Determining Optimum Soil Type and Salinity for Rearing the Federally Endangered Salt Creek Tiger Beetle, Cicindela (Ellipsoptera) nevadica lincolniana Casey (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Cicindelinae)

Authors

Stephen M. Spomer, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Gary J. Brewer, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Michael I. Fritz, Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
Robert R. Harms, U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Kay A. Klatt, Henry Doorly Zoo
Aimee M. Johns, Lincoln Children’s Zoo
Sarah A. Crosier, 5641 S. 91st Avenue, Omaha, NE
Joseph A. Palmer, 2299 N. Silverbell Road, Tucson, Arizona

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2015

Citation

JOURNAL OF THE KANSAS ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 88(4), 2015, pp. 444–449

Comments

U.S. Government Work

Abstract

Effective rearing methods are needed to recover the federally endangered Salt Creek tiger beetle, Cicindela (Ellipsoptera) nevadica lincolniana Casey, a subspecies that occurs exclusively in saline wetlands and seeps along Little Salt Creek in Lancaster County, Nebraska. Experiments were initiated to determine soil type and salinity concentrations appropriate for stimulating female oviposition in laboratory settings to produce larvae and/or adults for reintroduction to native habitats. In 2013, there were highly significant differences between native soil and a sand/loess soil mixture, but no differences between two salinity levels, 0.354 M and 0.5 M. In 2014, using only a sand/loess soil mixture, there were again no differences between the test salinity levels. A sand/loess soil mixture of either 0.354M or 0.5M salinity was determined to be optimum for egg production.