ARS | Publication request: Comparison of entomofauna between native and medusahead-invaded habitats in northeastern California and northwestern Nevada

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: June 11, 2012
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae) is a weedy grass species that has invaded large tracts of open rangeland in the western USA. Medusahead is unpalatable to livestock, reducing forage value of land, and duff from dead, matted medusahead plants increases the frequency and intensity of wildfire, destroying native flora and the habitats associated with them. Medusahead is currently the target of a classical biological control program coordinated by USDA-ARS. In this study, insect diversity was surveyed using pitfall traps in habitats that were dominated by medusahead and nearby habitats without medusahead present. Pitfall traps were installed along transects at six sites in NE Calif. and NW Nev. Specimens were collected from pitfall traps every 3-6 weeks, weather permitting, in 2010 and 2011. Data are presented for ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and two families of ground-dwelling beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae & Tenebrionidae). Data for seed shattering of medusahead plants is also presented.