Collecting Insects by Airplane With Special Reference to Dispersal of the Potato Leafhopper
TECHNICAL BULLETIN NO. 1222
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE CONTENTS
Page
Area covered«*,«.. • ••••••••«••••• 1
Collection method • 3
Insects collected 3
Potato leafhopper • • 15
Summary ••••••• • 15
Literature cited • 16
"Washington, D. C. Issued April I960
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington 25, D.C. - Price 10 cents COLLECTING INSECTS BY AIRPLANE, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO DISPERSAL OF THE POTATO LEAFHOPPER ^ Perry A. Glick,
Entomology Research Division, Agricultural Research Service^
The annual spring appearance of the potato leafhopper (Empoasca fabae Harris) in the Northern States has caused much concern among agriculturists. Medler (1957) reported that the insect was not present in the North-Central States early in the spring but appeared each year as a migrant in April and May. He also found that high populations occurred in Florida and the Gulf States during March and April, and indicated the need for determining the routes and methods of migration from this source. To obtain further information, insect-collecting flights were made during 1957 in certain Southern and North-Central States. Records were made of other insects and spiders collected when their condition permitted identification.
AREA COVERED
Insect-collecting flights were made in sections of five States, extending from northeastern Louisiana into Missis- sippi, Arkansas, northern Illinois, and Indiana (fig. 1). Of 52 flights, 20 were made in the Louisiana-Mississippi- Arkansas area during the period May 8-16. Sixteen of these flights were round trips from Tallulah, La., and covered areas north along the Mississippi River to Greenville, Miss., or west to Monroe, La. Four were round trips from Helena, Ark., to West Memphis, Ark. In the Illinois-Indiana area, 32 flights were made from May 18 to June 4. Except for two flights from Highland, 111., all of these northern flights were made from Urbana, and covered areas west to Lincoln and Peoria, north to Chicago and Gary, and southeast to Vincennes, Ind. Insect-collecting traps were exposed at various altitudes for periods of time as shown in table 1.
* A contribution to the North-Central Regional Cooperative Project NC-29, Migration of the Potato Leafhopper and Its Causes. * In cooperation with the Illinois Natural History Survey Division, Ntost of the insect determinations were made by taxonomists of the Entomology Research Division.
- 1 - Gulf of Mexico
Figure l.--Map with shaded areas indicating localities in which scheduled flights were made.
2 - TABLE 1. —Insect abundance at various altitudes as indicated by the number taken per 10 minutes
Louisiana-Mississippi area Illinois-Indiana area
Altitude Number of insects taken Number of insects taken Flying Flying (feet) time in time in Average per Average per minutes minutes 10 minutes 10 minutes
100. 18 37 20.6
200. 270 282 10.4 465 596 12.8
500. 95 53 5.6 465 346 7.4
1,000. 285 168 5.9 795 528 6.6
2,000. 250 10^4 A.l 630 258 4.1
3,000. 165 ^0 2.4 345 81 2.4
-^jOOO. 70 22 3.1 60 0 0
5,000. 13 2.0
COLLECTION METHOD
The insect-collecting traps used on the airplane were designed by C. N, Husman.^ Two traps were used, one on each side of the plane cabin. Each trap was a net (24-mesh Dacron netting) similar in shape to a conventional sweep net. The nets were 25 inches long and had a mouth area of 1 1/2 square feet. They were fastened with snaps to ferrules inserted in grooves on steel tracks, which extended 57 inches from the fuselage (fig. 2). The upper and lower tracks were 13 inches apart at their extrennity, but converged as they extended into the plane cabin. The nets could be reeled in and out of the plane by nneans of a steel cable controlled by a handcrank within the cabin. Following exposure, the nets were reeled in and replaced. Each net was labeled as to time of exposure and altitude, rolled up to prevent the in- sects from escaping, and stored in a compartment in the plane cabin. At the conclusion of each flight the nets were carefully examined and the insects removed. The cruising speed of the plane, a Piper Cub PA-12 Super Cruiser, was approximately 50 m.p.h.
INSECTS COLLECTED
Insect abundance at various altitudes, as indicated by the number taken per 10-minute exposure of the collecting traps, is shown in table 1. Collections from all areas flown included 11 orders of insects, and the orders of spiders and mites (table 2). A total of 2,528 specimens were taken, representing 94 known families, 202 genera, and 123 identi- fiable species, including 3 new species (table 3).
3 Supervisory equipment specialist. Animal Disease Eradication Division, Agricultural Research Service.
- 3 - Figure 2.--Insect trap in position on plane; steel tracks extend from rear of cabin to struts of plane, with net in collecting position at end of tracks.
TABLE 2. —Numbers of insects, spiders, and mites collected by airplane, May 8 to June 4, 1957
Louisiana-Mississippi- Illinois-Indiana Arkansas Average per Average per 10 minutes 10 minutes
Aranelda 16 0.12 Amarina 0 .003 Collembola 1 Isoptera Psocoptera .06 Trlchoptera .008 Ihysanoptera .06 Hemiptera 9 .07 Homoptera IM 1.35 108 Coleóptera 22 .13 203 Lepidoptera 0 3 .001 i^enoptera 75 .62 134 .50 Díptera 252 2.07 642 2.38
lb tal
Unrecognizable insects
Grand total
Total flying time in minutes
The flights in the Louisiana-Mississippi-Arkansas area were made a week earlier than those in the Illinois-Indiana area. An average of 6.7 insects were collected per 10 minutes of flying time in the Illinois-Indiana area compared with 5.9 insects in the Louisiana-Mississippi-Arkansas area. Of the total specimens collected, 33 percent were un- recognizable, as compared to only 6 to 10 percent unrecog- nizable in traps used in the earlier flights (Glick 1939, 1957). During the period of these flights, temperatures were higher in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas (southern area) than in Illinois and Indiana (northern area). In the
- 4 - TABLE 3. —Numbers of insects, spiders, and mites collected by airplane at various altitudes. May 8 to June 4, 1957
LDuisiana-Mississippi- Arkansas Illinois-Indiana Order, fEunily, genus, and species Altitude Altitude (feet) (feet)
ARANEIDA (spiders): Argiopidae: Undet. sp. (inm.) 2,000
Epeiridae: Epeira sp 2,000 Undet. sp 2,000
Linyphiidae: Undet. sp 1,000
lycosidae: Undet. sp 3,000
Mtcryphantidae: Undet. sp
Salticidae: Neon sp 500 Undet. sp 500 3,000 Tetragnathidae: Undet. sp
Theridlosomatidae: Undet. sp
Theridiidae: Undet. sp. (imm.) 2,000
Thomisidae: Mtsumena vatia (Clerck) Ebo sp 200
Undet, family 200 200 500 500 1,000 1,000 2,000 2,000 3,000 3,000 4,000
ACARIÑA (mites): Parasitidae: Parasitus sp
COLLEMBOLA: Iftidet. sp 3,000
ISOTERA: Rhinotermitidae: Reticulitermes virginicus (Banks)..
PSOCOPTERA: Lachesillidae: Lachesilla nubllis (Aaron) 200 Lachesllla nubllis (Aaron) (female) 200 3,000
Caeciliidae: Caecilius sp 1,000
liposcelldae: Liposcells (Troctes) sp 2,000
TRICHOPTERA: Undet. sp 200
THYSANOPTERA: TEREBRANTIA: Thrlpldae: Franklinlella fusca (Hinds) (winged f^ale).. Franklinlella fusca (Hinds) (winged male) 500 Undet. sp. (larva) 500
TUBULIFERA: Fhlaeothrlpldae: Elaphrothrips tuberculatus (Hood) (winged female) 100 1,000 Elaphi-othrips flavlpes (Hood) (winged female) 1,000 - 5 - (continued) TABLE 3. —Continued
Louisiana-Iilississippi- Illinois-Indiana Arkansas Order, family, genus, and species Altitude Altitude (feet) (feet)
HEMIPTERA: Pentatomidae: Annestus splnifrons (Say).... 200 Corimelaena pulicaria (Germ.) 200 Cîorimelaena ovalis (Hussey).. 200 500 1,000 Geotomus robustus (Uhler)....
lygaeidae: Bligsus leucopterus (Say).... 500 1,000 2,000 Cymus angustatus Stal 500 2,000
Ischnodemus falicus (Say).... 200 lygaeus blcrucis (Say) 200
Piesmidae: Piesma cinérea (Say)
Tingidae: Corythucha celtidis 0. & D...
Anthocoridae: Orlus insidioBus (Say) 1,000 500 2,000 1,000
Mridae : I;ygus llneolaris (P. de B.) Kth instar).. 2,000 Glilamydatus associatus ( Uhler) 200 Melanotrichus flavosparsus (Sahlberg) 200
Saldidae: Micracanthia husseyi Drake & Chapman. 1,000 2,000
Saldula pallipes (female)
HQMOPTERA: Ifembracidae : Micrutalis calva (Say)
Cicadellidae: Aceratagallia uhleri V. D 000 Aceratagallia sp 000 200 Agallla constricta V. D. (female).... 500 Deltocephalus sp. undet ,000 Empoasca bifurcata DeL. (female) 200 3,000 000 anpoasca erigeron DeL. (male) .000 Qnpoasca fabae (Harr.) (male) 200 2,000 Qnpoasca fabae (Harr.) (female) 200 200 ,000 500 ,000 1,000 ,000 2,000 argoasca sp. (male)..... 200 Bnpoasca sp. (female) ,000 Qnpoasca sp. (sex ?) 200 Beitianus exitiosüs (Uhl.) (male).... ,000 Exltianus exitiosus (Uhl.) (female).. ,000 Gramlnella nigrifrons (Forbes) ,000 Latalus sp Macrosteles sp. (female) Nesoteles sp 1,000 1 Oncometopia undata (Fab.) (female)... 500 2 Psammotettix striatus (L.) (maie).... 500 1 Psammotettix striatus (L.) (female).. 200 1 Typhlocybinae sp. undet 200 1 Undet. sp. (female) 200 1
Fulgoroidea: Delphacidae: Delphacodes basivitta (V.D.) (maie).. 200 2 Delphacodes gillettel (V.D.) (maie).. 200 1 Delphacodes puella (V.D.) (maie) 200 200 1 Delphacodes sp. (maie) 200 Delphacodes sp. (female) 200 200 1 500 2 2,000 1
(continued) - 6 - TABLE 3. —Continued
Louisiana-Mississippi- Arkansas Illinois-Indiana Order, family, genus, and species Altitude Altitude (feet) (feet)
HOMOPTERA: (continued) Delphacidae sp. undet. (female)... 200 500 Hbumiella ornata (Stal) (male).. 200 200 Llbumlella ornata (Stal) (female) 1,000 2,000
Psyllidae: inhalara curta Cald 200 500 Neotriozella pyrifolii (Forbes)... 200 1,000 Neotrlozella sp 500 Trioza diospyri (Ashm.) 2,000 7 3,000 4 -4,000 1 Trioza minuta Crawf 200 10 500 3,000 6 1,000 4,000 3 2,000
J^hidae: ^his sp. 100 200 1,000 Tribe ^hini sp. 200 200 500 1,000 1,000 2,000 3,000 Capitophorus sp 200 Eriosoma sp 500 1,000 Macrosiphum granarium (Kby.) 200 200 500 500 4,000 1,000 2,000 3,000 ^feicrosiphtim pisl (Harris). 200 23 200 500 4 1,000 7 2,000 3 3,000 1 4,000 2 Macrosiphum sp 100 1 200 200 5 500 1,000 3 1,000 2,000 1 l>tyzocalli3 sp 100 1 200 1,000 Tribe Panaphini sp. undet 200 500 Tribe Pemphigini sp. undet 200 200 Hhopalosiphum fitchii (Sand.) 2,000 1,000 Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominalis (Sasaki) 200 500 1,000 2,000 Rhopaloslphum sp 200 500 1,000 1,000 2,000 4,000 Therioaphis ( Pterocallidium) trifolii (Jton.) 100 200 1,000 Therlophis sp 200 1 1,000 1 Undet. sp 1,000 200 5 1,000 1 2,000 1 3,000 1 COLEÓPTERA: Carabidae: ■Agoniim cupripenne Say..., 500 1 2,000 1 Amara sp 1,000 1 Blechrua americanus Dej.. 200 1 500 1 Casnonla pennsylvanica L. 1,000 1 Harpalus sp 500 1
(continued) 7 - TABLE 3. —Continued
Louisiana-Mississippi- Illinois-Indiana Arkansas Order, family, genus, and species Altitude Altitude (feet) (feet)
COLEÓPTERA: (continued) Stenolophua conjunctus Say. 200 2,000 Stenolophus sp 200 Undet. sp 500
I^drophilidae: Undet. sp
Staphylinidae: Aleochara sp 500 1 1,000 1 Aleocharinae undet. sp 200 11 500 5 1,000 9 Carpalimus sp 1,000 2 Lathrobium sp 200 1 Near Qnaliiim sp 200 1 Paederus sp 200 1 1,000 1 PhiIonthus sp 200 3 Platystethus sp 1,000 1 Scopaeus sp 500 1 Stenus punctatus Er 200 12 500 12 1,000 18 2,000 3 Stenus sp 200 3 500 4 1,000 6 2,000 2 3,000 1 Tachyporus sp 200 4 500 1 1,000 2 Tachyporinae undet. sp. 200 15 500 3 1,000 10 2,000 1 Undet. sp 200 2
Scaphidildae: Scaphisoma sp
Histeridae: Hister sp
Mardellidae: Undet. sp
Anthicidae: Undet. sp 200 Notoxus sp 3,000
Elateridae: Aeolus sp 1,000 Conoderus sp 1,000
Helodidae: Undet. sp
Lathridiidae: Melanophthalma (Corticarina) sp.... 200 200 500 1,000 3,000 Melanophthalma (Melanophthalma) sp. 200 500 1,000 2,000 3,000
Nitidulidae: Carpophilus sp. dimidiatus complex ( female ) 1,000 Carpophilus sp 200
Phalacridae: Undet. sp 200 1,000
Coccinellidae: Coleomegilla maculata (DeGreer). 200 500
(continued) - 8 - TABLE 3. —Continued
Louisiana-Mississippi - Illinois-Indiana Arkansas Order, family, genus, and species Altitude Altitude (feet) (feet)
COLEÓPTERA: (continued) Cycloneda munda (Say) 200 500 Hippodamia convergens Guer 200 ELppodamla parenthesis (Say) 500 1,000 Scymnus (Pullus) loewii Muls 100 200
Scarabaeidae: Aphodius granarius (L.)
Chrysomelidae: Altica sp 200 1,000 Alticinae undet. sp 1,000 Ceirotoma trifurcata (Forst. ) 500 1,000 3,000 Chaetocnema pulicaria Ifelsh 200 Epltrix sp. prob, cucvimeris (Harr.)... 200 Epltrlx sp. prob, hirtipennis (Melsh.) 200 500 Glyptina sp 2,000 Mantvira floridana Cr 200
Bruchidae: Bruciius sp. (female)
Anthribidae: Brachytarsoides sp 1,000
Curculionidae: Anthonomus grandis Boh 200 Anthonomini undet. sp 2,000 Ceutorhynchus semirufus Lee 200 1,000 i^lobiinl undet. sp 500 Limnobaris sp 200 Sltona cyllndricollis Fahr 500
Scolytidae: Ips sp 1,000
LEPIDOPTERA: Hialaenidae (Noctuidae): Pseudaletia unipuneta (Haw.) Olethreutidae: Undet. sp. (female)
Tischeriidae: Prob. Tischeria sp
HÏMENOPTERA: Braconldae: Apanteles enslger ( Say) , 1,000 2 ■/Cánteles griffini Vier 200 1 Apanteles mllitaris (Walsh) , 200 200 6 500 500 1,000 1,000 2,000 2,000 3,000 3,000 j^anteles sp , 200 1,000 Aphaereta auripes (Prov. ) , 1,000 j^hldius obscuripes Ashm , 4,000 200 500 Aphidixis sp 1,000 200 1,000 3,000 Blacus sp 2,000 Bracon juncicola Ashm 1,000 3,000 Bracon pygmaeus Prov , 200 Bracon n. sp , 2,000 Bracon sp , 2,000 200 1,000 BUGculatriplex bueculatricis (Ashm.)... 200 Opi\is sp 1,000 500 1,000 2,000 2 Fhaenocarpa n. sp , 200
(continued) - 9 TABLE 3. —Continued
Louisiana-Mississippi- Illinois-Indiana Arkansas Order, family, genus, and species Altitude Altitude (feet) (feet)
HYMENOPTERA: (continued) Phanerotoma fasciata Prov ■ 1,000 Phanerotoma longlcauda Walley , 200 Praon simulans (Prov.) 200 500 1,000 2,000 3,000 Praon sp 1,000 Ichneumonidae: Cryptus sp. (female) 2,000 Diplazon laetatorius (F.)(female) 1,000 2,000 Diplazon sp 2,000 Ethelurgus sp. (female) 200 Hemitelini sp. undet 1,000 Horogenes sp. (female) 200 tfelanl chneumon sp. ( female ) 2,000 Mesolelinae sp. undet. (female) 1,000 Plectiscinae sp. undet. (female) 200 1,000 Proscus sp. (female) 1,000 Zaleptopygus sp 1,000 Ichneumonlnae sp. undet. (male) 500
Mymaridae: Polynema sp. (female) 2,000
Eulophidae: Euplectrus comstocki How 2,000 Pnigalio sp. (female) 200 Solenotus begird (Ashm.) (female) 500 Sympiesls sp7 (female) 200 Tetrastichus sp. (female) 500 1,000 2,000
Eupelmidae: Eupelmus sp. (female) 1,000 Eupelmidae, unknown genus (female)... Undet. sp 1,000 Torymidae: Dimeromicrus sp. (female) Roptrocerus eccoptogastri (Ratz.) (female) 1,000 Torymus sp. (male).T 1,000 Torymus sp. (female) 2,000 500 1,000
Oiroyridae: Qrmyrus sp. (female)
Pteromalidae: Asaphes fletcheri (Cwfd.)(female) 200 Coelopisthia blcarlnata Crlt 200 Habrocytus piercei Cwfd. (female) 200 Haltlcoptera sp, (female) 1,000 Heterolaccus hunteri (Cwfd.)(female) 1,000 Pachyneuron sp. (female) 500 2,000 Pteromalini sp. undet. (female) 200 1,000 Trldymus sp. (female) 1,000 200 Trimeromicrus maculatus Gah. (female) 1,000 Zatropis sp 200 Sphegigasterini sp. undet. (female) 500 2,000 Triehomalus sp. (female) 1,000 2,000 Undet. sp 3,000 Eurytomidae: Eudecatoma querci-lanae (Fitch) (female).. Harmolita grandis grandis (Ril.) (female). 1,000 Cynipoidea: Anacharitinae genus, sp Cynipidae: Eucoilinae: Trybllographa sp. (female)
(continued) - 10 - TABLE 3. —Continued
Lauisiana-Mississippi- Arkansas Illinois-Indiana Order, family, genus, and species Altitude Altitude (feet) (feet)
HYMENOPTERA: (continued) Cynipinae: Ceroptres sp. (females) 500 2,000 Ceroptres sp 200 Neuroterus sp. (female)....
Ceraphronidae: Ceraphron sp
Diapriidae: Monelata n. sp
Scelionidae; Trissacantha sp 200
Formicidae: Camponotus sp. (males) 200 1,000
Halictidae: Halictus (Chloralictus) sp. (males) 2,000
^idae ; Apis mellifera L. (male) 3,000
DÍPTERA: Agromyzidae: Cerodontha dorsalis (Lw.) 200 200 500 500 1,000 1,000 2,000 2,000 3,000 <4,000 Agromyza sp 1,000 2,000 3,000 Liriomyza sp Melanagromyza 3,000
Anthomyzidae: Anthomyza sp 1,000 1,000 1 Mumetopia occipitalis Mel 200 200 11 500 500 11 1,000 1,000 6 2,000 2,000 4,000 Undet. spp , 200
Borboridae: Scatophora carollnensis R.D ,
Chloropidae: Chlorops certima Ad , 200 Diplotoxa sp , 1,000 Elachlptera costata (Lw. ) 200 500 Elachlptera nigriceps (Lw.) 1,000 Elachiptera sp Eribolxis longulus (Lw.) 200 Hippelates pallipes (ür.) 200 1,000 Hippelates particeps (Beck.) 100 200 1,000 2,000 Hippelates pusio Lw 1,000 Hippelates sp 200 Lasiosina sp 200 Qscinella carbonaria (Lff.) 200 Qscinella neocoxendix Sabr 500 Qscinella sp. 200 200 1,000 500 2,000 1,000 3,000 Thaumatomyia glabra (Mg.) 200 11 500 1 1,000 2 Thaumatomyia sp 1,000 200 1 Undet. sp 2,000
Culioidae: Aedes vexans (MgO 3,000 Aedes sp 1,000
(continued) - 11 - TABLE 3. --Continued
Louisiana-Mississippi- Illinois-Indiana Arkansas Order, family, genus, and species Altitude Altitude (feet) (feet)
DÍPTERA: (continued) Dolichopodidae: Condylostylus sp 200 1,000 Dolichopus sp 1,000 Medeterus sp 2,000 Undet. spp 1,000 200 3,000 1,000
Drosophilidae: Drosophila sp 200 500 1,000 Scaptomyza adjusta ( Lw. ) • • • • Scaptomyza graminum (Fallen) 1,000 Scaptomyza sp 200 200 1,000 500 3,000 1,000 2,000 3,000
Qnpididae: Tachydromia sp
Ephydridae: ^yadina albpvenosa Coq 1,000 ^yadina sp 200 2,000 Itydrellia griseola (Fallen) 500 1,000 ^ydrellia sp 500 1,000 2,000 I^ytogaster grávida Lw 200 lytogaster sp 2,000 500 Parydra sp 1,000 200 2,000 500 3,000 Philygria debilis Lw 200 200 1,000 500 1,000 2,000 3,000 Scatella picea (Walk.) 200 500 1,000 2,000 3,000 200 500 1,000 3,000
Fungivoridae: Exechia sp 1,000 Phronia sp Rhymosia sp 200
Heleidae: Atrichopogon sp 500 Dasyhelea sp 500
Itonididae: Anarete sp Prob. Porricondyla sp I^ycoridae : Bradysia sp 100 3 200 200 26 500 500 10 1,000 1,000 6 2,000 2,000 2 3,000 4,000 2 5,000 Misicidae: Coenosia (Llmosia) sp 3,000 1,000 5,000 It/lamya sp 200 500 2,000 1,000 5,000 2,000 Hylemya sp. No. 1.... 1,000
(continued)
12 TABLE 3. —Continued
Louisiana-Mississippi- Illinois-Indiana Arkansas Order, family, genus, and species Altitude Altitude (feet) (feet)
DÍPTERA: (continued) i^rlenya sp. No. 2 Lispe sp 1,000 5,000 Phaonia sp 200 3,000 Phaoniinae, gen. sp. undet... 200 5,000 Schoenamyza dorsalis (Lff.)... 1,000 500 1,000 2,000 3,000 Schoenomyza sp 200
Otitidae: Chaetopsis fulvifrons {Uiacq.)
Phoridae: Megaselia sp 500 1,000 Undet. app , 1,000 1,000 2,000 2,000 Scatopsidae: Scatopse fuscipes 1^ , 1,000 Sciomyzidae: Dictya sp , Pherbellia nana (Fall.) 2,000 3,000 Pherbellia sp 5,000
Sepsidae: Sepsis puneturn (female) 200 500 1,000 1,000 2,000 2,000 Sepsis sp 200 500 1,000
Sphaeroceridae: Leptocera acutangula (Zett.).. 200 3 Leptocera fontinalis (Fall.).. 100 1 200 2 200 3 500 500 1 1,000 6 1,000 1 2,000 3 Leptocera sp 100 1 200 25 200 11 500 16 500 1 1,000 34 1,000 5 2,000 15 2,000 2 3,000 3,000
Stratiomyidae: Undet. sp
Syrphidae: Allograpta obliqua (Say)... 5,000 200 500 Mesograpta geminata (Say).. 200 500 1,000 2,000 Mesograpta marginata (Say). 100 200 5 200 500 7 1,000 1,000 10 2,000 2,000 3 3,000 3,000 4,000 Mesograpta sp 200 200 1,000 500 1,000 3,000 Melanostoma sp 2,000 Philygria debilis Lw. Sphaerophoria sp 200 1,000
Tendipedidae: Cricotopvis sp 100 200 200 500 2,000 1,000 2,000 Pentanevira sp
(continued) - 13 - TABLE 3. —Continued
Louisiana-Mississippi- Illinois-Indiana Arkansas ùrder, family, genus, and species Altitude Altitude (feet) (feet)
DÍPTERA: (continued) Tendipes sp , 1,000 Undet. spp 200 500 1,000 2,000
Tephritidae: Trupanea sp
Tipulidae: Llmonia divisa Alex 1,000 2 Limonia sp 500 1 Polymeda cana (Walk.) 200 4 500 14 1,000 21 2,000 22 3,000 5
Tylidae: Paracalobata pallipes (Say) 500
Mutilated unidentified Insects, 100 12 200 259 200 70 500 109 500 10 1,000 156 1,000 47 2,000 102 2,000 20 3,000 4,000 5,000
Total insects collected. 100 37 200 596 200 282 500 346 500 53 1,000 528 1,000 168 2,000 258 2,000 104 3,000 81 3,000 40 4,000 22 5,000 13
northern area there was a wide diurnal viariation in tempera- ture. On most days these variations were 25 to 35 degrees; for example, a range from a morning low of 46^ to an after- noon high of 75° F. In the southern area, the morning temp- eratures were higher with less difference between daily extremes. The surface temperatures and average number of insects collected per 10-minute trap exposure are given in table 4. TABLE 4. --Surface temperature and average number of insects collected per 10-minute exposure of traps
Surface temperature (°F.) Number of insects collected per Area and date Average 10 minutes Highest Lowest Maximum Minimum A. M. Midday P. M.
Southern May 8-16 89 63 86 65 6.2 5.6
Northern, May 18-June 4 83 46 78 54 4.8 7.4 8.0
Owing to the large and widely separated areas covered in these flights, the meteorological data were not sufficient for any one locality to warrant a detailed discussion and evaluation.
- 14 - POTATO LEAFHOPPER Many specimens of Empoasca fabae have been taken in previous airplane collections. In the Louisiana collections during 1926 to 1931 (Click 1939), 19 were taken at altitudes from 20 to 5,000 feet, and 1 at 7,000 feet. In flights in the lower Rio Grande Valley at Brownsville, Tex., in 1954, one fabae was collected at 500 feet (Click 1957). In 1956, col- lecting flights were made from August to October in central and northeastern Texas, in the Red River Valley from Shreveport, La., to Texarkana, Ark., and into southeastern Oklahoma, primarily to determine the dispersal flight of the pink boUworm moth (unpublished). In these flights, 44 speci- mens of fabae were taken—21 at 200 feet, 4 at 500 feet, 9 at 1,000 feet, and 10 at 3,000 feet. During two flights made on June 17 and 18, 1957, near Brownsville, Tex., three Empoasca spp. were taken, one each at 200, 500, and 1,000 feet. During the 52 flights reported herein, 28 specimens of Empoasca spp. were taken, 17 in the Illinois-Indiana area and 11 in the Louisiana-Mississippi-Arkansas area. The collections included three known species, of which 21 speci- mens were fabae, at altitudes from 200 to 4,000 feet (table 3). The majority of these were collected in the morning flights. Decker (1957) reported that while the number of specimens in the airplane collections was small, the times and elevations at which they were taken correlated closely with other data and thus strengthened the evidence of migration. He reported some apparent potato leafhopper migration out of the lower Mississippi Delta at and below Baton Rouge in late January and early February 1957. Further intermittent migrations northward occurred during April, as indicated by light-trap and air-sock 4 collections, and by sweepings.
SUMMARY In a study of the movement of the potato leafhopper (En^poasca fabae Harris), a series of airplane insect- collecting flights were made at altitudes of 100 to 5,000 feet, from May 8 to June 4, 1957, covering areas in northeastern Louisiana along the Mississippi River into Mississippi and Arkansas, and then into central and northern Illinois and Indiana. During the 52 flights made, 2,528 insects were collected, representing 94 known families, 202 genera, and 123 iden- tifiable species. Twenty-eight specimens of Empoasca spp. were taken, of which 21 were fabae, collected at altitudes from 200 to 4,000 feet. These potato leafhopper collections strengthened other data obtained by the Illinois Natural History Survey, indicating a definite pattern of dispersal and migration of the insect to the North-Central States from the Mississippi Delta. ^ Air-sock collecting nets, as used by the Illinois Natural History Survey Division, were placed as high above the ground as practicable.
- 15 - LITERATURE CITED
DECKER. G. C. 1957. Report of the 1957 Potato Leafhopper Survey. 111. Nat. Hist. Survey, Sect. Econ. Ent. 14 pp., mimeographed.
CLICK. P. A. 1939, The Distribution of Insects. Spiders, and Mites in the Air. U. S.Dept. Agr.Tech. Bui. 673. 150 pp., nius.
1957. Collecting Insects by Airplane in Southern Texas. U.S. Dept, Agr.Tech. Bui. 1158. 28 pp.. illus.
MEDLER, J. T. 1957. Migration of the Potato Leafhopper. A Report on a Cooperative Study. Jour. Econ. Ent. 50: 493-497.
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