Aquatic Insects of the West River and Salt Marshes ... - Yale University

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PUPEDIS 167discovered in a small patch of broad-leafed cattail (Typha latifoliaLinneaus) growing in a river bend (Fig. 1, site T22). Later in 1995,the species was also found on cattails in Gilman and Willimantic,Connecticut (O’Donnell and Pupedis, MS in prep.). Another rarelyreported species collected from the West River was a heteropteran inthe family Gelastocoridae (toad bugs). The nymph we found is onlythe second specimen of its kind ever collected in Connecticut.Several of the Carabid beetle specimens from the West Riverrepresent significant additions to Connecticut records (W. Krinsky,entomologist, personal communication). The specimen of Bembidionimpotens Casey, collected just above the tide gates, represents onlythe third specimen collected in Connecticut. Although Elaphropussaturatus (Casey) was previously reported from Connecticut, the tenspecimens from the West River are the only specimens available forverification. Twelve other beetles species represent new records forWest Haven (W. Krinsky, personal communication). The staphylinidbeetle, Ochthephilum fracticorne (Paykull), collected at HoadleyMarsh, is also a new record for Connecticut (M. Oliver, entomologist,personal communication).SALT MARSHESThe brief survey of salt marshes revealed the presence of sixinsect orders representing 33 families and 50 species (Appendix 2).This probably represents only a small fraction of the true diversitythat occurs in Connecticut salt marshes. For example, the resultsfrom a sweep-net survey of North Carolina marshes (Davis andGray 1966) produced 250 species representing 48 families in sixorders. Another detailed survey of Gulf Coast marshes identified 585morphospecies in 20 insect orders (Rey and McCoy 1997).Our survey of local marshes detected many of the more commongroups reported in Olmstead and Fell (1974) and Weiss (1995).Species at the Pine Creek Marsh indicate recolonization by insectstypical of a salt marsh insect community. There were few directmatches of species between Spring Street Marsh and the other twomarshes (Appendix 2). Four shore bug species (Saldidae) have beenreported for Connecticut salt marshes [Micracanthia hungerfordi(Hodgen), Saldula palustris (Douglas), Pentacora sphacelata (Uhler),P. hirta (Say)(Polhemus 1976)]. However, only P. sphacelata wasfound in all three marshes and P. hirta only at the Hoadley Marshand from the side channel (site A1) of the West River. Additionalmatches between the Spring Street Marsh and the other salt marsheswere in the three coleopteran species Bembidion contractum(Carabidae), Coccinella septempunctata (Linneaus)(Coccinellidae),and Collops nigriceps Say (Melyridae). A common salt marsh species,Gelastocoris sp. (toad bug, redrawn fromUsinger 1956)YALE F&ES BULLETIN
168 INTERDISCIPLINARY RESTORATIONTrigonotylus uhleri (Reuter)(Heteroptera: Miridae), was collected atthe other salt marshes, but not the Spring Street Marsh. Although thecommon salt marsh insect Heterocerus sp. (Coleoptera: Heteroceridae)was found at Hoadley Marsh, it was not found in the Spring StreetMarsh. Because heterocerids live mainly in mud galleries (Olmsteadand Fell 1974), they may be easily overlooked.One species of beetle, Rypobius marinus (LeConte) (Corylophidae),was collected only at Spring Street. It has been recorded from Connecticutand is common in salt marshes in New York (Downie andArnett 1996). Corylophids are typically found in detritus and decomposingvegetation (Arnett 1973, White 1983). This species was foundin very high concentrations in the Spring Street Marsh. An associationmay exist between insect density and the proximity of land fillsadjacent to the marsh.At Spring Street, one specimen was collected of the weevilSphenophorus pertinax pertinax (Olivier)(Coleoptera: Curculionidae);its known host plants are the salt grasses Spartina cynosuroides(Linneaus) and S. alterniflora Loesener (Agricultural ResearchService 1983). It has been reported as breeding in roots of Typhalatifolia (Blatchley and Leng 1916).DISCUSSIONIntroducing a tidal-driven influx of marine water will have severaleffects on the insect community. Locations of marine and freshwatercommunities on the West River will shift continuously inresponse to the tidal-driven boundaries of freshwater and saltwater.Loss of freshwater species in the upper park due to temporary incursionsof marine waters, caused by low rainfall levels or storms, canbe offset by recolonization from communities further upstream,through passive stream drift or active migration. Aquatic groupsrestricted to the upper section of the river will undergo little change,since these are already at the upper edge of tidal influence.In the lower reaches of the West River below Derby Avenue,elevated salinity levels have had a strong impact on the aquaticinsect community. The species of aquatic Diptera now present suchas the craneflies (Tipulidae), mosquitoes (Culicidae), biting midges(Ceratopogonidae), and midges (Chironomidae) will probably bereplaced by species more adapted to saline conditions. The same willprobably occur for the aquatic beetle Berosus peregrinus Herbst(Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae). Although our salt marsh sampling wasnot designed to evaluate biting Diptera, high densities of these pestiferousinsects in salt marshes is well documented.Pentacora signoreti (redrawnfrom Usinger 1956)BULLETIN 100
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Aquatic Insects of the West River and Salt Marshes ... - Yale University

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