Habitat Distribution of the Shore Flies of Northeastern Ohio (Diptera: Ephydridae)

Abstract

A study of the habitat distribution of 68 species of shore flies (Ephydridae) was carried out in northeastern Ohio between April of 1968 and November of 1969. Ten ephydrid habitats were recognized: mud-shore, sand-shore, grass-shore, limnic-wrack, marsh-reed, sedge-meadow, floating-vegetation, floating-algal-mat, rain-pool, and salt-pool habitats. The mud shore contained the greatest diversity of Ephydridae, whereas the salt-pool habitat produced the largest populations. The floating algal mat possessed the fewest number of species, as well as the least number of individuals.