Volume 36, No 2 Winter 2017

Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada

Vol. 36(2) Winter 2017

The Newsletter of the BSC is published twice a year by the Biological Survey of Canada, an incorporated not-for-profit In this issue group devoted to promoting biodiversity science in Canada. From the editor’s desk...... 2 Information on Student Corner: Membership ...... 3 A survey of the predacious President’s Report ...... 4 diving beetles of Akimiski Island, Nunavut (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) BSC on facebook & twitter...... 6 by S. L. DeGasparro and D.V. Beresford ...... 7 BSC Student Corner...... 6 A survey of the predacious diving beetles of Akimiski Island, Nunavut (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae), by S. Project update: DeGasparro ...... 7 A citizen science project for the City of Calgary by Samantha Managh...... 9 Project Update: Where the Wild things are: harnessing the power of citizen scientists in Calgary, by S. Managh .... BSC BioBlitz 2017 ...... 9 Bioblitzing the Cypress Bioblitz 2017: Cypress Hills Hills, Sask...... 12 by Cory Sheffield...... 12

BSC symposium: Canada 150 ...... 15 BSC Symposium 2017 Special Issue in TCE: Canada 150: Canada’s Insect Diversity in BSC 40th Anniversary Issue in the Expected and Unexpected Places Canadian Entomologist...... 17 by Cory Sheffield...... 15 New Book Notice: Dynastine Scarab Beetles of the US and Canada ...... 19 Special Issue Announcement: Special issue of the Canadian Entomologist Canadian Journal of commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Arthropod Identification: BSC...... 17 2017 papers...... 20 Check out the BSC Website: Publications ....20

BSC FAQs...... 21

Notices ...... 22

Visit our Website | Previous issues http://biologicalsurvey.ca http://biologicalsurvey.ca/pages/read/newsletter-past-issues

From the Editor’s desk Donna Giberson As 2017 draws to a close, the Biological Survey of Canada (BSC) can point to a number of successful initiatives to mark their 40th anniversary. A successful Bioblitz was held in the Saskatchewan section of the Cypress Hills, in conjunction with the Canada 150 Bioblitz initiative (see article by Cory Sheffield in this issue), and the annual BSC symposium at the Entomological Society of Canada meeting also celebrated this anniversary (see the list of titles and abstracts in this issue). A special issue of The Canadian Entomologist celebrating the 40th anniversary was published in late 2017, and includes several articles on the BSC and Canada’s biodiversity (a list of titles can be found in this issue). Finally, if you have not yet seen it, I also urge you to check out Hugh Dank’s new book on the history of the BSC, available as a free pdf on the BSC monographs website page (http://biologicalsurvey.ca/monographs/read/19). What a wealth of activities about Canadian Biodiversity for 2017!

If you haven’t yet looked up our website or checked out the BSC on Facebook, consider doing so, and send us your comments; of course, if there are any little bumps in navigating the site, we’d like to hear about them. The new site will continue to have links to biodiversity resources of the BSC, and our publications, and will be easier to keep up to date. Check it out, at http://biologicalsurvey.ca/

Questions? Please contact us at [email protected] D.Giberson Tiger beetles on Blooming Point Beach, PEI.

The Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada is published twice a year (summer and winter) by the Biological Survey of Canada, an incorporated not-for-profit group devoted to promoting biodiversity science in Canada, particularly with respect to the Arthropoda. Send submissions to: Dr. Donna Giberson ([email protected]) Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada Department of Biology, University of Prince Edward Island 550 University Ave., Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3

Masthead image: Tricoloured Bumblebee, Bombus ternarius photographed on lupins in PEI in 2010, D.Giberson Volume 36(2) Winter 2017 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 3

Biological Survey of Canada: Documenting Canada’s Biodiversity

The Biological Survey of Canada (BSC) has been collecting, collating, analyzing and disseminating information about Canada’s biological diversity since 1977. The BSC is a Canadian non-profit, charitable organization consisting of biodiversity scientists across Canada, and in other countries, who have an interest in Canadian biota. The BSC prides itself in identifying and filling biodiversity information needs using a bottom-up organiza- tional structure, whereby front-line workers identify the needs and work to address them. The BSC has successfully demonstrated its capacity to advance national level biodiversity science and knowledge concerning terrestrial arthropods, which account for >60% of Canadian species, and is now reaching out to the broader biological community to bring together those who are experts with other taxa and who share a common vision and goal of making biodiversity information more accessible.

Are you a member of the BSC? You may be on the mailing list to receive BSC newsletters, but may not be a member! To become a member, send a request for membership to the BSC Secretary (see below). Remember to request membership before the AGM so you are eligible to vote. If you don’t hear from us within a couple of weeks, please contact us again, to be sure your request has been received.

To Join the BSC: Send an email to Joel Gibson, Secretary, BSC. [email protected]

- In the subject line, write “BSC Membership” - in the body of the message, give your full name and contact information, and a valid email address. Remember to update the BSC if you change email addresses. Please also provide some information on your background and biodiversity interests.

Check out the BSC website! http://biologicalsurvey.ca/

Volume 36(2) Winter 2017 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 4

President’s report to the AGM of the Biological Survey of Canada/Commission biologique du Canada Cory S. Sheffield Research Scientist - Curator of Invertebrate Zoology Royal Saskatchewan Museum, Regina, Saskatchewan

Greetings, and Happy New Year to everyone!

2017 was a busy year for Canada, with special events in rec- ognition of 150 years since Confederation taking place in most parts of the country. The multitude of activities provided many opportunities to reflect on the diversity of this country at many levels – the people, the habitats, and the biodiversity. The latter, of course, is one of the focal points of the Biological Survey of Canada, and in this regard we have been particularly busy. Else- where in this newsletter I will briefly discuss the Biological Survey of Canada’s involvement in a “BioBlitz Canada 150” event (see p. 12) carried out in partnership with the Canadian Wildlife Federation and others within the Cypress Hills of Saskatchewan. This was one of many other bioblitzes that took place in Canada this past summer, though the Biological Survey of Canada has held bioblitzes semi-regularly for many years. This past year also marked the 40th anniversary of the Biological Survey of Canada, and this milestone was recognized by the publication of a special issue of The Canadian Entomologist edited by Héctor Cárcamo and Donna Giberson. Although largely entomology-focused, the seven submissions covered a range of topics. Please see p. 17 for a synopsis (titles and abstracts) of the papers in this issue. Another event celebrated both the BSC 40th anniversary and the 150th anniversary of Confederation: The Biological Survey of Canada held its annual symposium at the Joint Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of Canada and the Entomological Society of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba on October 25. The symposium, entitled Canada 150: Canada’s insect diversity in expected and unexpected places, included five pre- sentations. Our keynote speaker, Sam Droege from the United State Geological Survey, gave a lively presentation on what does, and does not work in citizen-based monitoring programs. Other presenters included Jason Gibbs (Lasioglossum sweat bees in Cana- da), Terry Galloway (lice of birds and mammals in Manitoba), Jennifer Heron and Cory Sheffield (bees in British Columbia), and Joe Shorthouse (cynipid gall aspsw of roses in Waterton Lakes). Though held on the last day of the three-day conference, the meeting was well attended. Please see p. 15 for a list of titles and abstracts from the symposium. 2017 also saw four new papers published in the Canadian Journal of Arthropod Iden- tification (CJAI)! These included a paper on cleptoparasitic bees (Hymenoptera), one on northeastern Drosophlilidae (Diptera), one on eastern Canadian Haliplidae (Coleoptera), and one on North American Parameletus (Ephemeroptera). Full titles and access links can be found on p. 20 of this issue. Changes are coming to CJAI in 2018; CJAI’s found- ing editor, Steve Marshall, has stepped down from the Editor’s role, and Heather Proctor (University of Alberta) has taken over the reins. Special thanks are owed to Steve for his exceptional work with the journal, along with technical editor Morgan Jackson. Our efforts in 2017 will also lead to some new exciting publications in the coming years. We have now received a large proportion of draft chapters for the family-level summary of Canadian arthropods, the first in a multi-volume work that will summarize the flora and fauna of Canada. This first volume will update the classic “Canada and its Insect Fauna” (edited by Hugh Danks and published in 1979). With the collaboration of the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, this series will incorporate of DNA barcoding results for Canada. I personally am very excited about this component of this new series! Al- though this has been an ambitious effort, we hope to see this volume published by late 2018.

Volume 36(2) Winter 2017 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 5

Early in 2018, the Biological Survey of Canada will also launch its “Biota of Canada” checklist series, which will be published in Biodiversity Data Journal (https://bdj.pensoft. net/journals.php). The aim of this series is to provide a venue for publication of checklists for Canada (and/or jurisdictions within Canada), and in the future, updates to these checklists. We hope that these collected works will eventually provide an up-to-date resource for documenting species in Canada, facilitating other research and conservation efforts in the country. I would also like to say a few things about the Biological Survey of Canada’s social media presence. Are you or your organization on social media? We also have a social media presence (i.e., Facebook, Twitter; see p. 6) and feel this is an excellent way to keep up with some of the activities with which the Biological Survey of Canada is involved, or studies that are of interest to our members and those interested in biodiversity. Our social media pages are also a way to learn about some of the exciting biodiversity-related events going on across our country. We routinely post links to scientific publications, articles, and new stories that should be of interest to a wide audience; in the future this will include links to the two series mentioned above. This is also a great venue to post links to your own biodiversity-related events, and we encourage you to contact us at [email protected] if wish to do so (and while emailing, why not join the Bio- logical Survey of Canada, if you are not already a member). In addition, you can always visit our website at https://biologicalsurvey.ca/ in the near future, you can expect to see some updates. I will end this report with a comment on our newsletter. Does your biodiversity research take you to interesting places in Canada? Do you study a taxon or taxa that you think are worth more attention? Why not share your experiences with other members of the Biological Survey of Canada? We are always excited to receive contributions to our newsletter, so I encourage you to write up a piece for us, and photographs are welcome. This also provides a great opportunity for graduate and undergraduate students to publish project updates, and alert other biodiversity workers to interesting biodiversity research from your lab or research group. Please see below for information on how to submit a manuscript, and please visit the Biological Survey of Canada’s website to see past issues of the newsletter for examples. I am sure you will find these a great resource!

Sincerely, Cory

Volume 36(2) Winter 2017 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 6

BSC on Facebook and Twitter Kyle Knysh University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE

The BSC is active on Facebook (www.facebook.com/biolsurvey1can) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/BiolSurCan). We regularly share news about new biodiversity research in Canada and updates from the BSC. Like and Follow the Biological Survey of Canada! If you have content you would like to share with the BSC please email knyshk@gmail. com.

BSC Student Corner

In this issue, we highlight a research project on dytiscid beetles of Akimiski Island, Nuna- vut, by Sherri DeGasparro at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario.

Do you have a Biodiversity Project you’d like to have highlighted in the BSC Newsletter? Contact the editor ([email protected]) to inquire about contributing. Articles can be on preliminary data, experiences in the field, or any other aspect of your work or study. Examples of other student articles can be found in this issue, or on pp.27- 35 in Vol 29(2) (http://biologicalsurvey.ca/newsletter/bscfall2010.pdf), pp.41-49 in Vol 30(2) (http://biologicalsurvey.ca/newsletter/bscwinter2011.pdf), and pp.7-19 in Vol 34(1) (http://biologicalsurvey.ca/newsletter/bscsummer2015.pdf).

Volume 36(2) Winter 2017 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 7

STUDENT CORNER: A survey of the predacious diving beetles of Akimiski Island, Nunavut (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) S. L. DeGasparro1 and D.V. Beresford2 1Environmental & Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, K9J 7B8 2Department of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, K9J 7B8

Akimiski Island, Nunavut, is a small island (3000 km2) located in James Bay, approxi- mately 19km east of the mainland of At- tawapiskat, Ontario. This region is very remote and largely inaccessible. There are no permanent year-round inhabitants, and the eastern portion of the island contains a federal migratory bird sanctuary (Fig. 1). This is the tenth year of a multiyear initiative (2008-2017) to survey biting flies and other terrestrial insects through several collection techniques (malaise traps, sweep netting, light traps). Little is known about the insects on this island apart from a few reports, e.g. horse flies (Beresford et al. 2010) and tiger beetles (Fleming and Beresford 2016). This year, we included aquatic insect sampling in this project. Sherri DeGasparro Fig 1. Aerial view of OMNRF base camp.

To access this island, we joined with a goose banding crew from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and For- estry (OMNRF, Rod Brook, Glen Brown, Zachary O’Krafka, Amber Frak, Karen Shearer, and helicopter pilot Rob Burns). Much of the work requires access using an EC-130 helicopter (Fig. 2). Akimiski Island is within the southern Hudson Bay polar bear management unit. Our first sighting of a polar bear occurred on our

David Beresford flight in to the base camp, this was the Fig 2. Sherri DeGasparro and Glen Brown deploying first of many throughout the duration bottle traps in helicopter-accessed pond. of our two-week sampling period on the island. The inaccessibility of the island and risk of polar bears in the field (Fig. 3) meant that we had to rely on traps for our samples, we could not wander far afield to collect. Our initial set of 8 traps were constructed using 2L aquatic bottle traps (Fig. 4), baited with dog food, more or less following the design of Miller and Bergsten (2016). While at camp, we also constructed 18 smaller (330ml) bottle traps from discarded water bottles to maximize our collection efforts. These were deployed for 24-hour periods. Fig 3. Polar bear behind fence

at the OMNRF base camp. David Beresford

Volume 36(2) Winter 2017 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 8 Sherri DeGasparro David Beresford Fig 4. Deployed aquatic bottle trap in vegeta- Fig 5. Pinning and labelling beetles at base camp. tion along pond margin.

We caught 148 diving beetles (Dytiscidae) from 7 genera and 2 crawling water beetles (Halipli- dae) (Fig. 5), as well as several leeches, amphi- pods, and molluscs. The smaller traps were very productive. On the first day, traps set amidst vegetation near the edge of 3 ponds (3 traps per pond) caught a mean of 3.3 (SD 4.00) dytiscids, compared to 0.3 (SD 0.50) for traps set in more open water. Repeating this protocol produced similar results, a mean of 7.3 (SD 7.98) in vegetation compared to 0.4 (SD 0.52) in open water

section of the 3 ponds (see Fig. 6 for a view of Sherri DeGasparro one of the ponds). We caught 96 dytiscids across Fig 6. Aerial view of a sampled coastal pond 18 trap-days (2 days x 9 traps) in small traps on Akimiski Island, Nunavut. from amongst the vegetation compared to only 7 from open water areas using the same sampling effort. The 8 large traps caught 45 dytiscids, from 48 trap-days of sampling effort. We are currently working with Yves Alarie (Laurentian University) on dytiscid identifica- tions, and with Sebastian Kvist (ROM) to identify the leeches.

Acknowledgments We thank Kim Bennett, Rod Brook, Ken Abraham, and Glen Brown of the Ontario Minis- try of Natural Resources and Forestry, Northeast Science and Information Section and Wildlife Research and Development Section, Far North Branch. We also thank our pilot, Rob Burns, and Karen Shearer for her valuable help in the field.

Literature Cited Beresford, D. V., S. Gan, and K. F. Abraham. 2010. Species diversity of Tabanidae (Diptera) on Akim- iski Island, Nunavut, Canada. Biological Survey of Canada. 29(1) Spring: 22-34. Fleming, K., D. V. Beresford. 2017. New Cicindela records for the Qikiqtaaluk region of Nunavut. Cicindela 48(3-4): 69-76. Miller, K. B., and J. Bergsten. 2016. Diving beetles of the world: Systematics and biology of the dytiscidae. JHU Press.

Volume 36(2) Winter 2017 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 9

Project Update: Where the Wild things are: harnessing the power of citizen scientists Samantha Managh Parks Ecologist, Landscape Analysis Calgary Parks, Urban Conservation, The City of Calgary P.O. Box 2100, Stn M, Calgary, AB Canada T2P 2M5 [email protected] | www.calgary.ca/parks

The Oxford English dictionary defines citizen science as the collection and analysis of data relating to the natural world by members of the general public, typically as part of a collaborative project with professional scientists. Citizen Science is gaining in momentum and popularity as a means to aid and benefit academics and natural resource managers. Citizen Science can engage individuals in scientific learning, increase ecological literacy, foster a sense of ownership and result in increased motivation to participate in conservation related goals. Citizen Science initiatives within a municipality can be used to enhance biodiversity and urban ecology goals through the generation of information and engagement of the public in urban ecological issues. In addition, citizen science can complement existing research and monitoring initiatives and enable data collection that would not otherwise have occurred due to cost constraints. City of Calgary, Parks, has embarked on a multi-year wildlife remote camera monitoring program, including a large citizen science component, as we attempt to develop a more complete picture of how wildlife are making use of our natural areas and patterns of wildlife presence across Calgary. The citizen science program, Calgary Captured, aims to assess the terrestrial mammal diversity of Calgary. Through these images we hope to begin com- piling information on particular species movement (and barriers to movement, like major road infrastructure) in and out of the City, as well as between habitat cores, to help inform future park and city planning in addition to meeting our commitments outlined in the Biodi- verCity Strategy and the Municipal Development Plan. By adopting the Municipal Development plan in 2009, The City of Calgary declared support for biodiversity conservation through policies which shape how Calgary grows and develops over the next 30 to 60 years. The plan specifically recognizes greening the city with the objective to maintain biodiversity and landscape diversity along with integration and connection of ecological networks throughout the city (Municipal Development Plan, Section 2.64)

In March 2015, Council approved Our BiodiverCity (http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Parks/ Documents/Planning-and-Operations/BiodiverCity-strategic-plan.pdf) Calgary’s 10-year biodiversity strategic plan and accompanying Biodiversity Policy (http://www.calgary.ca/ CA/city-clerks/Documents/Council-policy-library/CSPS037-Biodiversity-Policy.pdf )The plan is based on principles for the protection, development and management of Calgary parks and ecosystems in support of biodiversity. Our BiodiverCity aims to provide a framework for the City to foster more resilient, biologically diverse open space and neighbourhoods that support positive outcomes for Calgarians, visitors, wildlife and plant communities. The strategic plan builds on the City of Calgary Biodiversity Report 2014 (http://www.calgary. ca/CSPS/Parks/Documents/Planning-and-Operations/Biodiversity-report2014.pdf). In the fall of 2016, The City of Calgary signed the Durban Commitment (http://archive. iclei.org/index.php?id=12224) a program representing local governments from across the world who are working to improve biodiversity planning and management. Calgary was the third Canadian city, along with the City of Edmonton and the City of Montreal, to formally join the international program directed by Local Action for Biodiversity (http://cbc.iclei. org/programmes/lab/) By signing this commitment, The City acknowledges “accountabil- ity and responsibility for the health and wellbeing of our communities through protecting, sustainably utilizing and managing biodiversity and recognizing its role as the foundation of our existence.”

Volume 36(2) Winter 2017 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 10

To help us achieve some of our commitments in the BiodiverCity Strategy and the Municipal Development Plan, the Calgary Captured program involves over sixty remote motion-activated cameras being installed throughout Calgary’s largest natural areas and connecting green spaces. The cameras are placed to capture images of medium and large sized mammals, such as cougars, bobcats, coyote, fox, bear, deer, moose and elk, which depend on intact wildlife corridors to move throughout the landscape.

Some of the questions we will be exploring with Calgary Captured over the next few years:

Who calls Calgary home? While we can’t directly measure populations with the data from our cameras, we can get a sense of which species are most common and where they are. Calgary supports a population of 1.2 million people but is also home to a diverse array of terrestrial mammals, including bobcat, moose, deer, coyote and skunks. There are oc- casional reports of grizzly bears, black bears and cougars as well.

How do species live with each other? We know almost nothing about how species in Calgary might compete with one another, engage in predator-prey dynamics or avoid each other. By evaluating our camera images, we can begin to better understand the Calgary urban ecosystem, including how species interact.

How can humans and wildlife co-exist in a city? We know that people change the way wildlife behave, but many of the details about how this impacts wildlife remain unclear. Some animals adapt well to humans, some are in- different, and some avoid us. In addition to images, by collecting incidental observation data on humans (what time of day do we use our parks etc.) we can get a sense of how animals in urban settings react to the people who make the city their home.

How to Participate We encourage you to participate in our citizen science program Calgary Captured when it is live in January 2018. You can access it by going to Zooniverse (https://www.zooniverse.org/) and searching for Calgary Captured.

“Zooniverse is the world’s largest and most popular platform for people-powered research. This research is made possible by volunteers — hundreds of thousands of people around the world who come together to assist professional researchers. Our goal is to enable research that would not be possible, or practical, otherwise. Zooniverse research results in new discoveries, datasets useful to the wider research community, and many publications.” (Zooniverse.org, 2017)

Anyone can help The City classify images and have the chance to see more great shots of Calgary’s wildlife – just like the ones on the next page.

Volume 36(2) Winter 2017 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 11

Examples of photos captured in the “Calgary Captured” project

Deer Standing raccoons

Porcupine Moose

Bobcat

Volume 36(2) Winter 2017 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 12

BSC BioBlitz 2017 Cypress Hills Provincial Park Bioblitz Cory S. Sheffield, Royal Saskatchewan Museum Adam Crosby Figure 1. The entrance to the Saskatchewan portion of Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park.

This year, the Biological Survey of Canada partnered with the Canadian Wildlife Federa- tion and the Royal Saskatchewan Museum for one of the BioBlitz Canada 150 (http:// www.bioblitzcanada.ca/) events to mark Canada’s 150th anniversary. These “BioBlitzes” were one of 38 Pan-Canadian Signature projects (i.e., large-scale, high impact, public participation-oriented activities conducted at the national level) that were organized by the federal government and other partnering organizations. The main objectives of BioBlitz Canada 150 projects were to connect Canadians with nature and familiarize them with the country’s biodiversity at various scales, objectives overlapping with those of the Biological Survey of Canada (https://biologicalsurvey.ca/). The Biological Survey of Canada has a history of conducting yearly bioblitzes in a different part of the country (https://biologicalsurvey.ca/pages/read/bio-blitzes), and this year our bioblitz was held in Saskatchewan in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park (Figure 1) from July 27th-31st, thus encompassing the BioBlitz Canada 150 event held from 28-29th. Our event was attended by biologists from the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, the Entomological Society of Sas- katchewan, the universities of Alberta, Regina, and Sas- katchewan, the Canadian Mu- seum of Nature, and several other natural history and science groups from within the province, and was kicked off by a wonderful meal provided by Dr. Dave Larson, a retired entomologist living in nearby Adam Crosby Maple Creek (Figure 2). Figure 2. A pre-bioblitz dinner, compliments of Dr. Dave Larson of Maple Creek, Saskatchewan (blue t-shirt).

Volume 36(2) Winter 2017 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 13

Unlike past bioblitzes hosted by the Biological Survey of Canada, the Cypress Hills event had strong support though the iNaturalist (http://inaturalist.ca/) community, with a project created specifically for the event https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/bioblitz( - ing-the-cypress-hills-bioblitz-a-cypress-hills). Thus, other naturalists, taxonomists, and the public were able to participate virtually. However, like other Biological Survey of Canada bioblitzes, this was a “science-intense” event, with a small core of about 20 scientists, with several entomologists attended the event, with special focus on documenting the mites, Coleoptera (Figure 3), and aculeate Hymenoptera (Figure 4), though with a wide range of other invertebrates were observed and recorded (Figure 5). A broad range of other taxa were also observed, including large (Figure 6) and small vertebrates (Figure 7), and vascular plants and bryophytes (Figure 8). Cory Sheffield Cory Sheffield Figure 3. A pair of Poplar-and-Willow Figure 4. A female mason bee, Osmia Borers, Cryptorhynchus lapathi (Lin- sp. (Megachilidae). naeus). Cory Sheffield Figure 5. A pair of leeches (Hirudinea).

Volume 36(2) Winter 2017 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 14 Danae Frier Figure 7. A Montane Shrew, Sorex montico- lus Merriam, with partial albinism. Cory Sheffield Figure 6. A White-tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmer- mann).

Figure 8. Wild Bergamot, Monadra fistulosaLinnaeus, a great bee and butterfly plant common in the Cypress Hills.

As of December 31, 2017, almost 35 thousand observations were added to iNaturalist by over 1,100 observers across the country as part of BioBlitz Canada 150 events (https://www.inatu-

ralist.org/projects/bioblitz-canada-150), these Cory Sheffield representing over 5,700 taxa. Our contributions in the Cypress Hills are rather modest, with 398 taxa recorded through 697 observations, but this is still rather remarkable for such a short period of time. Bioblitzes will continue to be an activity of the Biological Survey of Canada, and data generated though these events will allow continued documentation of the countries flora and fauna. I am excited about future events in which iNaturalist can be incorporated into our events as it provides a digital record of observations, and also allows participation from a far.

Table 1. Major taxa observed and collected for the BioBlitz Canada 150 event in Cypress Hills Provincial Park.

Observations Species

Insects 267 140 Plants 218 130 Birds 56 46 Arachnids 89 44 Mammals 13 10 Fungi and Lichens 17 10 Ray-finned Fish 1 1 Molluscs 9 5 Amphibians 3 1

Volume 36(2) Winter 2017 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 15

BSC Symposium 2017 Canada 150: Canada’s Insect Diversity in Expected and Unexpected Places Cory Sheffield

Biological Survey of Canada Annual Symposium at the Joint Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of Canada and the Entomological Society of Manitoba, 25 October, 2017

2017 marked both the 40th anniversary of the BSC and the 150th anniversary Canadian Confederation. A major project of the Canada 150 celebrations was a massive citizen science initiative called “Bioblitz Canada 150” which worked to bring scientists and the Canadian public together to generate data and document species patterns across the country. The BSC was pleased to participate in this initiative, spearheading one of the events for the Bioblitz 150 project (see p. 12), and organizing this symposium. Participants in the symposium, along with their paper titles and abstracts, are listed below.

Sam Droege (Keynote Speaker: United States Geological Survey) Successful Citizen Sciencing: What Works and What Doesn’t Budgets have their limits. Most of us make do, but there are times, particularly when looking for inventory and monitoring data for insects, that enlisting the aid of the unpaid is the only way we can see our way to collecting sufficient information. Volunteers are interested and available for helping, but their service is based on different criteria than those folks who get paychecks. We look at diverse examples of successful projects from online data entry of bumble bee labels, counting crickets, BioBlitzs, setting traps for bees, and several vertebrate programs distilling and refining the aspects that make them successful and contrast that with the projects that never quite got off the ground. Hint: Much of the causal agents of success are more about your touchy feely qualities than your statistical ones.

Jason Gibbs (University of Manitoba; [email protected]) Resolving taxonomic impediments in a nightmare bee genus, Lasioglossum (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) Documenting the sweat bees of the genus Lasioglossum (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) in Canada: current progress and outstanding problems Lasioglossum (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) is the most species-rich genus of bee globally. Lasioglossum also displays more diversity in social behaviours than any comparable taxon, making it an ideal candidate for studies of social evolution. Unfortunately, Lasioglossum are among the most challenging bees to identify to species. It is represented in Canada by more than 100 species, which typically comprise the bulk of native bee collections in biodiversity surveys. Despite recent taxonomic revisions, Lasioglossum remains one of the primary taxonomic impediments to studies of Canadian bees. I discuss the progress that has been made to date to resolve the taxonomy of the genus, recent additions to the Canadian fauna, challenges associated with DNA barcoding Lasioglossum bees, and outstanding problems that require additional study.

Volume 36(2) Winter 2017 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 16

Terry Galloway (Department of Entomology, University of Manitoba; terry_galloway@ umanitoba.ca) A survey for lice (Phthiraptera) infesting birds and mammals in Manitoba, Canada In a Biological Survey of Canada Green Paper, Galloway and Danks (1991) identified two major gaps in the ectoparasite fauna in Canada. Large proportions of the chewing lice and feather mites expected to occur were unrecorded. Recommendations were advanced for entomologists to undertake co-operative efforts with ornithologists and mammalogists to address these gaps. In 1994, the Manitoba Wildlife Rehabilitation Organization opened their new wildlife hospital at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences Glenlea Research Farm south of the University of Manitoba. The director at the time, Brian Ratcliff, was open to collaboration with the author to provide casualties from the hospital for examination and collection of their ectoparasites. Since then, quantitative data on ectoparasites (~1,000,000 specimens) have been collected from >12,000 animals of 287 species (242 species of birds; 45 species of mammals), from at least 323 locations in the province. There were few published records for lice in Manitoba prior to this survey: chewing lice 31 species infesting birds, 1 species infesting mammals; sucking lice 3 species. The current estimates for taxa of lice collected in the survey are Laemobothriidae 4, Menoponidae 83; Ricinidae 13; Philopteridae 150; Trichodectidae 15; Enderleinellidae 4; Polyplacidae 3; Haematopinidae 1; Hoplopleuridae 6; Linognathidae 6; Pediculidae 1; Pthiridae 1, for a total of 286 species and subspecies, with perhaps more than 70 undescribed species. The positive and negative aspects of acquiring salvaged wildlife for the study of ectoparasites will be discussed.

Jennifer Heron1, Cory Sheffield2 (1Conservation Science Section, Ministry of Environment of BC; 2Royal Saskatchewan Museum; [email protected]) Southern British Columbia – summary of the conservation status and diversity of bees, with new records. British Columbia, especially the southern areas, is Canada’s hot spot for bee diversity, with estimates ranging from 450 species in the province, to upwards of 600 species - almost 75% of that known for Canada. Our recent efforts to document the bee fauna of the province has resulted in a species list documenting the patterns of diversity based within ecozones, with several new important records. These efforts have also allowed us to complete the first conservation assessment of British Columbia’s bees. These topics will be discussed. We also make note of some recent records, and discuss other interesting species.

Joe Shorthouse (Department of Biology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 2C6) Cynipid galls of the wild roses of Waterton Lakes National Park

Waterton Lakes National Park located in southwestern Alberta, is a biodiversity hot spot for arthropods. Eleven species of cynipids and their galls are found on the three species of wild roses in the park and although Waterton is the smallest of the Rocky Mountain Parks, it has a larger concentration of species of cynipids than anywhere else in Canada. The history and significance of this assemblage and its role in the distribution of cynipids elsewhere in Canada will be discussed.

Volume 36(2) Winter 2017 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 17

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Biological Survey of Canada: A special issue of the Canadian Entomologist

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the BSC, papers were solicited for a special issue of the Canadian Entomologist to come out in 2017. The issue was guest-edited by Donna Giberson and Hector Cárcamo. The titles and abstracts for the papers are given below, or the entire set of papers can be accessed at: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/ canadian-entomologist/bsc-40th-anniversary-celebration

Giberson, D.J. and Cárcamo, H.A., 2017. The Biological Survey of Canada turns 40: a special issue for a special occasion. The Canadian Entomologist, 149(6): 691-692. [https://doi.org/10.4039/tce.2017.53]

Danks, H.V., 2017. Benefits and principles of the Biological Survey of Canada: a model for scientific cooperation. The Canadian Entomologist, 149(6): 693-701. [https://doi. org/10.4039/tce.2017.24] Abstract: For 40 years, the Biological Survey of Canada (BSC) has encouraged and organised studies of the arthropod fauna of Canada, through the wide involvement of the scientific community and the leadership of an expert steering committee. The benefits of the BSC to science include the completion of major cooperative projects to acquire and synthesise knowledge (documenting faunas in the Yukon, Canadian grasslands, and other significant regions and habitats), the assembly and organisation of information and specimens, and improved communication among entomologists. Its efforts have led to valuable monographs, scientific briefs, newsletters, and other products summarised here, including documents that are also useful to those outside entomology. Key operating principles of the BSC are identified. In particular, decisions come from broadly based scientific considerations, an approach to understanding the fauna that guarantees the scientific relevance of the work and is not offset by political or other influences. Core work is planned over the long term to ensure collaboration, focus, efficiency, integrity, quality, productivity, and delivery. The achievements of the BSC over many years confirm the effectiveness of this model for scientific cooperation.

Floate, K.D., Shorthouse, J.D., Giberson, D.J. and Cárcamo, H.A., 2017. Arthro- pods of Canadian grasslands: a retrospective of a 40-year project of the Biologi- cal Survey of Canada. The Canadian Entomologist, 149(6): 702-717. [https://doi.org/10.4039/ tce.2017.46] Abstract: The Biological Survey of Canada initiated a project in 1979 to collect and synthesise information on the native arthropod fauna of the vanishing grassland habitats of Canada. At that time, it was thought that the Canadian arthropod fauna might comprise about 66 000 species. Recent studies suggest that the fauna may exceed 100 000 species, of which >25% may occur in the Prairies Ecozone. Results of this near 40-year project have been published in four volumes of the Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands monograph series of the Biological Survey of Canada. Here, the editors of this series review the grasslands project of the Biological Survey of Canada, summarise the contents of the volumes, and discuss current knowledge on the diversity of the grasslands arthropods of Canada. Whereas information on the species richness of some groups in the Prairies Ecozone is largely complete, information on the diversity of many other groups remains sparse. Reviewing the steps between initiation and publication of the Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands series may aid development of similar projects elsewhere. Identifying knowledge gaps will direct future research efforts. Identifying the diversity of grassland arthropods, their distribution and abundance, and the ecosystem services that they provide will facilitate efforts to conserve the remaining grassland habitats in Canada.

Vankosky, M.A., Cárcamo, H.A., Catton, H.A., Costamagna, A.C. and De Clerck- Floate, R., 2017. Impacts of the agricultural transformation of the Canadian Prairies on grassland arthropods. The Canadian Entomologist, 149(6), pp.718-735. [https:// doi.org/10.4039/tce.2017.47] Abstract: The prairie grasslands have been transformed to become the primary source of agricultural production in Canada. Soon after its establishment, the Biological Survey of Canada recognised the urgent need to document the arthropods of the prairie grasslands, especially in the few pristine rem- nants. Although this initiative has yielded considerable progress in documenting the species present in the Prairies Ecozone, comprehensive ecological studies are sparse. Landscape effects on arthropods are well studied elsewhere, but no equivalent studies have been published for the Canadian Prairies. Crop rotation varies landscape composition annually, changes host plant resources in fields, and inter-

Volume 36(2) Winter 2017 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 18

acts with other agricultural inputs to disturb pest and beneficial arthropods. Despite only a handful of studies on grazing, there is an emerging pattern: moderate grazing increases arthropod diversity and benefits certain arthropod guilds. Abiotic inputs elicit variable responses from different arthropod taxa; Carabidae (Coleoptera) are best studied, with some information available for ants (Hymenop- tera: Formicidae) and aquatic arthropods. Biotic inputs include arthropods released for biocontrol of weed and insect pests; evidence indicates that biocontrol agents of insects have a greater potential for impact on native communities of arthropods. The studies reviewed here reveal important trends and research gaps to be addressed in the future

Sheffield, C.S., Heron, J., Gibbs, J., Onuferko, T.M., Oram, R., Best, L., Dumesh, S., Pindar, A. and Rowe, G., 2017. Contribution of DNA barcoding to the study of the bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) of Canada: progress to date. The Canadian Ento- mologist, 149(6), pp.736-754. [https://doi.org/10.4039/tce.2017.49] Abstract: Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea, Apiformes) are taxonomically and ecologically diverse, with a wide range of social complexity, nesting preferences, floral associations, and biogeographic restric- tions. A Canadian bee checklist, greatly assisted by the gene-assisted approach of DNA barcoding, is nearing completion. Previous evaluation of bee diversity in Canada, assisted by DNA barcoding, was restricted to Nova Scotia, which contains about 25% of the bee species in the country. Here, we summarise efforts to date to build a comprehensive DNA barcode library supporting bee taxonomic studies in Canada, consisting of more than 12 500 barcode-compliant sequences yielding 811 distinct barcode index numbers (BINs). This appears to represent ~95% of the 856 bee species presently recorded from Canada, but comparison with known morphological species in each genus shows that some genera are still under-sampled or may contain cryptic taxa, with much taxonomic work still to be done on bees in Canada. This is particularly true within the taxonomically difficult genera Andrena Fabricius (Andrenidae), Hylaeus Fabricius (Colletidae), Melissodes Latreille (Apidae), Nomada Scopoli (Apidae), Osmia Panzer (Megachilidae), and Sphecodes Latreille (Halictidae). DNA analysis will likely be a key asset in resolving bee taxonomic issues in Canada in the future, and to date has even assisted studies of well-known bee taxa. Here we present summaries of our results, and discuss the use of DNA barcoding to assist future taxonomic work, faunal lists, and ecological studies.

Giberson, D.J. and Burian, S.K., 2017. How valid are old species lists? How archived samples can be used to update Ephemeroptera biodiversity information for northern Canada. The Canadian Entomologist, 149(6), pp.755-773. [https://doi. org/10.4039/tce.2017.27] Abstract: Broad-scale aquatic insect ecological studies are an important potential source of biodiversity information, though taxa lists may contain outdated names or be incompletely or incorrectly identified. We re-examined over 12 000 archived Ephemeroptera (mayfly) specimens from a large environmental assessment project (Mackenzie Valley pipeline study) in Yukon and the Northwest Territories, Canada (1971–1973) and compared the results to data from five recent (post-2000) collecting expeditions. Our goals were to update the species list for Ephemeroptera for Yukon and the Northwest Territories, and to evaluate the benefits of retaining and re-examining ecological samples to improve regional biodiversity information, particularly in isolated or inaccessible areas. The original pipeline study specimen labels reported 17 species in 25 genera for the combined Yukon and Northwest Territories samples, of which six species and 15 genera are still valid. Re-examination of specimens resulted in 45 species in 29 genera, with 14 and seven newly recorded species for Northwest Territories and Yukon, respectively. The recent collecting resulted in 50 species, 29 of which were different from the pipeline study, and five of which were new territorial records (North- west Territories: four species; Yukon: one species). Re-examination of archived ecological specimens provides a cost-effective way to update regional biodiversity information.

Acorn, J.H., 2017. Entomological citizen science in Canada. The Canadian Entomolo- gist, 149(6), pp.774-785. [https://doi.org/10.4039/tce.2017.48] Abstract: Citizen science involves voluntary participation in the scientific process, typically by gather- ing data in order to monitor some aspect of the natural world. Entomological citizen science, as an extension of traditional amateur entomology, is an active field in Canada, with online databases such as eButterfly and BugGuide attracting both contributors and database users. As well, traditional amateur entomology continues to be important in Canada, as do short-term insect-themed edu- cational events, the involvement of amateurs in entomological societies, and online crowdsourcing initiatives. Success of citizen science projects can be measured in many ways. In terms of published papers that analyse trends in citizen science data, Canadian projects have only begun to deliver. More valuable are particular records that improve our knowledge of geographic ranges and phenol- ogy. In terms of the endurance of particular projects, and the willingness of volunteers to participate, citizen science entomology in Canada is clearly a success. However, quality control of citizen science data remains an issue for some projects. As well, challenges remain with respect to balancing the goals of researchers, participants, and supporting institutions.

Volume 36(2) Winter 2017 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 19

New Book Notice The Dynastine Scarab Beetles of the United States of America and Canada (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae)

Brett C. Ratcliffe Ronald D. Cave Systematics Research and Indian River Research Collections & Education Center University of Nebraska University of Florida

The 61 species and two subspecies of dynastine scarab beetles that occur in the United States of America (including Guam) and Canada are comprehensively reviewed. This is the fifth volume in the series that documents the scarab beetle subfamily Dynastinae from Panama to Canada. Detailed discussions of historical collecting, people, climate, vegetation, and habitats (with images) are presented. Keys to all tribes, genera, and species in the study area are given. Descriptions, recorded geographic localities and temporal distributions, diagnoses, notes on natural history, illustrations, and distribution maps are provided for all species. Also included are synopses of the higher-level taxa of the subfamily in the region, a glossary, and a species checklist.

Bulletin of the University of Nebraska State Museum 30: 1-296. Hardbound, all color. AVAILABLE spring 2018. $40 plus postage.

Brett C. Ratcliffe Curator & Professor of Entomology Systematics Research Collections W436 Nebraska Hall University of Nebraska Lincoln, NE 68588-0514 U.S.A.

TEL: (402) 472-2614 FAX: (402) 472-8949 EMAIL: [email protected]

Visit SCARAB CENTRAL and the Division of Entomology at http://museum.unl.edu/research/entomology/index.htm

Volume 36(2) Winter 2017 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 20

2017 papers in the Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification:

Onuferko, T.M. 2017. Cleptoparasitic Bees of the Genus Epeolus Latreille (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Canada. Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification, 30: 62pp. doi:10.3752/cjai.2017.30 (http://cjai.biologicalsurvey.ca/o_30/o_30.html)

Miller, M.E., S.A. Marshall, and D.A. Grimaldi. 2017. A Review of the Species of Drosophila (Diptera: Drosophilidae) and Genera of Drosophilidae of Northeastern North America. Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification, 31: 280pp. doi: 10.3752/cjai.2017.31 (http://biologicalsurvey.ca/ejournal/mmg_31/mmg_31.html)

Ashbee, H.V., S.A. Marshall, and Y. Alarie. 2017. Haliplidae of Eastern Canada. Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification 32: 80pp. doi: 10.3752/cjai.2017.32 (http://biologicalsurvey.ca/ejournal/ama_32/ama_32.html)

Burian, K. 2017. The Taxonomy of the North American Species of Parameletus Bengtsson, 1908 (Ephemeroptera: Siphlonuridae), with Keys to Nymphs and Male Imagos. Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification 33: 76pp. doi:10.3752/ cjai.2017.33 (http://biologicalsurvey.ca/ejournal/b_33/b_33.html)

Reminder of BSC Publications The BSC has produced a number of monographs and briefs on various topics relating to biodiversity. Briefs and some monographs are available as downloadable pdf documents from our website: http://biologicalsurvey.ca/home

Volume 36(2) Winter 2017 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 21

FYI and FAQ about the BSC This section is intended to answer questions about the operations and membership of the BSC. prepared by: Dave Langor, Northern Forestry Centre, Natural Resources Canada, Edmonton, AB

1. What is the BSC? The BSC is grass roots network of biologists that has been in existence for 40 years. The BSC is a non-profit, charitable organization that is dedicated to discovering, synthesizing, and sharing knowledge about Canada’s biological diversity. The objectives of the BSC are to: 1) identify and address gaps in knowledge of Canada’s biological diversity; 2) promote the importance of fundamental taxonomic research on Canadian species, and provide access to expertise on Canadian biodiversity; and 3) promote awareness of the values and vulnerabilities of Canada’s biological diversity by inspiring, educating, and engaging Canadians.

2. Who can join the BSC and what is the process? The BSC is open to anyone who has an interest in Canadian biodiversity and wishes to contribute to the BSC mandate and objectives. This includes Cana- dians and non-Canadians and professional and amateur biologists. There currently is no membership fee for joining the BSC. Prospective members need only write to the Secretary of the BSC [biologicalsurvey@ gmail.com, or see last page of the newsletter] and express interest in joining. It would also be helpful if you could explain how you wish to contribute to the BSC activities so that you can be linked quickly to members involved in those particular activities. It is expected that BSC members will become involved in ongoing or new BSC projects or other activities (e.g., communication, syntheses, research)

3. Is the BSC strictly for entomologists? While it is true that entomology and arachnology have been the main focus of the BSC over its 40 year history, it has always been (and continues to be) the desire of the BSC to be more inclusive in terms of taxa covered. The BSC will be continuing to expand its coverage of the biota of Canada, so those interested in taxonomy and diversity of snails, slugs, nematodes, milli- pedes, centipedes, protists, plants, lichens and other groups are becoming involved in the BSC and helping to diversify our suite of activities.

4. Why should I join the BSC? No other organization in Canada has the mandate or the track record for surveying and documenting the biological diversity of Canada. While such work certainly can be (and has been) done through individual effort, partnering with others of like interest through the BSC network provides opportunity for increased scope of work and an opportunity to pool resources and pursue new resources through collaboration. The ongoing projects and activities of the BSC all originated as a result of discussions and planning catalyzed by the BSC. Thus, if you have interest in surveying Canada’s biodiversity and analyzing and disseminating such information, the BSC can help by providing: expertise and advice born of >40 years of experience in such work; connections to other individuals and organizations that can assist; support to publish/disseminate results; and increased profile to the work through our communication tools (web-site, social media, Newsletter, etc.).

5. Does the BSC have meetings? The Board of the BSC meets monthly (except during summer) by conference call and has frequent email communication. Thus the Board can deal quickly with new issues as they arise. Each year the BSC holds its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in spring (electronically or via conference call), providing an opportunity for members to connect and discuss important issues. Mem- bers also have a chance to meet in person during the annual BSC symposium, held on a topic relevant to its activities and mandate. This is usually held at the Joint Annual Meeting of the Canadian Entomological Society and one of the regional entomological societies. This also provides an opportunity for members and non-members to interact.

6. What is the process for nominating and electing Directors and Officers? The By-laws of the BSC allow for up to 9 Directors. The current Officer positions are President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. Directors and Officers are generally members of the BSC and are elected by the Directors at the first business meeting following the AGM at which they are elected. Directors and Officers serve for a term of two years, and are eligible for re-election. BSC members have an opportunity to nominate and vote on Directors at every second AGM (the next elections will be at the 2017 AGM).

7. How do I fit into the BSC?If you have interest in surveying and documenting the biota of Canada and disseminating such information to all Canadians, then the BSC is the place for you. The BSC has a few ongoing projects and activities (see our web-site for descriptions) where you may immediately find a niche. However, the BSC is open to adding new projects and activities as needs and suggestions arise. So if you have an idea for something new that fits within the BSC mandate, please come forward with your proposal so that we can have an open discussion among all BSC members.

8. Is there funding available for work? The current fiscal resources of the BSC are limited and are largely reserved to support publication of BSC products. However, the BSC does help seek funding from outside agencies to support BSC Projects. Recent examples of outside funding successes are the Northern Biodiversity Program and the Terrestrial Arthropods of Newfoundland and Labrador Project. Direct and indi- rect support have also been obtained to support recent Bio-blitzes and the Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification. The Board of the BSC continually explores opportunities to increase funding support to the BSC.

If you have more questions about the BSC, please send your enquiry to the BSC Secretary (bio- [email protected]) Volume 36(2) Winter 2017 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 22

Notices

Recent Books available from the Biological Survey of Canada. These are available for download on the BSC website, and most are also available as softcover bound versions. See http://biologicalsurvey.ca/monographs for information:

Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands series Volume 1: Ecology and Interactions in Grassland Habitats. Volume 2: Inhabitants of a Changing Landscape Volume 3: Biodiversity and Systematics, Part 1 Volume 4: Biodiversity and Systematics, Part 2

A Handbook to the Ticks of Canada (Ixodida: Ixodidae, Ar- gasidae)

The Biological Survey of Canada: A personal history

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Entomological Monographs

The Entomological Society of Canada has published a number of entomological monographs (including some of the popular Insects and Arachnids of Canada Series) on their website. To access these, go to: http://www.esc-sec.ca/aafcmono.php

If you prefer the monographs in bound format, these can still be obtained on a print-on- demand process though an agreement with Volumes Direct (http://www.volumesdirect. com/). Visit their website, and search for title or author.

Call for Proposals for a 2018 Biological Survey of Canada BioBlitz

A Bioblitz is a great way to start or implement a faunal inventory of a region, as can be seen by reading the report of the 2017 bioBlitz in this issue. The 2017 bioblitz was held in the Cypress Hills of Saskatchewan in conjunction with the Bioblitz Canada 150 pro- gramme. If you are interested in organizing a BioBlitz for the next summer, please contact the Bio- logical Survey of Canada: [email protected]

Volume 36(2) Winter 2017 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 23

Add Your Voice: Biological Survey of Canada on Social media

Join the biodiversity discussion on the BSC facebook site, and other ways to engage in discussing topics in Canadian biodiversity.

visit our facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/biolsurvey1can/?fref=nf#

Who we are: The Biological Survey of Canada is a Not-for-Profit Corporation dedicated to promoting biodiversity science in Canada - The BSC consists of an elected board of directors and hip representing all areas of biodiversity science, though with a focus on Arthropods. - We produce a newsletter twice per year, organize events such as the annual BSC Symposium at the Entomological Society of Canada (ESC) meeting, a “Curation Blitz” at some ESC meetings, and assist in organizing BioBlitzes when possible. Anyone can receive the newsletter, by sending a request to the Sec- retary (address below). - Membership is free, and includes this newsletter and the right to vote at the Annual General Meeting. All members are encouraged to become actively involved in BSC projects, propose new projects, or to run for the positions on the Board of Directors. (A nominal membership fee may be charged in future to cover infrastructure costs). - The Annual General Meeting is held each fall at the annual meeting of the Ento- mological Society of Canada.

To Join the BSC: Send an email to Joel Gibson, Secretary, BSC. [email protected]

- In the subject line, write “BSC Membership” - in the body of the message, give your full name and contact information, and a valid email address. Remember to update the BSC if you change email addresses. Please also provide some information on your background and biodiversity interests.

Volume 36(2) Winter 2017 Return to front page