Testing dark spot affinity of bee flies (Diptera: Bombyliidae) using a novel pan trapping method

• In Event: Poster Presentation and Judging for: Anthropology; Botany; Conservation Ecology; Environmental Science; Freshwater Science; Geosciences; Mathematics & Computer Science; Neuroscience; Physics & Eng; Science Education; Terrestrial Ecology & Management.
  In Poster Session: Terrestrial Ecology Poster Session

Abstract

Bee flies (Diptera: Bombyliidae) are pollinators and parasitoids of various insect groups, including multiple families of soil nesting Hymenoptera. Dark spot affinity is a common observation for female bombyliids, presumably searching for target host nests in soil. To assess bombyliid dark spot attraction, a novel pan trapping method was performed at the Sul Ross State University Ranch and experimental vineyard. Blue and yellow fluorescent pan traps, half with black spots and half solid, were laid out in various sections of the vineyard and ranch area. Four pan trapping plots measuring 0.5x1x1m filled with garden soil at a depth of 15cm were constructed. Two additional pan trapping arrays were set and moved every week to survey the surrounding vegetation in the vineyard and ranch. Additional four pan-trapping assays were constructed, consisting of three sand pits each approximately 10cm in diameter and 15cm deep. Blue and yellow traps with entirely black bases and UV paint lines were set supplementary. Four subfamilies and 9 genera were recovered through all sampling combined, consisting of Anthracinae (Anthrax, Epacmus, Hemipenthes and Villa), Bombyliinae (Heterostylum, Lordotus, and Sparnopolius), Ecliminae (Thevenetimyia), and Phthiriinae (Poecilognathus). Poecilognathus were recovered in high abundance all sites, compromising over 85% of all specimens collected. The solid blue pan traps yielded the highest number of bee fly specimens, while the spotted blue and yellow traps yielded the greatest diversity. By comparison, the UV traps at the sand pit sites collected the least bombyliids.

Authors

• Lauren G Garrett, Sul Ross State University

• Chris M Ritzi, Sul Ross State University