Each species of aphid produces many different forms besides male, female, immature, and adult. Other forms, or morphs, include winged, wingless, egg-laying, and live-bearing. Because there is so much diversity even within each species, and because many forms are difficult or even impossible to identify, knowing the host plant on which aphid specimens were collected can be of great value. Colin will be spending two weeks in the park conducting a base-line survey of the aphids. He will collect the insects and the host plants they feed on. Back in the lab, technicians will mount aphids to microscope slides and plants to herbarium sheets, and database both insect and plant material.

Colin, David and Loy will identify the material. Although this is primarily an exploratory project, with many aphid species being recorded from the park for the first time, new discoveries in aphid biology, including their different morphs and host plants, are sure to surface.

Collectors List: CollectorList.pdf

Species Ranking: SpeciesDistributionRanking.pdf

Species Report: Taxonomy.pdf

Upper Taxa List: UpperTaxa.pdf

Principal Investigator

PI Name:  Dr. Colin Favret

PI Organization:  Illinois Natural History Survey

Co-investigator #1

Co-PI Name:  Dr. David J. Voegtlin

Co-PI Organization:  Illinois Natural History Survey

Co-investigator #2

Co-PI Name:  Dr. Loy R. Phillippe

Co-PI Organization:  Illinois Natural History Survey