Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Retrospective Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 1929 Studies on the insect fauna of Iowa prairies George Oscar Hendrickson Iowa State College Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd Part of the Entomology Commons Recommended Citation Hendrickson, George Oscar, "Studies on the insect fauna of Iowa prairies" (1929). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 14763. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/14763 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Retrospective Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. 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ProQuest information and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 NOTE TO USERS This reproduction is the best copy available. UMI" STUDIES OK mS INSECT FADHA OF IOWA PBAIHIES BY George 0. Hendrickson A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Sfeijor, Subject Sntomology Approved: Signature was redacted for privacy. In Charge of Work Signature was redacted for privacy. Head • of or Department Signature was redacted for privacy. Dean of Graduate College loTra State College 1929 UM! Number: DP14461 UMI UMI Microform DP14461 Copyright 2006 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1346 -B- TalDle of Contents Aeloioifrledgcients •.•••••••*• 3 Introduction 5 ReTiew of Liteiratare 5 Collecting Stations . 9 Methods of Collecting Insects .... 17 Betersiination of Insect Species ... 19 Annotated List 20 Order Collembola ...»•••• 31 Order Ortlioptera «...*.*• 21 Order Neiiroptera 32 Order Enheaerida .•••«•«. 33 Order Odonata 34 Order Plecoptera ....•••• 34 Order Tliysano-ptera 34 Order Hemiptera 35 Order Homoptera «..«.•.« 57 Order Coleoptera 81 Order Triclioptera 133 Order Lepidoptera 133 Order Diptera 141 Order E?menoptera .•••••• 183 Suramsury 215 Literattire Cited «•••.••.•* 227 Plates 230 -3- AclcnoisrledgmerLt s The autlior is deeply inde"bted to Br. H. H. Sjiiglit, iinder •sjliose direction the work was carried on, for valued suggestions and ready assistance, to Dr. C. J. Dralce for encourasement and adyice, to Dr. H. Wellhouse for helpful criticisms, to Mr. G. C. Decider for reciprocal assistance in collecting and rear­ ing a nuniber of specimens, to Dr. L*. Paanel for aid in plant identification and Dr» J. H. Ailcnan for advice in the interpre­ tation of the plant conmiunities. The following sj^'stematists have been of invaluable assistance ;?ith their determnations of species of insects: Dr. W« J'olsom (Collembola)» Dr. B. B. Fulton (Orthoptera), Iv!r. Katfian Banlcs (Neuroptera), Jlr. G. S. Walley (iSphemeridat Chironomidae» Scutelleridae^^ Homoptera), Mr. B. S« Montgomery (Odonata), Dr. P. W. Claassen (Plecoptera), Dr. J. D. Hood (Thyssmoptera). Dr. H. H. Enight (Hemiptera). Dr. C. J. Drake (Tinaitidae)» Dr» H. M. Harris (ITabidae, Saldidae), Mr. H. G-. Barber (Pentatomdae, STeididae, Lyg^eidae)» Dr. S. D. Ball (Homoptera), Dr. D. DeLong (Homoptera). Dr. P. B. Lawson (Homoptera)« Mr. W. T. Davis (Cicadidae), Dr. F. C. Hottes (Aphididae). Prof. H. F, Mckham (Goleoptera), Mr. •??. J. Brown (Coleoptera), Mr. H. K. Bigelow, assisted by Mr. Chas. W. Leng, (CbleoT>tera). Mr. Chas. Schaeffer {Cole- optera), ilr. K, F. Chamberlain (Chrysomelidae), Dr. G. M. Stirrett (Chrysomeljdae), 2ir« M. C. Lane (Carabidae« Slateri- dae), Dr. L. L. Buchanan (Rhynchophora), Dr. W. T. H- Forbes I (Le-pidoptera), Mr-. Carl Heinricli (Le-pidoptera), Mr- August Busck I I (Lepidoptera), Mr. W« Schaus (Lepidoptera), Dr. C. Betten j (Triclioptera), Prof. J. S. Hine (Diptera)» Dr. J. M. Aldrich I I (Diptera)« Dr. C. E. Ciirran (Diptera), Mr. C. T. Greene (Diptera) i Dr. 0. A. Joliannssen (Chironomidae), Dr. Hobt. l&thesoii(Culicida^ . ' I Dr. C, P. Alexander (Tipuloidea).. Dr. C. L. Fliike (S3rrpliidae)» i i Mr. H. W. Allen (TacMnidae), Dr. D. G-. Hall (Sarcopha^idae), I ^ i Dr. H, C. Hackett (Anthooyiidae, Itfascidae), Miss Grace Sandliouse ; (Hyaenoptera), Mr. S, A. Roiroer (Hymenoptera)« Mr. R. A. Cusluiian (HTmenoptera). Mr. A. B. Gaiian (HTBenoptera), Ifr. L. H. Weld (Eymenoptera), Mr. W. H. Sjann (Forsiicidae)^ Dr. M. R. Smith (Formicidae), Dr. H. H. Hoss (Tentliredinidae)» Dr. T, H. I^ison (Bombidae), and Dr. Harold Morrisonj National Maseun, wiio di­ rected the work of identification in several orders. -5- Introduction Seven-eighths of the area of the State of lo^va was once covered v;ith prairie (Shimek, 1911). But siost of the native prairie has rapidly disappeared before the army of homebuild- ers. The regaining prairie is restricted largely to railroad rights-of-way, roadsides, rural schoolgrounds and State Parks. A few privately owned larger areas whose roughness, poor soil, or drainage prohlens have saved them from the breaking plow exliibit typical prairie flora. The poorly drained tracts re­ alize siich net profits to their owners that it seems more practical in many cases to leave them in permanent meadows for hay. The rough land is generally pastured, but in most cases n-ot heavily. Many smller patches of prairie flora a- long railroad rights-of-way, roadsides and on rural school- groijmds will probably persist for a long time. Tlie State Park plans show provision for the retention of natural conditions and virill probably be expanded before long to include more ex­ tensive areas of native grassland. The small amount of prairie wMch remains presents cer­ tain insect problems -Fm-ich are worthy of study. Children of the rural schools meet with numbers of prairie insects on their vj&j to school and on the school grounds. The rural teachers are in need of assistance in the determination of these insects whose interesting habits are observed by the pupils, Svery year these areas of native vegetation show some centers of breeding increased mimbers of certain insect pests v^hich spread out and infest neighboring cultivated crops. These virgin "bracts are of great interest and value to the collector and taxonoaist who find these places accessible for 1 the collection and observation of many species. Ecological 1 and physiological studies with the insects and the original i flora may furnish data and principles for coiuparative study in the probable distribution and the control of injurious in- I sects. Because of the general interest in original conditions 1 of a state to all its citizens, records of the fauna of native I I prairie at various intervals of time add to the history of the I state. These needs and interests suggested that a general sur- I vey of the insect fauna of some of the larger tracts of prairie I in the several parts of Iowa, and the associations of the ! species v;ith plant comraunities, \70uld be of value. I Review of Literature i Earlier investigators have supplied us with several lists I I of species of the major orders of insects of Iowa, Lists of I the insect fauna of a few counties have been published, A large number of papers have dealt with the life histories and habits of insects of the state. But the author has not come across any detailed associational study of the insect fauna of • Iowa prairies. Allen (1871) dealt -jTith associational distribution of the fauna of prairies in a general Tsray, Concerning insects he TTrote "The insect fauna presents peculiarities similar to those of the flora, on which their existence is so intimtely depended. Cer­ tain groups are represented in an unusual variety of species and a"bmidance of individuals, "but tlie most nuQierous forms are often exceedingly localized. Otiier groups are again "but sparsely rep­ resented. Ho country, 'nowsver, it is to be lioped, is richer in Orthoptera {grasshoppers), either in species or individuals; and a few species of butterflies are also especially nuiaercusj of which a saall portion seeios to be strictly prairie fonas. The Eemiptera and Keuroptera exist in great abundance, the dragon flies being richly represented, both as respects the number of species and the gorgeousness of their colors Jisany of which are never or i^arely seen in the Atlantic States. The Hjnnenoptera, on the other hand, are comparatively few, especially the bees and T/asps, notwithstanding the abundance of the flowers. If the Dip- i tera, however, do not laalce up the equilibrium, it is not because i aosq.uitoes and blood-sucl-cing flies (Tabanidae) are deficient j 1 either in variety of species, in nuiaber of individuals, in size ! or in voracity". Bruijifiel (1919), on the rolling prairies of Johnson coun­ ty, Iowa, found '^the highly specialized orders of Hyraenoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera and Coleoptera were abundant" in species and in immbers, and on the sand-dune prairies of the saiae county that the "Tiger beetles and digger wasps" were the most coTnnion invertebrates.