We examined the distribution of ants on the Dry Tortugas, the outermost of the Florida Keys. These small islands are important nesting grounds for sea turtles and sea birds. We sampled ants on the five vegetated islands: Garden Key, Loggerhead Key, Bush Key, Long Key, and East Key. We found 17 ant species, seven of which had not been recorded from the Dry Tortugas. Paratrechina longicornis was common on four of five islands. Otherwise, the five islands had strikingly different ant faunas. On Garden Key, Solenopsis geminata was dominant, and Pheidole megacephala was absent. On Loggerhead Key and Bush Key, Ph. megacephala was dominant, and S. geminata was absent. On Long Key, vegetated primarily with mangrove, the most common ant was the arboreal Pseudomyrmex elongatus. On sparsely-vegetated East Key, all ants were uncommon. Twenty ant species are now known from the Dry Tortugas: eight New World and 12 Old World species. Only Solenopsis globularia is an undisputed Florida native. Florida specimens previously identified as C. tortuganus are actually Camponotus zonatus; true C. tortuganus are Bahamian. The two dominant ant species, Ph. megacephala and S. geminata, may pose a threat to native fauna, including sea turtle and sea bird nestlings.

As a result of human activity, longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Miller) forests in the southern United States have been lost or drastically altered. Many of the plant species that historically occupied those forests now persist only as remnants and are classified as threatened or endangered. In order to safeguard such species, a better understanding of their pollination ecology is needed. We identified insect visitors and potential pollinators of Harperocallis flava (McDaniel) (Amaryllidaceae), Macbridea alba Chapman (Lamiaceae) and Scutellaria floridana Chapman (Lamiaceae) that occur in longleaf pine habitat on the Apalachicola National Forest in Florida. We observed that potential pollinators of H. flava were Halictidae, of M. alba were bumble bees (Apidae: Bombus), and of S. floridana were Megachilidae and Halictidae. However, the rates at which these insects visited the flowers were very low. Our results raise important concerns about how forest management practices affect the survival of rare plants, as well as their pollinators.

Many male insects provide somatic nuptial gifts that may strongly influence reproductive fitness by insuring an effective copulation or by increasing paternal investment. In the striped ground cricket, Allonemobius socius (Scudder), females receive a nuptial gift by chewing on a specialized spur on the male’s hind tibia during copulation. Using a series of no-choice trials, we attempted to quantify gift magnitude and to determine the relationships between male size, gift contribution, and male mating success. Tibial spur chewing duration was a significant predictor of gift contribution (F_1,17 = 17.02, P < 0.001) and the magnitude of the gift ranged between 0.2% and 8% of the male’s body mass, implying that females receive mostly hemolymph. Large males produced bigger gifts than small males (2.52 ± 0.59 mg vs. 1.33 ± 0.28 mg, t₁₇ = 1.88, P < 0.05, respectively) and females were more likely to mate with larger males (F_1,39 = 4.76, P < 0.05). If gift size is shown to influence female reproductive fitness, then nuptial gifts may play a large role in the evolution of male body size.

In a flight tunnel, mated female codling moths, Cydia pomonella L., were attracted (upwind flight with zigzagging flight patterns) to cold-stored thinning apples. Greater numbers of codling moths were attracted to apples infested with codling moth larvae than to uninfested apples. However, codling moth response to piped odor from cold-stored thinning apples infested with larvae was not significantly greater than that of moths to piped odor from uninfested apples. In a flight tunnel, significant numbers of mated female codling moths were captured in traps baited with fresh-picked immature apples or in traps through which odor from such apples was piped. Also, more codling moths were captured in traps baited with infested versus un-infested apples, and more were captured in traps with odor from infested apples compared to odor from un-infested apples. These studies demonstrate upwind attraction by flying female codling moths to apple fruit and odors from apple fruit and show increased response by moths to odors of fruit that are infested with codling moth larvae. It is suggested that this heightened response to infested apples may be due to increased apparency of infested fruit that may release greater amounts of volatile odorants.

A commercial preparation of the microbial entomopathogen, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. tenebrionis (Btt) was evaluated for biological activity against the Diaprepes root weevil, Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.). A reduction in survival was observed for neonatal larvae exposed to insect diet incorporated with Btt and in potted citrus treated with a Btt soil application. A treatment-induced, weight gain reduction for neonates was indicated only in the diet assay. Larvae exposed at 5 weeks old to diet treated with Btt demonstrated a dose-dependent mortality response. The mean ages for larval death ranged from 111 to 128 days among treatments. The LC₅₀ for larvae in this age group was 6.2 ppm [AI] and the slope of the probit line was 2.29. The mortality response of larvae exposed at 12 weeks old also was dose dependent and the mean ages for larval death ranged from 130 to 141 days among treatments. The LC₅₀ for larvae in this age group was 25.4 ppm [AI] and the slope of the probit line was 2.75. The delayed patterns of mortality that we observed among larvae treated at 5 and 12 weeks old indicates that disease is slow to develop in older larvae but that death occurs before maturation is completed.

Through laboratory choice tests involving 19 plant species, we assessed the host selection behavior of six grasshopper species: Stenacris vitreipennis (Marschall) (glassywinged toothpick grasshopper), Leptysma marginicollis (Serville) (cattail toothpick grasshopper), Gymnoscirtetes pusillus Scudder (little wingless grasshopper), Paroxya clavuliger (Serville) (olivegreen swamp grasshopper), Paroxya atlantica Scudder (Atlantic grasshopper), and Romalea microptera (Beauvois) (eastern lubber grasshopper). This grasshopper assemblage is commonly associated with semi-aquatic habitats in the southeastern United States. These poorly studied species display both graminivorous (S. vetreipennis and L. marginicollis) and mixed graminivorous-forbivorous feeding habits (the remaining species), the nature of which are fairly predictable based on examination of mouthpart morphology, but not entirely consistent with the tendency of cyrtacanthacridine species to feed on forbs.

The tachinid parasitoid Chetogena scutellaris (Wulp) was reared from southern armyworm, Spodoptera eridania (Cramer), a new host record. When reared in cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hübner), (a new host) and in fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), in the laboratory, C. scutellaris developed successfully ca. 30% of the time. Success of parasitism depended on the numbers of eggs laid per host, host age, and host species. Parasitoid development was not synchronized with host development. C. scutellaris developed mostly as a solitary parasitoid. Female flies preferred fifth instar hosts for oviposition. Cabbage looper was a better host than fall armyworm for mass rearing of this parasitoid.

Podisus mucronatus Uhler is a generalist predator found in Florida and the islands of the Caribbean. Adult P. mucronatus were observed preying on larvae of the Australian weevil Oxyops vitiosa (Pascoe), a biological control agent of Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T. Blake. To facilitate field-based identification of this predator, we present descriptions of eggs, nymphal stages, and adults. Life history traits of P. mucronatus when held with no food or either of two prey species (O. vitiosa and Tenebrio molitor (L.) larvae) are also reported. The potential use of this species as a biological control agent of arthropods and its interference with weed biological control are discussed.

Punana sinica Liang sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Delphacidae) is described and illustrated from Sichuan, southwest China. This represents the first record of the genus Punana Muir from China and the fifth known species of Punana. The new taxon extends the range of the genus Punana northward considerably, previously known only from southeast Asia and south India. A key for separation of the species of Punana is included.

Trolling, a novel trapping method, was developed and tested for deer flies, Chrysops spp., and other Tabanidae. The trap is a plastic plant container coated with Tanglefoot that is mounted upside down on a rod in an apparatus attached to a vehicle. The vehicle is then driven “trolled” to attract Tabanidae. Trap movement, color, shape, dimension and size were evaluated to improve trap catch. Response by Chrysops vittatus Wiedemann/C. pikei Whitney and C. macquarti Philip to the trap’s parameters are reported. The most effective trap is a 15 cm diameter pot (Lerio C-360, B-6, The Lerio Corp. Mobile, AL) painted bright blue, placed 1-2 m above the ground and moved at a speed of less than 3.13 m/sec. Response of Chrysops spp. to the trap indicated the hierarchy of behavioral stimuli to Chrysops spp. in order of importance to be height, movement, speed, dimensions, color, size, and contrast. No known tabanid attractants tested including CO₂, acetone or octenol increased trap captures and the insect repellent, DEET, N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide, did not reduce trap captures. Other biological information derived during the trapping experiments is reported. The trolling trap appears very valuable to detect and monitor certain Chrysops spp. and other tabanid populations for scientific purposes. In addition the trap or modifications of it, mounted either on or near humans (hat or walking stick) or on vehicles, may be useful to reduce or eliminate attacks from Chrysops spp. or to suppress their activity for short time periods in small areas such as dooryards.

This paper reports a new record of a moth species, Zamagiria dixolophella Dyar (Pyralidae: Phycitinae) attacking sapodilla (Manilkara zapota van Royen) in Southern Mexico. This is the first report of this species in Mexico. The female genitalia and the last instar larva are described and illustrated.