Resource-partitioning
Guides
Agonum lutulentum
Brown-prothorax Ground Beetle
Agonum lutulentum is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae, commonly known as the Brown-prothorax Ground Beetle. It inhabits marsh environments, particularly the emergent vegetation of flooded zones. The species exhibits resource partitioning behavior, occupying macrohabitats that are mutually exclusive with sympatric congeners such as A. ferruginosum. It is native to North America, with documented occurrence in central Alberta, Canada.
Agonum thoreyi
Agonum thoreyi is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae. In central Alberta marshes, it is one of four most abundant carabid species in emergent vegetation of flooded zones. It shows relatively even distribution across macrohabitats compared to congeners, with preference for microsites featuring emergent substrate or dead vegetation piles. Its reproductive timing is later than sympatric Agonum nigriceps and A. ferruginosum. The species is nocturnal.
Canthidium
Canthidium is a genus of small dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, containing at least 170 described species. Species in this genus are primarily neotropical and exhibit a characteristic "sit and wait" foraging strategy, perching on leaves to detect dung through chemoreception. They are classified as tunnelers, constructing burrows beneath dung deposits. Their small body size (often under 10 mm) influences their foraging ecology and resource partitioning strategies within diverse dung beetle communities.
Canthon
tumblebugs, dung rollers
Canthon is a genus of ball-rolling dung beetles (telocoprids) commonly known as tumblebugs, distributed across the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. Adults are known for their distinctive behavior of forming dung balls and rolling them away from source material for feeding or nesting. The genus exhibits notable behavioral diversity, with some species employing 'sit and wait' perching strategies to detect dung through chemoreception, while others actively follow animals. Several species show color polymorphism that may be linked to thermal adaptation and elevational distribution.
Carnidae
bird flies, filth flies
Carnidae is a family of small flies (Diptera) comprising six genera and approximately 93 species worldwide. Most species are saprophagous, with larvae developing in bird nest litter, dung, carrion, and decaying organic matter. Members of the genus Carnus are exceptional within the family, being haematophagous ectoparasites of nestling birds. Adults are typically 1–2 mm, black, and characterized by distinctive arrangements of orbital setae on the frons.
Erythroneura
leafhoppers, microleafhoppers, grape leafhoppers
Erythroneura is a large genus of leafhoppers (Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae) containing approximately 79 recognized species. Members are small, often colorful insects commonly known as microleafhoppers or grape leafhoppers. Several species are significant agricultural pests, particularly of grapevines (Vitis spp.), while others feed on sycamore (Platanus) and various other host plants. The genus exhibits complex ecological relationships including resource partitioning among sympatric species and serves as host for specialized egg parasitoids in the family Mymaridae.
Megarhyssa
Giant Ichneumonid Wasps, Giant Ichneumons, Stump Stabbers
Megarhyssa is a genus of large ichneumonid wasps comprising 37 species distributed worldwide. Females possess extraordinarily elongated ovipositors—up to 14 cm in some species—that enable parasitism of wood-boring horntail larvae deep within tree trunks. The genus exhibits remarkable ecological specialization, with sympatric species partitioning host resources by ovipositor length, allowing coexistence through vertical stratification of host exploitation. These wasps are idiobiont ectoparasitoids, meaning they paralyze and consume their hosts without allowing further development.
Megarhyssa atrata
Black Giant Ichneumonid Wasp
Megarhyssa atrata is the largest known hymenopteran parasitoid, with females possessing an ovipositor that can exceed 130 mm—longer than any other arthropod genital apparatus. The species is primarily black with a yellow head and legs, and lacks the reddish-orange markings found in congeners. It parasitizes the larvae of the pigeon horntail (Tremex columba) deep within decaying hardwood, using remarkable wood-penetrating adaptations. Males aggregate at emergence sites and exhibit distinctive "tergal stroking" behavior, rubbing their abdomen tips against bark.
Megarhyssa macrurus icterosticta
Megarhyssa macrurus icterosticta is a subspecies of giant ichneumon wasp, among the largest ichneumonids in North America. Males of this subspecies are smaller than those of the sympatric species M. atrata, with more brown than black body coloration and wings that are clear with a well-developed spot on the costal margin. Females possess extremely long ovipositors used to parasitize woodboring larvae of Tremex columba (pigeon horntail) in decaying hardwoods, particularly at shallower depths than those reached by larger congeners.
Megarhyssa macrurus macrurus
giant ichneumon wasp
Megarhyssa macrurus macrurus is a North American giant ichneumon wasp and among the largest members of family Ichneumonidae. Females possess extremely long, slender ovipositors used to parasitize woodboring larvae of the pigeon horntail (Tremex columba) deep within tree trunks. Males aggregate on host trees and exhibit distinctive tergal stroking behavior, rubbing their abdomen tips against bark. This subspecies co-occurs with the larger M. atrata, with which it shares host resources through spatial partitioning based on ovipositor length differences.