The Biology and Natural History ofAphaenogaster rudis

Workers from the genusAphaenogasterare among the most abundant ants in the hardwood forests of eastern North America. The biology of these so-calledrudis-group ant species, including details about their sociometry, productivity, natural history, and behavior, are synthesized here using published and newly collected data. The latter was collected, in part, using an artificial field nest, and its construction and use are explained. Ants of therudisgroup occur in high densities in forest habitats (0.5–1.3 nests m2), have moderate sized colonies (population means from 266 to 613 workers per nest), and are keystone seed dispersers. Many aspects of their life history and behavior follow an annual cycle that tracks seasonal changes. These include foraging, reproduction, the production of new workers and nest migrations. This synthesis highlights what is known about these ants and reveals gaps in our knowledge that require further study.

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Life History and Behavior of the Bramble Leafhopper, Ribautiana tenerrima (H.-S.) (Homoptera: Cicadellidae)

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/ent9210-1 ◽

1960 ◽

Vol 92 (1) ◽

pp. 10-20 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

J. Raine

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

North America ◽

Vancouver Island ◽

Dry Season ◽

Lower Fraser Valley ◽

And Behavior ◽

Fraser Valley

Since 1947, when the bramble leafhopper, Ribautiana tenerrima (H.-S.) (rubi Hardy, misella 13011.), was first reported in North America near Victoria, B.C., it has become a serious pest in cane fruit plantings on southern Vancouver Island and the lower Fraser Valley. Hoth nymphs and adults suck the sap from the leaves, producing a white stippling on the upper surfaces (Fig. 1). In a dry season a severe infestation causes many leaves to become curled and appear burned. The canes lack vigor and the size of the fruit is reduced. This is a report on a study of the life history and behavior of the species conducted at Victoria from 1953 to 1957.

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SYSTEMATICS OF THE TRICHADENOTECNUM ALEXANDERAE SPECIES COMPLEX (PSOCOPTERA: PSOCIDAE) BASED ON AN INVESTIGATION OF MODES OF REPRODUCTION AND MORPHOLOGY

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/ent1151329-10 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 115 (10) ◽

pp. 1329-1354 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

B. W. Betz

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

North America ◽

Sibling Species ◽

Species Complex ◽

Morphological Analysis ◽

Geographic Range ◽

Eastern North America ◽

Facultative Parthenogenesis

AbstractTrichadenotecnum alexanderae Sommerman is shown to represent one biparental (= euphrasic) species capable of facultative parthenogenesis (thelytoky) and three uniparental (= obligatorily parthenogenetic) sibling species, as determined by tests for mating, life history observations, and morphological analysis of specimens over the geographic range of the species complex. The name T. alexanderae is restricted to the biparental species because the holotype is a male. The three uniparental species are here named and described as T. castum n. sp., T. merum n. sp., and T. innuptum n. sp. The female of T. alexanderae is redescribed to allow its separation from the three uniparental species. A key to females of the species complex is supplied. All three uniparental species were derived from the biparental ancestor of T. alexanderae. Most collections of populations represented only by females consist of one or more uniparental species. Facultative parthenogenesis is shown to maintain a population of T. alexanderae through one generation only. The biparental species is found not to be restricted geographically to a relictual or peripheral range within the species complex, but to occupy a rather wide, north-temperate distribution across eastern North America.

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Seasonal Changes of Host Use by Culiseta melanura (Diptera: Culicidae) in Central Florida

Journal of Medical Entomology ◽

10.1093/jme/tjaa067 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 57 (5) ◽

pp. 1627-1634 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Richard G West ◽

Derrick K Mathias ◽

Jonathan F Day ◽

Carolina Acevedo ◽

Thomas R Unnasch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

North America ◽

Seasonal Changes ◽

Eastern North America ◽

Host Use ◽

Central Florida ◽

Culiseta Melanura ◽

Equine Encephalitis Virus ◽

Brown Anole ◽

Single Host ◽

Blood Meals

Abstract The mosquito Culiseta melanura (Coquillett) is the primary enzootic vector of eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), a zoonotic Alphavirus endemic to eastern North America. In its northern range, Cs. melanura is considered a strict avian biter, transmitting EEEV among susceptible birds in a cycle of enzootic amplification. In its southern range, however, Cs. melanura is more general in host use, feeding heavily upon birds but also reptiles and mammals. The goal of this study was to better understand how host use of Cs. melanura changes throughout the year in Florida, where year-round EEEV transmission is observed. Mosquitoes were sampled in 2018 from nine sites across three central Florida counties. In total, 213 Cs. melanura bloodmeals were identified by PCR consisting of 39 species of birds, reptiles, and mammals. Avian bloodmeals were prominent throughout the year (range = 30–85%), and songbirds were a large portion of identified bloodmeals (37.1%). Reptiles surpassed birds only in spring (April–June), and brown anole (Anolis sagrei Duméril and Bibron, 1837 [Reptilia: Dactyloidae]) was the most commonly detected single host species (22.1% overall). Mammalian bloodmeals were mainly observed in summer, with humans being the most fed on mammal (12.7% overall). This study reveals that in southern foci of EEEV transmission, Cs. melanura host use varies throughout the year with reptiles providing the majority of blood meals in spring (51.3%), and birds are fed on more than other host groups during all other seasons (50.6–70.1%). In addition, feeding on mammals increases during summer months, which may implicate Cs. melanura in epizootic transmission in Florida.

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Notes on the Life-history and Habits of the Brown Mite, Bryobia arborea Morgan & Anderson (Acarina: Tetranychidae), on Peach in Ontario

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/ent92775-10 ◽

1960 ◽

Vol 92 (10) ◽

pp. 775-779 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

D. H. C. Herne ◽

Wm. L. Putman

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

New Species ◽

North America ◽

Life Histories ◽

Fruit Trees ◽

Extensive Study ◽

Economic Importance ◽

Eastern North America ◽

Closely Related Species ◽

A New Species

The ‘clover’ mite, Bryobia praetiosa Koch, has long been known to be a complex of closely related species or biological races differing greatly in host range, life-history, and habits. Morgan and Anderson (1957) reviewed the problem and described the form occurring on fruit trees in British Columbia as a new species, B. arborea, to be known as the brown mite, and these authors (Anderson and Morgan, 1958) also published a detailed study of the life-histories and habits of this species and of the true clover mite, B. praetiosa. Although the presence of Bryobia mites on fruit trees in Eastern North America, including Ontario, has long been recognized, they have seldom received more than casual mention and no extensive study of their biology in this area appears to have been undertaken. The species has little economic importance in Ontario (Putman and Herne, 1959).

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Parasites of the Frit-fly, Oscinella frit (L.), in eastern North America

Bulletin of Entomological Research ◽

10.1017/s0007485300029497 ◽

1952 ◽

Vol 43 (3) ◽

pp. 503-542 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

F. J. Simmonds

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

North America ◽

Life Histories ◽

Eastern North America ◽

History Of ◽

Major Pest

An account is given of an investigation made of the life-histories of Oscinella frit and its parasites in Ontario, Canada, with a view to the possible introduction of suitable parasites into England. The various Chloropid species associated with O. frit in North America are discussed.The life-history of the frit-fly in Ontario is similar to that in England except wheat, not oats, is attacked, and that there appears to be no regular grain-infesting generation, but the insect is never a major pest in Canada.The life-histories of the following six species of parasites are described : Hexacola sp. n., Polyscelis sp. n., Loxotropa sp., Cyrtogaster sp., Callitula bicolor and Spalangia drosophilae. Other hosts from which these parasites have been reared include Chloropids associated with O. frit in wheat, namely O. carbonaria, O. soror, O. minor and Meromyza americana.A brief account is given of the control exerted by these parasites on the population of frit-fly in Ontario and a comparison is made between the Canadian and English parasite complexes. From this it is concluded that S. drosophilae might exert some control of frit-fly if introduced into England.

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