PROCEEDINGS of the ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY of WASHINGTON ADULT DIPTERA FROM OZARK CAVES JEFFREY K. BARNES, MICHAEL E. SLAY, AND STEVEN J. TAYLOR (JKB) Department of Entomology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, U.S.A. (e-mail: [email protected]); (MES) The Nature Conservancy, Ozark Highlands Office, 675 North Lollar Lane, Fayetteville, AR 72701, U.S.A. (e-mail: [email protected]); (SJT) Illinois Natural History Survey, 1816 South Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820, U.S.A. (e-mail: [email protected]) PROC. ENTOMOL. soc. WASH. 111(2), 2009, pp. 335-353 ADULT DIPTERA FROM OZARK CAVES JEFFREY K. BARNES, MICHAEL E. SLAY, AND STEVEN J. TAYLOR (JKB) Department of Entomology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, U.S.A. (e-mail: [email protected]); (MES) The Nature Conservancy, Ozark Highlands Office, 675 North Lollar Lane, Fayetteville, AR 72701, U.S.A. (e-mail: [email protected]); (SJT) Illinois Natural History Survey, 1816 South Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820, U.S.A. (e-mail: [email protected]) Abstract.-The Diptera fauna of Ozark caves is fairly typical of that found elsewhere in the United States east of the Great Plains. The sphaerocerid Spelobia tenebrarum is the only troglobitic dipteran found in Ozark caves. Probable troglophiles include the mycetophilid Macrocera nobilis, the psychodids Psychoda spp., and the phorid Megaselia cavernicola. The tipulids commonly found in Ozark caves, such as Dactylolabis montana, Dolichopeza spp. and Limonia spp. are probably all trogloxenes, as are the Trichoceridae and Heleomyzidae. The mycetophilids, Exechiopsis umbratica and Rymosia sp., and the culicids are among the most common cave dipterans in the study area. The culicids overwinter in caves and other protected places; they are properly classified as trogloxenes. The main sources of food for cave Diptera are other insects, carrion, guano, and allochthanous plant debris. Key Words: cavernicolous, Tipulidae, Mycetophilidae, Sciaridae, Cecidomyiidae, Psychodidae, Trichoceridae, Culicidae, Empididae, Drosophilidae, Dolichopodidae, Phoridae, Heleomyzidae, Sphaeroceridae, Antho­ myiidae, Bibionidae, Calliphoridae Until recently, little research has been Oklahoma and included records for 23 published on cavernicolous Ozark Dip­ Diptera, but most identifications were tera. Most papers that have appeared list not beyond family level. McDaniel and species found in individual caves, giving Smith (1976), McDaniel et al. (1979), few data on collection dates or sexes and Dunivan et al. (1982) reported on encountered and little indication of the life forms found in Arkansas Ozark ecological status of the species or their caves, including 16 species of Diptera, geographical distributions. Hubricht most of which are also reported here. (1950) listed only species that appear to Peck and Lewis (1978) reported on the be able to live and breed in the total invertebrate fauna of caves in Illinois darkness of caves, including the Diptera and eastern Missouri Ozarks. They had species Megaselia cavernicola (Brues) very few Missouri Diptera records. Peck and Spelobia tenebrarum (Aldrich). Black and Peck (1982) found five species of (1971) summarized the cave life of flies in the sandstone crevice caves at Devils Den State Park, Arkansas, but * Accepted by David R. Smith they identified only the mycetophilid 336 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON Macrocera nobilis Johnson to species large percentage of the total biomass in a level. Gardner (1986) inventoried organ­ given cave. The following records add to isms from more than 400 caves in 38 the growing body of evidence that might Missouri counties. Many of the 25 one day allow better judgments about Diptera reported were identified only to how Diptera use caves. family or genus level. Sutton (1993) published lists of cave species from a MATERIALS AND METHODS mineral prospecting area in southern Names of major collectors are abbre­ Missouri. Again, many of the Diptera viated in the text: C. J. Bitting (CJB), C. were identified only to family or genus Brickey (CB), G. Graening (GG), D. level. Graening et al. (2003, 2006) listed Fenolio (DF), M. E. Slay (MES), and S. some Diptera from caves in the Sylamore J. Taylor (SJT). Specimens were collect­ Ranger District of Ozark National For­ ed opportunistically during visual sur­ est and the Buffalo National River in veys of caves and by using baited pitfall North Central Arkansas, and they sug­ traps. Pitfall traps were baited with gested ecological classifications for some rancid Limburger cheese spread and left of the taxa. Barnes (2004) reported on in place for one to six days. overwintering cave mosquitoes of the Identifications were made by the Arkansas and Missouri Ozarks. Elliott senior author except as noted in the (2007) reported on the zoogeography acknowledgments. Specimens were iden­ and biodiversity of Missouri caves and tified to genus using the keys found in karst and included Spelobia tenebrarum the Manual ofNearctic Diptera, volumes in his list of troglobites and phreatobites 1 and 2 (McAlpine et al. 1981, 1987). in Missouri but otherwise mentioned Species level identifications were made Diptera only briefly. using keys cited in the Manual or more Here we report on additional collec­ recent literature as appropriate. Speci­ tions made by M. E. Slay, G. O. mens are preserved in 70% ethanol in Graening, and D. Fenolio in Arkansas vials. Arkansas and Oklahoma speci­ and Oklahoma and by S. J. Taylor and mens are deposited at the University of M. E. Slay at Fort Leonard Wood Arkansas Arthropod Museum, while (FLW), Pulaski County, Missouri as Missouri specimens will be deposited in part of a study of the cave fauna of that the Illinois Natural History Survey. In military installation (Proffitt 2005). addition to the taxa recorded here, adult It is difficult to assess the true ecolog­ and immature Chironomidae were also ical classifications of many of the taxa found in some caves. No attempt has yet discussed in this paper. Most Ozark cave been made to identify these specimens. Diptera can probably be regarded as trogloxenes. These are species that enter RESULTS AND DISCUSSION caves, perhaps for shelter, but do not Tipulidae reproduce in caves and are not entirely dependent on the cave environment. Austrolimnophila sp.-ARKANSAS: Troglophiles, on the other hand, com­ Madison Co.: Hunter's Cave, 28-Apr­ plete their life cycles in caves, but they 01, GG, J. Gunter, R. Honebrink, B. can also occur in certain environments Wagner, D. Wagner (1 <2). outside the cave. Troglobites must live Dactylolabis montana (Osten Sacken).­ their entire life underground (Jackson ARKANSAS: Stone Co.: Bud Wallis 1997). Troglobitic and even troglophilic Cave, 28-Apr-02, GG, MES, CB, M. Diptera species are rare (Vandel 1965), Covington (2 rS, 2 <2). MISSOURI: although a few species may represent a Pulaski Co.: FLW: cave no. 23PU280, -------- ---------- VOLUME 111, NUMBER 2 337 11-May-04, SIT, MES (1 <J! ); cave SJT, MES (1 s, I <J!); Flat RoofCave, 10­ no. 23PU286, ll-May-04, SJT, MES (2 May-04, SJT, MES (1 s, I <J!); Lirceus <J! <J!); cave no. 23PU213, IO-May-04, SJT, Shelter, 13-May-04, SJT, MES (1 t, 2 <J!); MES (1 t); cave no. 23PU493, IO-May­ McCann Cave, 12-May-04, SJT, MES (3 04, SJT, MES (2 <J!); Deadman Cave, 19­ t); New Arch Cave, 5-Sep-04, SJT, MES, Apr-03, SIT, MES, V. Block (1 t); Little C. Melhart (1 s, I <J!). Freeman Cave, 9-Apr-04, SJT, MES, J. Dolichopeza (Oropeza) walleyei (Alex­ Jacoby (1 <J!). ander).-ARKANSAS: Marion Co.: Dactylolabis montana males and fe­ Toney Bend Mine # 2, 24-May-04, males were found in Ozark caves in the MES, CJB (1 t). spring and were collected by hand from Species of Dolichopeza live only a few bedrock walls and ceilings. Peck and days as adults, perhaps for a week or Lewis (1978) reported it from Mystery two, during which time their main Cave, Perry County, Missouri, and Peck activities relate to reproduction. Many (1988) found it in Ontario caves and species appear to have peaks of adult mines. These authors classified the species emergence in late spring and late sum­ as a troglophile. Alexander (1966) de­ mer. The species found in Ozark Caves scribed the species of Dactylolabis as were collected from ceilings and walls of "eminently lithophilous," frequenting the entrance and twilight zones and are vertical faces of shaded cliffs and rock characteristic of rocky gorges and ra­ exposures, where it rests in crevices. The vines in North American east of the larvae are associated with algal growths Great Plains from just north of the amid percolating water in these rocky Canadian border to the northern reaches situations. Dactylolabis montana is among of the Gulf States. Adults are nocturnal, the most common and widely distributed leaving their shelters only when alarmed. species of the genus in eastern North During daylight hours, they rest in America. It is probably a trogloxene. protected places. In cool, mesic forests Dolichopeza (Oropeza) obscura (John­ they frequent tree cavities, undercut son).-MISSOURI: Pulaski Co.: FLW: banks, and similar shaded areas (Byers cave no. 23PU309, 13-May-04, SJT, MES 1961). Dolichopeza tridenticulata and D. (2 t); New Arch Cave, 5-Sep-04, SJT, walleyi were previously reported from MES, C. Melhart (1 s, I <J!). Georgia caves, the former being found Dolichopeza (Oropeza) tridenticulata only during late summer (Reeves et al. Alexander.-ARKANSAS: Marion Co.: 2000). Peck (1988) reported D. dorsalis Forest Trail Ridge Cave, 6-Jun-02, MES, (Johnson), D. tridenticulata, and D. CJB (2 t), 5-Jun-04, MES, E. Frank (1 s, venosa (Johnson) from cave and mines I <J!); Long Ear Mine, 25-May-04, MES, in Ontario. It appears from the data CJB (2 t); Morning Star Mine # 5, 26­ presented here that at least D. tridenti­ May-04, MES, CJB (2 <J!); Morning Star culata commonly uses Ozark caves as Mine # 7, 4-Jun-04, MES, E.