Sex-ratio of Miridae (Hemiptera) taken via UV light-traps in Arkansas, USA.

We determined the sex-ratio of 1,095 plant bugs (Hemiptera: Miridae) taken from 60 individual UV light-trap samples in Clark County, Arkansas over a two year period. We found that of the 21 taxa in which a sex-ratio determination could be made, 61.9% of them (13 of 21) contained a majority (over 50%) of males. Three taxa were exclusively represented by males, while two taxa were exclusively represented by females. Although taxa dependent, our data indicate that male mirids are, in general, more frequently encountered in UV light-traps. However, contrary to the notion that sparked this study (see herein) light-trap content was not represented vastly to exclusively by male individuals as the sex-ratio of the cumulative data was 62.47% males (684) and 37.53% females (411)

Backyard Bug Collecting Results in 6 New State Records for Arkansas, U.S.A.

The aquatic Hemiptera of Arkansas are fairly well documented (see Chordas et al. 2005), but the terrestrial bugs are less well known. Recent projects and publications have begun to address this deficiency. Including the 6 reported herein, there have been 64 Hemiptera species newly recorded for Arkansas between 2005 and 2009 (Chordas et al. 2005, Chordas and Kovarik 2008a, Chordas and Kovarik 2008b). The second author is an invertebrate enthusiast who maintains a large personal collection. The content of this collection is primarily an accumulation of invertebrates captured on or around his property in Clarksville (Johnson County) Arkansas (Figure 1). Identification of the Hemiptera from this “backyard bug collection” revealed 6 species (in 4 Hemiptera families) that are new state records for Arkansas. These 6 include: 2 Coreidae (Leaf-footed bugs), Acanthocephala declivis (Say, 1832) and Piezogaster calcarator (Fabricius, 1803); 1 Largidae (Largid bugs), Largus succinctus (Linnaeus, 1763); 2 Lygaeidae (Seed bugs), Lygaeus kalmii angustomarginatus Parshley, 1919 and Neacoryphus bicrucis (Say, 1825) and 1 Reduviidae (Assassin bugs), Sirthenea stria carinata (Fabricius, 1798). Of note, our record of L. succinctus is the first Arkansas record for this hemipteran family

Aberrant Wing Pigmentation in \u3ci\u3eLibellula Luctuosa\u3c/i\u3e Specimens From Ohio

Over the past few years we obtained three female Libellula luctuosa specimens, all collected in northeast Ohio, which exhibited unusually reduced wing pigmentation. The individuals were extremely difficult to identify as most keys rely heavily upon wing pigmentation for identification of many Libellula species. A description of this aberrant wing pigmentation and a photograph are provided

First Ontario, Canada Record of the Water Boatman \u3ci\u3eHesperocorixa Lobata\u3c/i\u3e (Hemiptera: Corixidae)

(excerpt) Documentation of the true bugs (Hemiptera) of Canada and the United States is an ongoing effort (Henry and Froeschner, 1988; Maw et al., 2000). Maw et al. (2000) listed 12 species of water boatmen belonging to the genus Hesperocorixa for Canada. Ontario has the greatest diversity of this genus with all 12 species listed for the Province. In 2004, we collected Hesperocorixa lobata (Hungerford) (Hemiptera: Corixidae), a new record for Ontario

Aquatic Macroinvertebrates of the White River National Wildlife Refuge, Arkansas

The objectives of this study were to survey the diversity of the aquatic macroinvertebrates ofthe White River National Wildlife Refuge (WRNWR) and determine relative abundances and distributional and seasonal patterns. No comprehensive investigation of WRNWR aquatic macroinvertebrates had been conducted previously. Thirty sampling stations were established within WRNWR. Each station was sampled twice, providing 60 totalsamples, for 1.5 man hours witha Turtox Indestructible™ dip net. Three black light trap samples were taken to augment the species list. A total of 15,056 individuials representing 219 taxa was taken by dip net samples during the sampling period October 1989-September 1990. Insects comprised 76% ofthe organisms captured withColeoptera being the dominant group. The most abundant organism for WRNWR was Hydroporus vitlalipennis. Black light samples and literature records each revealed 21 additional taxa bringing the total taxa currently known from WRNWR to 261. Each of the 30 stations was assigned to one of four associations, which were defined by continuity of determined internal and external factors. The Climax-Isolation Association possessed the most stable and complex community structures; isolation by levees and natural boundaries and scarcity of human intervention probably accounted for this. The Congruent Lentic Association embraced communal structures ofgood quality but possessed factors limiting diversity. The Agriculturally Inflicted-White River Tributary Association supported relaItivelysimple aquatic macroinvertebrate communities. Finally, the Restricted Association consisted oftwo stations containingsignificant limiting factors resulting in concomitantly depauperate aquatic macroinvertebrate communities