Butterflies Recorded on Flattop Mountain, Anchorage, Alaska

Eleven species of butterflies were recorded on Flattop Mountain, Anchorage, Alaska, during a four-day period in July 2006: Colias philodice vitabunda (Clouded Sulphur), Pieris angelika angelika (Arctic White), Lycaena dorcas arcticus (Dorcas Copper), Plebejus glandon bryanti (Arctic Blue), Plebejus idas alaskensis (Northern Blue), Plebejus optilete yukona (Cranberry Blue), Boloria charliclea butleri (Purplish Fritillary), Boloria alaskensis alaskensis (Mountain Fritillary), Speyeria mormonia bischoffii (Mormon Fritillary), Oeneis bore mckinleyensis (White-veined Arctic), and Carterocephalus palaemon skada (Arctic Skipperling). Based on previously published distribution maps, the records for Plebejus idas and P. optilete represent range extensions; P. optilete was relatively common in sheltered valleys on the mountain

Hoplopleura janzeni n. sp. (Phthiraptera: Anoplura), a new sucking louse from a Central American swimming mouse

Both sexes of a new species of sucking louse Hoplopleura janzeni (Phthiraptera: Hoplopleuridae) are described and illustrated from the Central American ichthyomyine swimming mouse Rheomys raptor (Rodentia: Muridae) collected in Costa Rica. The morphology of the new species is compared with that of Hoplopleura exima Johnson, the only other species of sucking louse known to parasitize an ichthyomyine rodent. Hoplopleura janzeni is unique in having posteriorly directed spurs on the first antennal segment, the fore- and midcoxae, and the hind femora of both sexes

New Distributional Records for Ectoparasites (Acari: Laelapidae, Myocoptidae) of the Woodland Vole, Microtus pinetorum (Rodentia: Cricetidae) from Polk County, Arkansas

The woodland vole, Microtus pinetorum is a common Arkansas rodent found statewide. To our knowledge, it has been surveyed only once in the state for ectoparasites. Here, a single specimen was examined and found to be infested with 3 species of mites, including Androlaelaps fahrenholzi, Laelaps alaskensis, and Myocoptes japonensis. This is the first time L. alaskensis and M. japonensis have been reported from Arkansas

Ecto- and Endoparasites of the Texas Deermouse, Peromyscus attwateri and Eastern Woodrat, Neotoma floridana (Rodentia: Cricetidae) from Polk County, Arkansas

In Arkansas, the Texas deermouse (Peromyscus attwateri) occurs in the western part of the state where it is restricted to the uplands of the Interior Highlands. The eastern woodrat (Neotoma floridana) is found statewide but is less common in the Gulf Coastal Plain. Very little is known about the parasites of either rodent in Arkansas, especially helminths from P. attwateri at any locality within its range. Found in/on P. attwateri were a coccidian (Eimeria langbarteli), a tapeworm (Catenotaenia peromysci), a nematode (Syphacia peromysci), 2 ticks (Dermacenter variabilis and Ixodes scapularis), and 2 mites (Androlaelaps fahrenholzi and Leptotrombidium peromysci). Eastern woodrats harbored 3 nematodes (Eucoelus sp., Longistriata neotoma, and Trichurus neotomae), a larval bot fly (Cuterebra americana), and a flea (Orchopeas pennsylvanicus). We document 6 new host and 5 new distributional records for these parasites

Echiothrix leucura and E. centrosa.

87 pages : illustrations (some color), map ; 26 cm.Among the 15 known genera of murine rodents endemic to the island of Sulawesi, is the shrew rat genus Echiothrix. Physically large (length of head and body = 182-235 mm; weight = 215-310 g) with a bicolored tail typically longer than head and body (100%-135% of head and body length), elongate hind feet (48-55 mm), large ears (31-35 mm), long and thin muzzle, spinous fur, and tiny molars relative to size of skull (length of molar row = 12%-13% of occipitonasal length), Echiothrix was named and described in 1867 and through the years has been treated as monotypic or containing up to three species. Results from analyses of morphometric traits derived primarily from cranial and dental measurements document the presence of two species. Echiothrix leucura (Gray, 1867) is restricted to the northern peninsular mainland east of the Gorontalo region (00°31ʹ N, 123° 03ʹ E). This distribution is concordant with that of four other murids endemic to the northeastern tip of the northern peninsula: Bunomys fratrorum, Taeromys taerae, Rattus xanthurus, and R. marmosurus. Echiothrix centrosa Miller and Hollister, 1921 (Echiothix brevicula Miller and Hollister, 1921, is a synonym), is documented by specimens from the northern peninsula west of the Gorontalo region and in the central portion of the island; 19 other murine species are also known only from the core of Sulawesi. Whether the range of E. centrosa extends to the eastern, southeastern, and southwestern peninsulas is at present unknown. Echiothrix leucura has a more elongate skull compared with E. centrosa (greater lengths of skull, rostrum, diastema, and bony palate), a wider interorbital region, larger braincase, narrower bony palate and mesopterygoid fossa, shorter incisive foramina, and appreciably larger molars; the two species also differ in frequencies of particular molar cusps and cusplets. Both species of Echiothrix are nocturnal, terrestrial, and occupy habitats in tropical lowland evergreen rain forest. Natural history observations made in the field for Echiothrix centrosa show it to be primarily vermivorous; other natural history observations derived from field work in central Sulawesi are provided. One aspect of that natural history is the ectoparasitic load borne by E. centrosa. This shrew rat is host to at least four species of ticks (Haemaphysalis kadarsani, Haemaphysalis hystricis, Haemaphysalis sp. and Amblyomma sp.), a tiny fur mite (Listrophoroides echiothrix), mesostigmatid mites belonging to the genus Laelaps, currently undetermined chiggers, a flea (Farhangia quattuordecimdentata), and a new species of sucking louse described herein as Polyplax beaucournui. This louse has tibiotarsal claws adapted for grasping slender soft hairs in the pelage and not the wide host spines; female lice also attach their eggs only to these slender hairs. The closest relative of Echiothrix is probably Paucidentomys vermidax, another Sulawesian endemic shrew rat that is also vermivorous but lacks molars and has been collected only in montane forests. The present report documents morphological and distributional limits of species in Echiothrix, places one of those species in an ecological and parasitological landscape, and generally contributes to knowledge covering endemic murid species diversity and identifying unique zoogeographical areas on Sulawesi

The Biology and Taxonomy of Head and Body Lice: Implications for Louse-Borne Disease Prevention

Sucking lice (Phthiraptera: Anoplura) are obligate blood-feeding ectoparasites of placental mammals including humans. Worldwide, more than 550 species have been described and many are specific to a particular host species of mammal. Three taxa uniquely parasitize humans: the head louse, body louse, and crab (pubic) louse. The body louse, in particular, has epidemiological importance because it is a vector of the causative agents of three important human diseases: epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. Since the advent of antibiotics and more effective body louse control measures in the 1940s, these diseases have markedly diminished in incidence. However, due to 1) increasing pediculicide resistance in human lice, 2) reemergence of body louse populations in some geographic areas and demographic groups, 3) persistent head louse infestations, and 4) recent detection of body louse-borne pathogens in head lice, lice and louse-borne diseases are an emerging problem worldwide. This mini-review is focused on human body and head lice including their biological relationship to each other and its epidemiological relevance, the status and treatment of human louse-borne diseases, and current approaches to prevention and control of human louse infestations

The Biology and Taxonomy of Head and Body Lice— Implications for Louse-Borne Disease Prevention

Sucking lice (Phthiraptera: Anoplura) are obligate blood-feeding ectoparasites of placental mammals including humans. Worldwide, more than 550 species have been described and many are specific to a particular host species of mammal [1]. Three taxa uniquely parasitize humans: the head louse, body louse, and crab (pubic) louse. The body louse, in particular, has epidemiological importance because it is a vector of the causative agents of three important human diseases: epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. Since the advent of antibiotics and more effective body louse control measures in the 1940s, these diseases have markedly diminished in incidence. However, due to 1) increasing pediculicide resistance in human lice, 2) reemergence of body louse populations in some geographic areas and demographic groups, 3) persistent head louse infestations, and 4) recent detection of body louse-borne pathogens in head lice, lice and louse-borne diseases are an emerging problem worldwide. This mini-review is focused on human body and head lice including their biological relationship to each other and its epidemiological relevance, the status and treatment of human louse-borne diseases, and current approaches to prevention and control of human louse infestations

Assessing Insect Biodiversity and Promoting Sustainable Practices toward Pollinators on Campus

Dr. Lance Durden, Professor, Department of Biology ($27,560.00) Added arthropods to the vertebrate biodiversity database that was created in 2015