SCARABS Rich Cunningham William B. Warner Barney Streit 3889 Walnut Avenue 2338 W. Rockwell Court 1 Canton Road #4 Chino, CA 91710 Chandler, AZ 85224 N. Quincy, MA 02171 Occasional Issue Number 12 Kung ang amoy ay mabaho, sila ay darating July, 1995 site in early afternoon, and the A Simple Device for Extracting Pseudocotalpa would not emerge for Scarabaeidae and Other Coleoptera several hours, I began sifting the sand at WITHIN THIS from Sand various locations and ecotones. The most productive of these was below Petalonyx ISSUE.... by Delbert LaRue thurberi (Sandpaper Plant) which was abundant. After about two hours of sift- Many rare and highly sought after Scara- ing, with several breaks in between, I had baeidae can only be collected from cryp- accumulated a nice series of Aegialia, tic habitats amid sand dunes or similiar Diplotaxis, Pseudocotalpa, and a myriad sand deposits by carefully working of “tenebes.” I spent the rest of the after- High Plains Sifter through samples of the substrate (for noon relaxing in the shade, catching up example Aegialia, Psammodius, and on recent literature. After all, I had the some species of Aphodius, to name a peace of mind knowing that if the Museum of Comparative Zoology few). Pseudocotalpa did not emerge (or if I “cunninghamed” and was at the wrong A classic method is to take a shovel of sand dunes), a little effort with my sifter Entomology Supplies sand, drop it into a bucket of water, and had provided a nice series of specimens. let the prevalent quarry float to the top. This is a good technique if you are col- WHAT YOU’LL NEED Notes on Southwestern Scarabaeidae lecting in riparian habitats where water is #1 readily accessable. But what if you are TOOLS: on the backside of a major dune mass in search of a new species of psammophil- Skill saw, hand saw, or table saw (either). Take the Beetles ous scarab? Water is not available, and who wants to lug a bucket of splashing Power drill with phillips screwdriver water, at eight pounds per gallon, over attachment (Yes, a hammer and nails will The Optima 800 Battery dunes? A convenient, lightweight device work, but wood screws are recom- that would enable you to sift through mended), and a sand effectively would be advantageous. Buffalo Dung—Not Taste Good? Hammer. I present below the construction of a sim- ple, yet useful tool to dry sift sand. (I MATERIALS: “Scarab” Redefined know, you’re probably saying to your- self: “Oh no, not another La Rue con- 8-foot length, pine 1 x 2 inch (“furring struction article.” This one is cheap, and strip” will work). Dung Sniffing easy. Trust me.) It consists of two sheets of different density common wire 84-inch length (seven feet), 1/2 x 3/4- screening attached to a rectangular inch pine (recommended, but optional). Phanaeus Revision wooden frame (Fig. 1). 1 piece 18 x 24-inch, 1/2-inch hardware I gave the “acid test” to this device a few cloth. More Efficient Inquiline Trapping years back at Big Dune, Nye County, Nevada. This is the type locality for 1 piece 18 x 24-inch, common aluminum Pseudocotalpa giulianii Hardy which window screening (Do not use the space- Chitin Killer’s Calendar was my main object of endeavor. I was age plastic screening). also aware that other significant Scara- baeidae existed within the sand as well, “Handful” of #14 or #16, 1-1/2 inch phil- In the Next Issue... for example Aegialia magnifica Gordon lips head wood screws (or drywall screw & Cartwright. Since I had arrived at the equivalent). Figure 1. Eyebolt and Washer 1” X 2” Wooden Frame Screen Layer Washer and Nut Figure 2. Page 2 “Handful” of 1-inch galvanized roofing the damp sand-dry sand interface. Arche- 2464. You may be asked if you are nails. ologists, paleontologists, etc., take this engaged in a research project, or for ref- method one step further. They suspend erences. Remember, use common sense. Wood glue. the sifting device from the center of a tri- If you say you know one of the editors, pod. The sifter described above could be you will no doubt be blacklisted for life! Medium-grit sandpaper. modified for this method by simply drill- Specimens of unusual aquatic ing holes and sinking eyebolts in each Coleoptera, Dr. Perkins’ specialty, would CONSTRUCTION. corner (Fig. 2). Using chain or rope, you surely be appreciated should you have could suspend the tool from a tripod or any. From the 1 x 2, cut two pieces 16 1/2- tree limb. inches long, and two pieces 24-inches If you are visiting and staying in the Bos- long; discard the scrap. Using wood Editor’s Note: A motorized sifter could ton area, by all means take the Red Line screws and plenty of glue, assemble a be easily constructed as follows: Sus- of the “T,” the local subway system. Get rectangular frame with the dimensions of pend the sifter as above, but attach an off at the Harvard (Square) stop and ask, 18 x 24 inches. (Remember, the “nomi- electric motor to the frame, which could “Where are the glass flowers.” Locals nal” size of the pine is one inch, but be run from a portable generator. will be able to easily direct you to the actual measurement is 3/4-inch). Attached to the shaft of the motor would Museum. Parking is by meter, with a be a heavy flywheel which is oblong in measely two-hour capacity per meter, Next, place the 18 x 24-inch piece of shape, or a circular flywheel with its axis and traffic can be difficult in the summer. window screening to the proper align- hole drilled off center. The building is actually on Oxford street, ment on the wooden frame; then the a ten minute walk from famous Harvard piece of 1/2-inch hardware cloth of the Square and the Harvard T-stop. When same dimensions on top of that. Make you arrive, enter the staff entrance to the sure both are centered around the perim- Museum of Comparative Zoology left of the public entrance. The public eter of the frame and attach with roofing entrance leads to a very nice museum nails every three or four inches. Any serious worker in Coleoptera is devoted to many phases of natural his- already famaliar with the Museum of tory, including an incredible collection of OPTIONAL: A wooden strip of about 1/ Comparative Zoology, located on the botanical specimens made from glass. 2 x 3/4-inches nailed on top of the beautiful campus of Harvard University. Admittance is $4 for adults. Once inside screen/hardware cloth around the perim- It is here that the Melsheimer, Henz, Fall, the staff entrance, go up the stairs to the eter of the frame will provide additional LeConte and Horn collections are fourth floor, check in with the staff, then support. Wood of these dimensions can housed. Probably a third or more of the go to room 407. be found in the moulding section of the type specimens of US scarabs can be lumber yard or home center; or you found in this one room. The Scarabaeidae are housed within 14 could use a 1 x 3, instead of the 1 x 2, and 25-Cornell drawer cabinets and two 12- rip a 1/2-inch or so from one side on a What is left of the Thomas Say collection drawer cabinets. The scarab portion of table saw. Remember to use lighter is also here. Most of the Say collection the Fall collection is to be found here, gauge nails, or drill pilot holes, so the was apparently destroyed in the early within the general collection. Special narrow, thin wood will not split. 1800’s, but types of the following scarab note to James Saulnier: there are 15 species (most full of dermestid skins) drawers of Aphodius! Nearby is the 44- The window screening is the primary survived: Canthon humectus, Onthopha- drawer “Beetlemania” collection which sifting layer with the heavier hardware gus incensus, Canthon viridicatus, is loaned out to various groups and insti- cloth merely a support. I chose 1/2-inch Copris incertus, Copris procidua (=fri- tutions for public viewing. It is an anno- hardware cloth so sand would readily cator), Anomala cincta, Anomala tated display of unusual and exotic pass through the sifter. gemella, Trox tuberculata, Trox capil- beetles of many families. laris and Trox scutellaris. Using medium-grit sandpaper, sand any Around the perimeter of the room are the rough splintered edges and that’s it. Because of the importance of these col- LeConte and Horn collections, housed in Really. lections, coupled with the fact that many 25 25-drawer cabinets. The scarabs alone type specimens are housed in the same take up 40 drawers, the Cerambycidae FIELD USE. drawers as the rest of the specimens, run 44 drawers. A key is supplied to makes the Museum very careful (ner- deceipher the colored-paper pieces The sifter is simple to use: lay the frame, vous) about whom they admit. found on the LeConte specimens. They nailed-side down, next to where you plan indicate geographic localities. The Say to excavate; with a hand trowel or spade It is imperative that you call or write and Melsheimer and Ziegler collections shovel, throw a fair amount of sand in the before you show up. Contact Dr. Phil are placed at the end of the LeConte and center (enough to where you will be Perkins, Department of Entomology, Horn collections.