Conservation Assessment for Fitch's Elephanthopper (Fitchiella Robertsoni (Fitch))
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Conservation Assessment for Fitch's Elephanthopper (Fitchiella robertsoni (Fitch)) USDA Forest Service, Eastern Region December 13, 2005 James Bess OTIS Enterprises 13501 south 750 west Wanatah, Indiana 46390 This document is undergoing peer review, comments welcome This Conservation Assessment was prepared to compile the published and unpublished information on the subject taxon or community; or this document was prepared by another organization and provides information to serve as a Conservation Assessment for the Eastern Region of the Forest Service. It does not represent a management decision by the U.S. Forest Service. Though the best scientific information available was used and subject experts were consulted in preparation of this document, it is expected that new information will arise. In the spirit of continuous learning and adaptive management, if you have information that will assist in conserving the subject taxon, please contact the Eastern Region of the Forest Service - Threatened and Endangered Species Program at 310 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 580 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203. TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................................................................ 1 NOMENCLATURE AND TAXONOMY ..................................................................................... 2 DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES........................................................................................................ 2 Description of Adult Stage........................................................................................................... 2 Description of Immature Stages................................................................................................... 2 LIFE HISTORY.............................................................................................................................. 3 Reproduction................................................................................................................................ 3 Ecology ........................................................................................................................................ 3 Dispersal/Migration ..................................................................................................................... 3 Obligate Associations .................................................................................................................. 4 HABITAT....................................................................................................................................... 4 National Forests: Hoosier NF (Perry Co., IN) ............................................................................. 4 Site Specific ................................................................................................................................. 5 Hoosier NF: Boone Creek Special Area ................................................................................. 5 Hoosier NF: Clover Lick Special Area................................................................................... 5 Hoosier NF: Harding Flats Special Area ................................................................................ 7 DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE......................................................................................... 7 Range-wide Distribution.............................................................................................................. 7 State and National Forest Distribution......................................................................................... 8 RANGE WIDE STATUS ............................................................................................................. 10 State-Level Status (S-Ranks) ..................................................................................................... 10 Status of Habitat in Western Range........................................................................................... 10 POPULATION BIOLOGY AND VIABILITY............................................................................ 11 POTENTIAL THREATS.............................................................................................................. 11 Row Crop Agriculture................................................................................................................ 12 Fire Suppression......................................................................................................................... 12 Fire Management ....................................................................................................................... 13 Grazing and Mowing ................................................................................................................. 14 Pasture Development ................................................................................................................. 14 Competition from Introduced Species ....................................................................................... 16 Disease or Predation .................................................................................................................. 16 Insect Pest Control Efforts......................................................................................................... 17 Over-Utilization ......................................................................................................................... 18 Residential Development........................................................................................................... 19 Inadequacy of Existing Regulatory Mechanisms ...................................................................... 19 SUMMARY OF LAND OWNERSHIP & EXISTING HABITAT PROTECTION ................... 20 SUMMARY OF EXISTING MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES and recommendations ............... 20 Current management activities .................................................................................................. 20 Recommendations...................................................................................................................... 20 PAST AND CURRENT CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES ........................................................ 21 RESEARCH AND MONITORING ............................................................................................. 21 Existing Surveys, Monitoring, and Research............................................................................. 22 Conservation Assessment for Fitch's elephanthopper (Fitchiella robertsoni) ii Survey Protocol.......................................................................................................................... 22 Monitoring Protocol................................................................................................................... 23 Research Priorities ..................................................................................................................... 24 Additional Areas of Potential Fitchiella robertsoni Research............................................... 24 Other Rare Species Associated with Fitchiella robertsoni.................................................... 24 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................. 25 APPENDIX................................................................................................................................... 36 LIST OF CONTACTS.................................................................................................................. 36 Information Requests................................................................................................................. 36 Review Requests........................................................................................................................ 36 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Adult Habitus of Fitch's elephanthopper (Fitchiella robertsoni (Fitch)). Figure 2. Known Distribution of Fitch's elephanthopper (Fitchiella robertsoni (Fitch)) in the Eastern United States. Conservation Assessment for Fitch's elephanthopper (Fitchiella robertsoni) iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Fitch's elephanthopper (Fitchiella robertsoni Fitch) is a very small, grayish and black-mottled insect associated with high quality, native grassland remnants in the eastern United States. It is considered rare and intensely local range-wide, with approximately 12 populations known in the world prior to 2000. This highly distinctive, flightless planthopper typically produces two broods per year, although southern populations (such as those in southern Mississippi and Florida) may be present year-round. Fitchiella robertsoni is extremely rare and most records are based on one or a few individuals. Suppression of wildfires and conversion to agricultural production in the past 200 years has greatly reduced the amount and distribution of suitable habitat for this and many other species. Most records for this planthopper date from 50-100 years ago, and come from areas that are now completely urbanized, converted to agricultural production or have undergone succession to woodlands and forests following local wildfire suppression. The adults of Fitchiella robertsoni are sedentary and are never found outside of high quality barrens remnants. The few, fragments of suitable habitat that remain are often