Seasonal Activity of the Ozark Highlands Leech, Macrobdella diplotertia, (Annelida: Hirudinea) in North-central Arkansas

The Ozark Highlands Leech, Macrobdella diplotertia, occurs intermittently throughout Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri. Limited natural history of this species is known. Herein, we report a new county occurrence for this leech from a cattle pond in southern Marion County, Arkansas. We also report on the seasonal activity and novel hosts of this species. We surveyed the inhabited pond monthly to determine activity and collected natural history data on this species. This study indicated that this species appears to be most active in spring, summer, and early fall, but inactive during the winter. We also documented five new anuran hosts for this species. The Central Newt, Notophthalmus viridescens, was also present in this pond, which further supports a mimetic relationship previously proposed between these two animals

Seasonal Activity of the Ozark Highlands Leech, Macrobdella diplotertia, (Annelida: Hirudinea) in North-central Arkansas

The Ozark Highlands Leech, Macrobdella diplotertia, occurs intermittently throughout Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri. Limited natural history of this species is known. Herein, we report a new county occurrence for this leech from a cattle pond in southern Marion County, Arkansas. We also report on the seasonal activity and novel hosts of this species. We surveyed the inhabited pond monthly to determine activity and collected natural history data on this species. This study indicated that this species appears to be most active in spring, summer, and early fall, but inactive during the winter. We also documented five new anuran hosts for this species. The Central Newt, Notophthalmus viridescens, was also present in this pond, which further supports a mimetic relationship previously proposed between these two animals

Millipeds (Arthropoda: Diplopoda) of the Ark - La - Tex. VI. New Geographic Distributional Records from Select Counties of Arkansas

We continue to report, in the sixth of a series of papers, new geographic records for millipeds of the state, including noteworthy records for some taxa collected from Crowley’s Ridge in eastern Arkansas. This contribution documents 47 new co. records and includes records for 19 species within 9 families and 5 orders. More uncommon millipeds found included Okliulus carpenteri (Parajulidae), Eurymerodesmus newtonus (Eurymerodesmidae), Pseudopolydesmus minor (Polydesmidae) and undescribed species of Ethojulus (Parajulidae) and Nannaria (Xystodesmidae). Undoubtedly, additional records will be reported in the future as several gaps in the distribution of Arkansas millipeds remain

Ecology of the Squirrel Treefrog (Hyla squirella) in Southern Arkansas

We conducted an ecological study of the Squirrel Treefrog, Hyla squirella near El Dorado, Union Co., Arkansas from May-Oct. 2013. We extended the known distribution by ~2 km and documented the first breeding occurring on 28 May and the first transformation of juveniles on 27 Aug. Three endoparasites were documented: Opalina sp., Nyctotherus cordiformis, and Physaloptera sp. larvae. We also provide information on endoparasites of Florida H. squirella as well as a summary of helminths of this frog

Testicular Histology and Sperm Morphometrics of the Bird-voiced Treefrog, Hyla avivoca (Anura: Hylidae), from Arkansas

We examined the testicular histology and spermatozoal dimensions of the bird-voiced treefrog, Hyla avivoca (Anura: Hylidae), from samples collected in May, June, and July from localities in three counties (Calhoun, Conway, and Little River) in Arkansas. Calling frogs were necropsied in the lab, and testes were prepared for light and scanning electron microscopy. Spermatocysts within seminiferous tubules of all males contained large aggregates of spermatozoa. Primary spermatogonia, the largest of all germ cells, ranged from 13.3 – 17.8 μm in diameter (= 15.37 ± 1.22; n = 20). Measurements of sperm dimensions yielded the following length parameters (range, mean ± standard deviation, sample size): acrosome, 2.10 – 3.37 μm (= 2.58 ± 0.40; n = 11); nucleus, 10.22 – 13.71 μm (= 11.70 ± 0.86; n = 65); acrosome, nucleus, midpiece complex (ANM) in three frogs, 14.87 – 23.98 μm (= 19.62 ± 2.72; n = 17), 18.83 – 26.96 μm (= 22.92 ± 2.26; n = 17), 17.40 –26.96 μm (= 23.92 ± 3.27; n = 11); principal piece, 24.36 – 27.68 μm (= 25.98 ± 1.19; n = 14); total tail length (endpiece intact), 29.87 – 39.00 μm (= 33.37 ± 2.63; n = 23); and total sperm length, 51.02 – 62.98 μm (= 54.63 ± 3.54; n = 20). Our sperm morphometric findings complement previously published data on this species and fill in gaps that may aid in future intra- and interfamilial comparisons

Coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) of Three-toed Box Turtles, Terrapene carolina triunguis (Reptilia: Testudines), from Arkansas and Oklahoma

We collected 50 three-toed box turtles (Terrapene carolina triunguis) from 9 counties of Arkansas and 4 counties of Oklahoma, and examined their feces for coccidial parasites. Nine of 24 (38%) turtles from Arkansas and 8 of 26 (31%) from Oklahoma were found to be passing oocysts of Eimeria ornata. This represents two new geographic distributional records for this coccidian. Measurements of individual isolates of E. ornate as well as morphological characteristics are provided with comparison to its original description and to another Terrapene coccidian, Eimeria carri. In addition, we noted an adelid pseudoparasite being passed by a single T. c. triunguis from Oklahoma that likely represents a parasite of arthropods