Spring and winter records of the eastern pipistrelle ( Perimyotis subflavus ) in southeastern New Mexico

Eastern pipistrelles ( Perimyotis subflavus ) were first documented from South Dakota, western Texas, and New Mexico during recent years, suggesting that the distribution of this species is expanding westward across central parts of North America. In New Mexico, only 2 records of P. subflavus previously were known—one from summer and one from autumn. Here we report on 3 new records of P. subflavus from southeastern New Mexico, including the first 2 records from winter and the first record from spring. One individual in winter was observed hibernating in a cave in Chaves County. Our records and previous ones from autumn and summer suggest that this species is resident throughout the year in New Mexico.     

New distributional records of the red squirrel ( Tamiasciurus hudsonicus ) in western New Mexico and evidence for its extirpation from the Zuni Mountains

In the American Southwest, the red squirrel ( Tamiasciurus hudsonicus ) occurs as disjunct populations in coniferous forests on mountaintops. There is a paucity of information concerning the species’ distribution and habitat in western New Mexico. I report new records that document and verify the occurrence of red squirrels in additional montane areas in west central New Mexico, including the Mangas Mountains, Canovas Rim, Turner Mountain, Tularosa Mountains, Elk Mountains, Bearwallow Mountain, and Pinos Altos Mountains. I also report observations of red squirrels from an atypical habitat—low-elevation riparian forests. These new records suggest that the geographic distribution of the species in west central New Mexico is broader than indicated by existing records. However, I also document the apparent extirpation of red squirrels from the Zuni Mountains in northwestern New Mexico. The red squirrel is one of several avian and mammalian species associated with mixed coniferous forests that have become extirpated in this mountain range.     

New grass distribution records for Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas

New distribution records are given for seven grass species now found in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.       

Distribution of the milliped Virgoiulus minutus (Brandt, 1841): first records from Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas (Julida: Blaniulidae)

Virgoiulus minutus (Brandt 1841) (Julida: Blaniulidae), the only indigenous representative of the family in the New World, occurs, or can be expected, in parts or all of 24 states east of the Central Plains plus the District of Columbia; it is documented for the 1st time from Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. The northern-, southern-, and westernmost localities are in Berrien County, Michigan; Putnam County, Florida; and Angelina/Rusk Counties, Texas, respectively. New England, Utah, Wyoming, Canada, and Mexico are deleted from the range, and specific localities are reported to augment previous generalized citations; those from Mexico represent misidentifications of Nopoiulus kochii (Gervais, 1847), an introduced European species that is recorded from Mexico City, Distrito Federal. Records of V. minutus from Pennsylvania, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, West Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, and Missouri are the 1st definite localities from these states; a sample from ""Anechar,"" believed to be a misspelling of ""Arrochar,"" a neighborhood in Staten Island, is considered the 1st definite record from New York. The published statement of occurrence in Delaware in general is the only known record of an indigenous diplopod from this state.     

The male of Culicoides reevesi Wirth, with a redescription of the female and new seasonal activity, distribution, and biting records (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

The previously unknown male of the biting midge, Culicoides reevesi Wirth, is described and illustrated; the female is also redescribed and this species is reassigned to the leoni group. Previously known from California, Arizona, and New Mexico, C. reevesi is recorded for the 1st time from Utah ( new record ). Females of this aggressive, hematophagous species were collected while biting humans during evening crepuscular periods in California. Females exhibited a strong attraction to CO 2 traps, and seasonal surveillance demonstrated that host-seeking occurred from late May until mid-October in both California and Utah. Small numbers of males were also collected in CO 2 traps; however, both sexes showed little attraction to ultraviolet and incandescent light traps.     

Variations in Thamnophis elegans with descriptions of new subspecies

Two new subspecies are described from the southern part of the distribution of Thamnophis elegans: T.e. arizonae from the Little Colorado River basin of Arizona and New Mexico and T. e. vascotanneri from the Upper Colorado River basin of Utah.     

Aquatic Oligochaeta (Annelida: Lumbriculidae, Haplotaxidae, Naididae, Tubificidae) of Utah

Thirty-six species of aquatic Oligochaeta (Lumbriculidae, Haplotaxidae, Naididae, Tubificidae) are now known form Utah. Aquatic habitats in 27 counties were sampled, with 32 oligochaete species identified. An additional 4 species were added from other published investigations. The majority of species are cosmopolitan and occur in other areas of North America. Nais barbata, N. alpina, and N. pardalis are reported from the western United States for the first time. Ilyodrilus frantzi was found to be a major component of the oliogochaete fauna in the Great Basin lentic environment. The North American distribution of Telmatodrilus vejdovskyi is extended significantly eastward. Tow undetermined species of Tubificidae are discussed.     

Composition and distribution of the milliped tribe Pachydesmini west of the Mississippi River (Polydesmida: Xystodesmidae)

The xystodesmid milliped tribe Pachydesmini is supported by the autapomorphic absence of bold aposematic pigmentations and possibly also by relative somatic inflexibility; it comprises 3 component genera: Pachydesmus Cook, 1895; Dicellarius Chamberlin, 1920; and Thrinaxoria Chamberlin and Hoffman, 1950. Three representatives occur west of the Mississippi River— P. clarus (Chamberlin), P. crassicutis crassicutis (Wood), and T. lampra (Chamberlin). New localities are documented in Louisiana and Texas, and literature records are summarized for these states and Arkansas; records of P. clarus from Cherokee County, Texas, are the westernmost in this state for the east-Nearctic xystodesmid fauna. An apparently allopatric population of P. crassicutis crassicutis occurs in Evangeline and Lafayette Parishes, Louisiana. These are the first records of this species from west of the Mississippi River, and new localities of this form are cited from east of the watercourse. Thrinaxoria lampra , known previously in Texas from only Gregg County, is documented from Bowie, Cass, Harrison, Rusk, Sabine, and Titus Counties plus Webster Parish, Louisiana. Diagnoses and pertinent anatomical illustrations are provided for each species including the first cyphopod drawings for P. clarus and T. lampra ; occurrences west of the river are depicted on a map. A new tribal diagnosis is published along with a distribution map.     

Biogeographic and taxonomic relationships among the mountain snails (Gastropoda: Oreohelicidae) of the central Great Basin

Described here are 4 species of mountain snails, Oreohelix , isolated on mountains in the central Great Basin of Nevada and Utah since the end of the Pleistocene. Forty-three mountains were searched during an 18-year period, resulting in 24 mountains found with no oreohelicids present. One population, Oreohelix loisae (19 mm to 23 mm in shell diameter), is described here as a new species related to, but geographically isolated from, the species Oreohelix nevadensis (17 mm to 22 mm diameter). Oreohelix loisae is present only in the Goshute Mountains while O. nevadensis is represented in 3 geographically adjacent ranges in the central Great Basin. These 2 species are possibly related to the Oreohelix haydeni group from the northern Wasatch Range. The subspecies Oreohelix strigosa depressa (15 mm to 21 mm diameter) is present on 11 ranges from western Utah west to east central Nevada. This subspecies is closely related to populations found today in the northern Wasatch Mountains of Utah. The smallest species in diameter (8 mm to 14 mm), Oreohelix hemphilli , is centered in the central Great Basin and found on 16 ranges often in sympatry with 1 or 2 of the larger conspecifics. Both qualitative and quantitative information on shell characters and soft anatomy is provided here for these 4 species. Shell characters, soft anatomy, geographical isolation, and statistical analysis suggest that 4 distinct species inhabit the central Great Basin today. Xeric and calciphilic species include O. hemphilli and O. loisae , while O. strigosa and O. nevadensis typically are associated with permanent water and both metamorphic and limestone mountains.     

Trypanoplasma atraria sp. n. (Kinetoplastida: Bodonidae) in fishes from the Sevier River drainage, Utah

A total of 181 fishes belonging to 10 species were captured near Richfield, Utah, and examined for parasites. A new species of hemoflagellate, Trypanoplasma atraria sp. n., was observed in 3 species: Utah chub ( Gila atraria [Girard]), redside shiner ( Richardsonius balteatus [Richardson]), and speckled dace ( Rhinichthys osculus [Girard]). Seven other species of fishes examined in the study area were negative for T. atraria sp. n. The salmonid leech, Piscicola salmositica (Meyer), collected in the same area harbored developmental stages of Trypanoplasma , suggesting a possible leech vector for the hemoflagellate. Characteristics of Trypanoplasma atraria sp. n. place it near T. salmositica , but the new species is twice as large.     

The banner-tailed kangaroo rat, Dipodomys spectabilis (Rodentia: Heteromyidae), in Utah

We report the discovery in Utah of Dipodomys spectabilis, a species previously unknown to occur in the state. We searched for D. spectabilis in extreme southeastern Utah, south of the San Juan River, and were successful in finding mounds and burrows characteristic of the species and in capturing one individual. This is the northernmost record for D. spectabilis and extends its known range ~84 km northwest of the nearest previously reported locality (Fruitland, San Juan County, New Mexico). A flea, Meringis rectus, collected from D. spectabilis, is also the first record of its species in Utah. Reportamos el descubrimiento en Utah de Dipodomys spectabilis, una especie cuya presencia en el estado no había sido observada previamente. Buscamos D. spectabilis en el extremo sureste de Utah, al sur del Río San Juan, y logramos encontrar montículos y túneles típicos de esta especie y capturar un espécimen. Este es el registro más al norte para D. spectabilis y se extiende su rango de distribución conocida a ~84 km al noroeste de la localidad más cercana previamente reportada (Fruitland, condado de San Juan, Nuevo Mexico). Es también el primer registro en Utah para Meringis rectus, una pulga recolectada en D. spectabilis.     

Fleas (Siphonaptera) in nests of boles ( Microtus spp.) in montane habitats of three regions of Utah

As a parallel study of a survey of fleas of trapped small mammals in montane southern Utah, we removed 77 adult fleas from 12 of 13 nests of voles ( Microtus longicaudus, M. montanus and M. richardsoni ) collected from montane meadows in the Abajo and La Sal Mountains, the Markagunt Plateau and Pine Valley Mountains, and the Uinta Mountains, May 1991-July 2002. Six species and subspecies of fleas parasitic on Microtus spp. were found, 1-3 species in each nest. Three specimens of the ubiquitous deer mouse ( Peromyscus spp.) flea Aetheca wagneri (Baker) were also found. We collected the following 7 taxa from the locations indicated: Catallagia decipiens Rothschild in 5 nests: Abajo and Pine Valley Mountains and Markagunt Plateau; Hystrichopsylla dippiei truncata Holland in 2 nests: La Sal and Uinta Mountains; H. occidentalis sylvaticus Campos & Stark in 5 nests: Pine Valley Mountains; Peromyscopsylla selenis (Rothschild) in 1 nest: Markagunt Plateau; A. wagneri in 2 nests: Abajo and Pine Valley Mountains; Megabothris abantis (Rothschild) in 5 nests: Abajo and Uinta Mountains and Markagunt Plateau; Malaraeus telchinus (Rothschild) in 2 nests: Abajo and Pine Valley Mountains. One preserved larva was identified as Hystrichopsylla prob. occidentalis sylvaticus , and 2 dead larvae, the only specimens found in nest 13, were identified as probably the same. Kane County is a new record for C. decipiens and P. selenis ; Kane and Summit Counties are new for M. abantis . Nest surveys can generally supplement rather than replace trapped-host surveys. Their main value is in population studies. They are also a source of larvae for morphology and taxonomy research.     

Climbing as an escape behavior in the American hog-nosed skunk, Conepatus leuconotus

Climbing behavior is poorly documented in skunk species, with the exception of the genus Spilogale. Herein we describe 2 cases of climbing behavior in the American hog-nosed skunk ( Conepatus leuconotus ): one in Colima, Mexico, and another in west central Texas, USA. In both cases, a male climbed over 5 m into oak trees when pursued by humans. Climbing as an escape behavior in hog-nosed skunks has not previously been reported.     

Distribution of the milliped genus Narceus Rafinesque, 1820 (Spirobolida: Spirobolidae): occurrences in New England and west of the Mississippi River; a summary of peripheral localities; and first records from Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, and Minnesota

The milliped genus Narceus Rafinesque, 1820 (Spirobolida: Spirobolidae) occupies parts or all of 2 Canadian provinces, Québec and Ontario; every U.S. state east of the Mississippi River; and 9 states to the west including Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Records are detailed for the "western" states and New England and include the first from Minnesota, Connecticut, Delaware, and Maine; occurrence is projected for southeastern Minnesota and the Delmarva Peninsula. The genus presently comprises 2 valid species that are endemic to Florida— N. gordanus (Chamberlin, 1943) and N. woodruffi Causey, 1959—and 2 of uncertain status that occur throughout the generic range and are referenced as the " N. americanus/annularis complex"; geographic evidence suggests greater diversity, particularly in the south, and a 2nd generic revision is in order to update the existing one by Keeton (1960). Records cluster within a large, semicontinuous area whose northern, southern, and western range extremes, respectively, are Saint-Nicolas, Lévis Census Division, Québec; Key West, Monroe County, Florida, and northeastern Duval County and Rockport, Aransas County, Texas; and Garner State Park, Uvalde County, Texas. The eastern limit is the Atlantic Ocean, and records are available from Cape Cod and Tuckernuck Island, Massachusetts; Long Island, New York; Cape Hatteras, North Carolina; and James Island, South Carolina. The projected western boundary, based on peripheral localities, angles southwestward from Omaha, Nebraska, to Uvalde County; and the northern boundary passes through central Iowa and Wisconsin (encompassing the Door Peninsula) and the southern periphery of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The lone Minnesota locality, from Lyon County in the southwest, lies substantially north of the projected border in Iowa and well west of the expected area of occurrence in southeastern Minnesota. The northernmost record west of the Mississippi River, it may represent an allopatric population that extends westward into eastern South Dakota.     

Reestablishment of Stenogonum Nutt. (Polygonaceae)

The genus Stenogonum Nutt. (Polygonaceae) is reestablished and distinguished from Eriogonum Michx. with which it has been synonymized since 1853. The genus, as outlined here, differs from Eriogonum in having two whorls of three foliaceous bracts surrounding the flowers instead of the normal, united tubular involucre. Stenogonum contains two species, S. flexum and S. salsuginosum; they are restricted primarily to the Colorado Plateau of Wyoming southward through eastern Utah and western Colorado to northwestern New Mexico and adjacent northern Arizona. Both species are illustrated and their respective ranges mapped.     

First specimen records for Ruffed Grouse in Colorado

We report the first specimen records for Ruffed Grouse ( Bonasa umbellus ) collected in Colorado, provide the location, describe the habitat, and briefly discuss the rarity of this species within the state. Three Ruffed Grouse were collected, an adult male in September 1988 and a juvenile male and adult female in September 1990, on Hoy Mountain, Moffat County, Colorado, within 0.6 km of Utah. The habitat is primarily open Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii ) forest with scattered clumps of quaking aspen ( Populus tremuloides ) and Utah serviceberry ( Amelanchier utahensis ). Habitats to the north, east, and south are primarily dominated by sagebrush ( Artemisia spp.) steppe and pionjuniper ( Pinus spp.-- Juniperus spp.) woodland. We hypothesize that natural expansion of Ruffed Grouse further east, north, and south is prohibited by unsuitable habitat exacerbated by the limited flight range capability of the species.     

Parasites of mottled sculpin, Cottus bairdi Girard, from five locations in Utah and Wasatch counties, Utah

Between 1983 and 1985, 97 mottled sculpin, Cottus bairdi Girard, were examined from five collection sites in central Utah for parasites. Eight different species of parasites were observed, representing seven genera of Protozoa ( Plistophora, Myxidium, Myxobolus, Ichthyophthirius, Trichodina, Apiosoma, Eimeria ) and one genus of Nematoda ( Rhabdochona ). The highest number of parasites was found in sculpin from the Provo River near residential areas, while the lowest number was recorded from Hobble Creek, a nearby pristine area. A complete list of parasites for C. bairdi with literature citations is presented. Each observed parasite is discussed emphasizing pathogenesis to the host.