Abstract
We report observations on reproductive phenology, fecundity, and sporocarp morphology for a population of the semiaquatic fern Marsilea mollis B.L. Rob. & Fernald in southern Arizona and document the parasitic relationships of 2 insects collected with the plants. The recently described weevil Notiodes sporocarpicus O'Brien (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) utilizes the fern's sporocarp as a brood chamber, only the second documented instance of this form of parasitism in the United States. The wasp Lyrcus maculatus (Gahan) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) is a parasitoid of the weevil in this system.
Recommended Citation
Mauz, Kathryn and Reeder, John R.
(2009)
"Marsilea mollis (Marsileaceae) sporocarps and associated insect parasitism in southern Arizona,"
Western North American Naturalist: Vol. 69:
No.
3, Article 12.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/wnan/vol69/iss3/12