Cedar Creek
Ecosystem Science Reserve

STATE OF THE COLLECTION

For background, consider that nearly one million insect species have been described in the world. (Estimates range from 5 to 50 million actually occuring). Of this million, the Holometabolus Orders are most diverse: COLEOPTERA (300,000), LEPIDOPTERA (113,000), DIPTERA (120,000), HYMENOPTERA (108,000+). Of the one million described species, nearly 100,000 (one-tenth) have been collected in North America north of Mexico. A relatively diverse state like New York boasts nearly 20,000 species (15573 spp--Leonard, 1923), and Minnesota would be expected to have a similar diversity (i.e. one-fifth of the North American total).

I find that a diverse field station like Cedar Creek, even though small (nine square miles), yields from 25-50% of the state total in groups that have been well collected. For example 45/90 Anisoptera occuring in Minnesota are found on CCESR; 80/140 Orthoptera; 130/340 Cicadellidae; 100/200+ Miridae; 52/182 Cerambycidae; 37/90 Buprestidae; 123/215 Chrysomelidae; 120/334 Carabidae; 47/116 Scarabaeidae; 96/218 Curculionidae; 80/140 Syrphidae; 32/77 Chloropidae; 265/765 Ichneumonidae; 85/202+ Sphecidae; 140/370 Apoidea; ... Keep in mind that Minnesota is not well collected in most groups. Thus I think it reasonable to assume that five to ten thousand species of insects occur at CCESR.

Nearly 4000 taxa have been collected and identified, at least to genus:

900 COLEOPTERA (ca 120 Carabidae, 120+ Chrysomelidae, 50 Scarabaeidae, 50+ Cerambycidae, 90+ Curculionidae). The Staphylinidae, Curculionidae, and bark/fungal feeding families are in particular need of attention.

 1000 HYMENOPTERA (ca 400 Ichneumonidae+Braconidae, ca 100 CHALCIDOIDEA, 85 Sphecidae, 140 APOIDEA). The SYMPHYTA, the CYNIPOIDEA, and many of the Parasitic Families are in need of attention.

 700 DIPTERA (ca 150 BRACHYCERA, 80 Syrphidae, 180+ ACALYPTERATA incl.30+ Chloropidae). The NEMATOCERA, Tachinidae, Anthomyiid-Muscidae are in dire need of attention.

 400 LEPIDOPTERA (60 PAPILIONOIDEA, 25 Hesperiidae). More than 200 species of Macro moths (75+ Noctuidae, 50 Geometridae) have been collected, but many more in these two large families are expected to occur here. The micros have been virtually ignored.

 300 HEMIPTERA (100 Miridae, 40 Lygaeidae, 40 Pentatomidae) have been rather well collected. But John Lattin anticipates more tree/shrub inhabiting species with appropriate collecting.

 300 HOMOPTERA (130 Cicadellidae, 45 Membracidae, ca 40 Fulgoroidea). The Aphididae have barely been touched. The same is true for Typhlocybine leafhoppers and Fulgoroids in the genus Delphacodes. Although most have been assigned generic even species names; this group requires the attention of a specialist.

 80+ ORTHOPTERA (40 Acrididae) have been rather well collected with the exception of the genus Ceuthophilus.

 60+ ODONATA (27 Libellulidae) have been rather well collected. But the Coenagrionid genus Enallagma deserves more attention.

 30 NEUROPTERA (including 3+ Myrmeleontidae, 8 Hemerobiidae) have been fairly well collected. But IDs are questionable.

 Aquatic Orders EPHEMEROPTERA (10 spp), PLECOPTERA (1 sp), TRICHOPTERA (25 spp) are in need of more attention. The same is true for the PSOCOPTERA (15 spp) and THYSANOPTERA (ca 10 spp). Primitive Orders (Collembola, Protura, Thysanura) as well as the ectoparasitic orders (Mallophaga, Anoplura, Siphonaptera) have been virtually ignored.

John Haarstad
East Bethel, Minnesota
March, 1998

webmaster@cedarcreek.umn.edu Last updated 4/1/1999 5:01 pm (Thursday)