Donald C. Tarter

LIFE HISTORY AND TROPHIC BASIS OF PRODUCTION OF THE MAYFLY CALLIBAETIS FLUCTUANS (WALSH) (EPHEMEROPTERA: BAETIDAE) IN A MITIGATED WETLAND, WEST VIRGINIA, USA

We determined the life history, secondary production, and trophic basis of production for Callibaetis fluctuans in a mitigated wetland at the Green Bottom Wildlife Management Area, Cabell County, West Virginia, USA. Quantitative benthic samples were collected from three sites covering a range of water depths and vegetation types from January to December 1994. Length-frequency histograms were constructed for each sample date, and secondary production was calculated using the size-frequency method. Foregut analyses were conducted seasonally to determine diet. Callibaetis fluctuans had a multivoltine life cycle with at least three cohorts. Fast larval growth occurred during the spring and fall, whereas an overwintering cohort had slower growth. Total annual production was 208.0 mg·m−2·yr−1 (AFDM) with a production-to-biomass ratio of 12.6. Amorphous detritus comprised >80% of the diet in all seasons and accounted for 70% of total production. To account for this production, C. fluctuans consumed 3675 mg·m−2·yr−1 of detritus. This is one of the first studies to provide production estimates for an aquatic insect in a permanently inundated wetland.

Revised checklist of the stoneflies (plecoptera) of Kentucky, U.S.A

ABSTRACT Based on recent collecting efforts, examination of numerous collections, and inclusion of credible published records, the checklist of the stoneflies of Kentucky is updated to include 110 species in 34 genera. Fifteen new state records and 654 county records are presented and important range extensions are noted for Amphinemura alabama Baumann, Diploperla kanawholensis Kirchner and Kondratieff, Perlesta napacola DeWalt, P. teaysia Kondratieff and Kirchner, and P. shubuta Stark.

New State, County, and Drainage Basin Records of West Virginia (USA) Stoneflies (Plecoptera)

ABSTRACT: Based on recent collections, the checklist of the stoneflies of West Virginia is updated to include 140 species. Four state records, 154 county records and 16 drainage basin records are added to the plecopteran fauna of the state. Range extensions are noted for Perlesta lagoi Stark, P. shubata Stark, P. puttmanni Kondratieff and Kirchner and Neoperla robisoni Poulton and Stewart. Distributions of the new records in seven major drainage basins of West Virginia are presented.

New Distribution Records of Corydalus cornutus (Linnaeus) (Megaloptera: Corydalidae) in Kentucky, U.S.A.

ABSTRACT: The eastern North American dobsonfly, Corydalus cornutus (L.), is newly reported from 78 counties in Kentucky, U.S.A. Additionally, 35 previous county records from Kentucky are included. The larvae, known as hellgrammites, have been documented from 94 percent of the counties in the state. Larvae were found in a variety of lotic environments, including streams previously impacted by strip-mining activities. Corydalus cornutus and the fishfly, Nigronia serricornis (Say), were sympatric in 43 of 458 streams sampled in Kentucky.

A Revised Checklist of the Caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera) of West Virginia

ABSTRACT: Based on recent collection efforts, examination of new material, and review of published records, the caddisfly fauna of West Virginia is updated to include 235 species. A revised, annotated checklist is presented, with distributional information for 26 new records from West Virginia. Significant range extensions are noted for Arctopsyche irrorata Banks and Hydropsyche carolina Banks.

New Distribution Records of Fishflies (Megaloptera: Corydalidae) for West Virginia, USA

ABSTRACT: New distributional records (45) are recorded for fishflies in West Virginia. Thirteen new county records were added for Nigronia serricornis (Say), and 18 new county records were recorded for N. fasciatus (Walker). Eight new county records were added for Neohermes concolor (Davis), while six new county records were noted for Chauliodes pectinicornis (Linnaeus). Following this investigation, the statewide distribution of fishfly species is as follows: Nigronia serricornis (45 counties), N. fasciatus (37 counties), Neohermes concolor (10 counties), Chauliodes pectinicornis (19 counties), and C. rastricornis (3 counties). Tarter and Watkins (1974), Watkins, et al. (1975), and Dolin and Tarter (1981) have reported distributional records of fishflies for West Virginia. Tarter, et al. (1977) noted seasonal emergence patterns for fishflies in West Virginia. The main objective of this investigation is to report new county records of fishflies for West Virginia. Three eastern genera of fishflies, Chauliodes Latreille, Neohermes Banks, and Nigronia Banks, are placed in the subfamily Chauliodinae. Generally, larvae of lentic species, C. pectinicornis (Linnaeus) and C. rastricornis Rambur, are found in logs near ponds, swamps, lakes, and oxbows, whereas the larvae of lotic species, N. fasciatus (Walker) and N. serricornis (Say), are found under rocks in streams (Tarter, et al., 1976). Larvae of Neohermes concolor (Davis) are found under leaf litter near spring seeps (Tarter, et al., 1979). Larval and adult specimens examined for this investigation are deposited at the following institutions and agencies: West Virginia Benthological Survey (WVBS) at Marshall University, Huntington, WV; West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP), Charleston, WV; and West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA), Charleston, WV.

New Distribution Records and Seasonal Emergence Pattern of Corydalus cornutus (Linnaeus) (Megaloptera: Corydalidae) in West Virginia, U.S.A.

ABSTRACT: The eastern North American dobsonfly, Corydalus cornutus (L.), is reported for the first time from 25 counties in West Virginia, U.S.A. Additionally, 30 previous county records from West Virginia are included in this investigation. Larvae, known as hellgrammites, have been recorded from 100% of the counties in the state. The emergence period for dobsonflies in West Virginia extends from 16 June (Kanawha County) to 5 August (Jefferson County).

NEW STATE RECORD OF THE MAYFLY BAETISCA LAURENTINA McDUNNOUGH FOR WEST VIRGINIA (EPHEMEROPTERA: BAETISCIDAE) AND NEW COUNTY RECORDS FOR SPECIES OF BAETISCA IN KENTUCKY AND WEST VIRGINIA, U.S.A

ABSTRACT Baetisca laurentina McDunnough is reported for the first time from West Virginia. One male imago was collected near Twelvepole Creek, Wayne County, West Virginia. This record extends the range of this species eastward to the Mid-Atlantic coastal region. New distributional records (57) of Baetisca spp. are reported for Kentucky (15) and West Virginia (42). The following county records have been added to the list of Baetisca spp. from the two states: Baetisca berneri Tarter and Kirchner (KY/1 and WV/13), B. carolina Traver (WV/3), B. gibbera (WV/1), B. lacustris McDunnough KY/14 and WV/22), B. laurentina McDunnough (WV/1), and B. rubescens Provancher (WV/2). Baetisca lacustris is the most widespread baetiscid in West Virginia (26 counties) and Kentucky (25 counties). This species was found in six drainage basins (I, II, IV, V, VI, VII) in West Virginia. Only one baetiscid mayfly, B. rubescens, was recorded for drainage basin III.

NEW DISTRIBUTION RECORDS OF FISHFLIES (MEGALOPTERA: CORYDALIDAE) FOR KENTUCKY, U.S.A

ABSTRACT New distributional records (74) of larval fishflies are reported for Kentucky. Twenty-five new county records were added for Nigronia serricornis (Say), and forty-two new county records were added for N. fasciatus (Walker), the most widely distributed fishfly in Kentucky (54 counties). These two species were sympatric in 14 streams in eastern Kentucky. One new county record was added for Neohermes concolor (Davis). Four new county records were noted for Chauliodes pectinicornis (Linnaeus), while two new county records were added for C. rastricornis Rambur. Following this investigation, the statewide distribution of fishfly species is as follows: N. serricornis (51 counties), N. fasciatus (54 counties), N. concolor (11 counties), C. pectinicornis (9 counties), and C. rastricornis (9 counties). Emergence patterns are mentioned for the five species of fish-flies in Kentucky.