Eustigmaeus floridensis sp. nov., a new mite species of the genus Eustigmaeus Berlese, 1910 (Acari: Stigmaeidae) from citrus in Florida

Eustigmaeus floridensis sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on female specimens collected from citrus trees in Florida, USA. The new species is closely related to Eustigmaeus arcuata, Eustigmaeus segnis and Eustigmaeus microsegnis, all known to occur in Florida. Eustigmaeus floridensis sp. nov. can be distinguished by larger dimples associated with setae sce, d₂ and e₁ containing at least four or more vacuoles centrally; dorsal body setae broadly lanceolate and feather-like, except c₂, which is slender; anogenital area with striae and one pair of serrated aggenital (ag1) and three pairs of serrated pseudanal (ps_1?3) setae. A key to the Eustigmaeus species known to occur across USA is also provided.     

Seasonal patterns of arthropod diversity and abundance on big sagebrush, Artemisia tridentata

The sagebrush biotype is the largest in the western United States. This vast sagebrush community is thought to harbor equally vast and diverse arthropod communities, but these remain little explored. Our objective was to examine the diversity, abundance, and seasonal phenology of arthropod taxa found on the dominant shrub of the sagebrush ecosystem, big sagebrush ( Artemisia tridentata ). We wanted to improve understanding of this little-studied arthropod assemblage that may play significant roles in the dynamics of sagebrush populations and the sagebrush ecosystem. We sampled free-living and gall-forming arthropods from a stratified random sample of sagebrush plants at the Barton Road Ecological Research Area, Idaho, resulting in a sample of over 8000 individuals and 232 morphospecies. Species richness and abundance declined from May to August, and abundance of most taxa similarly declined over the summer. A few taxa, including Acari (mites), were notably more abundant in August. Fluid feeders were the most diverse and abundant free-living feeding guild during all months and comprised up to 79% of morphospecies. The gall formers included 4713 individuals of 12 species of gall flies ( Rhopalomyia spp.), primarily (97%) R. ampullaria. Abundance of galls increased from small to large (presumably young to old) plants. Overall, A. tridentata was host to a high diversity of arthropods, some of which have potential to cause or mitigate significant damage to their host plant. Arthropods seem likely to have the greatest impact on sagebrush early in the growing season, when they are most diverse and abundant. Documentation of the full diversity of arthropods associated with sagebrush required samples taken throughout the growing season, but a single sample early in the growing season captured a high proportion of taxa.     

Food and habitat relationships of Claassenia sabulosa (Plecoptera: Perlidae) in the Upper Colorado River, Colorado

Streambed surveys were conducted along the upper Colorado River, Colorado, to describe the distributions of Claassenia sabulosa larvae in relation to current speed and to determine their diets. We also addressed diel feeding periodicity by sampling during both day and night. Claassenia sabulosa was more abundant in riffle habitats than in runs. A positive relationship existed between C. sabulosa abundance and stream current, with larval size increasing with current speed. Chironomidae, Baetidae, and Simulidae collectively accounted for 93% of the prey found in stonefly guts; however, these categories were not consumed equally by all C. sabulosa . Smaller C. sabulosa primarily ate chironomids, and larger individuals consumed more baetids. Only a slight difference existed in the percentage of empty guts between night- and day-collected stoneflies, and ranges of prey per gut at night were higher than those in the day, suggesting that these stoneflies may forage more intensively at night.     

Note on mound architecture of the black-tailed praire dog

The development of black-tailed prairie dog ( Cynomys ludovicianus ) burrow mounds was monitored for three years. Entrances were flagged at points where a prairie dog was observed digging into the ground (primary entrances, n = 22) and digging out of the ground (secondary entrances, n = 8). In all samples it was observed that primary entrances became dome mounds and secondary entrances crater mounds. It is suggested that, although induced airflow (presently, a popular model) may partly explain the presence of mounds, architectural types (dome vs. crater mounds) are the result of energy constraints associated with building materials that differ at the entrances.     

New synonymy and new species of American bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)

New replacement names for junior homonyms are presented as follows; Acanthotomicus tuberculifer for A. (Mimips) tuberculatus Schedl 1967, Chactoptelius versicolor for C. (Acrantus) tricolor Schedl 1958, Hylesinopsis angolanus for H. (Aridiamerus) angolensis Schedl 1982, Hylurgops tuberculifer for H. tuberculatus Schedl 1947, Pseudothysanoes spinatifer for P. spinatus Wood 1956, Scolytodes aterrimus for S. ater (Hylocurosoma atrum Eggers) 1941, Scolytodes boliviensis for S. (Prionosceles) bolivianus Eggers 1928, Scolytodes brasiliensis for S. (Hexacolus) brasiliensis Schedl 1935, Scolytodes discriminatus for S. discedens Eggers 1943, Scolytodes elongatissimus for S. elongatus (Hylocurosoma elongatum Eggers) 1943, Scolytodes gennaens for S. genialis Wood 1978, Scolytodes laevigatulus for S. (Hexacolus) laevigatus Schedl 1962, Scolytodes laevicorpus for S. laevis (Hylocurosoma laeve Eggers) 1943, Scolytodes majus for S. major Eggers 1943, Scolytodes medialis for S. medius Eggers 1943. New synonymy is reported for Dactylipalpus niger Schedl (= D. unctus Wood), Dendroctonus armandi Tsai & Li (= D. prosorovi Kurenzov & Kononov), Sinophloeus porter Brèthes (= S. destructor Eggers). Species new to science include: Acacicis bicornis (New Guinea), Acacicis zeylanicus (Sri Lanka), Sphaerotrypes bengalensis (India), Sphaerotrypes costatus (North Andaman Island), Sphaerotrypes cristatus (Sri Lanka), Sphaerotrypes pentacme (Burma), Sphaerotrypes ranasinghei (Sri Lanka), Xylechinus ougeiniac (India), Xylechinus padus (India).