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Year 1 work. |
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Our sampling in year 1 (2009) consisted of operating two Malaise traps (Townes, 1972 lightweight design, purchased from Sante Traps) in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. One was located in a riparian zone along a stream in Solstice Canyon (34.042°N, 118.753°W), the other in an drier area, in an open field near some oak trees at Diamond-X Ranch (34.098°N, 118.699°W). The samples from these traps were collected by SMMNRA staff, and delivered to Jim Hogue, in whose lab the syrphids were sorted, mounted and labeled. |
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Malaise trap at Diamond-X Ranch |
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In the laboratory, we assembled the Los Angeles County syrphids from the LACM into a separate collection. These specimens were identified by our expert collaborator, Dr. Chris Thompson, and databased by research assistant Francesca Zern. All the specimens from the Malaise traps were also brought to the LACM, were databased, and integrated into the collection. |
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Our first year of work has identified 88 species of hover flies in Los Angeles County. Of these, ## or ##% are so far known from the Santa Monica Mountains. |
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Brian Brown and
Jim Hogue |
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Our plans for year 2 are to operate our two Malaise traps in different sites, continuing the survey. We also plan to visit the collection at UC Riverside to gather their L.A. County records. Townes, H. K. 1972. A light-weight Malaise trap. Entomological News. 83: 239-247. |
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Dr. Chris Thompson at the LACM |
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