Insects of Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho

Horning, D; Barr, W

The first comprehensive entomological investigation at Craters of the Moon National Monument. Designed to inventory insects within the boundaries of the Monument and to determine the specific occurrences of insects in lava and other habitats as well as their association with plants. During the study, 20 orders, 248 families, 1,144 genera and 2,064 species and subspecies were found, more than 30 of the species new to science. This study consisted primarily of an inventory ofthe insect species inhabitating Craters of the MoonNational Monument, Idaho. Special attention was givento the associations of insects and plants and the cor-relation of insects with particular lava and non-lavahabitats. The study was conducted during the summersof 1964, 1965 and 1967 with the majority of specimensand field data collected in 1965. The largest number of insect species was collectedfrom a non-volcanic area. Within lava habitats the num-ber of insect species varied depending on age and typeof volcanic material. Old, decomposed cinder cones sup-ported the greatest number of insect species. Decom-posed aa and pahoehoe lava flows were less favorable toinsect activity than the cinder cones. Undecomposedpahoehoe lava flows and bare cinder areas supportedlittle plant life and the insect populations were markedly low. The least favorable habitat for insects was the un-decomposed aa lava flows. Several plant species growing on lava were found tobe particularly attractive to insects. These includeChamaebatiaria millefolium, Chrysothamnus nauseosus,C. viscidzflorus, Phacelia leucophylla and Pinusflexilis. During this study, 20 orders, 248 families, 1,144genera and 2,064 species and subspecies were found inthe Craters of the Moon National Monument. More than 30 of the species are new to science or have beennamed since 1967. The order Hymenoptera was best represented with311 genera, 705 species, and 4,333 collected specimens.Diptera ranked next with 286 genera, 521 species, and1,963 collected specimens. Coleoptera was third with198 genera, 324 species, and 2,219 collected specimens.

Insects of Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho

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