Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Lepidoptera, Hemiptera and Homoptera Associated with Ironweed, Vernonia Interior Small in Kansas

1942; Kansas Academy of Science; Volume: 45; Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/3624999

1938-5420

R. B. Schwitzgebel, Donald A. Wilbur,

Collembola Taxonomy and Ecology Studies

In order to obtain a knowledge of grassland insects, it is first necessary that the grassland complex be broken down to its individual plant units and the insect relationships to each unit be carefully ascertained. A study of the insects associated with ironweed, Vernonia interior Small of the composite family, has been conducted as a part of an investigation of insects associated with grasslands. A report on the 47 species of Coleoptera which were either feeding on some portion of the ironweed plant or utilizing its heavy foliage for shelter has been prepared (Schwitzgebel and Wilbur 1942). The following discussion concerns the relationship of 10 species of Lepidoptera, 25 species of Hemiptera and 33 species of Homoptera to the ironweed plant as observed from collections and field observations made approximately twice each week during the growing seasons of 1939-1941. Ironweed observed in this study was found in several pastures near Manhattan in Riley County and near Wathena in Doniphan County. The plants varied from three to six feet in height in most environments. Their heavy foliage provided excellent shelter for insects during the hot periods of the summer. Ironweed is one of the most drouth resistant plants that can be found in Kansas grasslands. All available stages of insect life were brought to the laboratory and attempts were made to rear the immature forms. For rearing such larvae as Arctiidae and Pterophoridae, plants growing at the insectary were caged with insects. A plot of ironweed at the insectary provided a source for food and oviposition for insects collected in the field and also attracted numerous insect species to the insectary.