Vol. 98, No. 4. September & October 1987 165 THE DISTRIBUTION OF SHORE FLIES (DIPTERA: EPHYDRIDAE) IN ILLINOIS 1 B.A. Steinly 2 , E. Lisowski 3 , D. Webb 3 ABSTRACT: New state and/or habitat records are reported for Ephydra cinerea, Ditrichophora exigua, Lemnaphila scotlandae, Lytogaster excavata, L. furva, Nostima scutellaris, Paralimna punctipennis, Polylrichophora orbitalis, Pseudohecamede ab-dominalis, Psilopa dupla. Scare/la obsoleta, S. quadrinotata, S. stagnalis, and Scatophila unicornis(D\plera: Ephydridae). Notably. Scaiella obsoleta, and S. stagnalis were collected in a hydroponics greenhouse. Many species of Ephydridae (Diptera) are found in semi-aquatic and aquatic habitats. The ecology and distribution of shore flies have been investigated in aquatic habitats in Iowa (Deonier. 1965), and Ohio (Scheiring and Foote, 1973; Deonier and Regensburg. 1978: Steinly and Deonier, 1980; Steinly, 1986). In addition, ephydrid habitats and population composition have been studied within limited geographic areas in North Dakota (Harris and Deonier. 1 979). California ( Barnby and Resh, 1984), Washington (Zack, 1979. 1983) and Ohio (Steinly. 1978. 1984a and b). These Nearctic habitats are delimited by vegetation types, substratum conformation, and surface water abundance. Thus, while shore flies have received much attention, the majority of ephydrid ranges, habitat distributions, and population characteristics are unknown. In this paper, we present new state ( SR) and habitat ( HR) records. The distributions of selected ephydrid species are discussed. METHODS Adult shore flies were collected with a modified aerial sweep net (Regensburg, 1977). In the field, selected adults were aspirated into 7-dram vials, and the remaining adults in the collecting bag were killed with ethyl acetate. Adult specimens were point-mounted in the laboratory and examined to determine reproductive condition. Lemnaphila scotlandae Cresson eggs and larvae were removed from field-collected samples ofLe?nna minor Linnaeus (duck weed) and placed in beakers of pond water at room temperature. Eggs were left on the duck-weed thallus to facilitate handling. Larvae found mining duck weed were Deceived February 23. 1987. Accepted March 31. 1987. ^Department of Entomology. University of Illinois 320 Morrill Hall, 505 S. Goodwin. Champaign. Illinois 61801 3 The Illinois Natural History Survey, Natural Resources Bldg., Champaign. Illinois 61820 ENT. NEWS 98(4): 165-170. September & October. 1987
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