communities. One hundred twenty-four species of bees were identified from fifty-one species of flowering plants, including several bee species poorly known or infrequently collected. Comments are provided about the faunistics, bee-plant relationships, oligolecty, management, and natural community dependency of the bees found on the Kitty Todd Preserve.

An Annotated Checklist Of Wisconsin Mutillidae (Hymenoptera), Craig M. Brabant, Daniel K. Young

The Great Lakes Entomologist

A survey of Wisconsin velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) conducted from literature searches, collection inventories, and two years of field work (2001-2002) yielded 28 species in three subfamilies. Of these, 23 species (representing 82% of the Wisconsin fauna and a 460% increase in the known species richness) are new state species records, having not previously been recorded in the published literature from the state. The known distributions of all Wisconsin species are reported by region and county, along with pertinent phenological, natural history, and other collection information, when known.

Nutritional And Defensive Chemistry Of Three North American Ash Species: Possible Roles In Host Performance And Preference By Emerald Ash Borer Adults, Yigen Chen, Therese M. Poland

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Black ash (Fraxinus nigra), green ash (F. pennsylvanica), and white ash (F. americana) are the three most abundant ash species in the northeastern USA. We compared emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), adult performance and preference among seedlings of the three ash species, and then related performance and preference to foli- age nutritional quality and defensive compounds. Longevity of EAB adults reared on green and white ash was found to be greater than on black ash. EAB adult females also seemed to show feeding preference among the three species of ash trees because …

Habitat Associations Of Macro-Staphylinids (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) At Alice L. Kibbe Life Science Station, Hancock County, Illinois, Kenneth W. Mccravy, Jason E. Willand

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Habitat associations of size-selected (≥ 5 mm length) rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), hereafter referred to as “macro-staphylinids,” were studied in west-central Illinois forest and prairie habitats in 2005 using pitfall traps. Habitats sampled included oak-hickory forest last burned in spring 2004, oak-hickory forest burned in spring 2005, oak-hickory forest unburned for 5+ years, unburned early successional forest, reconstructed prairie last burned in spring 2004, and reconstructed prairie burned in spring 2005. A total of 361 macrostaphylinids, representing 12 species, were collected, with Philonthus caerulipennis (Mannerheim), Platydracus maculosus (Gravenhorst), Platydracus fossator Gravenhorst, Platydracus zonatus (Gravenhorst), and Tachinus fimbriatus Gravenhorst comprising 94% …

Grass Hosts Of Cereal Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) Between Wheat-Cropping Cycles In South Dakota, Louis S. Hesler, Kurt J. Dagel

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Several grasses may serve as alternative hosts for cereal aphids during the interim between small-grain crops in South Dakota, but field studies to determine which grasses are important have not been undertaken. We sampled annual and perennial grasses for cereal aphids in 18 counties in South Dakota in the month of August over three years. Eighty-five of 240 site samples had one or more species of cereal aphids, including 61 of 65 corn sites and 12 of 13 sorghum and sudangrass sites. Four species of cereal aphids were found during the survey: corn leaf aphid, 74 times; bird cherry-oat aphid, …

Status Of Zygiella And Parazygiella (Araneae: Araneidae) In The Great Lakes States, Michael L. Draney

The Great Lakes Entomologist

A confusing nomenclatural history has resulted in the persistence of the idea that Parazygiella montana (C. L. Koch, 1834), a Palearctic species of orbweaver (Araneae: Araneidae), occurs in the Great Lakes states. I discuss this nomenclatural history and report upon all available material from the Great Lakes states to show that P. montana has never been recorded from the region, and that all previous records of Zygiella/Zilla montana refer to a native species, Zygiella nearctica Gertsch, 1964. Although Z. nearctica has been collected from mainland Michigan and Wisconsin historically, all post 1960 records of this species are from islands in …

Feeding Records Of Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) From Wisconsin, Supplement, Andrew H. Williams, Doris M. Lagos, James C. Trager

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Basic to our understanding of any animal and its habitat requirements is knowing what it eats. Reported here are observations of feeding by 24 species of aphids encountered in Wisconsin over 2002-2010.

Polistes Dominula (Christ) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) Recorded From Nebraska, Louis S. Hesler

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Polistes dominula (Christ), a Palearctic paper wasp that has established in various areas of North America, is reported for the first time from the state of Nebraska based on specimens from the city of Lincoln. Potential implications of its presence in Nebraska are discussed.

First Collection Records Of Hippodamia Variegata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) In Minnesota Corn And Soybean, Thelma T. Heidel, Amy C. Morey

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The coccinellid Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is a relatively recent addition to the North American coccinellid fauna. This species was first reported in 1984 near Montreal, Quebec (Gordon 1987). Since then, its range has expanded beyond northeastern North America with the newest records in the midwestern United States, including Michigan (Gardiner and Parson 2005), Ohio (Pavuk et al. 2007), Wisconsin (Williams and Young 2009), and most recently South Dakota (Hesler and Lundgren 2011). Here we provide the first records of H. variegata in Minnesota. In addition, our records further define the movement pattern of this beetle across the Midwest …

Tramea Calverti (Odonata: Libellulidae): New For Michigan With Notes On Other New Reports For The Great Lakes Region, Julie A. Craves, Darrin O'Brien

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Beginning in late summer 2010, the Neotropical dragonfly Tramea calverti Muttkowski, striped saddlebags, was observed in a major northward movement in eastern North America. This species appeared for the first time in three Great Lakes states and Canada (Ontario). A specimen from Michigan is the first and only voucher in the Great Lakes, and an observation in Minnesota established a new northernmost report for North America.

New State Distribution And Host Records Of North American Buprestidae (Coleoptera), Jason A. Hansen, Toby R. Petrice, Robert A. Haack

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The following new state records are reported for buprestid species in the eastern United States: Agrilus egeniformis Champlain and Knull and Polyceta elata LeConte from Georgia, Agrilus defectus LeConte and Agrilus vittaticollis (Randall) from Minnesota and Agrilus paramasculinus Champlain and Knull from Michigan and Indiana. Chrysobothris shawnee Wellso and Manley and Chrysobothris rugosiceps Melsheimer are reported from red oak (Quercus rubra L.) and English oak (Quercus robur L.) for the first time, after being reared from naturally infested host material collected in Michigan, USA.

Populations Of Pear Thrips, Taeniothrips Inconsequens (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) In Sugar Maple Stands In Vermont: 1989-2005, B. L. Parker, M. Skinner, D. Tobi, J. S. Kim, H. B. Teillon

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Development of an effective IPM strategy for pear thrips, Taeniothrips inconsequens (Uzel) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), a pest of sugar maple, Acer saccharum Marshall, demands an understanding of their population fluctuations over time. Pear thrips populations were monitored using a standardized soil sampling method every fall from 1989 – 2005 in 14 counties of Vermont (U.S.). Data from individual sites were combined into north, central and south regions. High numbers of thrips emerged from soil sampled in 1989, 1990, 1993 and 2001, particularly in the north region (Washington, Lamoille, and Franklin counties). The central and south regions had lower pear thrips populations …

Interrupting The Response Of Dendroctonus Simplex Leconte (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) To Compounds That Elicit Aggregation Of Adults, Elizabeth E. Graham, Andrew J. Storer

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The eastern larch beetle, Dendroctonus simplex LeConte (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), is a native bark beetle that has caused significant mortality to tamarack, Larix laricinia, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The effectiveness of potentially attractive chemicals for D. simplex was tested and the most attractive compound, seudenol, was used in subsequent studies to test interruptants against D. simplex. Verbenone, methylcyclohexenone (MCH), and 4-allylanisole were tested as potential interruptants in combination with seudenol. Catches of D. simplex in traps baited with seudenol and MCH were not significantly different from catches in unbaited control traps, indicating successful interruption of the …

Field Persistence Of Steinernema Carpocapsa Weiser (Ny001), Steinernema Feltiae Filipjev (Valko) And Heterorhabditis Bacteriophora Poinar (Oswego) In Alfalfa Fields, Gabor Neumann, Elson J. Shields

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The long term field persistence of Steinernema carpocapsae Weiser, strain NY001, S. feltiae Filipjev, strain Valko and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar, strain Oswego was investigated in an alfalfa field infested by the alfalfa snout beetle, Otiorhynchus ligustici L. Nematodes were applied in single-species, two-species and three-species combinations at a total of 2.5 × 109 infective juveniles per hectare. Soil samples were taken approximately every two weeks from mid/late May to late October in 2004 and 2005. Two soil samplings were conducted in 2006 at the end of May and in early July. All nematodes persisted in the field at the time …

Measuring The Effects Of “Opportunistic Defense” Of The Bracken Fern, (Pteridium Aquilinum) By Patrolling Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) At Pierce Cedar Creek Institute In South Central Michigan, Ricki E. Oldenkamp, Matthew M. Douglas

The Great Lakes Entomologist

In this study we show that in South Central Michigan (Pierce Cedar Creek Institute) eight ant species patrol bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) during the sensitive crozier growth stage. At times these ants remove herbivorous insects from rapidly expanding fronds. A new method for analyzing herbivory of bracken fern is employed to measure chewing damage to the fronds. Our results show that ants do in fact remove some herbivores from bracken fronds during the crozier stage; however, statistical analyses comparing the amount of chewing damage between treated and untreated fronds at the end of the growing season show no statistical difference.

Revisiting The Mound-Building Ant, Lasius Claviger, In A Reconstructed Tallgrass Prairie, Chris E. Petersen, Christine Berta, Dwight T. Johnson, Barbara A. Petersen

The Great Lakes Entomologist

A tallgrass prairie located in northeastern Illinois was revisited to update relationships in a 2002 study between the presence of mounds of Lasius claviger (Formicidae) and characteristics of the soil and prairie flora. Reconstruction of the 7.1 ha site began 26 years ago. As in 2002, mounds of L. claviger did not appear to be affecting soil temperature, but were associated with higher floral richness and differences in soil moisture at 10 cm depth as compared to control sites having the same major grass type. In addition, soil organic content and above-ground plant biomass were significantly higher where mounds were …

Effects Of Low Temperature Storage On Fecundity And Adult Mortality For The Alfalfa Snout Beetle, Otiorhynchus Ligustici (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Elson J. Shields, Antonio M. Testa

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The alfalfa snout beetle, Otiorhynchus ligustici L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), was introduced into the United States from Europe via wooden sailing ships carrying soil as ballast, was first reported in New York State in 1896 at the Port of Oswego and was first recorded as a pest of alfalfa when alfalfa was introduced into the area in the area. In subsequent years, this flightless and partheno- genetic insect has spread to nine Northern New York counties, infested over 200,000 hectares of cropland and has become the most serious pest of alfalfa in northern New York State. Research requires the availability of …

Analysis Of The Caddisflies (Trichoptera) Of The Manistee River Watershed, Michigan, David C. Houghton, Constance M. Brandin, Kelsey A. Brakel

The Great Lakes Entomologist

We document 134 caddisfly species and their seasonal and habitat affinities based on 93 samples collected from 26 sites throughout the Manistee River watershed in the lower peninsula of Michigan from May through September, 2010. Eleven of these species: Banksiola dossuaria (Say), Cheumatopsyche aphanta Ross, Cheumatopsyche pasella Ross, Hydroptila xera Ross, Ironoquia lyrata (Ross), Lepidostoma vernale (Banks), Neotrichia vibrans Ross, Nyctiophylax affinis (Banks), Oxyethira aeola Ross, Oxyethira rivicola Blickle and Morse, and Polycentropus timesis (Denning) are reported from Michigan for the first time. More than 85% of species reached peak adult abundance during June or July, although a few species …

Description Of A New Species Of Atanycolus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) From Michigan Reared From The Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus Planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Agrilinae), Paul M. Marsh, John S. Strazanac, Stephanie Y. Laurusonis

The Great Lakes Entomologist

A new species of Braconidae, Atanycolus cappaerti Marsh and Strazanac, is described from Michigan where it has been reared from emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), galleries in ash (Fraxi- nus spp.). Molecular evidence (analysis of fragments of the mitochondrial genes COI and 16S and the nuclear genes wingless and elongation factor 1-alpha) is presented to support the distinction of this new species from A. hicoriae Shenefelt that has been documented as a parasitoid of several ash borers.

Ectoparasites Of The Evening Bat (Nycticeius Humeralis) From Michigan, Christopher M. Ritzi, Olivia M. Munzer

The Great Lakes Entomologist

(excerpt)

Previous records for bat ectoparasites in Michigan were reported in Dood and Kurta (1982, 1988), and included most of the bat species known to occur in Michigan. This supplement adds the ectoparasites of the evening bat, Nycticeius humeralis (Rafinesque) (Chiroptera: Vespertillionidae), which was not known to occur as a resident in Michigan at that time.

A New Species Of Aphis In Minnesota (Hemiptera: Aphididae) On Narrow-Leaved Purple Coneflower, Echinacea Angustifolia, D. M. Lagos, D. J. Voegtlin

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Aphis echinaceae, n. sp. is described from specimens collected in Douglas County, Minnesota, on Echinacea angustifolia (DC.). The aphid is illustrated with biometric data for alate and apterous vivipara. Its short cauda and siphunculi, and presence of secondary sensoria on antennal segments III, IV, and V in both morphs makes this Aphis morphologically similar to A. debilicornis (Gillette and Palmer), A. lugentis Williams and A. caliginosa Hottes and Frison, and root feeding aphids of the subgenus Pseudoprotaphis Kadyrbekov and genus Protaphis Börner. A diagnosis is provided.

A New Species Of Euryurus From Southern Alabama And Remarks On The Status Of Illiniurus Beattyi Shear (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Euryuridae)., Michael C. Jorgensen

The Great Lakes Entomologist

A new species of polydesmidan millipede of the family Euryuridae, Euryurus lecythanoictes, is described. Another millipede of Euryuridae, Illiniurus beattyi Shear, is considered to be an aberrant specimen and therefore not a true species. The family taxonomic history of Euryuridae is briefly covered with a discussion of gonopod anatomy.

Demonstration Of Sex Pheromones In Molanna Uniophila (Trichoptera: Molannidae), Platycentropus Radiatus, Pycnopsyche Indiana, And P. Subfasciata (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae), With An Assessment Of Interspecific Attraction Between Four Sympatric Pycnopsyche Species, David C. Houghton, Christine Lux, Megan Spahr

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Evidence for sex pheromones in the caddisflies Molanna uniophila Vorhies, Platycentropus radiatus (Say), Pycnopsyche indiana (Ross), and P. subfasciata (Say) is presented here for the first time based on field studies conducted in southern Michigan. For all species, numbers of males caught in pheromone traps baited with conspecific female extracts were higher than those caught in traps with male extracts, or those without extract. Four sympatric species of Pycnopsyche: P. guttifer (Walker), P. indiana, P. lepida (Hagen), and P. subfasciata exhibited no interspecific pheromonal attraction despite a common mating season and, in the case of P. indiana and P. lepida …

Effects Of Visual Silhouette, Leaf Size And Host Species On Feeding Preference By Adult Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus Planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), Deepa S. Pureswaran, Therese M. Poland

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) is an invasive species recently established in North America. In large arena bioassays, when given a choice among live green ash, Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh and artificial ash saplings that were hidden or exposed from view, beetles preferred live trees (either visible or hidden) compared to artificial trees that had similar visual silhouettes, confirming that olfactory cues are used to locate hosts. Examination of the effect of leaf size revealed that large leaves attracted more beetles than medium-sized leaves that in turn attracted more beetles than small leaves of the same age. …

An Annotated Checklist Of Wisconsin Ground Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae), Peter W. Messer

The Great Lakes Entomologist

A survey of Carabidae in the state of Wisconsin, U.S.A. yielded 87 species new to the state and incorporated 34 species previously reported from the state but that were not included in an earlier catalogue, bringing the total number of species to 489 in an annotated checklist. Collection data are provided in full for the 87 species new to Wisconsin but are limited to county occurrences for 187 rare species previously known in the state. Recent changes in nomenclature pertinent to the Wisconsin fauna are cited.

The Alien Hippodamia Variegata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) Quickly Establishes Itself Throughout Wisconsin, Andrew H. Williams, Daniel K. Young

The Great Lakes Entomologist

(excerpt)

Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is a Palaearctic species that was first reported to be established in the Nearctic near Montreal, Quebec, in 1984 (Gordon 1987). Since then, this small beetle has been expanding its range in North America, a process summarized by Gardiner and Parsons (2005). It was first reported from Michigan in 2005 (Gardiner and Parsons 2005) and from Ohio in 2007 (Pavuk et al. 2007).