Showing papers in "Journal of The New York Entomological Society in 2016"

Observations in taiwan on the identity of the cuban laurel thrips (thysanoptera, phlaeothripidae)

Abstract: The name Gynaikothrips ficorum is retained for the leaf-galling thrips species on decorative Ficus trees that has been distributed worldwide by the horticultural trade. Obser vations on this species and the closely similar species Gynaikothrips uzeli suggest that they are largely distinct and host-limited, although co-existing in Southeast Asia even within a single gall.

The diptera breeding on skunk cabbage, symplocarpus foetidus (araceae)

Abstract: The larvae of 19 species of flies belonging to 7 families were found to feed in the rotting portions of leaves, petioles, and flowers of skunk cabbage. Among flies bred from this plant, drosophilids were by far the most numerous, but there is considerable geographic and seasonal variation in composition and abundance of the fauna. The sex ratio of one species, a Bryophaenocladius sp. (Chironomidae), reveals it to be parthenogenetic. The breeding biology of the flies, with particular reference to other dipteran-aroid relationships, is reviewed. Symplocarpus foetidus is a common perennial plant of wet lowland areas in eastern North America. Inflorescences appear in early spring, the leaves expand about one month later, and seeds are formed in the fall, when the above-ground portion of the plant dies back. This species forms established patches that may vary in size from a few square meters to several hectares. Symplocarpus foetidus would thus seem to be an "apparent" plant to po tential consumers, and as such one might expect it to be protected by "quan titative" defenses (sensu Feeny, 1976). It is: the tissues contain barbed crys tals of calcium oxalate, which may deter a variety of herbivores (B. Meeuse, pers. comm.). An herbivore that would cope with this defense, however, would be rewarded with a predictable supply of food. Hence, specialization of some herbivore species on S. foetidus might be expected to evolve. Although a few Coleoptera, Psocoptera and Collembola breed in skunk cabbages, the majority of insects bred from the plant are a variety of dip terans. We have never seen visible signs of serpentine or blotch mines, chewing areas, or petiole girdling which might be indicative of insect activity. All flies in this study were bred from rotting portions of plants and most likely fed on bacteria harbored therein. This does not, however, rule out the possibility that diptera may be the cause of decay in the portions of some plants. We show here that Symplocarpus foetidus is probably the major breeding site of the Holarctic species Scaptomyza graminum. Another sig nificant finding is that Drosophila recens, previously thought to breed ex clusively in mushrooms, also utilizes Symplocarpus as well.

A review of the veliid fauna of bromeliads, with a key and description of a new species (heteroptera: veliidae)

Abstract: Bromeliad inhabiting Veliidae are restricted to the New World tropics, and no exploitation of similar phytotelmata habitats is known among veliids in any other tropical region. The eight species of bromeliadicolus Veliidae occurring in the Neotropical region are discussed, and a key to the species provided. A new species, Paravelia paolettii is described from Venezuela. Among the more interesting ecological segregates within the Neotropical Veliidae is the guild of species restricted to the water pockets of terrestrial and arboreal bromeliads. Including the new species proposed herein, eight species of Veliidae are now known which are apparently restricted to this unusual microhabitat. Of these, four species belong to the genus Microvelia Westwood and four species to the genus Paravelia Breddin. To date these are the only genera of surface dwelling Heteroptera recorded from this habitat, although members of the subaquatic family Corixidae are also found there on rare occasions. Outside of the original species descriptions mentioning the bromeliad habitat, no review of these interesting insects has appeared except for a brief discussion in Drake and Hussey (1954). All Veliidae so far known from container habitats are restricted to the New World; these habitats include bromeliads (treated in greater detail below), crab holes (with two apparently obligate species of Microvelia, M. oraria Drake and M. inquilina Polhemus and Hogue, both from Costa Rica; see Polhemus and Hogue, 1972 for discussion), and tree holes (Paravelia mysersi Hungerford from Trinidad; see Hun gerford, 1931). Microvelia atrata Bueno from the southeastern United States occurs in the dark recesses of hollowed out cypress tree boles and so might also be included in this ecological assemblage. The veliid species that we have collected in bromeliads are usually found between the rather tightly fitting leaves in the center of the plant which trap rainwater in a series of deep pockets, and never occur in bromeliads that lack such water pockets. Among the taxa involved, the Paravelia species appear to prefer ground dwelling bromeliad species, while the Microvelia species have been taken from both terrestrial and arboreal bromeliads. Paravelia and Microvelia are in different subfamilies (Ve liinae and Microveliinae respectively), so it is clear that adaptation to the bromeliad habitat has occurred on at least two separate occasions. Even so, there are convergent similarities in appearance among all bromeliadicolous species. The macropterous forms possess bright yellow or white spots on the hemelytra, and in the genus Paravelia

The spermatheca in the flour beetle (tribolium castaneum herbst)1

Abstract: The( histology of the spermatheca of the Tenebrionid beetles has been very poorly studied. The structure of the spermatheca of Triboliu?, castaetur, IIHerbst differs greatly from the Coleop teran spermath ece described by previous authors (see Snodgrass, 1935; In mls, 1934). It is characterized by being unrecognizable in gross anatomcial dissection. The descriptive terms used in this paper are those employed by Snodgrass (1935). IATIRIALS AND M!IETHODS Adult females of Triboliinl castanJeum Herbst were fixed in Mukerji's fluid (Miukerji, 1937; Sinha, 1953, in press) and serial sections of the entire body, 8 micra in thickness, were made in transverse and longitudinal planes. The technique employed for sectioning the sclerotized beetles was that of Mukerji with the author's modification. Some dissections of the organ were also made in normal saline solution and later sectioned by the ordi nary, paraffin method. Sets of the serial sections of tlhe insects were stained in Mallory's triple stainl and Delafield's lemlatoxy li1 and Eosin, whereas the sets from the dissected organs were stained only in'the latter. DESCRIPTION The spermatheca of the Tribolium, castaneulr I-Herbst is a blunt, apical, anterior swelling of the vagina:t which is totally unrecog nizable from outside. It is 0.08 nmn. long and 0.1.3 mnm. in diam eter and is located 0.13 m11n. above the juncfion of the fifth and the sixth abdominal sterla (third and fourth visible sterna) in natural position. A study of the serial sections reveals that the organ is a rectangulatr mImus:cular chamber iomposcd- of four long

Terrestrial Mites of New York II. Mites in Birds' Nests (Acarina)'

Abstract: Twenty-one species of mites belonging to eight families are reported found in nests of birds from New York; three are new to science: Cheiroseius hurlbutti n. sp., Lasioseius tridentatus n. sp. and Pellonyssus nidicolus n. sp. The fauna includes im portant biting and stored products species, and those associated with house-dust allergy. Tyrophagus longior (Gervais) (Acaridae) and Dermatophagoides evansi (Fain), Hughes & Johnston are the two most common mites found in birds' nests. The male of Sturno phagoides bakeri (Fain) is described for the first time. Notes and information on distri bution and habitats are provided, together with illustrations of certain species. Gamasel lodes americanus (Garman) is a new synonym of Gamasellodes bicolor (Berlese). Woodroffe and Southgate (1951) and Woodroffe (1953, 1954) studied the importance of birds' nests as sources of household and stored products pests in Britain and confirmed the existence of such wide-spread natural populations of these pests. The faunal list included important species of mites found in stored cereal products and house dusts, such as Glycyphagus domesticus (de Geer) (Glycyphagidae) and Dermatophagoides sp. (Pyro glyphidae). The present collection is of interest because, firstly, the bird nest mite fauna has not been investigated in this country, and secondly, the re sults of this survey confirmed the occurrence in nests of the more important stored products species and those associated with house-dust allergy. This paper is the second in a series containing descriptions and records of terrestrial mites from New York. It reports 21 species belonging to 8 families of mites found in nests of birds: Glycyphagidae (1 sp.), Acaridae (5

Revision of the Harvestman Genus Leptobunus and Dismantlement of the Leptobunidae (Arachnida: Opiliones: Palpatores)

Abstract: The harvestman genus Leptobunus Banks is revised. Leptobunus californicus Banks and Leptobunus borealis Banks are redescribed, and Leuronychus parvulus Banks is transferred to Leptobunus and redescribed. Lectotypes for L. borealis and L. parvulus are designated. Leptobunus aureus n. sp. and Leptobunus pallidus n. sp. are described from Califomia, U.S.A. and Bering Island, U.S.S.R., respectively. Leptobunus atavus Cockerell, Leptobunus koreanus Roewer, Leptobunus mexicanus Goodnight and Goodnight, and Leptobunus spinulatus Banks are all excluded from the genus Leptobunus. The North American Tertiary fossil species is maintained as Amauropilio atavus (Cockerell), whereas all Recent species excluded from Lep tobunus are reported in the following new combinations: Mitopus koreanus (Roewer), Para nelima mexicana (Goodnight and Goodnight), and Metopilio spinulatus (Banks). In conjunc tion, the Mexican species Diguetinus raptator Roewer is removed from synonymy with "Diguetinus" spinulatus (Banks). All the species are illustrated, including the male and female genitalia, for which new anatomical terminology is presented. A dichotomous key to the species and many new distributional records from westem North America and northeast Asia are provided. The history of the family-group name Leptobunidae is discussed and the name is attributed to Banks (1901). The family is abandoned and morphological characters traditionally used for the classification of "Leptobunidae" are discussed. The type genus of the Leptobunidae, Lep tobunus Banks, is transferred to the Phalangiidae, subfamily Phalangiinae. The genera Cos mobunus Simon, Leuronychus Banks, and Homolophus Banks are transferred to the Gagrellidae, subfamily Leiobuninae, and Trachyrhinus Weed is maintained in the Gagrellidae, subfamily Gagrellinae. The North American genus Protolophus Banks is tentatively placed in the Gagrelli dae, subfamily Sclerosomatinae. The South American genus Thrasychirus Simon is retained in the Neopilionidae, subfamily Enantiobuninae. The North American genus Globipes Banks is maintained in an assemblage that is as yet unnamed. The New World members of the genera Homolophus and Cosmobunus are not congeneric with Old World members referred to those genera.

Review: tabanidae of the east coast as an economic problem

Abstract: Tabanidae are pests of man and animals in many areas of the coastal states but especially near salt marshes. The major species, Tabanus nigrovittatus and Chrysops atlanticus, move from the marshes to nearby beaches, camp grounds, golf courses, and other recreational areas and onto boats in the bays and estuaries. Chrysops congregate in dense vegetation and attack when humans or animals move into such places. Both Tabanus and Chrysops are severe problems to agricultural workers when the flies are numerous. Livestock are readily attacked by Tabanidae with consequent effects on thriftiness, weight gains and milk production and possible trans mission of causal agents of disease. Biology and habits of both salt marsh and upland species are poorly known. Probably T. nigrovittatus is a species complex. Controls are inadequate though traps and vegetative barriers have been shown useful against Tabanus and some insecticides have given re duction but not adequate control of both Tabanus and Chrysops.

Water-skating campsicnemus of the marquesas islands, including two new species (diptera: dolichopodidae)

Abstract: Two new species of Campsicnemus are proposed from the Marquesas (C. rim nobates and C. uncleremus), which are related to the previously described Campsicnemus scurra Parent from Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas. All are water skaters on pools and streamlets. All three species are described and illustrated and a key to the known Campsicnemus of the Mar quesas is provided.

Ligyrocoris barberi (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae), a New Seedbug from the Southeastern United States with a Discussion of Its Ecology, Life Cycle, and Reproductive Isolation

Abstract: Ligyrocoris barberi new species is described from southeastern United States. A key is presented to the nine species of Ligyrocoris sensu stricto in eastern United States. In Texas L. barberi, a pterygopolymorphic species, inhabits dry prairie communities where the bug feeds on ripe seeds of Rudbeckia hirta L. (Compositae). L. barberi is shown to be repro ductively isolated by behavior from its nearest relative, the more northern L. diffusus. Barber (1914) described Ligyrocoris slossoni from a male specimen collected by Mrs. A. T. Slosson at Lake Worth, Florida. In 1921 in his revision of the genus Ligyrocoris, Barber came to the conclusion that the unique holotype was imperfect, saying "the reddish coloration of the head and pronotum may be due to its imma turity." Accordingly, he omitted the species from his key to the species of Ligyrocoris. In 1924, based on a female specimen collected by W. S. Blatchley at Dunedin, Florida, he concluded that L. slossoni was a valid species, redescribed it, and placed it close to L. sylvestris (L.) For the next 30 years in his long and distinguished career he identified as L. slossoni specimens from throughout southeastern United States. Based on these determinations seen in many collections, I had assumed that the species whose ecology I had been studying in Texas was L. slossoni. However, when I had an opportunity to study the type-specimen of L. slossoni (USNM type 62528), in conjunction with two female specimens from Florida (Alachua Co., 6/24/1923 RLT; Gainesville, Fla. JRW 5413), I realized that two different species were being carried under the name L. slossoni. I also studied the above noted female specimen collected by Blatchley and confirmed that it is the true L. slossoni. From the sparse available evidence, L. slossoni itself appears to be a northern Florida endemic species which is apparently rare, as it is known only from these four specimens. The other species, which is being described here as new, is widespread through the southeastern states and is sympatric with L. slossoni in northern Florida. The reference to L. slossoni in Sweet (1963) actually refers to this new species. I name this new species in honor of Harry G. Barber who contributed so much to our knowledge of North American Lygaeidae, including a revision of the genus Ligyrocoris. Further, I take pleasure in dedicating this paper to Dr. R. C. Froeschner, without whose kind assistance at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History I would not have resolved this systematic problem.