INSECTS EMERGING FROM BROWN SLIME FLUXES IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND

Abstract

AbstractSamples were taken weekly from 11 June to 1 October 1968 from brown slime fluxes occurring on trees (mostly elms) in Rockport, Mass., and in central and eastern areas of Connecticut and held in the laboratory for the emergence of adult insects.The most common emergents were Aulacigaster leucopeza (Meigen) and its parasite, Aphaereta colei Marsh, Mycetobia divergens (Walker), and Dasyhelea oppressa Thomsen. The only drosophilid reared from brown slime flux was Drosophila robusta Sturtevant, a species that was not particularly common.A comparison of the brown flux fauna of Great Britain with that of New England shows that some cosmopolitan species occur in flux in both countries. Species whose distribution is limited to only one of the countries are represented in the other country by closely related species (ecological homologues).The relationship between climatological factors and the fluxing condition of trees is discussed. The factor considered most important in continuing the fluxing state is rainfall during the late summer months.