Newsletter of the Michigan Entomological Society
Volume 60, Numbers 1 & 2 May 2015 Inside this Issue: 61st Annual MES Meeting: June 26-28, 2015 Angelica J. Pytel, President-Elect Monarch Conservation ... 2-4 Department of Biology, Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, MI 49242
New Michigan Orthopteran ... 4 future modeling efforts of aquatic insect The 2015 MES annual conference will distributions based on climate change and take place on June 26-28, 2015 at the G.H. Martinoptera ... 5-6 other factors. Gordon Biological Station and Rockwell Elegant rooms for 1–2 people are avail- MiCorps Stream Monitoring ... 6-7 Lake Lodge (http://www.therockwelllake able at the Lodge. Beds in the cabins are lodge.com), located in Lake County ap- also available, and people can bring their Stream Monitoring by Tip of the proximately 25 miles southeast of Cadil- own tents. Register for rooms by the end Mitt Volunteers ... 7-8 lac, MI. This is the largest private college of May. Details for registration, meal op- biological station in Michigan, combining tions, costs, and presenting talks or posters Michigan Butterfly Network ... 9 an active research station with a function- were mailed to all members and are also ing resort and conference center. Bees of Michigan - Request ... 10 available on the MES website ,http:// The property features a 50-acre lake michentsoc.org/meeting.html>. with kayaks, canoes, and other boats Update on Mo’s Collection ... 11 We hope to see you at this year’s Annual available for attendees. The property also Meeting, and we encourage submission MES Governing Board Minutes 12 contains a small creek, upland forest, of oral and poster presentations on any meadows, and various wetland habitats. entomological topic. Undergraduate and Award for Ranger Steve ... 12 There are also several miles of interpretive graduate students are especially welcome hiking trails. Insect collecting is encour- Perplexing Papaipema ... 13 and there will be cash awards for the top aged. student presentations. For more informa- Our keynote speaker will be Dr. R. Ed New State Records ... 14 tion, contact Angelica Pytel by cell phone DeWalt of the Illinois Natural History at (517) 212-0628 or by Email at Update on Asian Longhorned Survey. Ed will speak on his past and
Michigan Pollinator Initiative ... 15
Poetry ... 15
Volunteer to Survey for Karners 16
The MES Newsletter is published as four numbers per year ISSN 1554-2092 Research Request: “Back- You can help monitor for these beetles as citizen scientists through participation yard Bark Beetles” Project in the “Backyard Bark Beetles” project administered through the Entomology Practically every year in the U.S. a new Departments at the University of Florida exotic bark beetle is discovered. These - Gainesville and Michigan State Uni- bark- and wood-boring beetles some- versity. For more information, contact times transmit pathogenic fungi to live Anthony Cognato at MSU (cognato@ trees. Early detection of these exotic msu.edu) or go to Cnestus mutilatus, an Asian ambrosia beetle, species allows for mitigation of poten-
President...... David Stanton Contact: Scott Hicks, Field Supervisor ...... [email protected] U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2651 Coolidge Road, President-Elect...... Angie Pytel Suite 101 East Lansing, MI 48823 ...... [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Immediate ...... Martin Andree Momentum is rapidly building for Monarch Butterfly conserva- [email protected] Past President...... tion and MES members are uniquely positioned to be leaders Secretary...... Adrienne O’Brien in this effort. If we are successful not only will we grow the ...... [email protected] numbers of monarchs, but also the ranks of those who support conservation and help foster the next generation of entomology Treasurer...... David Houghton professionals and MES members...... [email protected] During World War II, war drives to conserve goods and Member-at-Large (14-17) .. Mark VanderWerp salvage scrap materials, like tin and rubber, not only met an ur- gent need for raw materials to help supply the troops, they gave ...... [email protected] citizens a way to contribute to the cause. The fact that many Member-at-Large (13-16)...... Julie Craves pollinators are in trouble is not news to MES members, but it is news to many others. Like the WWII war drives, monarch con- ...... [email protected] servation has a role for everyone, and provides the opportunity Member-at-Large (12-15)...... David Cuthrell to connect the larger public to conservation in new ways...... [email protected] International and national emphasis on monarch conserva- tion has begun. The Presidents of the United States and Mexico Journal Editor...... Therese Poland and the Prime Minster of Canada have called for cooperative ...... [email protected] action. On 20 June 2014, the White House issued a Presidential Associate Journal ...... Anthony Cognato Memorandum directing federal actions to address pollinator conservation. On 4 September 2014, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Editor...... [email protected] Service’s (USFWS) Director Dan Ashe issued a USFWS-wide Associate Journal ...... David Houghton charge to develop a strategy for monarch conservation that Editor...... [email protected] addresses habitat restoration and enhancement, education and outreach, and monitoring and research needs. Associate Journal ...... Ronald Priest October 2014 marked the official start of the effort and Editor...... [email protected] in February 2015, Director Ashe furthered our commitment Associate Journal ...... Daniel Swanson by dedicating $2 million dollars to address monarch concerns in partnership with the National Wildlife Federation and the [email protected] Editor...... National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. In March 2015, the Newsletter Editor ...... Robert Haack USFWS joined with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agen- ...... [email protected] cies to urge fish and wildlife agencies to take creative actions on behalf of monarch butterflies and other pollinators. As a result, Webmaster ...... Mark O’Brien the USFWS and our partners are focusing efforts and resources ...... [email protected] on actions that will benefit the monarch and other pollinators. This new cooperative effort will build a network of diverse Current Annual Dues Schedule conservation partners and stakeholders to protect and restore im- portant monarch habitat, while also reaching out to Americans of Student (through Graduate School)..... $12.00 all ages who can play a central role. The goal of the newly cre- Active ...... $25.00 ated monarch fund will be to increase monarch butterfly popu- Institutional ...... $45.00 lations and the native habitat upon which they depend. It will Sustaining...... $35.00 also seek to increase the awareness of and engagement with the Life ...... $500.00 public in monarch conservation. Finally, it will provide funds for critical efforts to increase the availability of regionally specific, ISSN 1554-2092 native milkweed seed. The fund will target resources for priority habitats based on the species’ needs during the course of its life cycle and migra- tions. In particular, funds will be provided for projects in its spring and summer flyway corridor. This corridor is critical to
May 2015 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V60 (1&2) 2 MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org M E S early species breeding success upon which a conservation ethic. the rest of its life cycle, including those For additional infor- butterflies returning to Mexico, depends. mation on monarch “We can save the monarch butterfly in conservation, please North America, but only if we act quickly visit our web site and together,” said Director Dan Ashe.
May 2015 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V60 (1&2) M E S MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org 3 Orocharis saltator tober where there are broadleaved trees Based upon the observations of Strang and an understory of leafy shrubs. The (2013) and our records from southeastern (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) – male’s call is a loud, clear chirp repeated Michigan, O. saltator is likely to be found Now Present in Michigan at irregular, 1.5-3 second intervals, and is across the lower tier of counties in Michi- difficult to localize. Chirps have 10––18 gan as of 2015. Mark F. O’Brien1 and pulses at 55 p/s (Walker 2003). More re- 2 cently, a series of excellent blog posts by References Darrin S. O’Brien Carl Strang (2013) have been following Capinera, J.L., R.D. Scott and T.J. Walker. 2004. Field 1 Museum of Zoology, University of the range expansions of several species of Guide to Grasshoppers, Katydids, and Crickets Michigan, Ann Arbor, 48109. Email: of the United States, Cornell University Press, Orthoptera into the Great Lakes region. Ithaca, NY. 249 pp. [email protected] He has heard O. saltator at Indiana Dunes Blatchley, W.S. 1920. Orthoptera of Northeastern 2 Prairie Oaks Ecological Station, National Park and found them in DuPage America with special reference to the faunas of 2200 Centennial Lane, Ann Arbor, MI Co., Illinois. Indiana and Florida. Nature Publishing Co., In- Blatchley (1920) describes the dianapolis, IN. 784 pp. 48103. Email: [email protected] Strang, C. 2013. https://natureinquiries.wordpress.com/ behavior of adults perfectly: “When dis- 2013/02/05/singing-insects-range- extensions/ The Jumping Bush Cricket, Orocharis turbed it often seeks safety in flight and Walker, T.J. 1969. Systematics and acoustic behavior saltator Uhler (Orthoptera: Gryllidae), when it alights flattens out its body close of United States crickets of the genus Orocharis (Orthoptera: Gryllidae). Annals of the Entomologi- was not known from Michigan until 2012, against its resting place.” This was the case of the specimen collected by MFO. cal Society of America 62:752-762. when co-author DSO photographed a fe- Walker, T.J. 2003. http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/ male in his backyard in Dearborn, Wayne The singing male was positioned on a walker/buzz/686a.htm County, Michigan on 9 September 2012. leaf so that its body was partway through On 10 October 2013, MFO captured a a hole on the leaf with its head facing male O. saltator in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw away. This allowed MFO to capture it Co., Michigan. These specimens represent before being seen by the cricket. Without the first verified and vouchered records for a container, he placed it in his shoulder Michigan. bag. After reaching home, MFO opened The Jumping Bush Cricket has his- his shoulder bag and the cricket flew out torically been a species found more typi- of the bag as it was opened, and then cally in the southeastern to south-central alighted on the wall, and flattened itself United States, with populations reaching as described by Blatchley. This specimen into central Indiana and Ohio. It is a bears the following data and is preserved common species to the south and east of in ethanol in the University of Michigan Michigan, and has appeared to be slowly Museum of Zoology Insect Division moving northward, and until the 1970s, Collection: MICHIGAN: Washtenaw records from north-central Ohio seemed to Co., Ann Arbor, at corner of Washtenaw be its northern limit (R.D. Alexander, pers. Avenue and Baldwin St., 42.27173°N comm.; Walker 1969). However, Capinera x 83.72734°W, 10 Oct. 2013, Mark F. et al. (2004) placed the northern range lim- O’Brien. UMMZI-00230001 [preserved it in northwestern Ohio, just below Michi- in ethanol]. The locality information for gan. Males are now commonly heard (as the photographed female is MICHIGAN: Female Orocharis saltator on Solidaster sp., of the fall of 2014) in suburban areas in Wayne Co., Dearborn, 15911 Andover Dearborn, MI. Photo by D. S. O’Brien. Ann Arbor, as their distinctive calling song Dr., 42.31065°N x 83.19546°W, 9 Sept. has been heard from late August into Oc- 2012, D.S. O’Brien
Monarch Butterfly dedicated to the monarch butterfly that The USFS also developed regional Conservation and the contains several useful links and pdf docu- brochures for conservation of monarchs in mentts to help in this educational effort the Eastern United States, Northern Great US Forest Service
May 2015 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V60 (1&2) M E S MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org 4 Collecting in places other than your own backyard can lead to such extremes, but it all comes with the territory, the bug territory. Martinoptera There are rules, of course, and I always try my best to comply, but collecting moths, dragonflies, termites or cicadas doesn’t always Have Net, Will Travel translate well. There can be problems. While on a train across Mongolia, heading north to Siberia, our Martin J. Andree train was stopped at the border for Customs inspections. Travel- 3990 Four Mile Road NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525 ing off the beaten path in Russia can get a bit uncomfortable, but Email: [email protected] it usually works out in the end. It’s mostly a matter of blind faith and dumb luck. Standing in airport lines in Tokyo, Tangiers or even Tampa with What looked like armed thugs boarding the train, dressed in a butterfly net, just doesn’t have the same cachet as standing in mismatched military camo with menacing looking machine guns the same lines with ski boots, tennis rackets, golf clubs or even strapped over their shoulders and coal black pistols jammed care- bowling balls. Most fellow travelers understand the not so subtle lessly in their belts, were men that silently distributed customs social cues of traveling with such symbols, symbols that commu- forms. “Are you transporting any animals, dead or alive?” the nicate a simple message, “ I’m going on a fabulous trip, a trip with form asked me. Yes, in fact I was. I had specimens from Mon- a purpose.” They go to ski, to play tennis, to golf, and yes, and golia, with permits. “No Problems here,” I said to my wife, who even to bowl. skeptically gave me her best stink eye. For other wanderers, their intent is not always so clear. Fellow “The best policy is to always be honest,” I boasted to her. I travelers would never infer, “Oh, that bewildered looking dork checked the “yes,” box and finished filling out the rest of the form. over there, the one with the dirty butterfly net, is obviously trot- The thugs got rough and made everyone sit down in their seats ting off to Outer Mongolia to collect small, nondescript moths, and forbade all speaking. No one was allowed to stand or cross the thought to inhabit the farthest steppes of the Khan’s realm.” aisle. We were in “lock down,” which is not always an encourag- I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t think that. Not even close. I’m not ing sign in places such as this. sure what they think in their very obvious, second catch glances, Next the interrogations began. Some terrified people were that I’ve grown so accustomed to. “Minnows,” I say to myself. I’ll removed from the train for further questioning. The stopped train bet they think I’m a renowned ichthyologist, or maybe I just own was getting hot. They ordered every window be closed. We were a bait shop and this is a working vacation. Then again, they might there for six hours. With guns dangling in our faces, the questions think I am a flying hobo. One with all my worldly belongings, continued. As they got closer I was starting to worry. hanging in my net, thrown over my shoulder and waiting to hop The thug with the “Entomologists Bug Me” tattoo on his fore- the next jet east. arm came to my seat and asked me to stand. In stony silence, he At a dusty cross road in northern Wyoming, I got off a Grey- inspected my passport and visas, eyeing me up and down. Next hound and tried to get a room. On that trip, I had a takedown was the customs form. Under dark brows, thumbing the thick net in my backpack. The handle was two sections that screwed stubble on his neck, he brooded darkly. I could see the storm together. They were black and both sections were held together, clouds in his eyes as he glowered down at me. Then in a thick side by side with a rubber band, the ends poking out of the top of Russian accent he barked, “You have made a terrible mistake!” my pack. Gulags flashed in my mind! The never-ending cold of Siberia! Martin: “Can I get a single room for one night please?” A sudden, insatiable thirst for potato vodka coursed thought my Bitter Cowgirl Behind the Counter Who Has Never Had to Deal brain. My wife leered back at me; I could tell she was thinking, with a Real Live Bug Net Wielder: “Yes Sir,” She drawled hesi- “You’ve really done it this time Buster! You and those cursed tantly, “but first you’ll have to check your weapon with me.” bugs. We’ll die here at this un-named border crossing, bones Martin: “OK.” I drawled back, “But I don’t have a weapon.” bleaching in the forests of towering birches, dermestids cleaning Bitter Cowgirl Behind the Counter: “Sir, if you don’t check up the mess, eating the evidence. The State Department won’t your weapon, I will have to ask you to leave.” touch this one!” (I made up the part about dermestids). Martin: “Bitter Cowgirl Behind the Counter, I really don’t have I looked at the thug, turned up my palms, shrugged and said, any weapons. Really!” “What was my mistake Comrade?” He scowled under a thick Bitter Cowgirl Behind the Counter: “Sir, I can plainly see the brow, looked at my form, looked at me like I was a total idiot and barrels of a shot gun in your pack. Now either check your weapon, said, “Butterfly not animal! You change! You change now!” or leave, or I am calling the sheriff.” Who am I to debate taxonomy with this Russian thug? He had Martin: “Cowgirl Behind the Counter, I’m going to slowly take all of the cards, and he had the machine gun. “Sure,” I squeaked, “You’re absolutely correct, butterflies are out my weapon with my left hand and lay in on the floor.” not animals. They are mollusks.” My wife overheard this and was She is nervous, I can see that, she has her hand on either a .38 sure I had sealed our fates to a lifetime of sewing mittens and snub nosed revolver under the desk or hovering above a button building roads to the horizon with our bare hands. that will alert the authorities back in Gillette. I couldn’t tell which. I changed the form, correcting it to say I was not transporting I set the paired net handles on the floor and give her a sinister any animals. look, a look I use when I’m in Wyoming and assume the persona I confidently checked the “NO,” box. He didn’t smile, but gave of Sam Elliot. She wasn’t amused but relinquished the key, surely me a knowing wink as if to imply that classic line from Ghost- calling on the higher powers to “Keep an eye on me.”” busters, “You do your job pencil neck and I’ll do mine.” But
May 2015 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V60 (1&2) M E S MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org 5 maybe, just maybe, despite his tattoo, he contained ethyl acetate. At the time I was The math teacher eventually left for a was a closet entomologist and was doing working as an English teacher and asked larger school in a larger town. By that time me a favor? I’ll never know. a native Korean from the math depart- I had gotten to know some of the high The train, my wife and my bugs rolled ment to help me with the translations. His school students better and many had ex- on towards the Urals, windows down, English was sketchy at best. cellent English skills. After a particularly people getting fresh coffee from the scald- In English, I wrote out what I wanted hard day of almost getting laughed off the ing samovar. him to translate, “Please do not disturb! bus with my trap, I decided to bring the While living in rather rural South Korea Moth sampling trap. Contains poison, trap to my high-school English class for for a year, collecting insects was, of course ethyl acetate, do not touch. Contact Martin translation: de rigor for the duration of my stay. I did at Apt. 201, Dung Bu South, building 9, Here is the English translation of the take my net, lots of envelopes and just section 11.” He thought a moment, never Korean I had so carefully copied onto my the guts of a UV light trap, but that was asked any questions and wrote down a trap: “Turning this knob will result in a it. I was able to procure or fabricate just Korean version of what I had written. Did bad, very bad fire in the garden. You will about everything else I needed. Albeit, I mention he was from the math depart- owe the King of Sokcho many butterflies. many items had to be fashioned in a very ment? See Martin if you want to borrow this MacGyver-esque sort of way. I set upon my trap with a black marker, electric diaper pail that kill moths and will To my great surprise, I was able to dutifully copied the Korean symbols he make you and your big brother many mon- purchase a gallon of ethyl acetate for the had written for me on my trap in several ies.” price of a soda. Finding Plaster of Paris prominent places. I did not have a car, so Running around the world with a for making killing jars was much more to set my trap in new places; I had to take butterfly net often brings more unusual difficult and involved a five hour bus ride the local bus. I would get on with my net adventures than running around the world to Seoul, but I did eventually find some. and collecting gear and my purple diaper with a tennis racket or even a bowling I wanted to survey moths in the forests, pail with a UV light, all properly labeled ball. I’m pretty sure of that. In the end swamps and rice paddies behind our apart- to inform a curious public. everything usually works out fine, but I’m ment and I needed a light trap. I ended up At first I didn’t notice it, because Ko- a firm believer in Cosmic Justice. Maybe making one. To the existential parts I had reans are generally very polite, but then someday, just maybe, that clown from the brought with me, I added a purple plastic the smirks would start and then maybe a Math Department will run into either the diaper pail, a lampshade, a pasta strainer giggle and sometimes a kid would point Russian thug or the bitter cowgirl, and and parts of a window blind I had scav- and crack-up. This happened every time justice will be metered out and all will be enged from the trash. I got on the bus. No one ever messed with right with the world. After purchasing a terribly overpriced my trap, so I assumed the message was But in the meantime, I have a fire in the motorcycle battery, I was in business, clear and they were laughing at me for garden to attend to. almost. I felt I had to indicate on this some other reason. That seemed to happen trap, what it was, who owned it and that it a lot anyway.
MiCorps: Volunteer Stream by running the monitoring on bare-bone macroinvertebrates available for further Monitoring in Michigan budgets. research by any interested parties. The monitoring is organized by paid Over the past 10 years, the following staff, but the majority of the sampling is groups have run successful monitoring Paul Steen conducted by volunteers, such as fisher- programs: MiCorps Program Manager men, students, families, and retirees who Watershed and Environmental Groups Huron River Watershed Council, 1100 all give their time and enthusiasm. The Clinton River Watershed Council N. Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 identification of the macroinvertebrates Coldwater River Watershed Council Email: [email protected] is typically conducted by the staff or volunteer experts (often biology profes- The Volunteer Stream Monitoring sors), but the volunteers usually jump into Program, which is a part of the Michi- the identifications as well, which is a great gan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps), has learning experience for them. been running since 2005. In this pro- To date, MiCorps has awarded 43 gram, non-profits, universities, and local grants, and has sampling information on governments are given two year grants to 37 of Michigan’s major watersheds (as de- kickstart aquatic benthic macroinverte- fined by the HUC8- the 8 digit hydrologic brate monitoring programs. The grantees unit). The blue HUC8’s in the map have are given training in sampling procedures macroinvertebrate data available for pub- and identification to ensure that all groups lic use at
Numbers refer to the stream sampling sites listed in the table on the next page. Note that not all numbers are shown if several overlap. May 2015 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V60 (1&2) 7 MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org M E S animals have already invaded the Great 1987. An improved biotic index of organic stream Lakes and many of these invaders have pollution. Great Lakes Entomologist 20: 31-39. moved inland. Once established, exotic Hilsenhoff WL. 1988. Rapid field assessment of organic plants like Eurasian watermilfoil dominate pollution with a family-level biotic index. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 7: 65-68. and reduce the diversity of native aquatic plants, become a nuisance to recreation, and Table. 2014 summary data for 43 stream can even degrade water quality. Invasive monitoring sites in northwestern Lower animals can also have tremendous negative Michigan. Total taxa and sensitive taxa impacts on our waters. As an example, inva- columns are based on identification of sion by zebra mussels has resulted in a seri- aquatic macroinvertebrates to the family ous decline in our native mussel populations, level. Map numbers refer to the numbers altered the food shown on the map on the previous page. Identifying the macroinvertebrates web by filtering macroinvertebrates in alcohol collected since algae from the 2005, and would welcome others to use water column, these samples in their research. disrupted In general, a high diversity of pollution- natural nutrient sensitive stoneflies, mayflies, and caddisflies cycles, clogged would indicate a healthy ecosystem and water intake high water quality. By contrast, streams pipes, and with mostly pollution-tolerant aquatic caused grief to worms and midges would suggest a stream swimmers be- ecosystem that is likely suffering for some cause of sharp reason. Overall, the vast majority of streams shell edges. In monitored within the Tip of the Mitt Water- our monitoring shed region appear to have healthy stream training in 2015 ecosystems and excellent water quality. and beyond, However, there are a few stream sections we will teach in or near urban areas where relatively low volunteers to aquatic macroinvertebrate diversity has been identify and documented. The volunteer-generated data document the has spurned action in two of these impacted “Dirty Dozen.” creeks, including development of the Stover The Dirty Creek Watershed Restoration and Manage- Dozen are 12 ment Plan, and the Lower Tannery Creek invasive spe- Restoration Project (GLRI-funded: https:// cies that either tinyurl/GLRI-Tannery). already occur If you are interested in assisting as a in our lakes and Stream Monitor, or perhaps helping with streams or are identifications, please contact the Tip of the on our borders Mitt Watershed Council, or any of the other and threatening MiCorps affiliated groups that sample near to invade. to where you live (http://www.micorps.net/ For more memberorgs). New volunteers are always information needed, both to monitor existing sites as about the Tip well as to allow expansion to new locations. of the Mitt For example, in 2011, the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Watershed Council added eight new sites on Council and all two beautiful blue-ribbon trout streams - the of our activi- Maple River and the Sturgeon River. Volun- ties, please visit teering can be very rewarding. As testimony, our website here are a few quotes from volunteers “Find- (http://www. ing all the sensitive aquatic invertebrates in watershedcou a small clear-water stream is a thrill,” “It’s ncil.org/) or the most rewarding and fun thing I do,” and stop in our of- “Whenever I canoe or kayak on Northern fice in Petoskey Michigan’s streams, I enjoy imagining the at the address hidden pageant of life taking place below.” above. In 2015, we will add a new aspect to our stream monitoring - Aquatic Invasive References Species! More than 180 invasive plants and Hilsenhoff WL.
May 2015 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V60 (1&2) 8 MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org M E S The Michigan Butterfly Network
Ashley Anne Wick Biological Research Director Kalamazoo Nature Center, 7000 North Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49009-6309 Email: [email protected]
The Michigan Butterfly Network is a statewide citizen science initiative led by the Kalamazoo Nature Center. We seek to monitor the status of Michigan’s butterfly species, evaluate the quality of Michigan ecosystems, and engage the public in Michigan by allowing monitors to enter Consider coming to one or more of significant citizen science research. data from their home computer or tablet. our 2015 field trips if you are unable to Our training sessions for people inter- When I came to the Kalamazoo Nature make it to our trainings, or are just curi- ested in becoming a butterfly monitor are Center in the winter of 2012-13 we had ous about butterflies, skippers, and their held in communities throughout Michi- seven active sites in the program. As of habitats! Be prepared for summer heat gan, including Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, spring 2015, our monitors have completed and moving through brush (if you are up Ann Arbor, Flint, Battle Creek, Traverse 475 surveys at 50 sites, with data from 70 for chasing butterflies!). We recommend City, and the Keweenaw Peninsula. In individual monitors. wearing long pants, hiking boots, and order to participate as a monitor, one must As you might expect some species are bringing your binoculars, guidebooks, and attend our training sessions to learn our frequently reported, while others are rarely water. This is a great opportunity to get protocol, tips for identifying butterfly sighted either because of cryptic behavior, out in nature, see different preserves, but- species, and to connect with other but- rarity, or the placement of our routes. Out terfly with local experts, and have fun! terfly enthusiasts. Monitors are assigned of 16,058 butterflies recorded from 2011 For further information and registra- a walking route, ranging in length from through 2014, thousands of them were Eu- tion go to
2015 Wisconsin Dragonfly Society, Annual Meeting, 11-12 July. The Wiscon- sin Dragonfly Society will hold its annual meeting at The Ridges Sanctuary, near Bailey’s Harbor, in beautiful Door County, Wisconsin, July 11–12, 2015. Plans call for a short business meeting to be held on Saturday morning, along with a short pre- sentation or two, but most of the time will be spent outdoors looking for dragonflies at various aquatic habitats. This is prime Hine’s Emerald (Somatochlora hineana) habitat and adults should be showing up for portraits at this time.
May 2015 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V60 (1&2) 9 MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org M E S Dieunomia heteropoda on Helianthus Melissodes bimaculata on Cucurbita Agapostemon virescens on Cirsium Research Request for University, East Lansing), Francis Evans (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor), Robert Bee Records for a Husband (Adrian College, Adrian) and oth- Michigan Checklist ers. Nevertheless a definitive checklist of Michigan bees has never been completed. Bees have received considerable attention To address this gap, I have been compiling a in recent years as concern grows regard- state checklist of bees, documenting species ing their apparent declines. Unfortunately, richness for each of Michigan’s 83 counties baseline knowledge of wild bee distribu- beginning with a comprehensive survey of tion and richness remains poor for most the literature, surveys of major Michigan parts of the country. Michigan has some collections, and my own collections. Work Andrena hirticincta on Solidago history of wild bee studies, including the is ongoing, but over 450 species have been state. For this reason, I am placing a request efforts of Robert Dreisbach (Dow Chemical, recorded for Michigan to date. Ingham and for any bee collections from the state with an Midland), Roland Fischer (Michigan State Livingston Counties are the best sampled emphasis on under-sampled counties. Any with an estimated 230 and 205 species, collection effort in poorly sampled counties respectively. However, these two adjacent is likely to have a dramatic effect on the bees counties have only 140 species in common, known from these areas. Bumble bees have suggesting that approximately 300 species already been well-documented so they are of are likely to occur in counties in southern less interest, but all other bees are of great Michigan. Yet, most counties (66/83) have value. If you are interested in contributing to less than 100 species documented, and Michigan’s list of bees, then please feel free Houghton County has a mere 23 species cur- to contact me. Any bees from new and old rently known. The map below illustrates the collections can be sent to me at the address differences in sampling intensity across the below. Coelioxys sodalis on ground Jason Gibbs Department of Entomology; Michigan State University; 202 Center for Integrated Plant Systems; East Lansing, MI 48824 Email: [email protected]
46 Species 200 150
latitude 44 100 50 Hylaeus mesillae on Potentilla
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−90 −88 −86 −84 longitude County map of Michigan colored by bee species richness counts. Melissodes denticulata on Vernonia May 2015 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V60 (1&2) M E S MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org 10 Sharing: Mogens C. low lepidopterists in need of some obscure information. Nielsen’s Gift to the Mo was a great sender of MSU A. J. Cook Arthropod articles, maps, photos, car- Research Collection toons and knowledge. He always signed off with his familiar closing, “Cheers, 1 Martin J. Andree and ‘Mo’.” One of the most en- Anthony I. Cognato2 during facets of Mo’s char- acter was his willingness to 1 3990 Four Mile Road NE, Grand share. Mogens C. Nielsen Rapids, MI 49525. Email: mjandree@ understood the importance koeze.com of legacy, unselfish legacy, not only to our small group 2 Department of Entomology, Michi- of entomologists, but to the gan State University, East Lansing, MI whole of society as well. 48824. Email: [email protected] After Mo’s passing, his desire to have his collection Mo’s prize drawer of “blues” As one of the early members of the donated and preserved at Michigan State the preservation of Mo’s collection for Michigan Entomological Society (MES), University was realized. A handful of current and future generations. joining in 1955, Mogens C. Nielsen em- dedicated MES members, including Duke While Mo was still with us, those bodied the spirit of our organization. He Elsner, Bob Kriegel, Gary Parsons, Ron who had a chance to see his private collec- was mentor to many, and worked count- Priest and Ted Herig moved the collec- tion were always amazed by the unifor- less hours in several positions on the MES tion from Mo’s house to the Entomology mity of his mounts, the way he perfectly Governing Board. He took his turn gladly Department at Michigan State University shingled his trays and the accuracy of his at every post, including serving as our (MSU). labels and corresponding field notebooks. Executive Secretary and Treasurer for an Unfortunately, the original draw- Although each of his drawers had unbelievable 37 years. Mo was stalwart ers that housed Mo’s collection were not their own special beauty and grace, Mo and tireless in his honest desire to share compatible with the Cornell based drawer was always proud to point out that his the natural beauty of our great state. system in use by the MSU A.J. Cook prize drawer of “blues” was “Ginny’s Mo loved Michigan and used every Arthropod Research Collection (ARC). favorite.” At the mention of her name, opportunity to introduce newcomers to her To correct this, a motion was made and his wife of 55 years, Ginny would quietly hidden secrets, overlooked crannies, and approved by the MES Governing Board to enter the room, take a quick look at the the extraordinary world beneath their feet. purchase and donate, in honor of Mo, 30 “blues,” and give Mo a shy, knowing He relished introducing the subject of new Cornell drawers to house his insect smile. I can’t help but think there was a entomology to new prospects. He guided specimens. With this donation, Mo’s gentle secret between them about those many along the path of understanding by life-long dream of having his specimens butterflies. Perhaps a particular great unabashedly sharing his enthusiasm and curated and incorporated in the MSU col- memory of their life together, or maybe his lifelong astonishment with the sub- lection could now begin. just the shared appreciation for the delicate ject. To that end, Mo appropriately earned Mo’s private Lepidoptera collection color and balance that drawer embraced. the unofficial sobriquet of “Philosopher came to the ARC on April 2, 2014. For We never asked either of them, but King,” and he was a great one. years Mo had donated thousands of speci- we suspect that all of the memories that Mo was a teller of stories and quick mens to the ARC but the integration of his Mo and his wife and his two daughters to take up his pen and write a note to fel- private collection with the ARC remained have experienced together, over his half incomplete. Several monetary donations century of collecting, might just have been to the ARC helped initiate this process in that single drawer. Hidden between the with the hiring of a part-time collection tiny azure wings, black enameled pins and technician, Pam Horsley. As of mid-April perfectly lettered labels, there was another 2015, 13,173 of Mo’s specimens have story, the story of sharing with his family been transferred to standard ARC storage, the things he loved most. Now he has nomenclature has been verified and updat- shared them with us. ed for 1,800 species, and 2,400 specimens Thanks from all of us for sharing, and have been databased. Complete cura- Cheers ‘Mo’. tion of Mo’s collection is anticipated by the end of 2015. The ARC Management greatly appreciates the generous financial contributions by anonymous donors and the gift of drawers by MES to help insure Close-up of some of Mo’s “blues”
May 2015 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V60 (1&2) M E S MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org 11 Spring 2015 Governing Board Members-at-Large elected each year. If it would encompass if all members Meeting Minutes, 14 March discussion by the general membership is participated. favorable, then we would put this issue 2015 at Breaking Diapause, MSU on the ballot in 2016. Mark O’Brien made 4. Impact Factor for Journal - Anthony the motion and Ron Priest seconded, all in Cognato will discuss the status of our jour- Present: Martin Andree, Julie Craves, favor. nal’s impact factor with Therese Poland. Anthony Cognato, Bob Haack, Adrienne In addition, John Douglass suggested O’Brien, Mark O’Brien, Ron Priest, Mark New Business: sending pdf’s to individuals cited in our Vanderwerp, John Douglass 1. On behalf of the MSU A. J. Cook journal articles to make them aware of the Arthropod Research Collection, Anthony publication; and Mark O’Brien suggested Description of Meeting – 30 individuals Cognato gave an official “Thank You” that use of research collections should be attended the Breaking Diapause get-to- to MES for purchasing 30 new Bioquip acknowledged in scientific articles. gether. Tours were given of the Mo Nielsen drawers to help house the Mo Nielsen Lepidoptera collection and there were many Lepidoptera Collection. The plaque com- 5. Upcoming mailings will include: an- lively conversations memorating Mo’s contributions will be nual meeting information and registration updated and a new image of Mo will be forms; election ballots (Bob Haack and Governing Board meeting was called to used given that many believe that the cur- Toby Petrice – President-elect and Ashley order by Martin Andree, filling in for Dave rent image is not a good likeness of Mo. Wicks and Bernice DeMarco for one Stanton. Martin Andree will coordinate obtaining Member-at-Large position). the new plaque. Reports: 2. Official addresses used by MES were 6. The 2016 MES Breaking Diapause will Secretary: Adrienne O’Brien – many reviewed and will be adjusted to improve be held at the new UM Museums building membership renewals coming in. efficiency. The official address of MES in Ann Arbor – Mark O’Brien made the Treasurer: Dave Houghton – no report. will be: Michigan Entomological Society, motion and Anthony Cognato seconded, Newsletter: Bob Haack – hoping to Department Of Entomology, Michigan all in favor. publish spring newsletter in late April or State University, 288 Farm Lane, East early May. Please send Bob any articles or Lansing, MI 48824. Articles for the news- announcements that may be of interest to letter and journal should be emailed to the the MES members. respective editors listed in the Journal and MES Member Journal: Therese Poland, Anthony Cog- Newsletter. All membership applications, Ranger Steve nato, Ron Priest – journal is up to date. renewals, subscription service payments, receives Webmaster: Mark O’Brien – new website back or missing issue requests should go is doing fine. Journal issues prior to 2013 to the current secretary. Adrienne O’Brien, Thomas Say have been posted online, with more to fol- MES Secretary, 2104 Needham Rd., Ann Naturalist low. There is a about a 10-year gap in the Arbor, MI 48104. Motions by Ron and newsletter issues – Bob Haack will send Martin, seconded by Julie and Adrienne, Award PDFs. all in favor. MES member and Cedar Springs natural- Old Business: Membership Dues: The 3. Outreach – there was a good discussion ist Steven Joel Mueller (Ranger Steve) board voted to keep the membership dues about increasing our presence. was awarded the Thomas Say Naturalist rate the same – no increases expected in the a. Some easy solutions discussed were Award for Excellence in November 2014. near future – Adrienne O’Brien made the adding a Facebook page (done), The award was presented at the National motion and Martin Andree seconded, all in joining LinkedIn, adding links to Association of Interpretation (NAI) annual favor. Online Publication of Journals and nature centers, museums and other meeting in Denver, CO. . Newsletters: The Board voted to publish applicable sites to our website. Mark Steve grew up in Saginaw, MI, and the journals and newsletters on the MES O’Brien, Julie Craves and Martin has had several different positions during website as soon as they are published. Mark Andree will explore other ideas. his career, including working as a high O’Brien made the motion and Bob Haack b. Mark Vanderwerp has become active school science teacher, an urban forester, seconded, all in favor. Ballot Issue: In with the Michigan Science Olym- a state park ranger, and a ranger/naturalist order to increase the number of Governing piad. He is hoping to introduce some at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. Board Members and to have a larger pool changes to include more entomologi- For the past 20 years, Steve has been the of experienced members that could run for cal topics. director of Howard Christensen Nature MES President, John Douglass, at our 2014 c. The idea of listing the citations of Center in western Michigan. For more Annual Meeting, proposed changing the members’ recent publications in details, see
May 2015 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V60 (1&2) M E S MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org 12 A New Species of Papaipema or a Hybrid Cross?
Ted Herig 237 East Pine St., P.O. Box 201, Elsie, MI 48831. Email: [email protected]
While collecting wild noctuid larvae of Papaipema on 5-9 August 2009 behind my daughter’s home in Clinton County, Michi- gan, which lies just east of Sleepy Hollow State Park, I found signs of Papaipema larvae in a small wetland area with a few large Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum = Eupatorium purpureum) scattered about. Upon inspection of the plants, two larvae where discovered in the stems. One pu- pated the very next day, while the other died two days later. In 30 days the one that had Top & center left P. impecuniosa; Bottom & center right P. cataphracta; Center - Unknown Papaipema specimen pupated emerged as an adult and looked like no other Papaipema I’ve ever found or seen in Michigan! Checking all other available the same time and the male P. impecuniosa photos and literature on Papaipema moths I have collected, which is suggestive of mated with the P. cataphracta female. from other parts of the USA, nothing looks a hybrid. Moreover, the “hybrid” speci- Such a scenario could have led to hybrid quite like the specimen I reared (see photo). men’s outer wing margins are not as dark offspring. Does this specimen represent a new species? as in P cataphracta and the hind wing color Another possibility is that this speci- Probably not. Or perhaps it is a hybrid of is more similar to that of P. impecuniosa. men represents an aberrant form of either two other Papaipema species that are com- Overall, when specimens of both Papaipe- P. impecuniosa or P. cataphracta Do monly found in this same wetland: Papa- ma species are viewed in close proximity to hybrids exist in Papaipema? There is not ipema impecuniosa (Grote) and Papaipema the “hybrid” specimen it is possible to see much literature on this subject. A check in cataphracta (Grote). that the “hybrid” shares characters of each Henry Bird’s 1923 paper shows hybridism This small isolated wetland is surround- of the recognized species. suggested between P. cataphacta and P. ed by large fields of farmland where corn, I acknowledge my late friend and col- necopina where larvae reared from burdock wheat, and soybeans are planted. Some of lecting partner Mr. Mogens “Mo” Nielsen; produced different looking adults that he the common flora of this small area consist Jim Wiker and Eric Quinter for their called P. fluxa. While in Alex Wyatt’s field of ash (Fraxinus), cottonwood (Populus), valuable insights on this subject and many notes from 1915-1942 the author states that cherry (Prunus), elm (Ulmus), willow discussions; and to Jim Wiker for making a odd forms that are difficult to classify with (Salix), maple (Acer), dogwood (Cornus), copy of Wyatt’s field notes for me. Thanks known species sometimes occur and may raspberry (Rubus), grape (Vitis), elderberry to one and all. be due to hybridization. These are the only (Sambucus), and many species of sedge (Cy- bits of information that I have found. So peraceae). The isolation of this wetland area References for now, I believe the specimen I reared in from other populated sites, I believe, has put Bird H. 1923. New Life Histories, species and varieties 2009 represents a hybrid. these two Papaipema species in very close in Papaipema (Lepidoptera) No. 22. Canadian In the following description I point Entomologist 55: 106-109. proximity, allowing them the opportunity to out some of the similarities and differences Wyatt, A.K. 1915-1942. The field notes of Alex. K mate on occasion. I see between the proposed hybrid and P. Wyatt. Part 11. Noctuidae (in part). Noctuinae to I have found larvae of P. cataphracta Amphipyrinae - personal notes bound and stored by cataphracta and P. impecuniosa. At first in Curly Dock (Rumex crispus, an alien the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL. look the “hybrid” specimen resembles a plant) and P. impecuniosa in Joe-Pye weed. small P. cataphracta, but on closer inspec- I have set UV-traps in this wetland regularly tion the brassy red brown basal background for over two years and these are the only color of the forewings is more similar to P two species of Papaipema that I have ever impecuniosa, and the brassy bright gold re- collected there. This is only speculation, but niform and orbicular spots of the “hybrid” perhaps a male P. impecuniosa (a species differ from those of P. cataphracta, which that I have collected at a 6-1 ratio over P. are typically straw-yellow in color. Also cataphracta at this location) responded to a the dark basal area of the forewing that is female P. cataphracta or perhaps a female typical in P. cataphracta is less apparent P. impecuniosa was in very close proximity in the “hybrid” specimen. The “hybrid” to a female P. cataphacta that was calling at specimen’s size is between the typical sizes A possible hybrid Papaipema of P. impecuniosa and P. cataphracta that May 2015 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V60 (1&2) 13 MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org M E S Current Asian Longhorned Beetle 2015 New State Report Eradication Programs in the United States (Excerpted from USDA APHIS news releases from March This year we have one submission for new state reports. and April 2015. See
May 2015 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V60 (1&2) M E S MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org 14 Michigan Pollinator Pollinator Initiative. Funded through the Sickle Community Farm queen-rearing College of Agriculture and Natural Re- operation, the president of the Ann Arbor Initiative sources, and housed in the MSU Entomol- Backyard Beekeepers Club, the District 2 ogy Department, the Michigan Pollinator representative for the Michigan Beekeep- Meghan Milbrath Initiative is a new program designed to ers Association and the founder of the Department of Entomology coordinate pollination related activities on Northern Bee Network. 1129 Farm Lane, Room B18 campus and partner with groups around There have been a few changes at Michigan State University the state to protect pollinators, and provide MSU already, such as consolidation of all resources for beekeepers, land owners, and East Lansing, MI 48824 extension materials related to pollinators Email: mpi@ growers of pollination dependent crops. at
May 2015 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V60 (1&2) M E S MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org 15 MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY NONPROFIT ORG. U. S. POSTAGE PAID East Lansing, MI Department of Entomology PERMIT NO. 14 Michigan State University 288 Farm Lane East Lansing, Michigan 48824
Volunteers Needed to Survey for the 50 years. We cannot reach Karner Blue Butterfly our goal without the help of volunteers! In 2006, we did not Heather Keough, District Wildlife Biologist have the help of volunteers Baldwin/White Cloud Ranger District, Huron-Manistee and were only able to moni- National Forest, PO Box D, Baldwin, MI 49304 tor about 300 acres of KBB Email: [email protected] habitat, but now with volun- teers we monitor close to 1000 The Baldwin/White Cloud Ranger District of the Huron-Manistee acres per year! In addition, Surveying for adult KBB National Forest is once again seeking volunteers to help conduct volunteers have helped im- Karner blue butterfly (KBB) surveys and help plant nectar species. prove over 100 acres of savanna habitat! KBB is listed as a federally endangered species and is found We are currently looking for volunteers to assist with surveys in savanna habitats in western Lower Michigan. KBB can be between mid-June and mid-August and to help plant native nectar found in oak openings, oak barrens, oak-pine barrens, and pine species in September. There are opportunities for individuals of barrens. Savanna communities have declined over the past cen- all skill levels to participate. Training will be provided. Inter- tury due to reforestation, fire control, and the process of natural ested parties can volunteer for succession. Many plants a day, a few days, or a week and animals, including or more. Reimbursement for KBB, depend on these mileage may be available upon communities. In an request. effort to recover KBB If you or someone you populations, the Huron- know is interested in Manistee National Forest participating, please contact plans to restore and me by phone (231-745-4631 x maintain 20,300 acres 3111) or email. Field of lupine in bloom, the only Karner blue on lupine of savanna over the next larval food plant of KBB
May 2015 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V60 (1&2) 16 MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org M E S