Date of Award

1997

Degree Name

Biological Sciences

College

College of Science

Type of Degree

M.S.

Document Type

Thesis

First Advisor

Donald Tarter

Second Advisor

Thomas K. Pauley

Abstract

Green Bottom Wildlife Management Area (GBWMA), Cabell County, West Virginia, is a wetlands system adjacent to the Ohio River composed of wetlands varying in age from 4 to 60 years. This system is annually flooded by the Ohio River, yet insect communities remain unique to each vegetation type or microhabitat. Nine vegetative communities from two wetlands were sampled and compared using chi-square analysis to determine if the insect communities were unique. A total of 34,975 specimens, representing 23 families, were collected over ten sample intervals. Chi-square analysis on seven families common to all sites indicated that each vegetative community yielded unique proportions of insects. Chi-statistics ranged from X²0.05. 6 = 86.666 (P = 0.0000) for sites 3 and 5 to X²00.5. ₆ = I398.092 (P = 0.0000) for sites I and 5 (CV: X²0.05. 6 = 12.592). Low water levels exposed site 6 during July and August preventing sampling; therefore, all data from this site was excluded from analysis. The preliminary survey documented 9 orders, 37 families, 69 genera, and 47 species of the class Insecta. Eleven species of Hemiptera were identified to species and with the exception of Notoneca irrorata all species are West Virginia state records. In this study, the life histories of Belostoma lutarium and Hesperocorixa lucida were examined to determine oviposition sites, behavior, and number and size class of instars. Both taxa have five instars as determined by size class analysis. Belostoma lutarium oviposited a mean of 129.3 eggs on the hemelytra of the male during the months of May, June and July. Hesperocorixa lucida oviposited a mean of 47.6 eggs singly on submergent aquatic vegetation, in early spring (March, April, and May).

Subject(s)

Belostoma.

Biology -- Classification.

Corixidae.

Green Bottom Wildlife Management Area (Cabell County, W. Va.)

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