VES NEWS The Newsletter of the Vermont Entomological Society

Number 101 Fall 2018

www.VermontInsects.org VES NEWS Number 101  Fall 2018 The Newsletter of the CONTENTS Vermont Entomological Society Member News Page 3 VES Officers Michael Sabourin President Buckner Preserve Page 3 Warren Kiel Vice President By L. DiCesare, M. Sabourin and D. Kiel Deb Kiel Treasurer Laurie DiCesare Compiler/Co-Editor Birds of VT Museum Page 4 Janine Gydus Publisher/Co-Editor By L. DiCesare, M. Sabourin and J. Lincoln Bryan Pfeiffer Webmaster

Hogback Mountain Page 5 Emeritus Members By Michael Sabourin Joyce Bell Ross Bell John Grehan Identifying Clover & Forage Looper Page 6 Gordon Nielsen By JoAnne Russo Michael Sabourin Mark Waskow Book Review: Beetles of E. North America Page 8 By Laurie DiCesare

The Vermont Entomological Society (VES) is devoted to the study, conservation, and Odds and Ends Page 9 appreciation of invertebrates. Founded in 1993, VES sponsors selected research, workshops Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge Page 10 and field trips for the public, including children. Our quarterly newsletter features developments By Laurie DiCesare in , accounts of events and field trips, as well as general contributions from members or other entomologists.

VES is open to anyone interested in . Our members range from casual Newsletter Schedule insect watchers to amateur and professional entomologists. We welcome members of all ages, abilities and interests. Spring: Deadline April 7 - Publication May 1 Summer: Deadline July 7 - Publication August 1 You can join VES by sending dues of $15 per year to: Fall: Deadline October 7 - Publication November 1 Winter: Deadline January 7 - Publication February 1 Deb Kiel 147 Allen Irish Road Membership Check Your Mailing Label Cover Photographs: The upper right corner of your mailing label will inform you (Front) Monarch (Danaus plexippus), Photo: Chance McNiff of the month and year your VES membership expires. Dues (Back) Two-spotted Tree Cricket (Neoxabea are $15 and can be sent to our Treasurer: bipunctata), Photo: Laurie DiCesare Vermont Entomological Society c/o Deb Kiel 147 Allen Irish Road Underhill, VT 05489 For more information on the

Vermont Entomological Society, visit www.VermontInsects.org

Page 2 VES News - Fall 2018 Member News

Many thanks to Bryan Pfeiffer for designing our new website with the same address: VermontInsects.org. It’s easy to navigate and contains amazing macro photographs. Copies of this year’s VES Newsletters are available with, as Bryan puts it “entomological news from Vermont, events, profiles and more from the world of the ‘spineless.’”

Field Notes

BUCKNER PRESERVE - JUNE 24, 2018

By Laurie DiCesare, Deb Kiel and Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes), an Michael Sabourin American Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), a European (Thymelicus lineola) and the ubiquitous As usual, our yearly field trip to Buckner (Ctenucha virginica) with its Preserve in West Haven, VT yielded many distinctive orange head and a blue-green thorax. interesting sightings. This year Deb Kiel was accompanied by her eight-year-old granddaugh- Other interesting discoveries included a 15- ter, Cecilia Robinson. Within the first few min- Spotted Lady Beetle utes of entering Tim’s Trail, after only a mo- (Anatis labiculata) with ment of hesitation, Cecilia was holding her first silvery elytra; some dragonfly, a female Eastern Pondhawk empty turtle egg shells; (Erythemis simplicicollis.) and the purple-flowered Indigo Bush (Amorpha We found many fruticosa), a member of Lepidopteran the Pea , along ( and the river’s edge. Moths) larvae Michael Sabourin including a Giant pointed out my favorite Swallowtail (Papilio find of the day: a young cresphontes) caterpil- Garter Snake “Nesting” Garter Snake lar that looked like a (Thamnophis sirtalis) (Thamnophis sirtalis). bird dropping; a coiled up on a vacated Photo: Laurie DiCesare tan, black-spotted bird’s nest in a small Webworm shrub. caterpillar ( radiella); For a list, please contact Laurie DiCesare, and a large number [email protected]. We appreciate of black-and-white the work of the local chapter of the Vermont Cecilia Robinson holding her eggs on the under- Nature Conservancy for preserving and first dragonfly. side of a leaf. Adult Photo: Laurie DiCesare maintaining this amazing site that is open to the Leps included a public.

VES News - Fall 2018 Page 3 Field Trip

BIRDS OF VERMONT MUSEUM FIELD TRIP (JULY 8, 2018) By Laurie DiCesare

Our annual field trip to the Birds of male reproductive organs are curved up, Vermont Museum in Huntington, VT at- suggesting a scorpion’s stinger; and an tracted more than a dozen participants with orange-and-white Straight-lined Argyria a variety of Moth (Argyria ages and critica.) Around interests. the pond we Some, like a saw Dot-tailed family visiting Whiteface from Boston, (Leucorrhinia searched the intacta) internet for dragonflies Vermont landing on lily walks and pads. The flow- found our field ering Meadow- trip on the sweet (Spirea) Museum’s hosted many website. Other Aurora Damsel (Chromagrion conditum). species of flies. Photo: Joshua Lincoln walkers came from all over the State. As usual, the abundant bird sightings were a gift to the ears and eyes. Among the many species we encountered and photographed were the Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinen- sis), American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis), Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris), Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus), Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea), House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) and Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas.)

We are grateful to Allison Gergely and the Birds of Vermont Museum staff for inviting us to this beautiful site every year. Straight-lined Argyria Moth (Argyria critica). For more information on the Birds of Vermont Museum see Photo: Michael Sabourin www.birdsofvermont.org or call 802.434.2167. We identified many interesting in the open field on our way to the pond including a Scorpionfly (Family Panorpidae) whose

Page 4 VES News - Fall 2018 HOGBACK MOUNTAIN INSECT SAFARI

By Michael Sabourin

n August 4, the Vermont Entomological O Society (VES) and Cambridge Entomologi- cal Club (CEC) based in Cambridge, MA, col- laborated on a successful event: the Hogback Mountain Insect Safari. About twenty people braved the projected inclement weather and spent the day taking field trips up Mt. Olga and to a wetland east of Lake Raponda. The eve- ning was spent with co-leaders of the day, Scott

Smyers (CEC) and Michael Sabourin (VES), run- Brown-hooded Owlet caterpillar ning lights at the base of the Tower Trail with ( convexipennis). four of us staying until a little after midnight. Photo: Michael Sabourin Scott Smyers had the following comments: “I agree with your assessment, that it was fun and a success. I really like the model of having longer outings with dedicated time for the public as well as inviting specialists who may not have been in the area before and are excited to explore a new location. Furthermore, I believe that eve- ning-to-night outings are particularly popular (and important) because of people's reservations to go out at night (due to safety concerns), but we can learn so much about wildlife at night Co-leader Scott Smyers (seated) and other safari participants. because most organisms do not stick to normal Photo: Michael Sabourin business hours.” The list of flora and fauna for the day was impressive with at least 149 species recorded. You can view all the current information at iNa- turalist: inaturalist.org/projects/hogback-mountain -insect-safari?tab=observations.

Some noted observations for the day were Chry- sochus auratus (Dogbane Leaf Beetle), Sericomyia chrysotoxoides (Oblique-banded Pond Fly), Tipula metacomet, Cucullia convexipennis (Brown-hooded Rosy Maple Moth () caterpillar. Owlet), Eupithecia fletcherata, Herpetogramma Photo: Michael Sabourin sphingealis and Zeuzera pyrina (Leopard Moth.) It should be noted that more than a dozen of our We would like to give special thanks to the day’s participants and to Diane Todd and the associates of Hogback Mountain identifications were based on cater- Conservation Association for their permitting and support in pillars seen. organizing the Hogback Mountain Insect Safari.

VES News - Fall 2018 Page 5 IDENTIFYING FORAGE LOOPER ( ERECHTEA)

By JoAnne Russo

Forage Looper () collected from Grand Isle, VT (left); and Clover Looper () collected from Rockingham, VT (right). Photos: JoAnne Russo orage Looper (C. erechtea) and Clover Looper November). Both are active day and night and F (C. crassiuscula), are visually very similar. In are attracted to lights. Forbes (1954) described the every Vermont county, they are commonly seen ground color of C. erechtea as mouse gray and C. in the spring and summer during the day and are crassiuscula as being much browner. attracted to lights at night. Unfortunately, they Male genitalia (see image) are amazingly differ- are not easily identified from photographs. ent considering how similar the adults are in ap- Dissection is the standard procedure for this, but pearance. (References can be found in Forbes I have since learned of an easier way to identify (1954, pg. 310.) Genitalia differences in males are these two Caenurgina species. as follows: in C. erechtea, there is one finger-like Online sources, field guides and authors process on the sacculus (the ventral margin of the (, Beadle et. al., Handifield, and Forbes) clasper) not two as in C. crassiuscula. Also, in C. offer the following description with the caveat erechtea, a long process arising from the internal that there is just too much variability for these surface of the valvae (claspers) extends to the descriptions to be valid much of the time. The very tip of the costal margin. In C. crassiuscula, key markers are the antemedial (AM) and post- this process is shorter than the costal margin of medial (PM) bands. Adult C. erechtea have two dark bands (AM and PM) on each forewing that do not touch each other near the midline, and the inner (or more basal) AM band does not touch the inner margin. In C. crassiuscula, the AM and PM bands almost touch each other near the mid- line, and the inner (or more basal) AM band touches the inner margin. Both are listed as having the same habitat (fields, roadsides and Male genitalia of Caenurgina erechtea (left) and Cae- waste places); similar host plants (clover and nurgina crassiuscula (right). Dissections and images: JoAnne Russo grasses) and the same flight times (March to

Page 6 VES News - Fall 2018 Identifying Forage Looper (Continued from page 6) the valvae and doesn't reach the tip of spine. In swollen tip on the abdomen, whereas C. erechtea the female C. erechtea, the sclerotized portion of females have tapered abdomens similar to males. the membranous tube called the ductus bursae is twice as long as in C. crassiuscula.

I had been unsuccessful in finding a specimen of Caenurgina erechtea from about 30 that I’d col- lected in Windham, Rutland, Addison and Wash- ington counties and wondered if it was more uncommon and habitat-specific than C. crassius- cula. Lepidopterist, Hugh McGuinness, told me that the habitat for C. erechtea was reported as dry, grassy areas, including dunes. Thinking the habitat on Grand Isle might fit this descrip- tion, I asked my friend and naturalist, David Hoag, to send me any that matched or came close to the visual description of C. erechtea. He sent five specimens of Caenurgina, all collected on Terminal end of Caenurgina erechtea September 5, 2018 at his home on Grand Isle. One showing the “mitten- shaped” valvae. Photo: JoAnne Russo specimen, once dissected, was indeed confirmed as C. erechtea. In comparing ten male Caenurgina Author’s Note: I would like to further collect specimens of specimens in my collection that had wing pat- these two species from Vermont to see if I can determine terns seemingly consistent with C. erechtea, but their Vermont distribution and habitat preferences. If had been dissected and confirmed as C. crassius- anyone would like to collect specimens or have specimens cula, I did notice one difference. The dark AM in their collections, I would appreciate the help. My contact band on the Hoag C. erechtea did not touch the information is [email protected]. inner margin of the forewing. Whether this is the References: definitive visual marker for C. erechtea or not is hard to confirm with only one specimen. Beadle, David, and Seabrook Leckie. 2012. Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America. Recently I learned that male and female Houghton Mifflin Harcort, New York, NY. pg. 356. C. erechtea and C. crassiuscula can be identified without dissection by examining the terminal Forbes, W.T.M. 1954. The Lepidoptera of New York and end of the abdomen. According to lepidopterist Neighboring States, Part III. . Memoir No. 329. Don Lafontaine, (personal communication), by Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station, brushing the scales with a fine brush, the valvae Ithaca, NY. pg. 343. can easily be observed. In C. crassiuscula, the val- Handfield, L. 1999. Le Guide des Papillons du Quebec. vae have a rounded end with a process sticking Broquet Inc. Boucherville, Quebec. pg. 86. out – similar to a mitten in shape. In C. erechtea the first thing you see are the two curved, sickle- bugguide.net/node/view/9676#classification. like spines. Females are distinguished by the en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lepidoptera_genitalia. shape of the abdomen, C. crassiuscula have a

VES News - Fall 2018 Page 7 VES Book Review Beetles of Eastern North America The extensive “Introduction to Bee- North America tles” (including sections on Beetle Anatomy, By Arthur V. Evans Behavior and Natural History, Beetle Conserva- tion) not only contains a wealth of information, Reviewed by Laurie DiCesare but makes fascinating reading. Did you know that pseudoscorpions rely on Scarabs and In the Preface of Beetles of Eastern North America, Cerambycids for transportation; or that several Dr. Art Evans described himself as a Scarab families including leaf beetles and weevils beetle specialist when he moved from California reproduce by parthenogenesis and rarely to Virginia in 2000. In his new home, he discov- produce males? Sections on Symbiotic Relation- ered a variety of habitats and a much greater ships, Parental Care and Defense are well worth diversity of species than he was used to seeing reading. in the drier habitats of California. This valuable The main body of the book includes a family de- resource, with descriptions and photos of 1,406 scription with helpful pronunciation guide (ex.: beetles from 115 families, is a showcase for some Family Carabidae [KUH-RAB-IH-DEE]), family of that diversity. characteristics, notes for facilitat- Inside the front cover is a helpful ing collection and a list of fami- photo reference for the “10 Most lies with similar characteristics Commonly Encountered Beetle for comparison. The individual Families” and a handy ruler in species accounts include a two- centimeters and inches. The back by three-inch color photo of each cover includes labeled macro beetle exhibiting fine details; photos of beetle mouth and body common and scientific name; parts and another ruler. The and a descriptive paragraph with glossy, acid-free pages are food habits, defenses, habitats printed in easily-readable, sans- and general distribution. serif type. Other books by this author in- The “Illustrated Key to the clude An Inordinate Fondness for Common Beetle Families of Eastern North Beetles, National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to America” contains detailed but unlabeled Insects and Spiders of North America, What’s illustrations of the body parts described in the Bugging You? A fond look at the we love to accompanying couplets. Although the book is hate; and National Geographic Backyard Guide to recommended for students and enthusiasts as Insects and Spiders. You can browse his blog well as professional entomologists and other (with interesting articles like “Darwin Was a biologists, an insect enthusiast would have to Beetle Man”) at WordPress.com. His online look elsewhere for definitions of some of the biography states that he is now involved with words found in the couplets. The four-page the Virginia Beetle Project, an inventory of more Glossary included some but not all of the key than 5,000 species in Virginia. words (metacoxae, ventrites) needed to decipher them. Beetles of Eastern North America by Arthur V. Evans. ©2014, Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ 08540. 560 pages. 8 x 10 x 1.25 inches. ISBN 978-0-691-13304-1.

Page 8 VES News - Fall 2018 Odds and Ends Black River BioBlitz (7.29.2018) along with finely-detailed photos of some Black River Action Team (BRAT) Founder showy adults. The author’s macro cover and Director Kelly Stettner, and VES photo of a Vietnamese Scarab “Reindeer” member Joanne Russo participated in the Beetle (Dicrocephalus wallichii) is also Black River BioBlitz in Springfield, VT. impressive. Among the 135 observations posted, Kelly and JoAnne recorded many Lepidoptera Vermont Emerald Ash Borer Update (Butterflies and Moths) and Odonata An update was made to the Emerald Ash (Dragonflies and Damselflies) species. For Borer Infested Area Map mid-October to the full list see: reflect a new satellite map of an infested area www.inaturalist.org/observations?projec in Grand Isle County. Plans are underway to t_id=19425. hold a public information meeting in the area in the next few weeks. To subscribe to updates, see list.vermont.gov/mailman/listinfo/anr.ea binfestedareamap.

 The map also reflects a small expansion of the infested area in Central Vermont due to a new EAB observation in Plainfield.  As of October 1, we have entered into the non-flight season for EAB. The non-flight season (October 1 – April 30) is the optimal practices period for Vermont’s ‘slow the spread’ recommendations when Parsnip Webworm (), moving ash from the infested area. Huntington, VT. Photo: Laurie DiCesare  Elsewhere in the region, as of October 1, the State of New Hampshire has Natural History Magazine deregulated EAB and has gone to a (www.naturalhistorymag.com) featured statewide quarantine regulated by the an article on “The Beetles: History, Habits USDA. and Habitats” with text and photos by  Moving any infested material, especially Stephen A. Marshall in its November 2018 ash firewood, logs, and pruning debris, issue. The seven-page article includes a can quickly expand the infestation of review of their evolutionary history, an EAB. It is important that we work overview of beetle family traits, photos of together and follow the ‘slow the spread’ egg-laying, larval and pupal stages recommendations that protect the health (including some delicate, net-like cocoons) of Vermont’s forests.

VES News - Fall 2018 Page 9 Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge

Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge Yellow-legged Sept. 22, 2018 Meadowhawks By Laurie DiCesare (Sympetrum vicinum) and a Tri-color Arriving around 2 p.m. at the southern Bumblebee (Bombus parking area of the Missisquoi National ternarius). We also Wildlife Refuge in Swanton, VT, we were all saw Spotted grateful for the unexpectedly sunny, mild ( maculata), weather. This last scheduled VES walk of the (Lophocampa season, led by Warren Kiel and Michael caryae) and Banded Sabourin and attended by Deb Kiel and (Halysidota Laurie DiCesare, included part of the 3-mile tessellaris) Old Railroad Passage Trail on the east side Hickory Tussock Moth Caterpillar Tussock Moth () of Tabor Road, and the Stephen J. Young caterpillars. Photo Laurie DiCesare Marsh on the west.

Banded Tussock Moth Caterpillar (Halysidota tessellaris) Photo Laurie DiCesare Deb Kiel, Michael Sabourin and Warren Kiel Photo Laurie DiCesare Laurie photographed her first Snowy or Walking the mowed “Thermometer” Tree Cricket (Oecanthus Railroad Trail between fultoni) whose chirp rate has been used to fruiting Common determine the temperature. (Adding the Winterberry Holly, number of Tree Cricket chirps in 13 seconds Buttonbushes and High- plus 40 will reportedly yield the temperature bush Cranberries, we in degrees Fahrenheit.) discovered Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) and Around 4:30 p.m., we took a short walk Clouded Sulphur along the Stephen J. Young Marsh Trail to a Spotted Tussock Moth Caterpillar (Colias philodice) () viewing platform. Photo Laurie DiCesare butterflies, some

VES News - Fall 2018 Page 10 Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge (continued)

A few lingering meadowhawks and a crane fly were noted but the Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) slowly walking along the shore was the main attraction.

After supper, Deb, Warren and Michael set up sheets and lights around the Visitor’s Center. The evening temperatures quickly dropped, though, and very few insects were seen. We all agreed that the Missisquoi Wildlife Refuge would be a great place to visit next summer.

For more information on visitor activities at the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge please visit: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/ Missisquoi/visit/visitor_activities.html. For volunteer opportunities, see https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Missisquoi/ what_we_do/get_involved.html. For a full species list of our field trip, please Snowy Tree Cricket (Oecanthus fultoni) contact Laurie DiCesare by e-mail Photo Laurie DiCesare ([email protected]) with “VES: Missisquoi FT Species List” in the subject line or call 802.893.1845.

Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) Photo Laurie DiCesare

VES News - Fall 2018 Page 11 Vermont Entomological Society c/o Debra Kiel 147 Allen Irish Road Underhill, VT 05489

Two-spotted Tree Cricket (Neoxabea bipunctata), Milton, VT. Photo: Laurie DiCesare