First Record ofPyramica epinotalis(Hymenoptera: Formicidae) for the United States

Abstract

Pyramica epinotalis is an arboreal dacetine ant previously known only from Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and southern Mexico. Here we report the first records of P. epinotalis for the United States. Collections were made in three parishes across southern Louisiana in cypress-tupelo swamps using floating pitfall traps placed in floating vegetation and arboreal pitfall traps placed on trunks and limbs of three wetland tree species. One additional specimen of this species was collected in Highlands County, Florida. Based on collections of specimens in Louisiana, including multiple dealate females at different localities, P. epinotalis appears to be well established in this state. We discuss the design and implementation of modified arboreal pitfall traps that were instrumental in this discovery.

First Mississippi Records of Phaenomerus foveipennis (Morimoto) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Conoderinae), a Weevil Recently Introduced into the United States

“…Arboreal pitfall traps were patterned after a design used by Chen et al . (2012) for an ant trapping study and fashioned from a 591-ml (20-oz) plastic sports drink bottle. The design was modified by sewing and gluing (Barge Adhesives, Worcester, MA) a rectangular strip of tarp material (18-oz vinyl-coated polyester fabric, Sigman Tarp, Marietta, GA) onto the underside of the leading canvas strip to reduce friction over the branches.…”

Checklist of insects associated with Salvinia minima Baker in Louisiana, USA

“…The braconid wasp was described as Neothlipsis parysae Sharkey in conjunction with researchers at the Hymenoptera Institute at the University of Kentucky (Sharkey et al 2011). Other species of note included two new Louisiana state records of Curculionidae (Bagous hydrillae O'Brien, [see Center et al 2013] and Onychylis texanus Burke), a new state generic record for the family Limnichidae (Limnichites punctatus (LeConte)), and a new country record for Pyramica epinotalis (Weber) (see Chen et al 2012).…”