Renn Tumlison

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE OKLAHOMA SALAMANDER (EURYCEA TYNERENSIS) AND ORDOVICIAN-SILURIAN STRATA

Abstract The Oklahoma salamander, Eurycea tynerensis, is an endemic species restricted to the superficial currents that exist in mountain streams of the Ozarks in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas. The results of our study show a close relationship between the salamander and the presence of rocks from the Ordovician/Silurian period. The small interstitial spaces created by the structure of this type of rock provide ideal habitat for the development of this neotenic species.

Breeding by Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) in Southern Arkansas

Abstract Suitable nesting sites created as a result of construction of concrete bridges in southern Arkansas have allowed cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) to extend their breeding range southward. During spring 2007, several locations in the Gulf Coastal Plain physiographic province of southern Arkansas were being used for nesting. These observations expand the known breeding range from the Red River drainage in southwestern Arkansas (and one location in the Ouachita River drainage) across the Gulf Coastal Plain including the Ouachita and Saline drainages of southeastern Arkansas.

Novel Food Habits of Branchiate Mole Salamanders (Ambystoma talpoideum) from Southwestern Arkansas

Abstract Branchiate Ambystoma talpoideum (Mole Salamanders) in fishless ponds can be large enough to act as predators, rather than competitors, during the spring breeding season of other amphibians. Food habits of high-density Mole Salamander populations from 2 proximate woodland ponds in Clark County, AR were examined before and after egg-laying by frogs, with an expectation that the salamanders likely would consume hatching tadpoles. However, salamanders instead commonly fed on the novel item of freshly-laid frog eggs. Results from both ponds indicated that the salamanders, perhaps due to food limitation, consumed smaller prey items than would be expected and heavily consumed frog eggs, a novel item.

The American Badger (Taxidea taxus) in Arkansas, With Emphasis on Expansion of its Range into Northeastern Arkansas

Abstract The American badger (Taxidea taxus) has been documented only three times in Arkansas, all in counties of the Ozark physiographic region. Since 2003, 11 new records have been obtained from five counties (Craighead, Crittenden, Lawrence, Marion, Poinsett), mostly in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain physiographic region of northeastern Arkansas. Three of these were photo-documented roadkills (two other roadkills were collected for the mammal museum at Arkansas State University). Another photo-record was obtained by use of a wildlife camera placed at a den, which resulted in discovery of a family group of five individuals; this represents the first record of breeding in Arkansas. Rather than an eastward expansion of range from the Ozark Mountains, we believe the population originated from the alluvial plains of southeastern Missouri.

Important Records of the Bird-Voiced Treefrog (Hyla avivoca) in the Headwaters of the Ouachita River Drainage of Southwestern Arkansas

Abstract We document the occurrence of the Bird-voiced Treefrog (Hyla avivoca), at 32 sites in the upper Ouachita River system of Arkansas, including specimens from the Little Missouri and Saline River tributaries. This more than doubles the total number of sites from which this frog is known in Arkansas, and the distributional limit coincides with the interface of the Ouachita Mountains and the Gulf Coastal Plain. West of the Mississippi River, only a few localities are known for this species in Oklahoma and Louisiana, making the Arkansas populations important for the conservation of the species.

Gradual Acclimation of Inland Gambusia affinis To Increased Salinity

Abstract Previous studies have shown the mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) to be euryhaline, but it is not known whether inland freshwater populations show this attribute, and no studies have examined whether sexes or sizes respond differently to increasingly salty environments. Allowing fishes to gradually acclimate to increasing salinity, I found no effects of sex or size, that most mosquitofish from an inland population can tolerate salinities equal to seawater, and that most individuals can survive much saltier conditions. Tolerance to salinity may be a residual attribute of ancestors that dispersed through marine environments from Central America.

First Report of the True Bug Pseudopachybrachius vinctus (Hemiptera: Rhyparochromidae) for Arkansas and Oklahoma, U.S.A.

In Arkansas and Oklahoma, the dirt-colored seed bugs (Hemiptera: Rhy paro chromidae) are fairly well documented (Chordas et al., 2005, 2011; Ashlock and Slater, 1988). However, some widespread species remain unreported in the literature. Recent projects and publications have added some common and some noteworthy Rhyparochromidae species to the recorded fauna of these states (e.g. Chordas et al., 2014 [Megalonotus sabulicola (Thomson, 1870) ARK]; Wheeler (2017) added 4 species [Carpilis barberi (Blatchley, 1924) ARK & OK; Pto chiomera nodosa Say, 1832 ARK; Sisamnes claviger (Uhler, 1895) ARK and S. contractus Distant, 1893 ARK & OK]. Two species of the genus Pseudo pachy brachius have distribution ranges within or proximal to Arkansas and Oklahoma. The more widespread and common P. basalis (Dallas, 1852) was reported for Arkansas by Chordas et al. (2005) and from Oklahoma by Stoner et al. (1962). However, the other species remained unreported in the literature for either state. Herein, we report Pseudopachybrachius vinctus (Say, 1832) for both Arkansas and Oklahoma as new records. During 2009 and 2010, a two-year light-trapping project (targeting moths) was conducted in the Ross Foundation Demonstration Area Forest (Clark County, Arkansas) (Fig. 1A). In August of 2016, CTM collected various hemipterans below a night light at a residence in Hochatown, Oklahoma (McCurtain County) (Fig. 1C). Hemiptera were forwarded to SWCIII for identification, photography, and voucher specimen deposition. Pseudopachybrachius vinctus was found from both Arkansas and Oklahoma in the samples (label data in Fig. 1B and 1D). Three voucher specimens of P. vinctus were deposited into the C. A. Triplehorn Insect Collection (The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio [unique museum codes = OSUC620938 (Oklahoma specimen) OSUC620935 & OSUC620936 (Arkansas specimens)]), and duplicates were retained by the first author and are housed in his personal collection. Images herein were created via stacking digital photographs (using CombineZP) of the curated voucher specimens captured with a Cannon EOS DLSR through an Olympus SZ60 dissecting microscope and Volume 127, Number 3, December 2017 269

Unusual Food Items from Stomachs of American Badgers (Taxidea taxus) in Expanding Range in Arkansas

Abstract Taxidea taxus (American Badger), historically a prairie species, has expanded its range southeastward in Arkansas likely due to habitat alterations resulting from agricultural modification of the landscape. Its typical foods are an array of small mammals, and seldom have amphibians been documented in its diet. Northeastern Arkansas was prone to flooding prior to the construction of levees, and American Badgers have since colonized the agricultural habitat that developed after flooding stopped. We found that 2 road-killed badgers collected from a newly established population in northeastern Arkansas had consumed many frogs. This is the first account of numerous amphibians documented in the diet of badgers.

Four Uncommon Assassin Bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae) New for Arkansas, U.S.A.

ABSTRACT: We report the following four uncommonly encountered assassin bug species: Empicoris errabundus, E. rubromaculatus, Ploiariacarolina, and P. hirticornis (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae) for the first time from Arkansas. Both genera also were unreported previously for the state. Our Ploiariacarolina record constitutes a significant western range extension of >750 km to west of the Mississippi River; the other three species have been reported previously from areas surrounding Arkansas. We further provide digital images of each species and of taxonomically important characters, along with updated distribution maps.