University of Arkansas, Fayetteville ScholarWorks@UARK Theses and Dissertations 12-2015 Sampling Terrestrial Arthropod Biodiversity: A Case Study in Arkansas Michael Joseph Skvarla University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd Part of the Entomology Commons, and the Systems Biology Commons Recommended Citation Skvarla, Michael Joseph, "Sampling Terrestrial Arthropod Biodiversity: A Case Study in Arkansas" (2015). Theses and Dissertations. 1408. http://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/1408 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UARK. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UARK. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Sampling Terrestrial Arthropod Biodiversity: A Case Study in Arkansas A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Entomology By Michael Joseph Skvarla Purdue University Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, 2008 University of Arkansas Master of Science in Entomology, 2011 December 2015 University of Arkansas This dissertation is approved for recommendation to the Graduate Council ___________________________________ Dr. Ashley Dowling Dissertation Director ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Dr. Tim Kring Dr. Alan Szalanski Committee Member Committee Member ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Dr. Don Steinkraus Dr. Jeff Silberman Committee Member Committee Member Abstract The Interior Highlands is a biodiversity hotspot, with at least 200 known endemic species, but is understudied compared to hotspots, such as the Southern Appalachians. In order to begin to rectify this issue, a nine month study was conducted from mid-March through early December at a 4 ha site at Steel Creek, Buffalo National River, in Newton County, Arkansas. Thirteen collecting methods were employed, including three colors of Lindgren funnel trap, five colors of pan trap, Malaise traps, canopy traps with upper and lower collectors, pitfall traps, and Berlese-Tullgren extraction of leaf litter, which resulted in the collection of 1311 samples during 17 collection events. Target groups, including Formicidae, Carabidae, Cerambycidae, Curculionoidea, Araneae, Isopoda, Mecoptera, Phasmida, Vespidae, Ixodidae, Phalangodidae, and select Diplopoda and Orthoptera were identified. This resulted in 47,481 specimens representing 706 species that were curated and identified, including 18 putatively undescribed species, 56 species that represented new state records, 15 non-native species, and three species of Carabidae endemic to the Interior Highlands, two of which (Rhadine ozarkensis and Scaphinotus infletus) were previously known only from the original type series. Collection data for four beetle taxa – Buprestidae, Carabidae, Cerambycidae, and Curculionoidea excluding Scolytinae – as well as all taxa combined were analyzed. Pitfall and Malaise traps were the most effective (define here as collecting the most species with fewest samples) combination of collection methods for Carabidae, Curculionoidea, and the combined taxa, while Malaise traps alone and Malaise or canopy traps and green Lindgren funnel traps were the most effective collection methods for Cerambycidae and Buprestidae, respectively. Color of Lindgren funnel traps was important when targeting Buprestidae and some Curculionoidea, but not Carabidae or Cerambycidae. Extrapolated rarefaction curves indicated that 300–600 samples were required per trap type (1000+ for pitfall traps) before species accumulation is saturated. Finally, four rarely collected specimens or species – a Temnothorax curvispinosus gynandromorph, Orussus minutus, Eudociminus mannerheimii, and Merope tuber – are treated individually in detail. Acknowledgements I thank Danielle M. Fisher for her assistance with sorting samples and curating thousands of beetles – without her help I would have accomplished much less in the pursuit of my degree; J. Ray Fisher for his assistance identifying random spiders, wasps and other insects and unlimited enthusiasm with respect to things entomological and science in general; all of the many coauthors I’ve written publications with and who have provided excellent feedback and constructive criticism; the University of Arkansas interlibrary loan department for their assistance in tracking down and scanning the thousands of articles I requested; Kyle Schnepp, David Smith, and Clint Trammel for identifying Buprestidae, “Symphyta”, and Pompilidae, respectively; Buffalo National River for granting the permit that allowed my research to take place; Tim Kring and Rob Wiedenmann for their excellent academic and life advice; my committee; and my adviser Ashley Dowling who let me develop my own project but was always available when problems inevitably arose. This project and the preparation of this publication was funded in part by the State Wildlife Grants Program (Grant # T39-05) of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through an agreement with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Dedication To my wife, Sarah, who has supported me through graduate school, falconry, and every other goal I’ve set my sights on, and my son, Vaun, who, despite causing many sleepless nights is the best thing to happen to me; my father, for showing me how to collect hibernating insects under bark during winter, thus sparking my love of entomology and for allowing me the freedom to explore the forest and creeks without supervision when I was young; my mother, grandparents and brother for always believing I could accomplish anything; my best friend Jon and the other Purdue Bug Kids Amy and Amber who have travelled this long road to Ph.D.s with me; and Stephen “Steve” Irwin, for his role the the television series The Crocodile Hunter, which inspired me as a child. Table of Contents I. Introduction 1 II. Pitfalls and preservatives: A review 9 Abstract 9 Introduction 9 Pitfall traps 10 Preservatives 25 Summary 29 Acknowledgements 30 References 31 III. A review of terrestrial and canopy Malaise traps 51 Abstract 51 Introduction 51 History 52 Taxa collected 58 Uses 65 Trap setup 67 Factors influencing catch 69 Terrestrial/canopy trap comparison 70 Comparisons to other traps and collecting methods 71 Summary 73 References 75 IV. Terrestrial arthropods of Steel Creek, Buffalo National River, Arkansas. I. Select beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae, Carabidae, Cerambycidae, Curculionoidea excluding Scolytinae) 101 Abstract 101 Introduction 101 Sampling Methods 110 Geographic Coverage 118 Taxonomic Coverage 118 Usage Rights 119 Data Resources 119 Additional Information 119 Discussion 134 Acknowledgements 134 References 135 Appendix I. Dataset Description 152 V. Collecting beetles: Analysis of a single-site data set and comparison of trapping techniques (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea excluding Scolytinae, Carabidae, Buprestidae, Cerambycidae) 154 Abstract 154 Introduction 154 Materials and Methods 160 Results 167 Buprestidae 167 Carabidae 176 Cerambycidae 187 Curculionoidea 200 Discussion 215 Buprestidae 215 Carabidae 218 Cerambycidae 221 Curculionoidea 223 Conclusions 225 Acknowledgements 227 References 228 Appendix I 239 Appendix II 243 Appendix III 247 Appendix IV 251 VI. Sampling terrestrial arthropod diversity: A case study 256 Abstract 256 Introduction 256 Materials and methods 259 Results 270 Discussion 281 References 285 Appendix I 299 Appendix II 304 Appendix III 320 VII. First report of gynandromorphism in Temnothorax curvispinosus (Mayr, 1886) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) 324 Abstract 324 Body 324 References 328 VIII. New records of Orussus minutus Middlekauff, 1983 (Hymenoptera: Orussidae) represent a significant western range expansion 332 Abstract 332 Introduction 332 Materials and Methods 335 Taxon Treatment 336 Distribution 343 Analysis 343 Discussion 343 Acknowledgements 347 References 348 IX. New information about the cypress weevil, Eudociminus mannerheimii (Boheman, 1836) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae): redescription, range expansion, new host records, and a report as the causative agent of tree mortality 352 Abstract 352 Introduction 352 Materials and Methods 353 Taxonomy 354 Discussion 360 Acknowledgements 361 References 363 X. Report on a large collection of Merope tuber Newman, 1838 (Mecoptera: Meropeidae) from Arkansas with notes on collection technique, sex ratio, and male clasper size 365 Abstract 365 Introduction 365 Materials and Methods 368 Results and Conclusions 371 Acknowledgements 375 Disclosure 375 References 376 XI. Conclusion 380 XII. Appendix I. Statistical analyses workflow 392 XIII. Appendix II. Arthropod species collected at Steel Creek 393 List of published works Skvarla, M.J., Larson, J.L., Dowling, A.P.G. 2014. Pitfalls and preservatives: A review. Journal of the Entomological Society of Ontario, 145: 15–43. Chapter II. Published. Skvarla, M.J., Larson, J.L., Fisher, J.R., Dowling, A.P.G. A review of terrestrial and canopy Malaise traps. Chapter III. Prepared for submission. Skvarla, M.J., Fisher, D.M., Schnepp, K.E., Dowling, A.P.G. Terrestrial arthropods of Steel Creek, Buffalo National River, Arkansas. I. Select beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae, Carabidae, Cerambycidae, Curculionoidea excluding Scolytinae). Biodiversity Data Journal. Chapter IV. In press. Skvarla, M.J., Dowling, A.P.G. Collecting beetles: Analysis of a single-site data set and comparison of trapping techniques