Hostname: page-component-599cfd5f84-2stsh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-07T06:41:10.911Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Late Quaternary Insects of Rancho La Brea and McKittrick, California

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Scott E. Miller
Scott E. Miller*
Affiliation:
Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 USA
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Asphalt-impregnated sediments at Rancho La Brea (Los Angeles County) and McKittrick (Kern County) in California provide a rich Quaternary insect record. Ages of various sites at Rancho La Brea range from more than 40,000 14C yr B.P. to modern. McKittrick insects studied by W. D. Pierce are not contemporaneous with the late Pleistocene vertebrate fauna, but are only about 7000 14C yr old. The major paleoecological groupings are: (1) ground dwellers, (2) aquatics. (3) scavengers, and (4) miscellaneous. Contrary to conclusions of earlier authors, most specimens represent modern species. Only two apparent terminal Pleistocene extinctions are recognized. both dung beetles (Scarabaeidae).

Type
Original Articles
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 20 , Issue 1 , July 1983 , pp. 90 - 104
Copyright
University of Washington

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ashworth, A.C.. 1979. Quaternary Coleoptera studies in North America: Past and present. Carabid Beetles: Their Evolution, Natural History, and Classification. Erwin, T.L., Ball, G.W., Whitehead, D.R.. Dr. W. Junk B.V, The Hague. 395–406.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Axelrod, D.I.. 1967. Quaternary extinctions of large mammals. University of California Publications in Geological Science 74. 1–42.Google Scholar
Berger, R., Libby, W.F.. 1966. UCLA radiocarbon dates V. Radiocarbon 8. 467–497.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blair, K.G.. 1927. Insect remains from oil sand in Trinidad. Transactions of the Entomological Society of London 75. 137–141.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blaisdell, F.E. Sr.. 1909. A monographic revision of the Coleoptera belonging to the tenebrionid tribe Eleodiini inhabiting the United States. Lower California, and adjacent islands. Bulletin of the United States National Museum 63. 1–524.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bogachev, A.. 1948. Fauna of the Binagady asphalt deposits: Coleoptera. Trudy Estesvenno-Istoricheskii Muzei, Baku 1–2, 137–160. [In Russian].Google Scholar
Borell, A.E.. 1936. A modern La Brea tar pit. Auk 53. 298–300.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Calabrese, D.M.. 1978. Identity of Gerris (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) species from Pleistocene asphalt deposits at McKittrick, California. Entomological News 89. 59–60.Google Scholar
Campbell, K.E. Jr.. 1979. The non-passerine Pleistocene avifauna of the Talara tar seeps. Northwestern Peru. Royal Ontario Museum, Life Sciences Contributions 118. 1–203.Google Scholar
Churcher, C.S.. 1966. The insect fauna from the Talara tar-seeps, Peru. Canadian Journal of Zoology 44. 985–993.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coope, G.R.. 1978. Constancy of insect species versus inconstancy of Quaternary environments. Symposia of the Royal Entomological Society of London 9. 176–187.Google Scholar
DeMay, I.S.. 1941. Quaternary bird life of the McKittrick asphalt, California. Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication 530. 35–60.Google Scholar
Dodson, P., Wexlar, D.. 1979. Taphonomic investigations of owl pellets. Paleobiology 5. 275–284.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Doyen, J.T., Miller, S.E.. 1980. Review of Pleistocene darkling ground beetles of the California asphalt deposits (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae, Zopheridae). Pan-Pacific Entomologist 56. 1–10.Google Scholar
Essig, E.O.. 1931. A History of Entomology. MacMillan, New York.Google Scholar
Gagne, R.J., Miller, S.E.. 1982. Protochrysomyia howardae from Rancho La Brea, California, Pleistocene, new junior synonym of Cochliomyia macellaria (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 80. 95–96.Google Scholar
Goulet, H., Baum, B.R.. 1982. Analysis of variation in the Elaphrus finitimus complex of North America (Coleoptera: Carabidae). Canadian Journal of Zoology 60. 2424–2433.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grinnell, F.. 1908. Quaternary myriapods and insects of California. University of California Publications in Geology 5. 207–215.Google Scholar
Hanna, G.D.. 1924. Insects in the California tar traps. Science 59. 555.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Harington, C.R.. 1980. Pleistocene mammals from Lost Chicken Creek, Alaska. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 17. 168–198.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Howard, H.. 1962. A comparison of avian assemblages from individuals pits at Rancho La Brea, California. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Contributions in Science 58. 1–24.Google Scholar
Hubbs, C.L., Walker, B.W.. 1947. Abundance of desert mammals indicated by capture in fresh road tar. Ecology 28. 464–466.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johnson, D.L.. 1977. The California ice-age refugium and the Rancholabrean extinction problem. Quaternary Research 8. 149–153.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Keeton, W.T.. 1960. A taxonomic study of the milliped family Spirobolidae (Diplopoda: Spirobolida). Memoirs of the American Entomological Society 17. 1–146.Google Scholar
Kennedy, C.H.. 1917. Notes on the life history and ecology of the dragonflies (Odonata) of Central California and Nevada. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 52. 483–635.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kenward, H.K.. 1978. The analysis of archaeological insect assemblages: A new approach. The Archaeology of York 19. 1–68.Google Scholar
Kurtén, B., Anderson, E.. 1980. Pleistocene Mammals of North America. Columbia Univ. Press, New York.Google Scholar
Lance, J.F.. 1946. Fossil arthropods of California. 9. Evidence of termites in the Pleistocene asphalt of Carpinteria, California. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 45. 21–27.Google Scholar
Lauck, D.R., Menke, A.S.. 1961. The higher classification of the Belostomatidae (Hemiptera). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 54. 644–657.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Linsley, E.G.. 1943. Attraction of Melanophila beetles by fire and smoke. Journal of Economic Entomology 36. 341–342.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Maloney, N.J., Warter, J.K., Akersten, W.A.. 1974. Probable origin of the fossil deposits in Pit 91, Rancho La Brea tar pits, California. Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs 6. 212.Google Scholar
Marcus, L.F., Berger, R.. 1983. The significance of radiocarbon dates for Rancho La Brea. Quaternary Extinctions: A Prehistoric Revolution. Martin, P.S., Klein, R.G.. Univ. of Arizona Press, Tucson. in press.Google Scholar
Martin, L.D., Neuner, A.M.. 1978. The end of the Pleistocene in North America. Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences 6. 117–126.Google Scholar
Matthews, E.G., Halffter, G.. 1968. New data on American Corpis with discussion of a fossil species (Coleopt., Scarab.). Ciencia (Mexico City) 26. 147–162.Google Scholar
Menke, A.S.. 1963. A review of the genus Lethocerus in North and Central America, including the West Indies. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 56. 261–267.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Menke, A.S.. 1979a. Family Nepidae The Semiaquatic and Aquatic Hemiptera of California (Heteroptera: Hemiptera). California Insect Survey Bulletin. Menke, A.S. 21. 70–75.Google Scholar
Menke, A.S.. 1979b. Family Belostomatidae The Semiaquatic and Aquatic Hemiptera of California (Heteroptera: Hemiptera). California Insect Survey Bulletin. Menke, A.S. 21. 76–86.Google Scholar
Miller, L.. 1930. Dragon fly psychology. Pomona College Journal of Entomology and Zoology 22. 45–46.Google Scholar
Miller, S.E.. 1978. A fossil of Scaphinotus interruptus from the Pleistocene Carpinteria asphalt deposit, Santa Barbara County, California (Coleoptera, Carabidae). Pan-Pacific Entomologist 54. 74–75.Google Scholar
Miller, S.E.. 1979. Reevaluation of Pyrus hoffmannii (Rosaceae) from the Pleistocene Carpinteria asphalt deposit, California. Madrono 26. 190–191.Google Scholar
Miller, S.E.. 1982. Quaternary insects of the California asphalt deposits. Third North American Paleontological Convention, Proceedings 2. 377–380.Google Scholar
Miller, S.E., Gordon, R.D., Howden, H.F.. 1981. Reevaluation of Pleistocene scarab beetles from Rancho La Brea, California (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 83. 625–630.Google Scholar
Miller, S.E., Peck, S.B.. 1979. Fossil carrion beetles of Pleistocene California asphalt deposits, with a synopsis of Holocene California Silphidae (Insecta: Coleoptera: Silphidae). Transactions of the San Diego Society of Natural History 19. 85–106.Google Scholar
Moore, I., Miller, S.E.. 1978. Fossil rove beetles from Pleistocene California asphalt deposits (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Coleopterists' Bulletin 32. 37–39.Google Scholar
Morgan, A.V., Morgan, A.. 1980a. Beetle bits—The science of paleoentomology. Geoscience Canada 7. 22–29.Google Scholar
Morgan, A.V., Morgan, A.. 1980b. Faunal assemblages and distributional shifts of Coleoptera during the late Pleistocene in Canada and the northern United States. Canadian Entomologist 112. 1105–1128.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nagano, C.D., Miller, S.E., Morgan, A.V.. 1983. Fossil tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae): review and new Quaternary records. Psyche 89. 339–346.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pierce, W.D.. 1945a. Fossil arthropods of California. 1. Introductory statement. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 43. 1–3.Google Scholar
Pierce, W.D.. 1945b. Fossil arthropods of California. 8. Pleistocene myiasis from the La Brea pits. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 44. 8–9.Google Scholar
Pierce, W.D.. 1946a. Fossil arthropods of California. 10. Exploring the minute world of the California asphalt deposits. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 45. 113–118.Google Scholar
Pierce, W.D.. 1946b. Fossil arthropods of California. 11. Descriptions of the dung beetles (Scarabaeidae) of the tar pits. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 45. 119–131.Google Scholar
Pierce, W.D.. 1946c. Fossil arthropods of California. 12. Description of a sericine beetle from the tar pits. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 45. 131–132.Google Scholar
Pierce, W.D.. 1947a. Fossil arthropods of California. 13. A progress report on the Rancho La Brea asphaltum studies. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 46. 136–138.Google Scholar
Pierce, W.D.. 1947b. Fossil arthropods of California. 14. A progress report on the McKittrick asphalt field. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 46. 138–143.Google Scholar
Pierce, W.D.. 1948a. Fossil arthropods of California. 15. Some Hemiptera from the McKittrick asphalt field. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 47. 21–33.Google Scholar
Pierce, W.D.. 1948b. Fossil arthropods of California. 16. The carabid genus Elaphrus in the asphalt deposits. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 47. 53–54.Google Scholar
Pierce, W.D.. 1949a. Fossil arthropods of California. 17. The silphid burying beetles in the asphalt deposits. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 48. 55–70.Google Scholar
Pierce, W.D.. 1949b. A modern asphalt seep tells a story. Los Angeles County Museum Quarterly 7 3. 12–17.Google Scholar
Pierce, W.D.. 1954a. Fossil arthropods of California. 18. The Tenebrionidae-Tentyriinae of the asphalt deposits. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 53. 35–45.Google Scholar
Pierce, W.D.. 1954b. Fossil arthropods of California. 19. The Tenebrionidae-Scaurinae of the asphalt deposits. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 53. 93–98.Google Scholar
Pierce, W.D.. 1954c. Fossil arthropods of California. 20. The Tenebrionidae-Coniontinae of the asphalt deposits. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 53. 142–156.Google Scholar
Pierce, W.D.. 1957. Insects. Geological Society of America Memoirs 67. 943–952.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pierce, W.D.. 1961. The growing importance of paleoentomology. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 63. 211–217.Google Scholar
Saylor, L.W.. 1933. Attraction of beetles to tar. Pan-Pacific Entomologist 9. 182.Google Scholar
Saylor, L.W.. 1948. Synoptic revision of the United States scarab beetles of the subfamily Dynastinae. 4: Tribes Oryctini (part), Dynastini, and Phileurini. Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences 38. 176–183.Google Scholar
Schultz, J.R.. 1938. A Late Quaternary mammal fauna from the tar seeps of McKittrick, California. Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication 487. 111–215.Google Scholar
Shaw, C.A.. 1982. Techniques used in excavation, preparation, and curation of fossils from Rancho La Brea. Curator 25. 63–77.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sphon, G.G.. 1973. Additional type specimens of fossil Invertebrata in the collections of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Contributions in Science 250. 1–75.Google Scholar
Sternberg, C.H.. 1932. Hunting Dinosaurs on Red Deer River, Alberta, Canada. C. H. Sternberg, San Diego.Google Scholar
Stock, C.. 1956. Rancho La Brea: A record of Pleistocene life in California. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Science Bulletin 20. 1–81.Google Scholar
Truxal, F.S.. 1979. Family Notonectidae The Semiaquatic and Aquatic Hemiptera of California (Heteroptera: Hemiptera). California Insect Survey Bulletin. Menke, A.S. 21. 139–147.Google Scholar
Vander Hoof, V.L.. 1934. Seasonal banding in an asphalt deposit at McKittick Proceedings of the Geological Society of America 332.Google Scholar
Warter, J.K.. 1976. Late Pleistocene plant communities—Evidence from the Rancho La Brea tar pits. Plant Communities for Southern California. Latting, J. California Native Plant Society Special Publication No. 2 32–39. Berkeley.Google Scholar
Woodard, G.D., Marcus, L.F.. 1973. Rancho La Brea fossil deposits: A re-evaluation from stratigraphic and geological evidence. Journal of Paleontology 47. 54–69.Google Scholar
Usinger, R.L.. 1956. Aquatic Insects of California. Univ. of California Press, Berkeley.CrossRefGoogle Scholar