Newsletter of the Michigan Entomological Society
Volume 55, Numbers 3 & 4 December 2010
Inside this Issue: 57th Annual MES Meeting: June 24-25, 2011 MES Historical Notes ... 22 Toby Petrice, President-Elect USDA Forest Service, 1407 S. Harrison Rd., Rm. 220, East Lansing, MI 48823 Notices ... 22 Email: [email protected] Martinoptera ... 23 The 2011 Annual MES meeting will be held June 24th and 25th at the Pierce Cedar MES Annual Meeting Abstracts Creek Institute for Environmental Education (photo below, http://www.cedarcreekin- stitute.org/) in Hastings, MI. The facility was established in 1998 by The Willard and Pictures ...24-31 G. Pierce and Jessie M. Pierce Foundation. It is a mix between a nature center and biological field station, with programs that serve the community while also building MES Governing Board Minutes partnerships with area colleges and universities to serve their faculty and students. Pierce Cedar Creek Institute encompasses 661 acres and provides visitors with a ... 31, 33 unique exposure to a rare blend of diverse habitats including wetlands, forests, marshes, streams, lakes, and prairies. Several miles of trails wind through these habitats for The Great Lakes Entomologist people to hike and explore. Update ... 32 There are three housing facilities at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute that can accom- modate up to 42 people. Most rooms are double occupancy but some single occupancy Polistes dominula in the UP ... 32 rooms will be available on a first come first serve basis. Bedding and linens are pro- vided. Two of the lodging facilities have living room/lounge areas. Upper Peninsula Trichoptera One night’s lodging, three meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), meeting room, AV, and coffee and water service during meeting times costs $75 per person for double ... 33-34 occupancy rooms, and $85 per person for single occupancy rooms. It will cost an addi- tional $50 if you choose to stay a second night and this includes an additional breakfast The Value of Entomological and lunch. Dr. Daniel Herms, Associate Chair of Ohio State University’s Entomology Depart- Organizations ... 35 ment, will be our keynote speaker. Dan’s research includes plant-insect interactions; ecology and management of insects in forests, urban forests, ornamental landscapes and Request for New State Records .36 nurseries; and invasive forest pests including emerald ash borer and gypsy moth. Dan Breaking Diapause 19 III 2011 ..36 was a Michigan resident and received his PhD at Michigan State University before he joined the faculty at Ohio State University. Dan served as President of MES in 1996- The MES Newsletter is 1997 and still remains an active member. published as four numbers Anyone interested in presenting a paper or poster at the upcoming meeting can per year contact me for more details. We especially welcome student presentations and partici- ISSN 1554-2092 pation at the meeting. More details will be provided in the next MES Newsletter.
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute Environmental Education Center December 2010 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V55 (3&4) M E S MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org 21 2010-2011 Officers of MES MES Historical Notes President...... Ethan Bright Robert A. Haack, Newsletter Editor ...... [email protected] President-Elect...... Toby Petrice 1985 – 25 years ago. In early 1985, Dave Evans was President; Dave Cowen was President-Elect; Gary Dunn was immediate ...... [email protected] Past-President; Mo Nielsen was Executive Secretary; Gary Sim- Immediate ...... Erwin “Duke” Elsner mons, Glenn Belyea, and Fred Stehr were the three Members- Past President...... [email protected] at-Large; Dave Gosling was Journal Editor; and Lou Wilson and George Heaton were the Newsletter Editors. The 31st MES Secretary...... Adrienne O’Brien Annual Meeting was held at the University of Michigan Biologi- ...... [email protected] cal Station near Pellston on June 14-15. The keynote address was made by Randy Thornhill of the University of New Mexico. Treasurer...... Tina Ciaramitaro He spoke on scorpionflies. Besides Dr. Thornhill, we had 15 ...... [email protected] speakers from MSU, and 1 from UM. This was the first MES Member-at-Large (10-13)...... Harry King annual meeting that I attended, after coming to Michigan from Florida in 1984. Mo Nielsen led a collecting trip after the meet- ...... [email protected] ing in search of bog Lepidoptera. Annual dues were $8 per year Member-at-Large (09-12)...... Ted Herig for active members, and $15 per year for libraries. Journal page charges were $30/page. There were 399 members in good stand- ...... [email protected] ing and 140 library subscriptions at the beginning of 1985. Member-at-Large (09-11)...... Laurie Reed. 1960 – 50 years ago. In early 1960, Roland Fischer was Presi- ...... [email protected] dent, Warren Wagner was President-Elect, Irving Cantrall was Journal Editor...... Therese Poland immediate Past-President, and Stanley Gangwere was the Execu- th ...... [email protected] tive-Secretary. The 6 annual meeting was held at the Univer- sity of Michigan. Here are some of the topics discussed. Oscar Associate Journal ...... Anthony Cognato Taboada spoke on leafhoppers, George Steyskal on Trypetoidea, Editor...... [email protected] T.H. Hubbell on Schistocerca, Mary Whelan on tree swallows Associate Journal ...... Ronald Priest and arthropods, David Cook on water mites, Roland Fischer on abdominal muscles in bees, Sylvan Thomas on Trypoxylon, Fred Editor...... [email protected] Dittmer on beekeeping, and Ralph Beebe on Microlepidoptera. Newsletter Editor ...... Robert Haack The MES membership dues were $2 per year in 1960. I have ...... [email protected] found no records on the number of MES members from 1958 to 1963. But I have documentation that there were 86 members in Webmaster ...... Mark O’Brien 1957 and 76 in 1964...... [email protected] MES Officers Needed. As is the case every year, we need a few Current Annual Dues Schedule people to step forward and nominate themselves or others for two positions: President Elect, and Member at Large. Please Student (through High School)...... $12.00 consider serving MES. We’ll send out election ballots in the Active ...... $25.00 next few months. Institutional ...... $45.00 Sustaining...... $35.00 Notice: 2011 Eagle Hill field seminars on the Maine coast. Life ...... $500.00 Several workshops will have an entomological focus such as Applied Aquatic Entomology: The EPT Taxa: Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (June 19 – 25); Scientific Illustration ISSN 1554-2092 of Butterflies, Moths, and Other Insects (June 26 - July 2); Lepi- doptera of the Northeast (July 3-9); Ants of New England (July 10-16); Spiders: Identification, Diversity, Ecology, and Biology Notice: Check out the websites of these two (July 31 - Aug 6); and Parasitoid/Predatoid Hymenoptera (Aug Michigan Butterfly Associations for upcoming 14 – 20). For more information, see
December 2010 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V55 (3&4) 22 MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org M E S the first curve was the fabled “Cow Bone With fair day fast approaching, we had to Martinoptera Graveyard.” This was always a place where move fast into plan B, which was to obtain one could expect to find clouds of the small a bird louse. What 4-H judge wouldn’t be orange and black butterflies of late summer, a moved to hand out blue ribbons to a couple Cracking the Eighth Order few darting day-flying sphinx moths, emerald of intrepid field biologists with eight orders… green, impossibly fast, tiger beetles and of including Mallophaga! Success would now Martin J. Andree course, an exciting assortment of cow bones. surely be ours. My plan was to head to the 3990 Four Mile Road NE, Grand The problem was we already had boatloads barn with our BB guns and pot a couple of Rapids, MI 49525 of these common specimens. That summer, English sparrows, grab them as soon as they we were enrolled in the “Entomology I Divi- hit the ground, seal them up in a plastic bag Email: [email protected] sion,” which required twenty-five specimens and wait for the lice to depart the departed. covering eight orders. We were now officially From there we would just scoop them up and charged with the nearly impossible task of mount them on little white triangles we had For me, all of this madness began with filling our insect order “dance card” for the painstakingly cut from a paper plate with a 4-H. The year was 1968 and our 4-H club fair exhibition. strange looking pair of fingernail scissors. was named, “The Beatles.” I’m pretty sure We both had 50 insects of 7 orders: It was a simple, beautiful plan and we had my older cousin Jan, the starring member Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Orthoptera, Hyme- one day to pull it off. of our club, had everything to do with noptera, Odonata, Diptera and Homoptera. Morning came and off we trotted to the our name. She held no secrets about her Cracking the eighth order, however, seemed barn with BB guns, sandwich bags, the feelings concerning the hierarchy of insect impossible, even at the “Cow Bone Grave- flea-less Pepper, and high hopes. We hunters orders, placing Coleoptera squarely at the yard.” At night we’d read though the “4-H were not hunting mere sparrows but rather top. We were the “British Invasion” of the Entomology Members Manual” and dream of fabulous blue ribbons. We shot and shot and bug world and pretty sure that John, Paul, the exoticness of orders that seemed forever shot as the birds carelessly flitted from one George and Ringo were as into rearing silk out of our reach: Thysanura, Anoplura, and end of the barn to the other, hiding in every moth larvae and sitting around black lights Isoptera. We could only imagine the giddiness shadow, tantalizingly remaining out of sight in the dark as we were. that might accompany the capture of an actual behind a beam, flying with precision under The “Beatles” worldwide headquarters termite or better yet, a blood-sucking body the mower and eventually sailing out of the was located at the home of my Aunt and louse or the strangely named silverfish. As upper window to spend the rest of their day Uncle in McCords, Michigan, population 18, we thumbed through the manual for clues, chirping out one liners about the two bug a far cry from Abbey Road. Every summer we hatched a plan that would insure our suc- hunters who were notoriously bad shots. I’d move to their house for a week to work cess at the fair. The answer was as plain as tirelessly with their son John, also a Beatles’ With empty BB guns and empty sandwich the nose on John’s dogs face. Her name was member, preparing our collections for the bags, we sadly trudged our way though the Pepper, a shaggy black and tan affair who crowning event of the year, The Kent County garden on our way back to the house. Out half-heartedly followed at our heels through 4-H youth fair held in Lowell Michigan. It of time and with no plan C, it looked like swamp and field. We just needed two fleas, was the high point of the entomological year we were faced with another 4-H fair of hor- one for each of us and our eighth order would and we gladly bent to the task as only a pair rid white and red ribbons. Suddenly John be cracked, our blue ribbons assured. All of of nine year olds can do. stopped with a jerk and screamed, “Holy our hopes were riding on Pepper providing cow Batman, don’t move!” Fully expect- The grail of the fair was to obtain the us with specimens of Siphonaptera. It was ing an army of blood sucking body lice or purple ribbon, the coveted best of show. It was brilliant! hungry flesh eating termites, I froze; empty one of those goals that a nine-year-old could It was decided that the next morning we BB gun at the ready. John pointed slowly to never imagine winning. It was too incredible would corral Pepper, grab our two fleas and a patch of wild roses in the fencerow. It was to contemplate. After a young life time of be off on our bikes to the Kettle Lake store covered with lacewings, just waiting to be disappointing white and red ribbons, a blue for Coke and candy bars by mid morning. Our plucked up and securely placed in sandwich ribbon was something a boy could aspire to cunning plan involved wrapping cellophane bags. We literally bagged our eighth order, a with some degree of cautious enthusiasm. tape, backwards around our fingers to aid us neuropteran and marched home to prepare The purple ribbon was just plain beyond in capturing the miniscule jumpers. Pepper, our specimens for the fair! our imaginations, so in the late summer of always under foot was unnervingly nowhere 1968, we set our sights firmly upon the blue Victory was ours that summer with blue to be seen. So instead of looking for bugs, ribbon. ribbons all around. Not thinking about the we spent the remainder of the day and most Herculean task that awaited us next year in During the week leading up to the fair, of the evening looking for Pepper. She came “Entomology II” with the surely impossible John and I collected tirelessly and furiously. home around midnight, covered in burrs requirement of twelve orders, we proudly Most mornings we’d head down the railroad and mud, but strangely absent of fleas. We swaggered down the dusty August midway tracks of the Chesapeake and Ohio’s mainline searched every inch of that old dog and not with our cotton candy and a fist full of ride with our bug nets and our coffee cans stuffed a single flea was to be found. So with taped tickets to check out the hog barn, our spec- with paper towels, doused in ammonia. Two fingers, now sticking together and covered in tacular blue ribbons pinned to our shirts. explorers, who always looked grubby but dog hair, we admitted defeat on the Pepper smelled curiously like Mr. Clean. Around Plan.
December 2010 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V55 (3&4) M E S MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org 23 56th MES Annual Meeting play the gene order DK at this gene junction. This rearrangement could be phylogeneti- The 2010 MES Annual Meeting was held at the cally informative, however very few mem- 4-H Kettunen Center near Tustin, Michigan on 26 June 2010. Thanks to MES President Ethan bers of the Caelifera have been examined Bright for organizing the meeting. Our featured for this character. In order to determine the speaker was Dr. May Berenbaum, Illinois Uni- distribution of this derived character state, versity. Abstracts of the talks can be found on four different species of Caelifera grasshop- the next several pages. pers from two genera were investigated. Total DNA was extracted from hind limbs Mitochondrial Gene Order and the relevant gene junction was amplified and Orthopteran Phylogeny by PCR using primers to conserved regions flanking the junction. Genes were identi- David J. Stanton fied by alignment to published sequences, Department of Biology, Saginaw as well as by secondary structure. All four Valley State University, University species were determined to have the derived Center, MI 48710 gene order. Therefore, this derived character may represent a synapomorpy shared by all insecticides may kill EAB adults as they Email: [email protected] members of the Caelifera. Future studies will feed on the leaves of treated trees and focus on more basal Caelifera, such as pygmy larvae tunneling in the phloem. Adult itochondrial gene order is highly con- M grasshoppers in the family Tetrigidae. Such mortality during maturation feeding would served within arthropods, with a single gene data will help to confirm the phylogenetic also reduce the number of eggs laid on order shared between most crustaceans and utility of mitochondrial gene order characters. trees. Systemic insecticides are generally arthropods studied to date. However, some applied as single-tree treatments by trunk variation does occur within insects. Most Evaluation of Trunk or soil injection, or as a bark application. of this variation involves tRNA genes that As such, they may be useful for treating are dispersed among the protein coding gene Injection and Bark Sprays landscape trees or for limited area-wide junctions. Five of these junctions represent with Systemic Insecticides control such as in high-value woodlots or hot spots for gene rearrangement events in at outlier areas. insects, which are most likely created by for Long-Term Control of We conducted a number of studies to gene duplications followed by deletion of Emerald Ash Borer evaluate different systemic insecticides redundant copies. Such rearrangements and application techniques for control of can be valuable markers for phylogenetic 1 EAB. Insecticide products were ap- reconstruction, since they are unlikely to Therese M. Poland and Deborah G. McCullough2 plied by trunk injection, soil injection or be convergent and character state reversals bark sprays and included imidacloprid would be even more unlikely. One such rear- (Imicide; 10%, 3 ml Mauget capsules), 1 rangement that may be phylogenetically use- USDA Forest Service, Northern emamectin benzoate (4% solution applied ful has occurred within the Orthoptera at the Research Station, East Lansing, MI with an ArborJet micro-injector, trunk gene junction between cytochrome oxidase 48823; 2Department of Entomology, sprays of imidacloprid (Macho 2F with or II and ATPase 8. The ancestral gene order Michigan State University, East Lan- without the surfactant Pentra-Bark), and is the tRNA gene for lysine (K) followed by sing, MI 48824 trunk spray of dinotefuron (Safari 20%) the tRNA gene for aspartic acid (D), thus Email: [email protected] with or without Pentra-Bark. Efficacy the ancestral gene order at this junction is was compared for one or two years after designated KD. In the Orthoptera, the ances- treatment. We evaluated adult mortality tral gene order is found within the Ensifera, Emerald ash borer (EAB) was discov- by caging adults with foliage from treated which in- ered in Detroit, Michigan in 2002. As of trees or untreated control trees at various c l u d e s November 2010, it is present in 15 US times throughout the summer. In the fall l o n g - states and 2 Canadian provinces and is and winter, we dissected areas of bark to h o r n e d estimated to have killed over 50 million evaluate larval attack density and mortal- g r a s s - ash trees. EAB adults begin to emerge ity. We also conducted laboratory studies h o p p e r s in May and feed on ash leaves for 10-14 to determine the mortality of larvae fed and katy- days before becoming sexually mature. artificial diet treated with various doses dids. The Females then lay eggs in bark cracks and of the systemic insecticides. Our results Caelifera, crevices. Adults are active throughout the showed that several products are effective w h i c h summer and continue to feed and mate in killing both larvae and adults. Efficacy contains during their entire lifespan. Larvae feed in varied with the product, method of appli- the short- the phloem which eventually girdles and cation, and time since application. Effec- h o r n e d kills the tree. There has been considerable tive systemic insecticide products could be grasshop- research to develop tools to manage EAB used to protect landscape ash trees. pers, dis- and to protect the ash resource. Systemic
December 2010 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V55 (3&4) 24 MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org M E S Bees, Pollinators and Physical, Chemical, and assemblages. The percentage of adult cad- disflies in the shredder functional group Pesticides Biological Changes Along increased significantly within the preserve, the Continuum of a South- but remained small relative to that of pol- May Berenbaum ern Michigan Agricultural lution-tolerant filtering collectors. These Department of Entomology, 320 Mor- results suggest that a small terrestrial rill Hall, University of Illinois, 505 Stream: Influence of a preserve can promote an increase—in this S. Goodwin, Urbana, IL 61801-3795 Small Terrestrial Preserve case a 3x increase—in species diversity Email: [email protected] even without corresponding changes in water quality or trophic structure. Such an David C. Houghton increase, however, may not be as detect- Of the many Department of Biology, Hillsdale Col- able with traditional benthic biomonitor- forms of global lege, 33 East College Street, Hillsdale, ing techniques due to the difficulties of change that have MI 49242. Email: dhoughton@ sampling benthic microhabitats represen- generated contro- hillsdale.edu tatively and identifying specimens to the versy of late on talk species level. shows and op-ed pages, one that has Many studies have addressed the Tent Caterpillars vs. Humans rarely produced effects of anthropogenic disturbance on heated discussion an otherwise natural stream. This study - Who Shall Prevail? or generated sensa- instead explored the changes along the tional headlines is the “pollinator crisis” — continuum of the Saint Joseph River, an Duke Elsner the widespread decline in the number and agricultural stream in southern MI. It Michigan State University Extension, quantified the physicochemical conditions viability of animal species that transport 520 W Front St., Suite A, Traverse pollen and thereby facilitate reproduction upstream, within, and downstream of the Lost Nations Game Area, a small forested City, MI 49684 in the vast majority of the planet’s flower- Email: [email protected] ing plants. Despite its relatively low profile preserve. It also looked at the changes in in the public eye, pollinator decline is one two as- form of global change that has real poten- semblages: A widespread outbreak of the forest tial for profoundly altering the shape and benthic tent caterpillar (FTC), Malacosoma dis- structure of the terrestrial world. Over 3/4 macroinver- stria (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) in the of all flowering plants, including more than tebrates and northern lower peninsula of Michigan in 100 crop plants in the U.S., rely on animal adult cad- 2009 resulted in many inquiries from the pollinators to survive and reproduce. Over disflies, over public coming into the Grand Traverse the past decade, evidence pointing to a pol- the same County office of Michigan State University linator crisis has accumulated and the pub- area. Ow- Extension. People asked about the tent lic has begun to take notice. The National ing to the caterpillar species and their life histories, Research Council tackled this issue at the agricultural the possible impact on landscape and forest request of the U.S. Department of Agri- landscape, trees, and control recommendations. Many culture and the U.S. Geological Survey the habitat contacts were quite distressed over the and commissioned a committee to assess upstream situation, especially newer residents to the the status of pollinators in North America. of all sites region that had not previously experienced The conclusions reached by the commit- was >60% a major insect outbreak where they had tee and presented in their report provide disturbed. lived before. I prepared two short reports compelling evidence that America’s birds, The percentage of riparian disturbance, on the FTC outbreak and practical man- bats, bees, and butterflies can no longer however, was markedly lower adjacent to agement options that were used to assist be taken for granted and that pollina- the sites inside the preserve than those out- the public and also were published in the tion is not a free and limitless ecosystem side. Water physicochemical factors did local newspaper. Outbreak “highlights” service. Recent mysterious declines in not exhibit clear changes between sites, included photos and comments on FTC the U.S. managed honey bee population, except for nitrate concentration which was populations near Cadillac, Gaylord, Empire beginning in late 2006 and unabated since highest upstream of the preserve. Bio- and Traverse City, that time, have, however, attracted the logical diversity of adult caddisflies was MI. The interest- interest and attention of the general public significantly higher within the preserve. ing individual in an unprecedented manner. Yet despite Biological diversity of benthic inverte- reactions of people the sharper focus brought to apiculture in brates exhibited similar results except for to pest outbreaks particular and pollinator health in general, non-significance between the upstream were discussed. most people remain remarkably fuzzy on and preserve sites. Pollution tolerance and the details of honey bee biology and pol- percentage of filtering collector metrics linator ecosystem services. were unchanged between sites for both
December 2010 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V55 (3&4) 25 MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org M E S Can Biological Control of Emerald Ash Borer Save Our Ash? Leah Bauer1,2, Juli Gould3, and Jian Duan4
1USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station (NRS), 1407 S. Harrison Rd., E. Lansing, MI 2Department of En- tomology, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI 3USDA APHIS CPHST, Otis PSDEL, Buzzards Bay, MA 4USDA ARS Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit, Newark, DE. Email: [email protected] Emerald ash orer adult feeding on ash foliage. Photo by Deborah Miller,USDA Forest Service. The emerald ash borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis), a metallic wood-boring beetle (Buprestidae) native to northeast Asia, was researchers, land managers, and the public, APHIS issued a “Find- identified as the cause of ash tree Fraxinus( spp.) mortality near ing of No Significant Impact” and granted release permits for the Detroit, Michigan in 2002. Researchers estimate EAB arrived three parasitoid species in Michigan in late July 2007 (Federal during the early 1990’s in infested solid wood packaging materials Register 2007). or dunnage from China (Bray et al. in press, Siegert et al. 2006). In 2007, release sites in Michigan were selected and ap- Infestations of EAB are now known in 15 US states and two Ca- proved on state, city, and township lands with high ash densities. nadian provinces due to human transport of ash firewood, timber, The ash trees onsite showed symptoms of building EAB popu- nursery stock, and, to a lesser extent, natural dispersal. Although lations (e.g., some canopy decline and woodpecker feeding on eradication of EAB was attempted for several years, regulatory mid to upper trunks), but with low larval densities in the lower agencies, land managers, and the public now understand it is here trunks. The objective of these first parasitoid releases was to as- to stay. To conserve North American Fraxinus species, researchers sess reproduction and overwintering of these parasitoid species are studying management approaches that include a combination in central Lower Michigan. Reared at the Forest Service NRS of tactics including quarantine, insecticides, biological control, laboratory in East Lansing, O. agrili females were released July microbial control, silviculture, and plant resistance. and August 2007, and T. planipennisi females and males were Classical biological control involves the importation and released July through September 2007, each at two different sites introduction of specialized natural enemies (e.g. insect parasit- in Ingham County. Reared at the Otis APHIS CPHST laboratory, oids) from the native range of targeted invasive pests such as S. agrili females and males were released in September 2007 at EAB. We are studying biological control of EAB for suppress- one site each in Gratiot, Oakland, and Saginaw counties, MI. The ing its populations in the US (Bauer et al. 2008). The results parasitoids were released as adults on four GPS-marked epicenter of EAB natural enemy surveys in Michigan and Pennsylvania trees at each site. In winter 2008, the four release trees at each site showed < 4% parasitism by several parasitoid species that attack were felled and cut into logs for possible parasitoid recovery. For native wood-boring beetles (Bauer et al. 2004, Duan et al. 2009). the two larval parasitoids, every other log section was peeled, and More recently, researchers have found that several native species immature EAB and parasitoids were reared in the laboratory for of Atanycolus, a genus of ectoparasitic braconids of wood-boring parasitoid emergence. The other log section was placed in a card- beetle larvae, may occur at high prevalence in Michigan ash board-rearing tube for emergence of adult EAB and parasitoids. stands where EAB populations are collapsing (Cappaert and Mc- For O. agrili, release-tree logs were either 1) inspected for EAB Cullough 2009; unpublished data). In northeast Asia, however, eggs, which were then removed and held for parasitoid emergence several hymenopteran parasitoids specialize in attacking the in Petri dishes, or 2) placed in cardboard tubes for emergence. We larvae or eggs of EAB. successfully recovered O. agrili from one of the Ingham Co. sites Since 2003, we have been studying three parasitoid species and S. agrili from the Oakland Co. site, confirming field reproduc- from China for use as EAB biocontrol agents: a larval endopara- tion and overwintering in Michigan. sitoid Tetrastichus planipennisi (Eulophidae), a larval ectopara- In 2008, we expanded parasitoid releases to additional field sitoid Spathius agrili (Braconidae), and a parthenogenic egg sites in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. To facilitate the long-term parasitoid Oobius agrili (Encyrtidae) (Liu et al. 2003, Liu et al. monitoring of biocontrol impact, we established both a parasitoid- 2007, Bauer et al. 2008). After completion release and control plot at selected sites in Michigan and Ohio. of research on the biology and host specific- Tree health data is collected annually on 100 tagged ash trees ity of these three parasitoid species in 2007, per site, and parasitoid recovery work is done in early spring to we applied for permits from USDA APHIS determine parasitoid overwintering. In conjunction with EAB and Michigan to release them at selected biocontrol releases, we also started EAB life table studies at three field sites. Our research results and risk Michigan field sites where EAB populations are being more assessments were compiled into an environ- intensively monitored (Duan et al. 2010). A permanent record of mental assessment that was posted on the parasitoid releases, GPS, and tree health data is maintained on Federal Register for public comment. After an EAB-biocontrol database at the Department of Entomology at review by university, federal, and state Michigan State University.
December 2010 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V55 (3&4) M E S MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org 26 In 2009, we improved our rearing stump sprouts, and a few remaining trees Siegert, N. W., D. G. McCullough, A. M. Liebhold methods for T. planipennisi (Ulyshen et continue to grow in the aftermath forest. and F. Telewski. 2006. Spread and dispersal al. 2010) and S. agrili (Gould et al. 2011), of emerald ash borer: a dendrochronological approach, p. 10. In Proceedings of the EAB and APHIS began mass-rearing EAB bio- References Research and Technology Development control agents at their newly constructed Meeting, 26-27 September 2005. Pittsburg, EAB Biocontrol Facility in Brighton, Bauer, L. S., H-P Liu, R. A. Haack, T. R. Petrice, PA. MI after the transfer of rearing methods and D. L. Miller. 2004. Natural enemies of FHTET-2005-16. U.S. Dep. Agric. Forest Service, and parasitoids. Thus, we were able to emerald ash borer in southeastern Michigan. Morgantown, WV. pp. 33-34, In: Proceedings of the emerald Ulyshen M. D., J. J. Duan, L. S. Bauer and I. continue and expand parasitoid releases ash borer research and technology meeting, Fraser. 2010. Suitability and accessibility in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Port Huron, MI. USDA FS FHTET 2004-02. of immature Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Maryland. For recovery of parasitoids, http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/4571 Buprestidae) stages to Tetrastichus planipen- infested ash trees were sampled in the Bauer, L. S., H-P Liu, D. L. Miller and J. Gould. nisi (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). J. Econ. spring to 2010. Oobius agrili and S. agrili 2008. Developing a classical biological Entomol. 103: 1080 – 1085. control program for Agrilus planipennis each successfully overwintered at six sites (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), an invasive ash in Michigan and Ohio, while T. planipen- pest in North America. Newsletter of the A New Meniscus Midge nisi overwintered at five locations. In fall Michigan Entomological Society. 53: 38-39. Species from Michigan 2009, T. planipennisi was recovered from http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/1439 ~10% of EAB at the three life table release Bray, A. M., L. S. Bauer, T. M. Poland, R. A. (Diptera: Dixidae) Haack, A. I. Cognato, and J. J. Smith. Ge- sites. We also recovered T. planipen- netic analysis of emerald ash borer (Agrilus nisi about 800 m from their initial release planipennis Fairmaire) populations in Asia Stephen Taber epicenters at two of our sites through and North America. Biol. Invasions in press Department of Biology, Saginaw Cappaert, D. and D. G. McCullough. 2009. dissection of infested ash trees. In 2008 Valley State University, University and 2009, O. agrili was recovered at low Occurrence and seasonal abundance of At- anycolus sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) a Center, MI 48710 prevalence (<1% parasitism) from eggs native parasitoid of emerald ash borer, Agrilus Email: [email protected] sampled at the three release sites; none planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). Great were detected at control sites. The results Lakes Entomol. 42: 16-29. of larval parasitoid-caging studies showed Duan, J. J., R. W. Fuester, J. Wildonger, P. Taylor, A new species of meniscus midge is that both species reproduced and overwin- S. Barth, S. Spichiger. 2009. Parasitoids attacking the emerald ash borer in western reported from western Michigan. Adults tered in Michigan and Maryland. Pennsylvania. Flor. Entomol. 92: 588-592. of Dixella fraxina Taber appear in spring In 2010, we initiated research on 1) Duan, J. J., M. D. Ulyshen, L. S. Bauer, J. R. in tussock sedge understory of black ash use of girdled trees to accelerate establish- Gould, and R. van Driesche. 2010. Measuring swamps. No ment of parasitoids at low EAB densi- the impact of biotic factors on populations of new species ties; 2) improved methods for parasitoid immature emerald ash borers (Coleoptera: Bu- prestidae). Environ. Entomol. 39: 1513 - 1522 of this genus recovery; 3) impact of biocontrol in the Emeraldashborer.info. 2010. Emerald Ash have been aftermath forest to facilitate conservation Borer Biological Control Release Guidelines. discovered of residual and lingering ash. We also http://www.emeraldashborer.info/files/EAB- in the United developed methods and guidelines for FieldRelease-Guidelines2010.pdf States in the the implementation of EAB biocontrol Federal Register. 2007. Emerald Ash Borer; Availability of an Environmental Assessment. last 40 years. programs by researchers and land manag- http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/ Dark wing ers (emeraldashborer.info 2010). This component/main?main=DocketDetail&d= coloration sug- increased the involvement of universities, APHIS-2007-0060 gests a close states, and cities in the release of EAB Gould, J.R., Ayer, T. and I. Fraser. 2011. Effects relationship to biocontrol agents, which were mainly of Rearing Conditions on Reproduction of Spathius agrili (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Dixella mar- provided by the Brighton EAB Biocontrol a Parasitoid of the Emerald Ash Borer (Co- ginata (Loew) Facility. leoptera: Buprestidae). J. Econ. Entomol. but characters in both sexes distinguish Classical biological control is a In press. Dixella fraxina from Dixella marginata long-term approach to managing EAB. Liu HP, Bauer LS, Gao RT, Zhao TH, Petrice TR, and from its other 18 congeners occurring Although most of the mature ash trees Haack RA. 2003. Exploratory survey for the emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis (Cole- in the United States. These findings were are succumbing to EAB at our biocontrol optera: Buprestidae), and its natural enemies recently published (Taber 2010). release sites, we remain optimistic because in China. Great Lakes Entomol. 36: 191-204. the introduced parasitoid species are Liu, H-P., L. S. Bauer, T-H. Zhao, R-T. Gao, L-W. References reproducing, overwintering, and dispers- Song , Q-S. Luan, R-Z. Jin, and C-Q. Gao. ing. The abundant ash and EAB likely 2007. Seasonal abundance and population Taber SW. 2010. A new species of Dixella Dyar & dynamics of Agrilus planipennis (Coleop- facilitated parasitoid establishment and Shannon meniscus midge (Diptera: Dixidae). tera: Buprestidae) and its natural enemies Southwestern Entomologist 35(3): 295-307. recovery at these stands. We are hopeful Oobius agrili (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) that a complex of native and introduced and Tetrastichus planipennisi (Hymenoptera: parasitoids will help suppress EAB Eulophidae) in China. Biological Control populations as the ash seedlings, saplings, 42: 61-71.
December 2010 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V55 (3&4) 27 MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org M E S Photos by Laurie Reed that were on display at the 2010 MES Annual Meeting
Crab spider Crane fly Crane fly
Scorpionfly Syrphid fly
Baskettail dragonfly Mosquito
December 2010 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V55 (3&4) M E S MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org 28 Studies on the Biology of and Fagus. As of 2010, in North America, infestation rates. Trap logs will be col- the European Oak Borer, EOB has been reared from Q. robur (Eng- lected in late winter 2011 and reared or lish oak) and Q. rubra (northern red oak). dissected to determine EOB host prefer- Agrilus sulcicollis In 2010, we initiated studies in ence. (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), Michigan at two locations in Ingham and in the United States Kalamazoo Counties where A. sulcicollis References had been detected (Ingham) or was thought Crook DJ, Francese JA, Zylsra KE, Fraser I, Toby R. Petrice and Robert A. to be potentially present (Kalamazoo) to Sawyer AJ, Bartels DW, Lance DR, investigate the life history of this beetle in Mastro VC. 2009. Laboratory and field Haack North America. We tested green, purple, response of the emerald ash borer (Co- USDA Forest Service, Northern yellow, and white sticky cards that were leoptera: Buprestidae), to the selected Research Station, 1407 S. Harrison 30-cm tall and 15-cm wide for attracting regions of the electromagnetic spec- Rd., East Lansing, MI 48823 adult beetles. Sticky traps were suspended trum. Journal of Economic Entomology 102: 2160-2169. from the lower branches of Q. rubra and Email: [email protected] Francese JA, Mastro VC, Oliver JB, Lance DR, Q. alba (white oak) trees. Previous studies Youssef N, Lavallee SG. 2005. Evalu- have found Agrilus, including A. planipen- he ation of colors for trapping Agrilus T nis, to be attracted to the colors purple and planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). European green (Oliver et al. 2002; Francese et al. Journal of Entomological Science. 40: oak borer 2005; Crook et al. 2009). We also girdled 93-95. (EOB), Q. robur and Q. alba trees at different Haack RA, Petrice TR, Zablotny JE. 2009. The Agrilus times of the year to determine what stages first report of the European oak borer, sulcicollis of tree health EOB is attracted to. We also Agrilus sulcicollis (Coleoptera: Bupres- tidae), in the United States. Great Lakes Lacor- cut 1-m-long bolts of Q. alba, Q. rubra, daire Entomologist 42: 1-7. Q. robur, and Q. velutina (black oak) and Jendek E, Grebennikov VV. 2009. Agrilus (Cole- placed them in Q. robur and Q. alba stands optera: sulcicollis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), to evaluate the host range and preference a new alien species in North America. Buprestidae), is a recently discovered of EOB in North America. Preliminary Canadian Entomologist 141: 236-245. nonnative beetle in North America. data found the highest number of EOB Oliver JB, Youssef Y, Fare D, Halcomb M, Previously unidentified and misidenti- adults were captured on purple sticky traps Scholl S, Klingeman W, Flanagan P. fied specimens of this beetle date back followed by white, yellow, and green traps, 2002. Monitoring buprestid borers in to 1995 in Ontario, Canada and 2003 respectively (unpublished data). Adult production nursery area, pp. 17-23. In G. Haun [ed.], Proceedings of the 29th in Michigan, USA (Haack et al. 2009; EOB were collected from 21 May through Jendek and Grebennikov 2009). EOB is Annual Meeting of the Tennessee Ento- 25 June in 2010 in Ingham County; and mological Society, 10-11 October 2002. native to most of Europe where it attacks from 24 May through 4 June in Kalamazoo primarily Quercus spp., but occasionally Nashville, TN. Tennessee Entomologi- County. Girdled trees will be cut down cal Society, Knoxville, TN. attacks species of Castanea, Carpinus, during the 2010/2011 winter to determine Wood-boring Emerald gan, USA, and Ontario, Canada, in 2002. further deteriorated by an elevation of defen- Ash trees are killed by larval feeding in the sive compounds, polyphenols. Twenty three Ash Borer Larval Feeding cambial region which disrupts the exchange amino acids were consistently detected in the Changes Black Ash Foliar of photosynthates, nutrients, and water in foliage of black ash. The three most abundant Chemistry the inner bark and outer sapwood. In this amino acids were aspartic acid, glutamic acid, study, responses of non-volatile foliar phy- and glutamine, and the least abundant were tochemicals of black ash, F. nigra Marshall, α-aminobutyric acid, β-aminoisobutyric 1 Yigen Chen and Therese M. to EAB larval feeding in the main stem were acid, methionine, and sarcosine. Most (16) Poland2 investigated. Levels of carbohydrates and foliar free amino acids decreased in re- 1Department of Entomology, Michi- putative defensive compounds, polyphenols, sponse to EAB gan State University, East Lansing, increased in response to EAB larval feeding, larval feeding. MI 48824. Email: [email protected] while levels of proteins and most amino acids The ecological decreased. The decrease of proteins and amino 2USDA Forest Service, Northern consequences acids was probably due to a combination of of these changes Research Station, East Lansing, MI decreased synthesis and increased export on EAB and its 48823 of these compounds from foliage to a new potential natural nutrients sink, epicormic shoots, which were enemies were The exotic wood-boring emerald ash located below the EAB larval feeding site. discussed. borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire The increase in carbohydrates and decrease in (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), is a major threat proteins reduced nutrient balance in ash foli- to the North American ash (Fraxinus spp.) age. The nutritional quality of foliage in trees resource. EAB was first detected in Michi- that had been fed upon by EAB larvae was
December 2010 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V55 (3&4) 29 MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org M E S Firewood Confiscated at per Peninsula. In early 2005, EAB was not the Mackinac Bridge: Infes- known to occur in the Upper Peninsula. Overall, for all three surveys, we exam- tation Level, Species Mix, ined 1,045 pieces of firewood that represented and Origin at least 21 tree genera, but mostly Acer (maple, 30%), Quercus (oak, 18%), Fraxinus Robert A. Haack,1 Toby R. (ash, 15%), Ulmus (elm, 12%), Betula (birch, Petrice,1 & Alex C. Wiedenhoeft2 5%), and Prunus (cherry, 5%). We found 1 live bark- and wood-infesting insects from USDA Forest Service, Northern several insect taxa, including Bostrichoidea, Research Station, 1407 S. Harrison Brentidae, Buprestidae, Cerambycidae, Cos- 2 Rd., East Lansing, MI 48823. USDA sidae, Curculionidae [Scolytinae and non- Forest Service, Forest Products Scolytinae], and Siricidae. Overall, 23% of Laboratory, One Gifford Pinchot Dr., the pieces had live borers and another 41% Madison, WI 52726 had evidence of previous borer infestation. in 2009 that consists of members from state and federal agriculture and natural resource Email: [email protected] Of the 152 ash firewood pieces, 13% had evidence of past EAB infestation, but no agencies. The NFTF released their recom- live EAB were found. mendations in early 2010 (NPB 2010). There At the MES Annual Meeting in 2008, we are specific recommendations for govern- presented findings from our initial survey We summarized data from 322 complete ment agencies, the firewood industry, and interviews that MDA inspectors made with of firewood that had been collected from the general public in the areas of firewood drivers as they dropped off firewood at the the public at Michigan’s Mackinac Bridge regulation, voluntary best management Mackinac Bridge between March 2006 and in April 2008 (Haack et al. 2008). We con- practices, and educational outreach. Almost October 2009. Overall, about 83% of the every US state has educational programs now tinued the survey twice more in 2008 (July 322 vehicles had firewood that originated and September). At the 2010 MES Annual that alert people to the dangers of moving from Michigan, 16% of the vehicles brought firewood. One national program can be found Meeting, we presented summary data for firewood from 17 other US states, and 1% at
Mackinac Bridge
MI
MI
During 2006 - 2009, drivers of private vehicles dropped off firewood at the Mackinac Bridge in Michigan that had originated in 18 US states and 3 Canadian provinces (highlighted in green). See names in text.
December 2010 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V55 (3&4) M E S MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org 30 Evolutionary relationships by non-taxonomic experts. Short DNA 2010 Dues Notices: The last dues notice within the clearwing tribe sequences can be used to advance knowl- for members was sent in the Spring of edge of sesiid species divergence, leading 2009. For 2010, dues notices will be sent Synanthedonini (Lepidop- to enhanced understanding of their unique in late summer. The 2011 dues notices tera: Sesiidae). evolutionary history. The cytochrome will be sent in January 2011. oxidase I (cox I) phylogeny produced Journal: Therese Poland In theory, Jason A. Hansen,1 John K. Moult- from the sequences of 19 Synanthedonini the journal is published 4 times per year. on,3 William E. Klingeman,2 Jason species tested suggests a close evolution- However, it has been difficult to catch up. 4 2 ary relationship of sesiids that rely on Therese is currently working on Volume B. Oliver, Mark T. Windham, similar host plants to complete their life 5 42 (3&4) - fall, winter 2009. She would Aijun Zhang and Robert N. cycle. Sannina uroceriformis Walker is 2 like to publish Volume 43 (1-4) - spring, Trigiano. positioned firmly withSynanthedon de- summer, fall, winter 2010 in a single is- spite its obvious genitalic similarities with 1 sue in December of 2010. This volume Department of Entomology, Michigan Carmenta. Podosesia spp. is also some- will be 100 pages minimum. This will State University, 243 Natural Sciences what surprisingly positioned within the allow the journal to be up-to-date and then Building, East Lansing, MI 48824, Synanthedon rich clade. Our analysis also future volumes can be printed 2 or 4 times 2Department of Entomology and Plant suggests the current generic placement of annually. Therese put out a call for more Pathology, and 3Department of Plant S. rileyana (Hy. Edwards) may be errone- manuscripts for future journal issues. Sciences, The University of Tennessee, ous. The evolutionary relationship of the two North American viburnum borers (S. Newsletter: Bob Haack The Fall News- 2431 Joe Johnson Drive, Knoxville, letter should be published in December. 4 viburni Engelhardt and S. fatifera Hodges) TN 37996, TSU Otis Floyd Nursery is briefly discussed. Precise placement Abstracts from the talks given at the an- Crops Research Station, 472 Cadil- of S. rileyana, Sannina, and Podosesia nual meeting will be included in that issue. lac Lane, McMinnville, TN, 37110, awaits further evaluation of additional taxa In addition, Bob asks for any articles of 5USDA–ARS Plant Sciences Institute, as well as results from analysis of another interest to be sent to him for inclusion in Invasive Insect Biocontrol and Behav- preferably nuclear gene. Nevertheless, the newsletter. ior Laboratory, BARC-West, 10300 no polyphyletic relationships exist among Entomology Notes: Mark O’Brien Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705. economically important species making recently found one of the Ento’ Notes on a website for student use as a pdf, no credit Email: [email protected] cox I sequences species specific and useful as identifying genetic markers in the tribe. given to the MES. He notified the site to cease and desist and it complied. Several th members stated that there needs to be 56 Annual MES Meeting, newer, more relevant topics written for June 26, 2010, Kettunen Entomology Notes. Center, Tustin, Michigan: Elections: At the end of the business Business Meeting Minutes meeting, outgoing president Duke Elsner Adrienne O’Brien, Secretary passed the gavel to incoming 2010 presi- dent Ethan Bright. Toby Petrice is the president elect for 2011. Harry King was Minutes for the March 2010 Board elected Member-at-Large for a three-year meeting were accepted as written. term – 2010-2013. Congratulations! Secretary Report: Because Adrienne Meeting Adjourned by Ethan Bright O’Brien has recently stepped in to fill the vacant Secretary position, there was not a formal Secretary report. She will meet with Bob Kriegel, the former Secretary Many North American sesiid moths to help her understand the database and within the tribe Synanthodonini have been procedures. studied extensively due to detrimental Treasurer Report: Tina Ciaramitaro has economic impacts on forest, deciduous also recently volunteered to fill the va- shade and fruit trees as well as many other cancy left by Martin Andree. The account ornamental and native shrub species. In- balance was approx. $18,000 in the spring troduction of non-native clearwing moths but is now at about $11,600. The decline (e.g., the red-belted clearwing moth, is due to Journal publishing expenses and Synanthedon myopaeformis (Borkh.), a the fact that there have been no dues no- European pest of apple trees) reinforce tices sent out for 2010. In addition, there a need for reliable and accurate molecu- is a CD valued at about $7000. lar diagnostic tools that can be utilized Adrienne O’Brien preparing the dues notices
December 2010 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V55 (3&4) M E S MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org 31 Update on Publication spring and the other at the end of the year. via human-aided transport, and had flown Schedule for The Great We look forward to publishing high qual- from some nearby vehicle. I did not see ity scientific contributions and encourage any other P. dominula at that site, nor Lakes Entomologist: A Plan all members to submit their manuscripts to anywhere else nearby. to Get the Journal Back on The Great Lakes Entomologist. I was in Marquette for several days in mid-August 2010 and frequently Track encountered P. dominula on Solidago Polistes dominula (Christ) (goldenrod) flowers at several sites within Therese M. Poland, Editor (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) the city limits. I collected one male Ronald J. Priest and Anthony I. Now Established in Michi- voucher specimen on Solidago near the Cognato, Associate Editors “Lower Harbor” area, which is being gan’s Upper Peninsula developed for new condominiums and retail space (Specimen data: MICHIGAN: Over the past several years we have Marquette Co., Marquette, August 12, worked hard to bring the publication of Mark F. O’Brien Museum of Zoology - Insect Division, 2010, M.F. O’Brien, coll.). There were The Great Lakes Entomologist back on some native Polistes fuscatus (Fabr.) seen 1109 Geddes Avenue, The University schedule. We were able to publish three at the Solidago as well. The abundance issues in 2003 and again in 2005, allowing of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109- of P. dominula, and the presence of males, us to catch up by a year but still leaving 1079. Email: [email protected] indicates that there is an established popu- the journal one year behind the publication lation within the city of Marquette. schedule. Despite the relatively fast turn- t is well-documented that the European As far as I am aware, the above re- around time for manuscripts, we have not I paper wasp, Polistes dominula (Christ), cords are the first presented for the Upper been able to publish more than two issues has spread fairly quickly across North Peninsula of Michigan. In a previous sur- per year during the past five years due to America since its initial discovery in Mas- vey of Vespidae within the Huron Moun- the number of submissions we receive. sachusetts in the late 1970s (Buck et al. tain region of Marquette Co., (O’Brien Considering our current publication rate 2008). This rapid spread has been largely 1986) P. fuscatus was the only polistine which has been steady at two issues (one aided by the transportation of foundresses wasp known from the area. Polistes in spring and one in fall) each year for the and nests via anthropogenic means. dominula was reported from Wisconsin in past five years, the MES Editorial Board Polistes dominula has been recorded 2004 (Liebert et al. 2006), and a March 12 made a proposal to the Governing Board from southern lower Michigan since sighting in Green Bay in 2007 confirms its and members at the 2010 annual meeting. 1995 (Judd and Carpenter 1996), and has continued presence there (Fewless 2007). We proposed to print a single issue for spread across much of Michigan’s Lower It is not unexpected that P. dominula 2010 (Volume 43 Numbers 1-4) and then Peninsula since then (MFO, personal ob- is now established in Michigan’s Upper to return to two issues for 2011 (Volume servations). I have observed P. dominula Peninsula. However, it remains to be seen 44 Numbers 1&2, Volume 44 Numbers in Ann Arbor and elsewhere in southern whether the populations are ephemeral or 3&4). Although subscribers would only Michigan since 1996. In August 1999, I will continue to expand there. receive one issue for 2010, this plan will collected a single female from the periph- allow us to move forward with issues ery of a parking lot at Indian Lake State References being printed on the correct calendar Park in Schoolcraft Co. in Michigan’s schedule, alleviating much confusion and Upper Peninsula (Specimen data: MICHI- Buck M, Marshall SA, Cheung DKB. 2008. Identifica- concern that is currently expressed by GAN: Schoolcraft Co., Indian Lake State tion Atlas of the Vespidae (Hymenoptera, Aculeata) authors, libraries, and subscribers. Park, Aug. 19, 1999, M.F. O’Brien, coll.). of the northeastern Nearctic region. Canadian This proposal was presented to the mem- Journal of Arthropod Identification No. 5: 492 As these wasps and their nests are easily bership as a motion at the Annual General pp. (PDF version). (doi: 10.3752/cjai.2008.05). transported in automotive wheel wells, Meeting in June 2010. The benefits of Fewless G. 2007.Phenology, March 2007. Cofrin recreational Center for Biodiversity, Univ. Wisconsin-Green timely production and of maintaining vehicles Bay. http://www.uwgb.edu/BIODIVERSITY/ a complete consecutive production of and other phenology/2007/phen200703.htm volume numbers (as opposed to skipping Judd TM, Carpenter JM. 1996. Polistes dominulus outdoor issues altogether) were discussed. The (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) found in Michigan. Great equipment, membership voted to approve this plan. Lakes Entomologist,29: 45–46. I assumed Liebert AE, Gamboa GJ, Stamp NE, Curtis TR, Mon- Since then we have published Volume 42 that the net KM, Turillazzi S, Starks PT. 2006: Genetics, Numbers 3&4 2009 which was printed single wasp behavior and ecology of a paper wasp invasion: in October 2010. The combined issue Polistes dominulus in North America. Annales I found was for 2010 is currently in the final stages of Zoologici Fennici 43: 595–624. most likely proofreading and will be printed in Janu- O’Brien MF. 1986. Social wasps of the Huron Moun- carried there tains, Michigan (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). The ary 2011. We are confident that we will Great Lakes Entomologist 19:199-201. be able to produce the two issues for 2011 during the 2011 calendar year; one in late Polistes dominula on autumn clematis. Photo by Mark O’Brien
December 2010 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V55 (3&4) M E S MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org 32 MES Governing Board in the constitution which are in conflict index and table of contents. Mark O’Brien Meeting: November 16, 2010 with the bylaws which need to be changed presented a proposal to the board to scan and titles need to be cleaned up. Constitu- Volumes 1-33 at $0.35/page for a total Members present: Ethan Bright, Bob tion is on the MES website cost of approximately $2700. Back issues Haack, Toby Petrice, Mark O’Brien, Tina would be made available some time after Ciaramitaro, Therese Poland, Ron Priest, New Business the original publication date as pdf files Harry King, Adrienne O’Brien Adrienne and Tina are working to update on the MES website or as a collection on a the process by which subscription services Reports CD. The motion passed. are billed. Adrienne will explore the pos- The amended minutes from the 2010 an- sibility of using bulk mail for membership 2011 Breaking Diapause meeting will be nual meeting were accepted dues notices. Adrienne will also check on held March 19 at the MSU Entomology Secretary’s Report: Dues notices were the reasoning for offering both Institu- Department. The possibility of having sent in August. Response has been good, tional and Subscription membership levels the 2012 or 2013 March meeting in Ann with many members paying dues in ar- and the possibility of combining them into Arbor was suggested. rears. The current MES membership one level. Entomology Notes on the MES website: includes 38 Sustaining, 299 Active, 7 Anthony Cognato has joined the GLE should be revised and rescanned as pdf’s. Student, 25 Lifetime and Honorary and editorial staff as the Associate Editor for New notes are needed to reflect current 158 Institutional and Subscription mem- Nomenclature. topics – ie bedbugs, planting native spe- berships cies of plants for more insect diversity Tina received a letter from the IRS stating Treasurer’s Report: Total expenses as of (O’Brien), collecting aquatic insects the tax exempt status of the MES may be November 15, 2010: $9179.43, income: (Bright). changed because filing requirements have $10,627.50. Checking account balance: not been met for the past 3 years. She will There are MES brochures available for $14,120.33, CD balance: $7145.47, ma- explore what needs to be done in order to distribution. Please request some. tures on Dec. 14, 2010. Tina is exploring comply. Minutes submitted by Adrienne O’Brien, the idea of transferring the CD balance Secretary to an interest-bearing checking account, Therese stated that print copies of back rather than renewing it because rates are issues of the GLE are currently $6/issue, Limnephilus ademus Ross, which barely covers the cost of postage so low and lock-in periods long. The pos- Oxyethira ecornuta Morton sibility of offering members and authors and time and is less than our membership the option of using PayPal or credit card dues. ESA charges $15/issue for members. and Polycentropus for submitting payments for memberships MES should charge more – non-members nascotius Ross - New State and page charges is being investigated. $45/vol, members $12/vol. Motion passed Trichoptera Records for Journal Editor’s Report:: Vol. 42 (2009) Ron Priest circulated a card for former Michigan #3-4 was published in October. Volume MES President Tom Wallenmaier, who is 43 (2010) #1-4 is in the final stages and ill. In his career with APHIS, he has been should be published early in 2011. the official insect identifier for the Detroit David E. Ruiter area. Get well soon, Tom! 6260 S. Grant Street Centennial, CO Newsletter Editor’s Report: will be 80121. Email: [email protected] published in December. Bob is still wait- 2011 Annual Meeting will be held at ing on 3 synopses of talks from the Annual Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in Hastings, just received my MES Newsletter Meeting. For the Spring issue, he hope to Michigan in June. Hastings is equidistant I which I always enjoy greatly and read have a map showing locations of all MES from Kalamazoo, E. Lansing and Grand cover to cover. I saw the note indicating Rapids. Final date and theme have not yet memberships in the US and around the no new species records had been submit- been determined and Toby requested sug- world. Research happening in the Great ted for 2009. It is apparent I had not Lakes area from various institutions – gestions for a featured speaker. thought about such a submission but I APHIS, USFS, and universities will be The Governing Board discussed the idea made a couple very nice Trichoptera col- highlighted. of digitizing all back issues of the Great lections last year in the UP. Old Business Lakes Entomologist (as well as the Michi- One in particular, Limnephilus ademus gan Entomologist, the former title of the Ross 1941, I find most interesting. This The 2010 Annual Meeting was well at- journal) so that paper copies will no longer critter has been termed the Salt Marsh tended and went smoothly. May Beren- need to be saved, stored and mailed to Limnephilus (Flint and Giberson 2005), baum’s talk was entertaining and informa- people requesting individual copies of ar- so its discovery in Michigan was most tive. Thanks Ethan! ticles. Volumes 34 (2001) to 42 (2009) are unexpected. While I only have the one male specimen and I did not borrow mate- Constitution and bylaws: there are 2 points already digitized and each has a searchable rial to compare it to, preliminary DNA
December 2010 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V55 (3&4) 33 MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org M E S work suggests that Li. ademus is most collections 50+ years later. I will be more Oecetis inconspicua (Walker) 1852 closely related to Li. secludens Banks. The than happy to help out with the caddis if MI: Alger County, at light, Doe Lake at Doe morphology of this UP specimen rules out you want. Lake Road (USFS Road 2268) N46.25915, W86.67373, D.E. Ruiter, 05 Sep 2009, 2M the latter species. [Deposition= DER] It was a very special collecting trip - I References Oecetis inconspicua (Walker) 1852 was out in the woods at my niece’s about MI: Alger County, at light, Kouw Residence, Flint, Oliver S., Jr., Giberson, Donna J. 2005. Salt marsh Dunklee Road, N46.25889, W86.72137, 10 miles south of Munising, Michigan for caddisflies: discovery of the larval and larval habitat a pig roast. We had kegs, pig, and 50 or D.E. Ruiter, 05 Sep 2009, 1F [Deposition= of Limnephilus ademus in salt marshes in Prince DER] so folks for most of the night. A fine time Edward Island, Canada. Pages 121-130 in Tanida, Anabolia bimaculata (Walker) 1852 was had by all. I doubt there was water Kazumi, Rossiter, Andrew. (eds.) Proceedings of MI: Alger County, at light, Doe Lake at Doe within a half mile or so, very sandy at the the 11th International Symposium on Trichoptera. Kanagawa, Tokai University Press. Lake Road (USFS Road 2268) N46.25915, house. There were a bunch of little kids W86.67373, D.E. Ruiter, 05 Sep 2009, 1M racing around raising hell, and dust, so I [Deposition= DER] Alger County collections - DER prepared Limnephilus ademus Ross 1941 hung a sheet and a light on the deer wire October 12, 2009 around my niece’s garden about 100 feet NEW STATE RECORD from the party, house and all those lights. Cheumatopsyche analis (Banks) 1903 MI: Alger County, at light, Kouw Residence, I gave the kids a couple aspirators which Dunklee Road, N46.25889, W86.72137, MI: Alger County, at light, Doe Lake at Doe D.E. Ruiter, 05 Sep 2009, 1M [Deposition= amused them for most of the night. Did Lake Road (USFS Road 2268) N46.25915, DER] you know you can survive sucking sand W86.67373, D.E. Ruiter, 05 Sep 2009, 1M [Deposition= DER] Limnephilus infernalis (Banks) 1914 into an aspirator? I would walk over there MI: Alger County, at light, Doe Lake at Doe every half hour or so to make sure they Cheumatopsyche species Wallengren Lake Road (USFS Road 2268) N46.25915, hadn’t choked themselves with an aspira- MI: Alger County, at light, Doe Lake at Doe W86.67373, D.E. Ruiter, 05 Sep 2009, 1M Lake Road (USFS Road 2268) N46.25915, [Deposition= DER] tor hose (never thought about sand) and I W86.67373, D.E. Ruiter, 05 Sep 2009, 124F actually picked up two caddis: an Oecetis [Deposition= DER] Limnephilus infernalis (Banks) 1914 MI: Alger County, at light, pond on Doe inconspicua (Walker 1852) and the Li. Hydropsyche morosa Hagen 1861 Lake Road (USFS Road 2268) N46.26646, ademus. Li. ademus was only known MI: Alger County, at light, Doe Lake at Doe W86.66098, D.E. Ruiter, 05 Sep 2009, 2M from far eastern Canada, most recently Lake Road (USFS Road 2268) N46.25915, [Deposition= DER] W86.67373, D.E. Ruiter, 05 Sep 2009, 7M from an estuary! [Deposition= DER] Pycnopsyche guttifer (Walker) 1852 The few lights I set at ponds in the Hydropsyche species Pictet MI: Alger County, at light, Doe Lake at Doe area that night also picked up some other Lake Road (USFS Road 2268) N46.25915, MI: Alger County, at light, Doe Lake at Doe W86.67373, D.E. Ruiter, 05 Sep 2009, 6M interesting critters, and I have attached a Lake Road (USFS Road 2268) N46.25915, 2F [Deposition= DER] list of the detailed locality info. Two other W86.67373, D.E. Ruiter, 05 Sep 2009, 32F [Deposition= DER] Pycnopsyche guttifer (Walker) 1852 caddis (Oxyethira ecornuta Morton 1893 MI: Alger County, at light, pond on Doe and Polycentropus nascotius Ross 1941) Hydropsyche species Pictet Lake Road (USFS Road 2268) N46.26646, appear to be new state records for Michi- MI: Alger County, at light, pond on Doe W86.66098, D.E. Ruiter, 05 Sep 2009, 1M Lake Road (USFS Road 2268) N46.26646, [Deposition= DER] gan. The Ox. ecornuta is a fairly rare W86.66098, D.E. Ruiter, 05 Sep 2009, 2F critter reported only from Minnesota and [Deposition= DER] Pycnopsyche lepida (Hagen) 1861 Ontario as far as I know. The Po. nasco- MI: Alger County, at light, Doe Lake at Doe Agraylea multipunctata Curtis 1834 Lake Road (USFS Road 2268) N46.25915, tius is one of those fill-in-the-blank new MI: Alger County, at light, Doe Lake at Doe W86.67373, D.E. Ruiter, 05 Sep 2009, 4M state records for a widespread species. Lake Road (USFS Road 2268) N46.25915, 1F [Deposition= DER] W86.67373, D.E. Ruiter, 05 Sep 2009, 5F I also have a week’s worth of light [Deposition= DER] Chimarra species Stephens trap collections I made last year in the Hydroptila armata Ross 1938 MI: Alger County, at light, Doe Lake at Doe Hell, MI, area that I have yet to go Lake Road (USFS Road 2268) N46.25915, MI: Alger County, at light, Doe Lake at Doe W86.67373, D.E. Ruiter, 05 Sep 2009, 2F through. (I also really liked the Hell, MI, Lake Road (USFS Road 2268) N46.25915, [Deposition= DER] article in the last newsletter - they should W86.67373, D.E. Ruiter, 05 Sep 2009, 2M [Deposition= DER] Neureclipsis crepuscularis (Walker) 1852 have gone to the bar to warm up and have MI: Alger County, at light, Doe Lake at Doe a wonderful perch dinner. You can have Oxyethira ecornuta Morton 1893 Lake Road (USFS Road 2268) N46.25915, Heaven in Hell - just have the perch!) I NEW STATE RECORD W86.67373, D.E. Ruiter, 05 Sep 2009, 1M went looking for one of the caddis holy MI: Alger County, at light, pond on Doe 4F [Deposition= DER] Lake Road (USFS Road 2268) N46.26646, Polycentropus nascotius Ross 1941 grails - Leptophylax gracilis Banks 1900. W86.66098, D.E. Ruiter, 05 Sep 2009, 1M In the 1950’s Cantrall collected Leptophy- [Deposition= DER] NEW STATE RECORD lax in the ES George Reserve. I am pretty MI: Alger County, at light, Doe Lake at Doe Oxyethira forcipata Mosely 1934 Lake Road (USFS Road 2268) N46.25915, sure I didn’t collect Leptophylax but I will MI: Alger County, at light, Doe Lake at Doe W86.67373, D.E. Ruiter, 05 Sep 2009, 1M try and remember to let you folks know if Lake Road (USFS Road 2268) N46.25915, 2F [Deposition= DER] there is something else in the collections W86.67373, D.E. Ruiter, 05 Sep 2009, 3M 2F [Deposition= DER] Psychomyia flavidaHagen 1861 of interest. If you know of a student inter- MI: Alger County, at light, Doe Lake at Doe ested in just general collecting it would be Lake Road (USFS Road 2268) N46.25915, W86.67373, D.E. Ruiter, 05 Sep 2009, 12F great to duplicate Cantralls’ E.S. George [Deposition= DER]
December 2010 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V55 (3&4) M E S MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org 34 The Value of Entomological Organizations Numerous fertile lines of investigation are awaiting attention by some group of enthusiastic amateurs. I will attempt to make no more than a few brief suggestions. Many things need to be considered when planning any field A.E Brower, undated, early 1940s project. (Editor’s note: Here is the text of a paper that was presented to the One of the lines on which I have worked and know the need of con- Detroit Entomological Club in the early 1940s. I printed a few other certed action by more than one worker, the more the better, is the problem stories like this one in 2006, 2007 and 2009.) of insect movement. Movement can be determined by marking specimens. My marking work was with Catocalas for daytime work and at another time cutworm moths for light trapping. Working alone and for but a short n organization there is strength - apparently moral strength as well as the I period, I was able to get such important results, that I feel group action is physical strength of combined effort. Compare the activity and accomplish- going to yield unusual returns under favorable conditions. Moths and other ments of collectors about Boston, when the New England Entomological insects can be fairly easily and positively marked so the individual can be Club was in existence, with the period before and after. Montreal, New York recognized at a latter date. Markings to represent serial numbers can be ap- City, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and San Francisco are plied, and any number of the larger insects can be marked so they can be in- some of the other cities which have had at times active groups of collectors, dividually recognized at a latter date when retaken. Catocalas can be found either with or without an organization, and can be compared. Furthermore, in numbers on tree trunks in southern Michigan some years. All which compare entomological or other scientific activity in these cities with similar can possibly be found in an area can be caught and marked, then released. cities in the South. It is not my intention to imply that the burning zeal of Then on following days these can be sought. At the same time all possible certain individuals does not carry on in spite of isolation, or that they have not individuals should be collected at bait and light in the area and marked. If been responsible for most of the accomplishments of amateur entomologists. possible a similar project should be carried on in another favorable area So many of these individuals have been associated at one time or other with of timber one or more miles away. Following the marking work as many a group of fellow collectors that one cannot escape the conclusion that even individuals as possible should be collected in the areas where marked and the lone wolf may have much to gain from association with an active group of in as many other areas as possible, and in as many ways as possible. In this amateurs. Collecting trips to distant places, extensive bait or light collecting way the movements of the marked individuals can be traced, their length of are much easier or practical with a group. The stimulating effect of associa- life approximated, and many other things learned. tion with others similarly engaged, leads to valuable work and contributions Another project some favorable fall would be to collect thousands of on the part of persons who would otherwise lose all interest. monarch butterflies, mark them, and by means of newspaper publicity and All of us recognize the fact that large regional general collections, perhaps assistance from professional entomologists trace their southward scientific libraries, state collections of insects or state lists and other projects movement to their winter home. require public, institutional, or group support, if for no other reason than that Turn at random to a genus of insects in a check list or a state list of the life-span of an individual is too short. Then too collections and libraries insects, then by referring to the published literature find outwhat amazingly require much housing space and continual care to preserve them. little has ever been recorded concerning the habits of most of the species. The aims of most amateur collectors have been to collect, identify both For the adult: How long do they live? What do they feed on (when adults and early stages, preserve a few specimens of each species and form, the collector does not put out bait)? How often do they feed? How far are and discover the food plant. Sometimes a new species or other name is they attracted to bait? Do they find the bait by chance or by smell? (A se- proposed or the early stages may be described in some scientific publication; ries of bait line through a good area of timber should yield some interesting or the published item may be a list of species, or description of some meth- information on habits.) How soon after emergence do they mate? Where ods of collecting, or of an unusual catch. These contributions to the basic do they spend the day or night? Where do they go during a cool spell? knowledge of our fauna constitute a large part of the available information How far is the daily range of an individual? Do they have a definite home regarding insects. This work is invaluable today as in the past. Experience territory? Do their habits change after oviposition begins or after the eggs has shown that both the individual collector and the usual organization of have been laid? Do they make long migrations? Do the specimens you collectors can make valuable contributions along these well-known lines. find in the woods one day fly away and be replaced by other individuals There is so much yet to be done that this work needs encouragement. Its coming in from different directions? The alert collector will discover other results are the basic data on which broader biological investigations must more fascinating and practical problems to work on in his territory. depend. While we must continue to recognize the importance and stimulate More than one project is desirable, because the very favorable condi- prosecution of the foregoing lines of work, we can profitably combine them tions necessary for best results occur at varying intervals of years. Have with more recent lines of study. plans made and when conditions are right concerted action will yield The field of ornithology may offer some very profitable comparisons important returns. Regular collecting can be done as usual for all insects and suggestions for stimulating lines of work. Birds form a comparatively found except the particular species or group being experimented with. The small, readily observed, important group of living things; consequently usual projects can be carried on. Work on many group projects becomes bird study is far ahead of insect study. So much of the basic work is done. competitive like a game. Marking and hunting the insects can be made Now attention is centered on the broader biological or ecological problems. so exciting that Scout groups will participate. The desirability of making Investigations of birds as living, dynamic, responsive components of the some of the projects so interesting that young groups will engage is to be complex life about us now hold the stage. The value of this work is unques- stressed. Too many active entomological clubs have-recruited no young tioned and its enthusiastic supporters legion. blood and have died with the senility of their organizers. Many of the newer lines of insect investigation are particularly adapted to group work or rather require the efforts of more than one worker. Groups like you have a virgin field in group projects. Next to nothing has been done as a group by any organization of amateur entomologists in this country.
December 2010 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V55 (3&4) M E S MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org 35 MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY NONPROFIT ORG. U. S. POSTAGE PAID East Lansing, MI Department of Entomology PERMIT NO. 14 Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan 48824
Requesting First State Send your information to Ron Priest Breaking Diapause at: [email protected] or 243 Nat. Sci. Bldg., Arthropod Reports M.S.U., East Lansing, MI 48824-1115. If Saturday, 19 March 2011 you have questions, then do contact me by ITS TIME AGAIN TO SET THE RECORD Email, phone: 517-353-3891, or U.S. mail. Breaking Diapause is the annual MES STRAIGHT! Have you recovered an arthro- I look forward to hearing from you, learning spring entomology meeting. It is an in- pod species not before recorded from your what’s new, and seeing your records in print. formal, social gathering for members and state? Perhaps you’ve recovered one a few Cheers. Ron Priest those interested in becoming members. years ago which has not yet been reported in Breaking Diapause will be held from 9:30 print. Publishing new state records signifi- Authors Needed for MES AM till mid-afternoon in Room 244 of cantly adds to our understanding of species the Natural Science Building (Nat Sci) at ranges as well as their expansion. Entomology Notes Michigan State University. In addition Submit your record(s) for our next news- to socializing with a variety of profes- letter (spring 2011). If you’re not sure of the In 1972 the first MES Entomology Note sional and amateurs there will be plenty identity of your specimens, it’s a great reason was published on the topic of antlions to do. The insect museum at Nat Sci will to attend our next Breaking Diapause, Sat- and tiger beetles. Since then, another 30 be open so bring along your unidentified urday, 19 March 2011. See the announce- or so have appeared. The topic usually insects. Folks will be available to show ment on this page. The more information includes details on collecting techniques, you around the collection if you’re unfa- you have regarding your recovery the better. rearing methods, and even insect-related miliar and assist you with any unknowns Include as many of the following points that games. I’m sure that each of us has ento- you have. Bring along your entomological you have: species, common name (if there mological knowledge or skills that others duplicates you’d like to trade, sell, or just is one), family; date, location of recovery, would find valuable. So please consider give away. You might also bring along method of recovery, identifier, photograph, drafting a Note. I’ll be happy to work specimens or images to show, trade, or habitat, and current specimen(s) location. with you to prepare the final layout. Notes give away. If you have an entomological Of course, you will be credited for all your are usually 2 pages in length. Most Notes display, do bring it along. As usual we’ll information! can be downloaded at the MES website. also have a variety of finger foods. See Robert Haack you then! Ron Priest
December 2010 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V55 (3&4) 36 MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org M E S