WHAT'S NEW - RECENT UPDATES
Posted May 11, 2023
A new species of scuttle fly (family: Phoridae) was found in the cave on April 19th of this year (Image). We so far have only a single specimen, a female, which was found walking on a wet stalagmite. The wings of the female are mere rudiments and thus the animal is flightless. It is possible (likely) that males of the species are winged. Scuttle fly species with greatly reduced wings in the female are often symbionts in colonies of social insects such as ants or termites. Termites are not a regular element of the ecology of Kartchner Caverns, but the New World army and Neivamyrmex graciellae is sporadically observed to be active in the cave. It is possible this fly is associated with the ants, but there were no ants found in proximity to the fly when it was found. These flies typically trail army ant colonies when the ants are in their nomadic phase. The animal is just over one millimeter in length, and is somewhat smaller than most scuttle fly species. We suspect the flies are rare in the cave. This fly is the 103rd invertebrate species known to be an element of the ecology of Kartchner Caverns. Brian Brown of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County has identified the animal as likely belonging to the genus Ecitomyia. There is currently only a single species in this genus recorded in the United States (Ecitomyia wheeleri Brues, 1901). The Kartchner Caverns animal is definitely a different species, and is likely undescribed.
Posted October 18, 2022
During our invertebrate studies trip into the cave on October 5, 2022 KCSP park ranger Lorie Lyon found a dead juvenile thread-legged bug (Phasmatocoris labyrinthicus) on the side of a wet stalagmite in the Millipede Tomb Room. This is the same formation that contains the cambalid millipede embedded in its matrix, and for which this small room in the cave is named (see details in the discussion on the cambalid millipede). This immature animal is a second instar individual, and is only the second juvenile of the species ever found in the cave. The animal apparently died on the formation. This was an important find as it demonstrates how invertebrates, just like the millipede, get “fossilized” on the surfaces of active calcite flow deposits as the calcite accumulates. We will be monitoring this animal over time to document how fast it gets entombed in the formation.
Posted September 03, 2022
Barry M. OConnor, co-principal investigator for the Kartchner Caverns Macro-invertebrate Research Project, has identified (from post-trip micro-photographs taken of a specimen found in the Big Room of the cave on September 30, 2021) the larva of a species of cunaxid mite (family: Cunaxidae). This is a new species record for the cave, and the eleventh mite family represented among the suite of invertebrates found in the cave. It is the 101st macro-invertebrate species in the ecology of the cave. Cunaxids are known predators of small arthropods, and are usually found in litter and soil. We are not aware of any records of cunaxid mites recorded from caves; so this may be a significant record. Adults of the animal would be required for species identification.
Posted May 01, 2022
Two recent incidental occurrences were recorded in the cave. A juvenile Heteronemiid walking stick (Parabacillus hesperus) was found just off the Main Corridor in early March of this year. And, an empty pupal case of a small moth found in the Tarantula Room was tentatively identified as belonging in the family Tortricidae. Both of these species are phytophagous (plant feeding) as juveniles. See the Taxa Table tab for additional details.
Posted September 01, 2021
A review of early project photos recently revealed a previously unrecognized spider from Kartchner Caverns. The spider was originally observed in the cave on February 12, 2011. The spider is in the family Hahniidae and was tentatively identified by Darrell Ubick as likely belonging in the genus Cicurina. The spider has no eyes, is mostly depigmented, and is thus placed as a troglobiont in the ecology of the cave. The spider may be endemic to Kartchner Caverns. There are 139 species of Cicurina currently recognized in the World (World Spider Catalogue 2021), many of which live in or are adapted to living in caves. This is the 101st non-incidental invertebrate species found in the caverns.
Posted April 11, 2021
Good news!
Air temperature and relative humidity within the cave have improved slightly (decreased [0.8-1.4°F] and increased [0.4-0.6%], respectively) since the installation of a LED lighting system throughout the tour portions of the cave in late 2018 (Truebe 2021). The LED system generates considerably less heat than the incandescent system that was originally installed in the cave. Due to the large volume of the caverns the ultimate effect of these improvements on the cave environment will take several years to stabilize. It is hoped that these incremental changes will continue to improve over the next few years. The continued pressure from an increase in surface (epigean) temperatures and attendant reduction in precipitation resulting from anthropogenic warming of the planet will be ongoing aggravating factors potentially adversely affecting the cave environment.
Stability of humidity in the cave is affected by opening and closing of the access portals for tours, air exchange through natural connections with the surface, and the ground water level beneath the cave. The long-term draw-down of the water table at the cave is affected by normal operations of the cave for public visitation. Recent and proposed residential developments in the vicinity of Kartchner Caverns State Park (KCSP) could have significant deleterious affects on the regional water table and directly affect the water table level at KCSP. Switching the caverns over to a public water system extension from Benson, Arizona would allow the natural water table on the east flank of the Whetstone Mountains in the vicinity of the cave (and Park) to recover through natural recharge from annual precipitation over time. A rise in the water table to pre-commerical development level would probably have a significant positive effect on the climate in the cave.
Air temperature and relative humidity within the cave have improved slightly (decreased [0.8-1.4°F] and increased [0.4-0.6%], respectively) since the installation of a LED lighting system throughout the tour portions of the cave in late 2018 (Truebe 2021). The LED system generates considerably less heat than the incandescent system that was originally installed in the cave. Due to the large volume of the caverns the ultimate effect of these improvements on the cave environment will take several years to stabilize. It is hoped that these incremental changes will continue to improve over the next few years. The continued pressure from an increase in surface (epigean) temperatures and attendant reduction in precipitation resulting from anthropogenic warming of the planet will be ongoing aggravating factors potentially adversely affecting the cave environment.
Stability of humidity in the cave is affected by opening and closing of the access portals for tours, air exchange through natural connections with the surface, and the ground water level beneath the cave. The long-term draw-down of the water table at the cave is affected by normal operations of the cave for public visitation. Recent and proposed residential developments in the vicinity of Kartchner Caverns State Park (KCSP) could have significant deleterious affects on the regional water table and directly affect the water table level at KCSP. Switching the caverns over to a public water system extension from Benson, Arizona would allow the natural water table on the east flank of the Whetstone Mountains in the vicinity of the cave (and Park) to recover through natural recharge from annual precipitation over time. A rise in the water table to pre-commerical development level would probably have a significant positive effect on the climate in the cave.
Posted April 13, 2020
Palpigrade re-discovered in cave
The palpigrade that lives in the cave was recently re-discovered in the Big Room of the cave on March 17, 2020 by Arizona State Parks cave resource manager Sara Truebe. Originally found as a single individual by Dr. Calvin Welbourn during pre-development studies in the cave in 1989-1991 (Welbourn 1999), this animal had not been seen since. Despite intensive species-specific searching for the animal during the 2009-2011 studies (Pape and OConnor 2014) none of the animals were found. The key to the re-discovery, and the hope for futrure study of the species, is keyed to the commercial trail lights. Low-voltage rope lights along the tour trail curbs allow the growth of algae, and the algae are fed on by collembola, which are known prey for palpigrades. The large number of collembola at these locations apparently supports a population of cave palpigrade. A single search of the area following the re-discovery did not reveal any of the animals, but additional efforts are planned.
Welbourn, W.C. 1999. Invertebrate cave fauna of Kartchner Caverns, Kartchner Caverns, Arizona. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies 61(2): 93–101.
Pape, R.B. and OConnor, B.M. 2014. Diversity and ecology of the macro-invertebrate fauna (Nemata and Arthropoda) of Kartchner Caverns, Cochise County, Arizona, United States of America.
Palpigrade re-discovered in cave
The palpigrade that lives in the cave was recently re-discovered in the Big Room of the cave on March 17, 2020 by Arizona State Parks cave resource manager Sara Truebe. Originally found as a single individual by Dr. Calvin Welbourn during pre-development studies in the cave in 1989-1991 (Welbourn 1999), this animal had not been seen since. Despite intensive species-specific searching for the animal during the 2009-2011 studies (Pape and OConnor 2014) none of the animals were found. The key to the re-discovery, and the hope for futrure study of the species, is keyed to the commercial trail lights. Low-voltage rope lights along the tour trail curbs allow the growth of algae, and the algae are fed on by collembola, which are known prey for palpigrades. The large number of collembola at these locations apparently supports a population of cave palpigrade. A single search of the area following the re-discovery did not reveal any of the animals, but additional efforts are planned.
Welbourn, W.C. 1999. Invertebrate cave fauna of Kartchner Caverns, Kartchner Caverns, Arizona. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies 61(2): 93–101.
Pape, R.B. and OConnor, B.M. 2014. Diversity and ecology of the macro-invertebrate fauna (Nemata and Arthropoda) of Kartchner Caverns, Cochise County, Arizona, United States of America.
Posted November 9, 2016
NEW PAPER - The importance of ants in cave ecology, with new records and behavioral observations of ants in Arizona caves Posted August 11, 2016
Solution to animal disturbance of arthropod pit traps During our initial surface field work conducted in the park for our studies of the rove beetle (Stamnoderus sp.) that occurs in the cave, we encountered issues with wildlife (presumably collared peccaries) devastating our arthropod pit trap set-ups (Fig. 1, before; Fig. 2, after). The peccaries are attracted to the sweet-tasting killing agent used in the traps. We had anticipated this as a potential issue, and had purposely used harmless food-grade propylene glycol rather than the fatally toxic (and also sweet tasting) ethylene glycol, which has historically been used in arthropod pit traps. However, we now needed to find a way to protect the traps from animal disturbance. |
Our solution was to construct wire exclosures using AWG 14 gauge steel wire (Figs. 3 & 4), which we secured with tie-wire to a pair of concrete forming stakes driven into the ground on opposing sides of the cages (Figs. 3, 6 & 7). An initial test consisted of three of the cages, which were left in place for 20 days. When we retrieved the traps we found evidence of digging at the base of one of the cages, presumably by peccaries, but all of the cages were intact, allowing retrieval of pit traps and samples. This methodology should be successful for pit trapping or similar equipment protection from small to medium-sized wildlife disturbance.
Photos by Esty and Bob Pape
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Posted February 14, 2016
Changes to Ecological Group classifications
There is a long history of efforts to define the ecological associations (ecological groups) of terrestrial cave animals, which have been summarized by several authors including Vandel (1965), Camacho (1992) and Sket (2008). To date the issue seems to not be satisfactorily resolved to the satisfaction of all (Romero, 2009, 2011; Lunghi et al., 2014), but the definitions proposed by Sket (2008) seem to be gaining greater acceptance among biospeleologists. I have re-defined this terminology for use on this web site. See the Definitions section in the Animals drop down tab for details.
Changes to Ecological Group classifications
There is a long history of efforts to define the ecological associations (ecological groups) of terrestrial cave animals, which have been summarized by several authors including Vandel (1965), Camacho (1992) and Sket (2008). To date the issue seems to not be satisfactorily resolved to the satisfaction of all (Romero, 2009, 2011; Lunghi et al., 2014), but the definitions proposed by Sket (2008) seem to be gaining greater acceptance among biospeleologists. I have re-defined this terminology for use on this web site. See the Definitions section in the Animals drop down tab for details.
Posted November 3, 2015
A live tarantula was found in the cave by Stephan Hlohowskyj on October 27, 2015. This is only the second record of a tarantula found in the cave, and the first of a live animal. The location was in the Millipede Tomb Room, which abuts the Tarantula Room. Stephan is the Laboratory Manager for the Geosciences Department at the University of Arizona. He was in the cave to take water samples at the time. See the tarantula (Aphonopelma sp.) species account to see the photo and additional details of the find.
A live tarantula was found in the cave by Stephan Hlohowskyj on October 27, 2015. This is only the second record of a tarantula found in the cave, and the first of a live animal. The location was in the Millipede Tomb Room, which abuts the Tarantula Room. Stephan is the Laboratory Manager for the Geosciences Department at the University of Arizona. He was in the cave to take water samples at the time. See the tarantula (Aphonopelma sp.) species account to see the photo and additional details of the find.
Posted November 3, 2015
During a visit to the cave on October 3, 2015 a female of the common cave spider Eidmanella pallida was observed feeding on an item stored in its food cache. The prey was a terrestrial cave isopod (Brackenridgia sp.). This is the first confirmed prey for this spider in Kartchner Caverns. Remains of a small, unidentified fly were also found in the cache.
During a visit to the cave on October 3, 2015 a female of the common cave spider Eidmanella pallida was observed feeding on an item stored in its food cache. The prey was a terrestrial cave isopod (Brackenridgia sp.). This is the first confirmed prey for this spider in Kartchner Caverns. Remains of a small, unidentified fly were also found in the cache.
Posted September 1, 2015
Visit with us at the 5th annual Arizona Insect Festival on Sunday September 20, 2015 from 11AM to 4PM at the University of Arizona Student Union Grand Ballroom (3rd floor). Free admission to the event.
Visit with us at the 5th annual Arizona Insect Festival on Sunday September 20, 2015 from 11AM to 4PM at the University of Arizona Student Union Grand Ballroom (3rd floor). Free admission to the event.
Posted July 22, 2015
Two spiders that occur in Kartchner Caverns, for which we did not previously have a species determination, were recently identified from adult male specimens by project collaborator Darrell Ubick (California Academy of Sciences). These are Loxosceles arizonica, a brown spider (family: Sicariidae), and Septentrina bicalcarata, a corinnid spider (family: Corinnidae). Both species are so far known only from the Jackrabbit area in the cave.
We have also posted a species taxa table under the Animals dropdown tab, which will be kept updated as new findings become available. This table will serve as the official current list of species for Kartchner Caverns.
Two spiders that occur in Kartchner Caverns, for which we did not previously have a species determination, were recently identified from adult male specimens by project collaborator Darrell Ubick (California Academy of Sciences). These are Loxosceles arizonica, a brown spider (family: Sicariidae), and Septentrina bicalcarata, a corinnid spider (family: Corinnidae). Both species are so far known only from the Jackrabbit area in the cave.
We have also posted a species taxa table under the Animals dropdown tab, which will be kept updated as new findings become available. This table will serve as the official current list of species for Kartchner Caverns.
© 2023 R.B. Pape. All rights reserved.
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