Conservation Assessment for the Reflexed Indiangrass Leafhopper (Flexamia reflexa (Osborn and Ball)) USDA Forest Service, Eastern Region October 18, 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is undergoing peer review, comments welcome This Conservation Assessment was prepared to compile the published and unpublished information on the subject taxon or community; or this document was prepared by another organization and provides information to serve as a Conservation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..................................................................................................3 LIFE HISTORY.............................................................................................................................. 3 Reproduction............................................................................................................................... 3 Ecology ....................................................................................................................................... 3 Dispersal/Migration .................................................................................................................... 3 Obligate Associations ................................................................................................................. 4 HABITAT....................................................................................................................................... 4 National Forests: Hoosier NF (Perry Co., IN) ............................................................................ 5 Site Specific ................................................................................................................................ 6 Hoosier NF: Boone Creek Barrens Special Area.................................................................... 6 Hoosier NF: Cloverlick Barrens Special Area........................................................................ 6 Hoosier NF: Harding Flats Special Area ................................................................................ 7 DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE......................................................................................... 8 Range-wide Distribution............................................................................................................. 8 State and National Forest Distribution........................................................................................ 9 RANGE WIDE STATUS ............................................................................................................. 11 POPULATION BIOLOGY AND VIABILITY............................................................................ 11 POTENTIAL THREATS.............................................................................................................. 11 Present or Threatened Risks to Habitat..................................................................................... 11 Ditching and Drainage of Wetlands...................................................................................... 12 Row Crop Agriculture........................................................................................................... 13 Fire Suppression.................................................................................................................... 13 Fire Management .................................................................................................................. 15 Grazing and Mowing ............................................................................................................ 15 Pasture Development ............................................................................................................ 16 Competition from Introduced Species .................................................................................. 17 Disease or Predation ............................................................................................................. 18 Insect Pest Control Efforts.................................................................................................... 18 Over-Utilization .................................................................................................................... 20 Residential Development...................................................................................................... 20 Inadequacy of Existing Regulatory Mechanisms ................................................................. 20 SUMMARY OF LAND OWNERSHIP & EXISTING HABITAT PROTECTION ................... 21 SUMMARY OF EXISTING MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS 21 Current Management Activities................................................................................................ 21 Recommendations..................................................................................................................... 22 PAST AND CURRENT CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES ........................................................ 22 RESEARCH AND MONITORING ............................................................................................. 23 Existing Surveys, Monitoring, and Research............................................................................ 23 Conservation Assessment for The reflexed Indiangrass leafhopper (Flexamia reflexa) ii Survey Protocol......................................................................................................................... 24 Monitoring Protocol.................................................................................................................. 24 Research Priorities .................................................................................................................... 25 Additional Areas of Potential Flexamia reflexa Research.................................................... 26 Other Rare Species Associated with Flexamia reflexa......................................................... 26 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................. 26 APPENDIX................................................................................................................................... 39 LIST OF CONTACTS.................................................................................................................. 39 Information Requests................................................................................................................ 39 Review Requests....................................................................................................................... 39 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Flexamia reflexa Osborn and Ball: Adult and Genitalia. Figure 2. Known Distribution of The reflexed Indiangrass leafhopper (Flexamia reflexa) and its Foodplants in the Eastern United States. Conservation Assessment for The reflexed Indiangrass leafhopper (Flexamia reflexa) iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The reflexed Indiangrass leafhopper (Flexamia reflexa Osborn and Ball) is a small, grayish insect associated with high quality, native grassland remnants in the Upper Midwest. It is considered rare and local range-wide, always in close association with its primary food plant, Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans and prob. also S. elliottii and S. secundum). This leafhopper typically produces a single brood per year, although southern populations (such as those in the Hoosier National Forest) are double brooded. Flexamia reflexa is never common (except on a very local level) and most records are based on one or a few individuals. The destruction of the nation's grasslands over the past 200 years has greatly reduced the amount and distribution of suitable habitat for this and many other species. Roughly half of the records for this leafhopper date from 50-75 years ago and come from areas that are now completely urbanized or replaced with large-scale row crop agriculture. The few, high quality fragments of suitable habitat that remain are often small and highly isolated from one another. Numerous invasive species (both plant and animal) also pose imminent threats to the survival of many populations of this rare leafhopper. The adults of Flexamia reflexa are rather sedentary and rarely