Copyright (c) 2009 University of Nebraska - Lincoln All rights reserved. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers Recent documents in Papers in Entomology en-us Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:28:46 PDT 3600 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/137 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/137 Fri, 29 May 2009 15:07:39 PDT ABSTRACT-The distinctive trace fossil Chubutolithes gaimanensis n. ichnosp. occurs in Casamayoran (early Eocene) and Colhuehaupian (late Oligocene) alluvial rocks of the Sarmiento Formation in eastern Chubut Province, Argentina. Though known for nearly 70 years, its origin has remained obscure. Examination of new specimens and comparisons with modem analogs demonstrate that specimens of Chubutolithes represent the fossil nests of a mud-dauber (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae). Virtually identical nests are constructed today by mud-daubers in areas as disparate as southern Santa Cruz Province, Argentina, and Nebraska, confirming that quite similar trace fossils can be produced by several different taxa in a higher taxonomic clade. No satisfactory ethological term exists for trace fossils that, like Chubutolithes, were constructed by organisms above, rather than within, a substrate or medium. The new term aedificichnia is proposed. Chubutolithes occurs in alluvial paleosols and is associated with a large terrestrial ichnofauna. These trace fossils include the nests of scarab beetles, compound nests of social insects, and burrows of earthworms. Thomas M. Bown http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/136 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/136 Fri, 29 May 2009 15:01:07 PDT Although rocks of floodplain origin are volumetrically important, they contain relatively few trace fossils; both abundance and diversity are low. Conversely, Holocene floodplain sediments locally contain abundant and diverse lebensspuren mostly produced by insects, spiders, nematodes, annelids and molluscs. At least 8 insect orders and 31 families include species that burrow in floodplain sediments and yet none of their lebensspuren are unique to this environment. Taxonomically dissimilar insects produce morphologically similar lebensspuren, and the same species, or individual, may produce very dissimilar lebensspuren. Thus, identification of tracemakers for rocks of floodplain origin is as difficult as for marine rocks. Trace fossil form genera morphologically similar to Holocene floodplain lebensspuren include Skolithos, Cylindricum, Sabellarifex, Macanopsis, Planolites, Palaeophycus, Sinusites, Cochlichnus, Amphorichnus and possibly also Scolicia; many previous authors have regarded these as more typical of marine environments than of floodplains. Brett C. Ratcliffe http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/135 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/135 Fri, 29 May 2009 14:42:03 PDT Brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis and other salmonids in Appalachia typically inhabit headwater watersheds, where food resources may limit growth. We monitored the feeding trends of a brook trout population in central Appalachia over the course of 2 years to determine variation in feeding intensity and important prey items. One terrestrial beetle family, Scarabaeidae, provided a disproportionate amount of energy during the only time of year when brook trout were feeding substantially above maintenance ration. Scarab beetles contributed 39.6% of all energy consumed during May and June of both years, though the number of fish with one or more scarabaeids present in the stomach varied by month (22.2-51.7%). The species composition of scarab beetles consumed suggested that four species are of particular importance. Our findings imply that scarabaeids represent a considerably important prey taxon for brook trout in the region. Considering the foraging habits of the scarabaeid species in question, the phenomenon we witnessed probably occurs throughout Appalachia. Ryan M. Utz http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/134 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/134 Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:37:09 PST The purpose of this application, under Article 70.3.2 of the Code, is to conserve the current usage of the generic name Bothynus Hope, 1837 for well-known scarab beetles of the family SCARABAEIDAE (subfamily DYNASTINAE) by designation of Scarabaeus ascanius Kirby, 1819 as the type species. The type species of Bothynus is at present Geotrupes cuniculus Fabricius, 1801, based on a misidentification. It has long been recognized that the species involved in Hope's misidentification of G. cuniculus is indeterminable. It is proposed that Scarabaeus ascanius Kirby, 18 19 is designated as the type species. Brett C. Ratcliffe http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/133 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/133 Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:37:06 PST The appellation "dung beetles" refers to those scarab beetles that are usually found with animal feces either feeding on or depositing eggs in it. While this at first may seem like an incredibly unsavory topic, the fact remains that numerous creatures exist that feed on the waste products of other animals. And, as it turns out, it's a good thing they do. The Scarabaeidae, or scarabs, is one of the larger families of beetles; it has 30,000 plus species worldwide and approximately 15,000 species in North America. (See my Museum Notes of March 1970.) The family is divided into subfamilies (based on structural distinctions) such as rhinoceros beetles, leaf chafers, dung beetles, and so on. The subfamily Scarabaeinae is commonly referred to as dung beetles, and it is about these marvelous animals that I would like to give a much needed perspective. Brett C. Ratcliffe http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/132 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/132 Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:37:02 PST Beetles that eat writhing maggots and the decaying flesh and putrefaction of dead animals . . . what could be more macabre, repulsive, and in poor taste? [Well, possibly beetles that eat feces and have a rolling good time doing it (see my January Museum Notes).] Carrion beetles are an important part of a vast host of scavengers that are responsible for breaking down and recycling back into the ecosystem the basic elements locked inside each one of us. If it were not for these industrious scavenger beetles, we might all be surrounded by the partially decayed and mummified remains of wildlife and domestic livestock that die each year. The decay process is an efficient and natural system whereby the raw materials of dead organisms are returned directly into the energy budgets of living organisms which consume these raw materials or into the soil where the decay occurs. Were it not for the life-giving nutrients supplied by the bodies of dead animals, many beautiful and interesting scavengers would no longer grace our planet, and we would all be the poorer for it. Brett C. Ratcliffe http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/131 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/131 Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:53:46 PDT In 1903 the writer undertook a study of variation of the tiger beetles. The work here presented is the outgrowth of this beginning, and indeed includes some small portions regarding color patterns that were written in that year. The work has been prolonged for many reasons, but chief of these was the very large number of species in the group and the fact that an adequate understanding of the material could not be attained without consulting many large collections. Further, the experimental results obtained in 1906 demanded a firsthand study of the variations of the species concerned and their natural habitats. The accumulation of material and data was not completed until 1911. Some of this had to be studied, drawings made, etc., which with numerous other duties and enterprises under way made necessary much time to put it into the present form. A family with upwards of 1300 species of which more than 600 are in one genus and with characters which can be studied and analyzed, appeared to afford material which was sufficiently promising to justify delay. In the fourteen years that have elapsed since the problem was first undertaken at the suggestion of Dr. C. B. Davenport, the attention of biologists has shifted from variation, which was then the chief topic of interest, to experimental modification of characters, and finally to the methods of modern genetics. Various men have made numerous suggestions regarding the work, but in its final preparation the writer has been able to use only a few of them in a general way, and an attempt is made to present the facts and conclusions growing out of the material as simply as possible. With Twenty-Nine Black and Three Colored Plates Introduction Materials and methods Analysis of Color Patterns Color Patterns and Elytral Structures The Color Pattern Plan Color Pattern and Pigment Development Experimental Modification of Patterns Geographic Variation of Patterns Colors of Tiger Beetles Causes of Colors Ontogeny of Color Relation of Ontogenetic Stages to Geographic Races Geographic Variation in Color Experimental Modification of Color Relation of Colors and Color Patterns to Climate Geographic Center of the Group on the B'asis of Patterns General Discussion Pattern Tendencies Bearing of the Color Pattern Mechanism on Orthogenesis Bearing of the Pattern Mechanism on the Biogenetic Law Summary of Conclusions Patterns Color Geography Bibliography Explanation of Plates Victor E. Shelford http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/130 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/130 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 08:02:52 PST Little has been published on the life history of the five currently recognized species of Stephanucha Burmeister. Skelley (1991) published the most thorough treatment to date for S. thoracica Casey (recently synonymized with S. areata (F.) by Harpootlian 2001). Skelley located larvae in the mounds of the pocket gopher, Geomys pinetus Rafnesque, in Florida and was the first to describe an immature stage for the genus. Published accounts of Stephanucha species biology are consistent with respect to spring emergence, presence in sandy habitats, and a potential lack of adult feeding or liquid feeding (Lago et ul. 1979; Skelley 1991). Skelley (1991) suggested that the main habitat of Stephanucha spp. might be pocket gopher mounds. He noted sympatric distributions of Stephanucha spp. with pocket gophers, including S. pilipennis. Kraatz found in the range of G. bursarius (Shaw). However, he noted that the larvae he observed were nonspecific in habitat requirements, also utilizing mounds in sandy soil created by other organisms or processes. M. J. Paulsen http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/129 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/129 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 08:02:43 PST Chagas disease is a major public health challenge for most Latin American countries. An initiative for the coordinated control of Chagas disease transmission throughout the Andean countries was launched in 1997. Since the early 1990s, control measures based on elimination of domestic/peridomestic triatomine colonies and screening of donor blood by serological testing have resulted in a reduction in incidence of ~70% in the Southern Cone countries (WHO, 1991; Dias & Schofield, 1999; Moncayo, 1999; WHO/CTD, 2000). F. Abad-Franch http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/128 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/128 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 07:45:20 PST Larvae of the scarabaeoid genera Germarostes Paulian, Cyphopisthes Gestro, Paulianostes Ballerio, Ceratocanthus White, Pterorthochaetes Gestro, Madrasostes Paulian, Astaenomoechus Martínez & Pereira (Ceratocanthidae) and Hybosorus Macleay, Phaeochrous Castelnau, and Anaides Westwood (Hybosoridae) are described, keyed and illustrated with fifty-seven drawings. A phylogenetic analysis of these two families based on larval morphology is presented. Fifty-four larval morphological and three biological characters from twenty-seven taxa revealed nineteen equally parsimonious cladograms. The monophyly of (Ceratocanthidae + Hybosoridae) is supported by four unambiguous unique synapomorphies: dorsal medial endocarina on cranium extended anteriorly into frontal sclerite; presence of large membranous spot on apical antennomere; labium dorsally with four pores in center (secondarily reduced to two pores in some groups); and presence of stridulatory organ on fore- and middle legs (secondarily reduced in some groups). Our analysis suggests that the family Hybosoridae is paraphyletic with respect to Ceratocanthidae. The clade comprising the hybosorid genera Hybosorus and Phaeochrous is the sister group of the remaining Hybosoridae plus Ceratocanthidae. It is supported by two unambiguous synapomorphies: two apical antennomeres completely joined and the stridulatory organ represented by seven to nine large teeth anteriorly on the middle leg. The hybosorid genus Anaides is a sister group to the remaining Hybosoridae plus Ceratocanthidae (without Hybosorus and Phaeochrous) and the ceratocanthid genus Germarostes is a sister group to the remaining Hybosoridae plus Ceratocanthidae (without Hybosorus, Phaeochrous and Anaides). The ceratocanthid genera Cyphopisthes, Astaenomoechus, Paulianostes, Pterorthochaetes, and Madrasostes constitute a sister group to the hybosorid genus Cryptogenius and are supported by the presence of two reversions: two dorsal pores on labium and completely reduced stridulatory organs on fore- and middle legs. Vasily V. Grebennikov