Source: LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES AND SYSTEMATICS RESEARCH IN THE LOUISIANA STATE ARTHROPOD MUSEUM (LSAM)
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1003017
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
May 28, 2014
Project End Date
Apr 30, 2018
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
202 HIMES HALL
BATON ROUGE,LA 70803-0100
Performing Department
Entomology
Non Technical Summary
The Louisiana State Arthropod Museum (LSAM) houses the largest collection of terrestrial arthropods in Lousiana and is the only major research collection of such organisms in the state. The LSAM is a source of fast, accurate insect and spider identifications and practical advise to citizens, other researchers, and government agencies ranging from local to federal levels. Almost one million species of insects are described on the planet, and many times that number of species remain undescribed. A relatively small portion of described species are in direct conflict with human affairs, but their correct identification is often both the most difficult and most important step in solving real or perceived insect and arthropod related problems. The work of correctly identifying and diagnosing insects and the problems they create requires several key elements, all of which are integral to this project. Regional experience on the part of taxonomic specialists allows rapid assessement of the most likely candidate species among the overwhelming diversity of the world fauna. A well curated collection of authoritatively identified specimens is critical for positive identification among several possibilties. A regionally focused literature collection is critical to provide relevant background information about the natural histories and phylogenetic relationships of identified species. All of these elements are in place and form the core of this research project headquartered at the LSAM.Taxonomic research conducted by the staff and students at the LSAM serve to train graduate students in the theory and practice of insect systematics and taxonomy. This program trains the next generation of insect diagnosticians, research taxonomists, and curators. Products of the research activities include phylogenetic analyses that improve our understanding of evolutionary relationships among insects. These studies provide the raw data for predicting resistance to insecticides, tendency to become invasive when introduced to non native ranges, disease vector potential, pollinator effectiveness, and many other biological characteristics that are directly relevant to human food production, health, and ecosystem function. Discovery and description of "species new to science" capture the public imagination in ways that stimulate appreciation for science and promote science education. Outreach activities conducted by LSAM staff and students communicate the wonder and biological importance of insect biodiversity, and inform the public about the availability of the LSAM as a source of information for concerned or interested citizens.In summary, this project, headquartered at the Louisiana State Arthropod Museum, serves as the LSU Agricultural Center's primary clearinghouse for insect diversity and diagnostic information. Staff at the LSAM transfer this information to the public and other stakeholders through rapid, accurate responses to inquiries and through dedicated outreach activities. The LSAM serves as the primary research facilty for training graduate students how to conduct and publish insect systematics research and trains those students in providing identification and diagnostic services to the public.
Animal Health Component
40%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
60%
Applied
40%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2110199113020%
1240199113020%
1350199113020%
7210199113040%
Knowledge Area
135 - Aquatic and Terrestrial Wildlife; 211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants; 124 - Urban Forestry; 721 - Insects and Other Pests Affecting Humans;

Subject Of Investigation
0199 - Soil and land, general;

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology;
Goals / Objectives
This project continues a successful program in insect and related arthropod systematics and taxonomy headquartered at the Louisiana State Arthropod Museum (LSAM), Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center. Systematics goals are to contribute to understanding the evolution, ecology, and biodiversity of arthropod faunas of the Earth, with research emphasis on Louisiana, the southeastern United States, and the American tropics, in that order of priority. The research conducted through basic avenues of systematic research will be applied to solving problems in agriculture, urban entomology, conservation biology, and ecology through rapid, accurate diagnoses and information delivery of insect and arthropod related problems that affect human food production, health, and landscape ecology.Objectives1. Continue to provide and improve arthropod diagnostic services for the Department of Entomology, LSU Agricultural Center, and citizens of Louisiana and the midsouthern United States.2. Prepare taxonomic inventories and new species descriptions of insects and terrestrial arthropod species of Louisiana and adjacent areas of the midsouthern U.S. to provide entomology data for ecosystem health and biodiversity assessment applications.3. Conduct international-scale systematics studies within selected beetle families throughf the graduate systematics training program headquartered at the LSAM.
Project Methods
1. Identification and diagnostic services rely heavily on the availabilty of the large, well curated collections housed in the Louisiana State Arthropod Museum (LSAM) and the associated literature collection. Extensive taxonomic knowledge and regional experience of the staff play an important role in correctly assessing inquiries and providing extremely rapid turnaround for identifications (often within minutes of recieving inquiries). Increasing access to digital photography and electronic transmission of images also enhances rapid turnaround times. Assessment of the success of the identification and diagnostic efforts is often possible through responses from citizens expressing gratitude for the information provided, often with documention of the successful resolution of problems without expense or involvement of pest control services.2. Databasing at the LSAM is a three step process. Step one requires physical input of specimen data into the LSAM's in house "Specify" databasing software, either through retroactive databasing of existing specimens or databasing of specimens as they are put into the collection. Step two in the weekly upload of specimen data from Specify in to the online "SilverCollection" based online database that is accessible via the internet. Step three involves photography of specimens housed in the LSAM that represent Louisiana specimens. These images are available on the LSAM's Flickr image website. Assessement of progress on databasing efforts is possible by tracking specimen data records through time and documenting completion of imaging for selected taxa.3. Methods used in the preparation of new taxonomic descriptions by LSAM staff and students meet the requirements of the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature that sets global standards for the naming and registration of organisms. New species names published by LSAM authors are included in global metadata compilations authomatically through peer reviewed outlets. Progress in taxonomic research are tracked through annual accountings of publication numbers and taxonomic descriptions contained in those publications.

Progress 05/28/14 to 04/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:We provided identifications of insects and other terrestrial arthropods for the citizens of Louisiana, and were the primary providers of such services within the state. These services were provided directly to citizens or via contacts with Cooperative Extension personnel, other faculty, medical practitioners, etc. Research results were communicated to colleagues in the USDA, mainly the US Forest Service, via scheduled reports or to the scientific community at large via peer reviewed publications. We assisted other faculty members in the LSU departments of Entomology, Biological Sciences, and at other universities with insect taxonomic services by providing information and identifications and through museum vouchering of research specimens. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?A Ph.D. student was trained under this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Taxonomic and museum service information was disseminated primarily via email and social media. Walk in identifications were mostly verbal or by phoneby the Curator/Diagnotsician. Research results were disseminated via refereed publications and conference presentations What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Louisiana State Arthropod Museum staff and students continued to provide timely, accurate identifications and risk assessment to the general public, Extension Personnel, and other Faculty. Diagnostic requests werestable relative to previous years. Approximately 150 were "walk-in"/phone call cases handled primarily by the Curator (about the same as last year). Approximately600 were provided via Facebook Entomology pages by the Director.This far exceeds last year due to initiation of a "Louisiana Insects" Facebook page that specifially targets Louisiana native and non-native insects. Examples of identification/diagnostic information and other entomological counsel to citizens of Louisiana, LSU faculty, and government regulatory agencies (e.g., Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. LDAF) included: continuing citizen submitted identifications of tropical sod webworms; several cases of delusory parasitosis; identifications of southern house spiders mistakenly believed to be brown recluses (continued concerns from previous years), taxonomic advice to the biocontrol lab related to the roseau cane scale insect complex, and evaluation of potential risks of non-native insects listed on importation applications to LDAF. Graduate student research included a field trip to New Zealand to collect specimens in poorly sampled areas and habitats on the South Island of New Zealand. Molecular phylogenetic work on New Zealand pselaphines continues as another component of her dissertation project.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2018 Citation: Carlton, C. E., T. C. MacRae, A. K. Tishechkin, and W. Johnson. Annotated checklist of Buprestidae from Louisiana. Coleopts. Bull.: in press.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2018 Citation: Owens, B. E., L. Allain, E. C. VanGorder, J. L Bossart, and C. E. Carlton. The bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) of Louisiana: an updated, annotated checklist. Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. In press.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2018 Citation: Owens, B. E. and C. E. Carlton. A new species of Pseudactium Casey from Tennessee (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae). Coleops. Bull. In press.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Owens, B. E. and C. E. Carlton. Clarification of the status of the subgenus Planityphlus Park (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae). Coleops. Bull. 71: 374.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Owens, B. E. and C. E. Carlton. 2017. Seven new species of Bibloplectus Reitter (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) from Eastern United States with notes on distributions of previously described species. Zootaxa 4243: 139-152.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Sokolov, I. M., C. E. Carlton, L. Watrous, and H. W. Robison. 2017. Anillinus alleni Sokolov and Carlton, a new species from the Ozark Interior Highlands of Arkansas (Carabidae: Trechinae: Bembidiini). Coleops. Bull 71: 289-297.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Hisamatsu, S., V. M. Bayless, and C. E. Carlton. 2016. Revision of the genus Cyclocaccus Sharp (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Nitidulinae). Coleopts. Bull. 70: 825-870.


Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:We provided identifications of insects and other terrestrial arthropods for the citizens of Louisiana, and were the primary providers of such services within the state. These services were provided directly to citizens or via contacts with Cooperative Extension personnel, other faculty, medical practitioners, etc. Research results were communicated to colleagues in the USDA, mainly the US Forest Service, via scheduled reports or to the scientific community atlarge via peer reviewed publications. We assisted other faculty members in the LSU departments of Entomology, Biological Sciences, and at other universities with insect taxonomic services by providing information and identifications and through museum vouchering of research specimens. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Two graduate students, one Masters student who graduated during August 2016, and a current Ph.D. candidate were trained. Both graduate students have actively assistedwith the identification and diagnostics program, under supervision,and both participated and presented at the Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting and International Congress of Entomologyin Orlando. Two undergraduate student workers are active in photodocumentation of the Louisiana State Arthropod Museum collections and upgrading outreach materials. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Requests via social media and direct emails with attached photographshave become increasingly important, with additional inquiries and responses via the "Entomology Club" and "Louisiana State Arthropod Museum" Facebook pages. Approximately~100 were handled through the "contact us" link on the departmental website, which is also increasing in importance. One on one contact via "walk-ins" and phone calls remain an important way of dessiminating information, but is declining in relative freqency. A new clientele group has emerged during the past year with the formation of the Baton Rouge Area Master Naturalist chapter. They complete a series of presentations and hands on workshops as part of a certification process. LSAM staff and students have presented "Insect Identification Workshops" to Spring and Fall Master Naturalist enrollees, with 16-18 participants per workshop. These workshops include a tour of the LSAM facility and hands on demonstrations of identification tools, dissections of unknowns, and other taxonomically relevant content. Scientific results were disseminated via refereed publications in entomology and taxonomy journals, including three publications that derived from a Ph.D. dissertation. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Louisiana State Arthropod Museum staff and graduate students will continue to provide identification and diagnostic services. Newly established and potential invasive species will recieve priority attention. Continued specialized taxonomic research will focus on the ecologically importantStaphylinidae, the most diverse family of animals on Earth. Databasing of specimen records from the Louisiana State Arthropod Museum will continue. Efforts will be concentrated on taxa that are the subjects of ongoing research projects, represent newly established invasive species, and taxa requested by colleagues at other institutions who require specimen data for Louisiana taxa. Outreach eventsinclude a spring workshop for the Baton Rouge Master Naturalists group, representation as experts at annually scheduled events, including LSU AgCenter's AgMagic extravaganza and Insect Day at the Arboretum.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Louisiana State Arthropod Museum staff and students handled ~600 citizen and pest management practitioner-submitted identification and diagnostic cases during the reporting period (avg. 2/day Apr.-Sept., 1/day remainder of year). Diagnostic requests were uincreasedrelative to previous years. Approximately 150were "walk-in"/phone callcases handledprimarily by the Curator (also up from last year). Approximately 300 were provided via the Facebook "Entomology" page by the Director. This page has a global reach, but identifications were limitedto insects submitted by users in Louisiana and the mid-south region of the U.S. Examples of identification/diagnostic information and other entomological counselto citizens ofLouisiana, LSU faculty, and government regulatory agencies (e.g., Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. LDAF)included: diagnosis of drain fly infestation in a building traced to old sewer pipes not removed during renovation; numerous casesof mold feeding insects following thefloods; identification/evaluation of pineapple sap beetles (potential emerging fruit pest)infesting persimmons; several cases of delusory parasitosis; identification of an outbreak of tropical sod webworms throughout the Baton Rouge, LA area; numerous identifications of assassin bugs that were mistaken for kissing bugs; identifications of southern house spiders mistakenly believed to be brown recluses, identification of wood boring insectsfrom ash trees as part of an emerald ash borer (EAB) research project, and evaluation of potential risks of non-nativeinsects listed on importation applications to LDAF. The project to document current and historical diversity and distributions of metallic wood borer beetles in Louisiana was completed in advance of the spread of EAB throughout the state. Amajor new graduate student led initiative in molecular systematics was begun that applies ultraconserved elements (UCE) found throughout metazoan genomes to the study of beetle evolutionary relationships. This project harvests UCE sequences across a broad range of genes and uses flanking regions to resolve relationships at all nodal levels in phylogeny reconstruction, from shallow species level relationships to deep time family and superfamily relationships.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Carlton, C. E., T. C. MacRae, A. K. Tishechkin, and W. Johnson. 2017. Annotated checklist of Buprestidae from Louisiana. Coleopts. Bull.: in press.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Hisamatsu, S., V. M. Bayless, and C. E. Carlton. 2016. Revision of the genus Cyclocaccus Sharp (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Nitidulinae). Coleopts. Bull. 70: in press (scheduled Dec. 2016).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Owens, B. E., and C. E. Carlton. 2016. Collecting in the museum: new species, taxonomic changes and range extensions of euplectite Pselaphinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) of the Southeastern United States. Coleops. Bull. 70: 611-633.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Owens, B. E., and C. E. Carlton. 2016. Revision of Eutyphlus LeConte (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), with Description of a New Species and Phylogenetic Placement within the Tribe Trichonychini. Coleops. Bull. 70: 1-29.


Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:We provided identifications of insects and other terrestrial arthropods for the citizens of Louisiana, and were the primaryproviders of such services within the state. These services were provided directly to citizens or via contacts with CooperativeExtension personnel, other faculty, medical practitioners, etc. Research results were communicated to colleagues in theUSDA, mainly the US Forest Service, via scheduled reports or to the scientific community as large via peer reviewedpublications. We assisted other faculty members in the LSU departments of Entomology, Biological Sciences, and at otheruniversities with insect taxonomic services by providing information and identifications and through museum vouchering ofresearch specimens. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Two graduate students were trained, one Masters student who graduated during 2015, and has continued as a Ph.D. candidate, and a Masters student who is scheduled to graduate May 2016. Both graduate students participated in the annual expedition to the Chiricahua and Peloncillo Mountains in New Mexico and Arizona, and both participated and presented at the Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting in Minneapolis.Three undergraduate student workers are active in photodocumentation of the Louisiana State Arthropod Museum collections and upgrading outreach materials for the department.APh.D. student employed as apostdoctoral research associateduring the reporting periodsuccessfully transitioned to a new position within the department. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Scientific results were disseminated via refereed publications in entomology and taxonomy journals, including three publications that derived from a Ph.D. dissertation. The LouisianaState Arthropod Museum maintains dedicated Facebook and Flickr (photo sharing) pages for distribution of news, events, andphotographic content via social media. The P.I. has admin access to the LSU Entomology Club Facebook page todisseminate information of general interest to the public about the Department of Entomology and the LSU insect taxonomy and maintains a Louisiana State Arthropod Museum Facebook page for specific museum related dessemination of information.Identification and diagnostic information was dissiminated via email, often as a result of submitted photographs,including the "contact us" link on the Entomology Department website, in person (e.g., museum walkins), and via social media(e.g., the "Entomology" Facebook group). Media contacts dealing with cicadas and the media attention about the perceivedtheats posedbykissing bugswere handled through interviews with newspaper and television outlets, respectively. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Louisiana State Arthropod Museum staff and graduate students will continue to provide identification and diagnostic services. Newly established andpotential invasive species will recieve priority attention. Continued specialized taxonomic research will focus on theecologically important beetle family, Staphylinidae. Databasing of specimenrecords from the Louisiana State Arthropod Museum will continue. Efforts will be concentrated on taxa that are the subjects ofongoing research projects, represent newly established invasive species, and taxa requested by colleagues at otherinstitutions who require specimen data for Louisiana taxa. Outreach events planned include a spring workshop for the Baton Rouge Master Naturalists group, representation as experts at the Baton Rouge BREC bioblitz and the U.S. National Park Service sponsored "Bug Blitz" at Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve. Participation in annual scheduled events, including AgMagic and Insect Day at the Arboretum, will continue.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Louisiana State Arthropod Museum staff and students handled ~500 citizen submitted identification and diagnostic cases during the reporting period. Approximately 100 were "walk in" cases handles primarily by the Curator. Approximately three hundred were provided via social media via the Facebook "Entomology" page by the Director. This page has a global reach but identifications of species focused on insects submitted by users in Louisiana and the mid south region. Another ~100 were handled through the "contact us" link on the departmental website. Entomological survey work within Louisiana resulted in the first record of the ground beetle tribe Anillini within the state and the discovery of a species new to science currently known from a single locality in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana. A survey of non-peridomestic roaches (Blattodea) was completed, with 17species documented, including a possible undescribed or new addition to the state fauna in the genus Pseudomops.A new species and several new records of the rove beetle genus Pseudactium were also documented for the state and anew species of pselaphine in the genus Dalmosanus was described, with manuscripts pending on all of them.A survey of pselaphine rove beetles of the New Zealand region continued and the taxonomic treatment of the supertribe Faronitae was completed, resulting in description of approximately 120 new species.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Park, J. S., and C. E. Carlton. 2014. A Revision of the New Zealand Species of the Genus Sagola Sharp (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae: Faronitae). Coleopterists Bulletin Vaurie Monograph. pp. 1-156.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Park, J. S., and C. E. Carlton. 2015. Brounea, a new genus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) from New Zealand, with descriptions of nine new species. Zootaxa 3990: 551-566.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Park, J. S., and C. E. Carlton. 2015. Pseudoexeirarthra, a new genus from New Zealand (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae), with descriptions of seven new species. ZooKeys 491: 95-118.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Park, J. S., and C. E. Carlton. 2015. Chandlerea and Nunnea (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), Two New Genera from New Zealand with Descriptions of Three New Species. Florida Entomologist 98: 588-592.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Park, J.-S., and C. E. Carlton. 2015. Ahnea, a new genus from New Zealand (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), with description of a new species. Canadian Entomologist 147: 381-389.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Owens, Brittany E., Christopher E. Carlton, and Edward A. Lisowski. 2015. New Species of Lucifotychus, Pselaptrichus, and Tychus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), From Washington, Review of the Included North American Species in These Genera, and Checklist of Pselaphinae From Mount Rainier National Park and Vicinity. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 108: 834-864.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2015 Citation: Owens, B. E., and C. E. Carlton. 2015. Berlese vs. Winkler: Comparison of two forest litter Coleoptera extraction methods and the ECOLI (Extraction of COLeoptera in Litter) protocol. Coleopterists Bulletin: in press.


Progress 05/28/14 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: We provided identifications of insects and other terrestrial arthropods for the citizens of Louisiana, and were the primary providers of such services within the state. These services were provided directly to citizens or via contacts with Cooperative Extension personnel, other faculty, medical practitioners, etc. Research results were communicated to colleagues in the USDA, mainly the US Forest Service, via scheduled reports or to the scientific community as large via peer reviewed publications. We assisted other faculty members in the LSU departments of Entomology, Biological Sciences, and at other universities with insect taxonomic services by providing information and identifications and through museum vouchering of research specimens. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Two MS students recieved training under the project. One developed expertise and specialization in beetle taxonomy, the other in cockroach fauistics and taxonomy. Both contributed to the identification and diagnostic services provided by Louisiana State Arthropod Museum staff. Both graduate students and an undergraduate intern participated in the annual public outreach event "Insect Day at the Arboretum" at the Louisiana Arboretum, Chicot State Park during July 2014. One graduate student and two undergraduates participated in the Louisiana State Arthropod Museum annual field trip to the Chiricahua and Peloncillo Mountians in Arizona and New Mexico during July-August 2014. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Scientific results were disseminated via refereed publications in entomology and taxonomy journals, including acceptance of a Ph.D. dissertation as the annual monograph published by the Coleopterists Society. Popular scientific information was included in a large format book featuring photographs and information about 600 species of beetles worldwide. The Louisiana State Arthropod Museum maintains dedicated Facebook and Flickr (photo sharing) pages for distribution of news, events, and photographic content via social media. The P.I. has admin access to the LSU Entomology Club Facebook page to disseminate information of general interest to the public about the Department of Entomology and the LSU insect taxonomy program.Identification and diagnostic information was dissiminated via email, often as a result of submitted photographs, including the "contact us" link on the Entomology Department website, in person (e.g., museum walkins), and via social media (e.g., the "Entomology" Facebook group). A photographic upload feature was added to the Entomology website "contact us" utility to expedite delivery of identifications to citizens from submitted photographs. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? The buprestid analysis will be completed and submitted for publication. The establishment and spread of emerald ash borer will be monitored. Louisiana State Arthropod Museum staff and graduate students will continue to provide identification and diagnostic services, including improved record keeping of sources of requests and taxa identified. Newly established and potential invasive species will recieve priority attention. Continued specialized taxonomic research will focus on the ecologically important beetle family, Staphylinidae. Faunistic work on the cockroaches of Louisiana will be largely completed, with a detailed analysis of non-peridomestic species in three natural habitats in southern Louisiana. Databasing of specimen records from the Louisiana State Arthropod Museum will continue. Efforts will be concentrated on taxa that are the subjects of ongoing research projects, represent newly established invasive species, and taxa requested by colleagues at other institutions who require specimen data for Louisiana taxa (e.g., currently being prepared for the subfamily Dynastinae, requested by Brett Ratcliffe, Nebraska State Musuem).

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? During the project period we conducted a detailed analysis of the beetle family Buprestidae in Louisiana in advance of the arrival of emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis). This was part of a larger study to assess the utility of biomonitoring for emerald ash borer using the predatory wasp Cerceris fuminpennis. We reviewed and databased buprestid beetle holdings in the Louisiana State Arthropod Museum (LSAM) and obtained Louisiana records from additional collections. Specimens of buprestids from Cerceris fumipennis Say (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) wasp colonies were included, and a baseline survey of buprestid beetle occurrence, abundance, and distributions in Louisiana was compiled. We examined 4,252 specimens of adult buprestids deposited in the LSAM and recorded additional records from the collections of the Mississippi Entomological Museum, Texas A&M Insect Collection and the U.S. National Museum, Smithsonian Institution. We also recorded records from published sources, mainly Nelson et al. 2008. Surveys using Cerceris fumipennis as a buprestid capture system yielded 39 species (38%), five that were not previously represented in the LSAM collection. Three of these species represented new state records. Eighteen species were collected during a study that utilized canopy traps as a collecting method. Three species represented by LSAM specimens were collected using only this method, including the only specimen of Polycesta elata LeConte. Seventeen species (16%) represented in the LSAM from Louisiana are known from single specimens. Agrilus macer LeConte was represented by the largest number of specimens (1083), the majority of which were from Cerceris fumipennis captures. We recorded 104 species of buprestids for the State of Louisiana. Twenty five are considered to be new state records(i.e., not previously represented in the LSAM or listed in published sources. We provided identification and diagnostic services to the public and to faculty staff colleagues at various institutions and government agencies. We provided risk assessments for approximately 200 species of arthropod import requests submitted to the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. A total of approximately 150 new species (not formally described or named in scientific literature) were described, including one species of rove beetle from Louisiana, Batrisodes dorothyae Ferro and Carlton.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Ferro, M. L., and C. E. Carlton. Two new species of Batrisodes Reitter (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) from eastern North America. Insecta Mundi 380: 1-21.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Park, J.-S., and C. E. Carlton. 2014. Pseudostenosagola, A New Genus from New Zealand (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae: Faronitae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 107: 734-739.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Olatinwo, R., D. Streett, and C. E. Carlton. 2014. Habitat Suitability Under Changing Climatic Conditions for the Exotic Ambrosia Beetle, Cnestus mutilatus (Curculionidae: Scolytinae: Xyleborini) in the Southeastern United States. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 107: 782-788.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2015 Citation: Park, J.-S., and C. E. Carlton. In Press. Brounea, a new genus from New Zealand (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), with descriptions of nine new species. Zootaxa: in press.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2015 Citation: Park, J.-S., and C. E. Carlton. In Press. Ahnea, a new genus from New Zealand (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), with description of a new species. Canadian Entomologist: in press.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Park, J.-S., and C. E. Carlton. 2014. A revision of New Zealand species of the genus Sagola (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae: Faronitae. Coleopterists Society Monograph 13: 1-156.