INCIDENCE OF ABOVEGROUND ARTHROPOD SPECIES ON MUSK THISTLE IN TENNESSEE

During this 2-yr study, approximately 130 above-ground arthropod taxa were found on musk thistle, Carduus nutans leiophyllus (Pefr.) Stoj. a nd Stef., in Tennessee. Sixty-three families of insects, representing 13 orders, as well as seven families of arachnids and one species of c hilopod, were collected from musk thistle. Arthropods were found on mu sk thistle throughout the growing season, with the greatest arthropod diversity found during the flowering stage. Although many established arthropod species utilized the resources of musk thistle, few of these arthropods impacted greatly upon the reproduction or survivability of the plant.