Monday, December 10, 2001 -
D0145

Spatial analysis of distribution patterns of insects inhabiting Plains pocket gopher burrows in Illinois and Indiana

Peter W. Kovarik1, Paul E. Skelley2, H. Wilson Montgomery3, Roy F. Morris II4, and Norman F. Johnson1. (1) Ohio State University, Department of Entomology, Museum of Biological Diversity, 1315 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH, (2) Florida State Collection of Arthropods, Entomology, FDACS-DPI, 1911 SW 34th St. P.O.Box 147100, Gainesville, FL, (3) 204 E. Main St, Casey, IL, (4) Bayer Corporation, Southern Region, 1614 Yorkshire Trail, Lakeland, FL

The distributions of the Illinois Plains Pocket Gopher, Geomys bursarius illinoensis Komarek and Spencer, and select insect species inhabiting their burrows are mapped for the first time using GIS technology. Pocket gopher distribution data was obtained from the literature and field exploration. Distribution data for burrow-inhabiting scarab beetles, hister beetles, and cave crickets were then added to this base coverage. The distribution of some inquiline insects were apparently restricted to only a portion of their host range, and this may impact conservation and land management decisions. The zogeography of insects inhabiting burrows of Geomys bursarius illinoensis is discussed.

Species 1: Coleoptera Scarabaeidae
Species 2: Coleoptera Histeridae
Species 3: Orthoptera Gryllacrididae
Keywords: conservation

The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA