Volume 33, No 2 Winter 2014

Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada

Vol. 33(2) Winter 2014

The Newsletter of the BSC is published twice a year by the Biological Survey of Canada, an incorporated not-for-profit group In this issue devoted to promoting biodiversity science in Canada, particularly Editorial...... 2 with respect to the Arthropoda.

Information on Membership ...... 3 New BSC President’s Update ...... 4 Website launched! New BSC Website: check it ...... 5 out! ...... 5

BSC Symposium at the ESC Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands: ...... 6 Project Corner: Arthropods Seeking contributions for of Canadian Grasslands: .....7 Vol. 5! ...... 7 Special Feature: Rearing parasitoids...... 8

Museums of Canada Series: Ronald R. Hooper Special Feature: Entomology Collection, Royal José L. Fernández-Triana describes how we Saskatchewan ...... 12 can explore biodiversity through rearing parasitoids...... 8 Biota of Canada Project ...... 16 Museums of Canada Series: Recent papers in the Cory Sheffield introduces us to the Ronald R. Canadian Journal of Hooper Entomology Collection at the Royal Arthropod Identification Saskatchewan Museum ...... 12 ...... 17

BSC FAQs...... 18 Biota of Canada: Project synopsis A new initiative of the BSC and your chance to get Requests for Material.....20 involved...... 16 FYI and FAQs about the BSC: Notices ...... 21 BSC President Dave Langor answers questions about the Biological Survey and the Biological Survey Foundation ...... 18

Visit our Website | Previous issues Contact us: [email protected] Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 2

Editorial: Small Steps Forward Donna Giberson

This is an exciting time for the BSC, as we continue to tweak and improve our updated website, wrap up our long-running Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands project with a proprosal for publication of a final (5th) volume, and continue to forge ahead onthe new Biota of Canada project. Consider getting involved, either at the Board level or as a member of one of the subcommittees that will be formed in the next year to help move If you haven’t yet looked up the new website, consider doing so, and send us your comments on what works, and of course, if there are any little bumps in navigating the site. 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/

We’re very pleased to welcome our new Student Liaison member to the Biological Survey of Canada: Erin Campbell at the University of Alberta. Stay tuned for future issues where we hope to focus on student work on Canada’s biodiversity.

To subscribe to the listserve or to view the archives go to http://www.mailman.srv.ualberta.ca/mailman/listinfo/canadian-arthropods

Questions? Please contact us at [email protected]

Tiger beetles on Blooming Point Beach, PEI. Photo: D.Giberson

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]) or Dr. Doug Currie ([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 33(2) Winter 2014 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 non-profit, charitable organization consisting of biodiversity scientists across the country, 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 organizational 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, Jade Sav- age (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 Dr. J. Savage, 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 33(2) Winter 2014 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 4

Winter Update: Biological Survey of Canada/ Commission biologique du Canada activities David Langor, Northern Forestry Centre, Natural Resources Canada, Edmonton, AB

Dear Colleagues and Friends:

I am pleased to provide a brief update on the activities and accom- plishments of the BSC covering the last six months.

Yippee…after much searching, I am happy to report that we now have a student representative on the BSC Board. Erin Campbell was appointed to the Board in November. She just finished up her B.Sc at the University of Alberta and also worked with Nature Alberta for almost two years as the Bird Conservation Program Manager, where she ran citizen science-based programs and was involved in public science education. She is just starting a M.Sc program at the University of Alberta where she will work with Felix Sperling on species delimitation in Speyeria butterflies. Welcome to the gang, Erin!

Volumes 3 and 4 of the Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands book series are selling well. Don’t forget to pick up copies of these superb volumes for your library. Dan Johnson (University of Lethbridge) has kindly agreed to take the lead on development of Volume 5 which will focus on diversity and systematics, as did Volumes 3 and 4. If you would like to contribute a chapter to this book, I invite you to contact Dan (dan.johnson@ uleth.ca) as soon as possible.

The Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification recently released two new volumes: Volume 26 – An Illustrated Identification Key to Assassin Bug Subfamilies and Tribes (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) by Weirauch et al. (2014) and Volume 27 – Key to Forensically Important Piophilidae (Diptera) in the Nearctic Region by Rochefort et al. (2015). Check them out! If you are developing manuscripts that would be suitable for this peer-reviewed journal, please contact the editor, Steve Marshall ([email protected]).

The BSC is happy and proud to have organized another popular symposium, Oppo- site ends of the time scale - ancient and recent changes in insect diversity, for the 2014 Joint Annual Meeting of the ESC. Thanks to Greg Pohl and Cory Sheffield for organizing this symposium and to the authors of the 9 papers presented. The BSC is now soliciting proposals for its symposium scheduled for the 2015 JAM in Montreal. If you have a suggestion, please let us know as soon as possible by sending an email to [email protected].

The Biota of Canada (BoC) Project continues to progress steadily on three fronts.

First, we continue to explore strategic partnerships with other organizations to establish a broader support foundation for this project, both strengthening existing connections with the National General Status of Species in Canada Working Group and Canadensys and recently initiating conversations with the Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution and NatureServe Canada.

Second, the BoC Working Group, chaired by David Shorthouse and comprising a diverse assemblage of respected biodiversity experts across Canada, has made great progress with developing a ‘White Paper’ that scopes out the content, functionality and practical management of a Biota of Canada product. When the White Paper is finished early in 2015, it will be circulated broadly within the Canadian biodiversity community for feedback, so be on the lookout for this in the next couple of months and please get involved by providing constructive feedback. Finally, a part-time term employee (Laura DeHaas)

Volume 33(2) Winter 2014 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 5

has been very active in connecting with taxonomic experts and mining all information sources to develop updated species richness estimates for Canada for animals, plants and fungi. This contributes to Environment Canada (General Status reporting) needs as well as to the BoC initiative. Laura is developing a compendium of key information sources about Canadian diversity, spreading the news about the BoC initiative through her numerous contacts, and inspiring new people to get involved.

The BSC is a bottom-up organization that brings people with complementary biodiversity interests together to enable new initiatives that help us gain better knowledge of the rich biotic resources of Canada. The BSC is only as good as its contributing members, so we need you to join up (no cost) and get involved. We love to welcome new people and new ideas. You can be a contributor or a leader…there is something for everyone who has interest in biodiversity issues.

Finally, a huge ‘shout-out’ for Donna Giberson who has put together another great newsletter. Please consider contributing something to future issues of the Newsletter. Tell us about your favourite organisms, an ongoing biodiversity project, provide commentary on a ‘hot-button’ issue or share any other biodiversity-flavoured news. The deadline for the next issue is May 15, 2014. Please contact Donna ([email protected]) if you have something you would like to contribute. Publishing in the BSC Newsletter is a stepping stone to fame and fortune (after my last contribution, I won a free coffee when I Rrrrolled-up- the-Rim).

See our new look! The Biological Survey of Canada/ Commission biologique du Canada has a new website http://biologicalsurvey.ca/

The BSC has been working to update our website for many months now, with a goal of refreshing the look of the site, and also making it more interactive. This sounds like a fairly straightforward process, but in fact, it proved to be quite time-consuming and complicated, as the volunteer members of the Board considered what the site should include and present. Most recently, Jade Savage has been working closely with web designer Jon Elofson to implement the changes, and the new site should also be easier to update, making it easier to manage over the long term.

Volume 33(2) Winter 2014 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 6

2014 Biological Survey of Canada Symposium 2014 Entomological Society of Canada meetings, Saskatoon, SK

The annual BSC symposium was held in conjunction with the joint annual meeting of the Entomological Society of Canada and the Entomological Society of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Sept. 28 - Oct. 1, 2014.

The symposium was held on Tuesday, Sept. 30, between 08:30 and noon, and was fol- lowed by the Annual General Meeting of the BSC. See below for titles and presenters.

Symposium: Biological Survey of Canada - Opposite ends of the time scale - ancient and recent changes in insect diversity Moderators: Greg Pohl, Cory Sheffield, and Rob Longair

08:30 Greg R Pohl, John H Acorn: Recent changes in Lepidoptera diversity in the Prairie Provinces

08:45 Cory Sheffield:Conservation status of bees in the Prairie Provinces – why are they at risk?

09:00 Kevin D Floate: The changing diversity of dung beetles on the Canadian prairies: a never-ending story

09:15 Hector Cárcamo, Lloyd Dosdall, Owen Olfert, Scott Meers, John Gavloski, Scott Hartley: Recent changes in insect communities associated with agricultural systems in the Prairies

09:30 Véronique Martel, Rob Johns, Deepa Pureswaran, Louis de Grandpré, Jacques Régnière: The spruce budworm parasitoids: variation in their diversity

09:45 Rémi Hébert: Using the program on the General Status of species in Canada to track changes in insect conservation

10:30 Darren A Pollock, Neil J Holliday, and Anita Stjernberg: A Century of Carabidae of Aweme, Manitoba

10:45 Ryan McKellar: Changes in western Canadian insect diversity, as revealed through the fossil record

11:00 David Shorthouse: What do accessible occurrence data and checklists tell us about species diversity in Canada?

The BSC is soliciting proposals for its symposium scheduled for the 2015 JAM in Montreal. If you have a suggestion, please let us know as soon as possible by sending an email to [email protected]

Volume 33(2) Winter 2014 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 7

BSC Project Update: Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands Volumes 3 & 4 available for purchase or download Opportunity to contribute to Volume 5!

Do you like grasslands? Do you like arthropods? If you answered “yes” to both questions then we have a wonderful opportunity for you! Dan Johnson is currently organizing contributions for Volume 5 of the Arthropods of Grasslands book series. As with Volumes 3 & 4, Volume 5 will focus on diversity and biosystematics. Publication date for this volume will hopefully be 2016 Your contributions are welcome. Please contact Dan Johnson at [email protected]

Volumes 3 and 4 in the Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands series available for purchase or download.

The Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands series is one of the main outcomes from the large Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands project of the BSC. With the publication of the series, the BSC hopes to increase awareness of the plight of Canada’s grasslands, to draw atten- tion to its associated arthropods, and to provide a baseline reference to support future studies of arthropods in these environments. The first two volumes focused on the forma- tion and extent of native grasslands and subsets of their associated arthropods (Vol. 1) and arthropods in agro-ecosystems (Vol. 2). Volumes 3 and 4 provide more of a systematic treatment with checklists and ecological/distributional information for >8,000 species in a variety of grassland insect groups.

Individual chapters are available for free download on the new Biological Survey of Canada Website ( http://biologicalsurvey.ca/monographs/read/17 ).

Hard-copy books may be ordered through Volumes Direct via http://www.volumesdirect.com/SearchResult.aspx?KeyWords=Arthropods%20of%20Cana- dian%20Grasslands

Volume 33(2) Winter 2014 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 8

Special Feature: Rearing parasitoid wasps from caterpillars: Dreaming about a nationwide effort in Canada

José L. Fernández-Triana Research Associate, Canadian National Collection of Insects, Ottawa and Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, Guelph

A case for rearing parasitoids These days it is relatively common to find kits to raise butterflies from caterpillars. School teachers use it for Science classes. Nature lovers do it for the fun of rearing the larvae and seeing the beautiful adults emerge and fly. Persons interested in protecting significant species make an effort to raise and release them in the wild, while also promoting the growth of native host plants (monarch butterflies and milkweeds being the best known example in North America). Kids simply love insects and are always fascinated to see the whole ‘cycle of life’ at display: from eggs to caterpillars to pupae and then adults… what could be possible ‘cooler’ than that? Well, some would argue that there is something even ‘cooler’. And that involves one step further and up in the food chain. It is the rearing of the caterpillar parasitoids. Welcome to the new fashion trend (Fig. 1). Of course, rearing parasitoids from caterpillars (and other insect hosts) is nothing new. It is routinely Figure 1. Sabrina Westra, one of the most done by researchers studying forest and agriculture enthusiastic collectors of caterpillars in pests, is an important component in biological Ottawa (now in Fort Vermilion, Alberta) control programs (e.g., Mason & Huber 2002), and wears a ‘parasitized caterpillar’ costume for a Halloween party. Expert taxonomists sometimes also a key component of biodiversity would agree that the caterpillar belongs inventories (Janzen & Hallwachs 2011). Entomological to some hawk moth (Lepidoptera: collections hold thousands of specimens obtained in Sphingidae) and the white cocoons look that way, providing a unique window to the fascinating like those of Cotesia sp. (Hymenoptera: and complex relationships between hosts and their Braconidae, Microgastrinae). [Photo parasitoids. courtesy of Sabrina Westra].

Tiny beauties Yet, there is so much more that could be done now, so much room for improvement. For example, there is basically no involvement of amateur entomologists or regular citizens in these kinds of efforts. People are keen to raise a monarch butterfly from a caterpillar. But…a parasitoid wasp? Not so much. There are unfortunate misconceptions, such as the fear of parasitoid wasps ‘stinging’ (this is probably due to the association of the word ‘wasp’, in spite that parasitoid wasps do not actually sting). Also, it is more difficult and time consuming to rear parasitoids from caterpillars than it is to raise butterflies. And the smaller size of the parasitoids, usually looking like a 3 mm or less ‘speck of dust’, is not competition to a colourful and much larger (usually several centimeters) butterfly. But unfounded fears, differences in body size or perceived ‘beauty’, and logistic challenges to rear parasitoids from caterpillars should not deter enthusiasts. Especially, and this is the main bonus, because there is so much new information to be uncovered if persevering! We barely know 5–10% of the parasitoid wasp species, and much less of their biology (for example, what caterpillar each uses as a host), or their distributions. Even in Canada we know, at most, half of the parasitoid wasps that exist in the country. There are hundreds of new species waiting to be discovered, some of them literally in our backyards!

Volume 33(2) Winter 2014 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 9

Amazing opportunities to find ‘new’ species It is always amazing to see people willing to spend a cool morning with binoculars trying to see some elusive bird that has rarely (or never) being recorded for a particular site. Or wander around some muddy areas counting butterflies or dragonflies that are supposed to live there (e.g., http://www.ontarioinsects.org/counts.htm). And, when they spot that bird or butterfly, there is so much satisfaction in realizing it is an additional, sometimes new record for the locality. People enjoy that a lot, and rightfully so. Thus, it is quite common to find lively and strong Nature clubs, birders groups, butterfly associations, all over the country, gathering records of species for particular areas. Countless websites are devoted to this (e.g., http://www.e-butterfly.org/contents/?portal=ebutterfly), and the ‘hobby’ of these many enthusiasts is the gain of scientists and conservationists that can use that wealth of information to better understand and protect species in our beautiful country. What is stopping us, Canadians lovers of Nature, to engage in similar studies and enjoyment of other, smaller but not less fascinating beasts? Well, perhaps what is missing is some ‘marketing’ of those other possibilities, and some simple strategies to pursue those other avenues of research… In this article I want to share a ‘dream’ (although some may instead call it a ‘crazy idea’) about a nationwide effort to promote the rearing of caterpillar parasitoids. What would it take to make it happen? And what would it contribute to our knowledge of Canadian biodiversity?

Your ‘how-to’ guide for rearing parasitoids For starters, rearing parasitoids from caterpillars is not rocket science. It is basically similar to rearing butterflies from caterpillars, feeding the larvae with the host plant until they pupate. If a caterpillar is not parasitized, you will end with a butterfly (or a moth). If a caterpillar is parasitized, you will end with one or several parasitoids (wasps or flies) (Fig. 2). There are many online resources that explain how to raise caterpillars, and some of them also mention how to deal with their parasitoids. I have written a simple guide to those activities (http://microgastrinae. myspecies.info/content/simple-guide- collecting-and-rearing-caterpillars-and- their-parasitoids) but there are many more sites that can be consulted by the interested reader. The equipment and technology to do this is very simple and cheap (Fig. 3). The challenges that present are sometimes interesting, funny… or gross, J osé L. Fernández-Triana depending on the personal sensibilities Figure 2. Two potential outcomes of rearing caterpillars. (Figs 4-9). The outcome depends on the amount of effort – parasitism rates in nature are rather low, and it is usually difficult to know, just by looking, if a caterpillar taken in the wild is or is not parasitized. The only way to ‘guarantee’ obtaining parasitoids is to persevere and collect and rear as many caterpillars as possible. But whenever a parasitoid is recovered, chances are great that it will represent a new bit of information that was previously unknown. It could be a new host/parasitoid association, a new species record for

a locality or province, or even a wasp José L. Fernández-Triana species new to Science which needs to be Figure 3. Plastic containers used to rear individual described. And it can easily be all of the caterpillars, and plastic bags keeping leaves from the host plant that will feed the caterpillars.

Volume 33(2) Winter 2014 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 10 José L. Fernández-Triana José L. Fernández-Triana

Figure 4. Several larvae of parasitoid wasps of Figure 5. White, small cocoons of the braconid the family Eulophidae (red arrows) have killed parasitoid wasp Apanteles sp. are hidden inside a caterpillar and the result is an amorphous of a rolled leaf. The wasp larvae killed and ate a gelatinous mass on a leaf. After a few days the caterpillar, and then used its shelter to protect tiny (approximately 1 mm) wasp larvae will them during the days it took the wasp larvae to pupate and would later emerge as adult waps. pupate and then become adults. José L. Fernández-Triana José L. Fernández-Triana Figure 6. An Isabella Tiger Moth caterpillar has Figure 7. A pupae of Pterophoridae (Lepidoptera) used its ‘hairs’ to cover its pupae and protect looks like an alien ready to attack. itself. Unfortunately for this specimen, it was not enough, as a tachinid fly had parasitized the caterpillar and emerged a few weeks later. José L. Fernández-Triana José L. Fernández-Triana

Figure 8. Some caterpillars can poop a lot… And Figure 9. An empty cocoon of the braconid leaves can also get mouldy (center picture). parasitoid wasp Meteorus sp. hangs underneath a leave found in Petri Island, Ottawa, Ontario.

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above at the same time. The sky is the limit (of new information of relevance to Science) when rearing parasitoids (Fig. 10).

Considerations before Collecting and Rearing Before ‘going bananas’ on caterpillar hunting and rearing, though, here are some important considerations that must be observed. Obviously, collecting caterpillars (and any other species) in protected areas is not possible without special permits – and should not be tried unless part of scientific research projects where all the paperwork has been Figure 10. An alternative explanation done. Also, it is not recommended that the raised species (tongue-in-cheek) on how the rearing (be it butterflies/moths or their parasitoids) are released of parasitoids might have originated. into different areas of those where they were collected. And, for the parasitoid specimens to be studied, they need to be properly preserved and vouchered, ideally in recognized entomological collections of the country.

Figure 11. The microgastrine wasp Pseudapanteles gouleti was first discovered in a small urban garden of Ottawa. It was described as a new species in 2010, and since then has been proposed as a potential species of interest to COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada). In that same small garden of approximately half hectare almost 70 species of microgastrines have been found so far. Microgastrinae is a group of parasitoid wasps specialized in attacking caterpillars of many families of Lepidoptera.

But, even if just collecting caterpillars in one’s own backyard or garden, new information will still be found (Fig. 11). And no special permit is needed to release the raised butterflies or moths back to the same habitat where they were collected. Groups of people interested in serious rearing of caterpillars can be of tremendous help to researchers (e.g., Farnworth 2014). As for the parasitoids you obtain, once preserved, they can be donated to institutions where experts can study them further. For example, you can submit your specimens and host information to the National Identification Service (NIS) (http://www.canacoll.org/ NIS/NIS.html) and the taxonomists at the Canadian National Collection of Insects (CNC) will identify them and add them to their database of parasitoid/host information. The CNC receives thousands of specimens every year from growers, private industry, the Canadian public and numerous government agencies. The NIS/CNC play a key role in identifying and understanding our native biodiversity and threats that may destabilize it. Increasing the amount of information available about parasitoids of caterpillars is of immense use for agriculture and forestry research, for biological control projects, for biodiversity inventories and much more. It is also another way to look at, learn about, and respect nature by examining these frequently overlooked, but very beautiful and interesting representatives of the insect world.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author is grateful to every person that sends braconid parasitoid wasps to the CNC for identification, especially those reared from caterpillars. Keep collecting and keep helping us to understand our amazing diversity!

REFERENCES Farnworth, T. 2014. Caterpillar hunting: update on AAFC’s parasitized caterpillar project. The Fletcher Wildlife Garden Newsletter, September/October 2014, page 2, http://www.ofnc.ca/fletcher/newsletter/ SeptOct2014.pdf Janzen DH, Hallwachs W. 2011. Joining inventory by parataxonomists with DNA barcoding of a large complex tropical conserved wildland in Northwestern Costa Rica. PLoS ONE 6(8): e18123. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0018123 Mason, P.G. and Huber, J.T. 2002. Biological Control Programmes in Canada 1981-2000. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, Oxon, UK, 583.

Volume 33(2) Winter 2014 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 12

Insect Collections in Canada Series:

Ronald R. Hooper Entomology Collection, Royal Saskatchewan Museum

Cory S. Sheffield, Curator of Invertebrate Zoology Royal Saskatchewan Museum 2340 Albert St., Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 2V7

Figure 1. Sign on the door of the Life Sciences cocoon at the Research, Exhibits, and Collections Building of the Royal Saskatchewan Museum which contains the Ronald R. Hooper Entomology Collection.

he “provincial museum” was established in 1906 with the mandate to “secure and preserve natural history specimens and objects of historical and ethnological inter- Test.” It was the first museum in Saskatchewan, and the first provincial museum in the three Prairie Provinces. On its founding and until 1927, the museum was managed under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture, with one staff member, T.N. Willing, who also served as the Chief of Weeds and Game. In 1911, Fred Bradshaw (the Chief Game Guardian) took on responsibilities for the museum for a period of almost 2 decades; in 1928, he became the first full-time director of the museum. In the first 40 years of its existence, the museum’s collections moved several times within Regina, initially housed in the Regina Trading Company Building, and then the Provincial Legislative Building. In 1912, a severe tornado caused significant structural damage to the Legislative Building which damaged/destroyed much of the museum’s collection. The collection was subsequently moved to the Normal School, and in 1913, Bradshaw hired H.H. Mitchell, the museum’s first full-time employee who contributed greatly to the re-growth of the natural history collection in the early 1900s. Many of Mitchell’s specimens are still in the RSM collection today. Interestingly, in the same year that Mitchell was hired (1913), the museum became known as “The Provincial Museum” in an official context. During this time period until World War II, the collections were always on public display. During World War II, the museum’s collections were moved from public display at the Normal School and placed into storage at the General Motors Building; the Normal School was re-purposed for training for the Commonwealth Air Training Plan. This arrangement was short-lived, and one year following, the collections were moved to the Pilkington’s Glass Company Building (the General Motors Building was needed to assist

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production for Canada’s war effort). Unfortunately, the storage conditions were not ideal at the Pilkington’s Glass Company Building. The collections were subject to freez- ing temperatures, occasional flooding, and the continuous threat of insect infestation. During this period, many specimens of Lepidoptera were damaged or destroyed due to the collapse of some of the cabinets since the extreme cold affected the glue holding the cabinets together. In 1944, the collections were moved out of storage and were placed back on display at the Normal School by 1945. Up to this point, the museum had been under the management of four separate provincial departments: Agriculture (1906-1927), Railway, Labour and Industries (1928- 1934), Natural Resources (1935-1944), and then Reconstruction and Rehabilitation (1945-1949). By this time, it was well appreciated that the Norman School was not suitable for the museum collections and activities. By the early 1950s, the collection was back under the management of the Department of Natural Resources (later becoming Tourism and Renewable Resources) (1950-1975), and with the aid of the lobbying efforts of the Regina Natural History Society and the Saskatchewan Archaeological Society, the Government of Saskatchewan decided a new museum building was needed. Construction of a permanent museum building began in 1953 as a Golden Jubilee project to mark Saskatchewan’s 50th anniversary in confederation. The new museum, the Saskatchewan Natural History Museum (SNHM), opened on May 16, 1955, providing for the first time, large areas of gallery space, laboratory facilities, work areas, and office and storage space for the new staff. This building is still used today, though mainly for galleries, public programing, and museum administration; in 1985 the collections were moved from the museum building to the museum annex (now the Research, Exhibits and Collections Building), a building kitty-corner to the museum. In 1993, the Saskatchewan Natural History Museum (SNHM) officially became the Royal Saskatchewan Museum (RSM) during a visit by Queen Elizabeth II. Upon my arrival at the RSM in June 2012, the Life Sciences unit had put much effort into digitizing the natural history collection, including most of the invertebrate zoology holdings that had built up over the last century. At this time, there were 82,780 insect and 3,629 arachnid specimens catalogued, and the holdings consisted largely of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera (Table 1), the two orders in which Ron Hopper was mostly interested. Ron Hooper was employed by the museum from 1964 until 1996 (Figure 1), though he was involved in activities with the museum long before (since 1953), and

Figure 2. Royal Saskatchewan Museum entomology collection yearly acquisitions (bars), and cumulative growth (line and symbols) per year prior to, during, and after Ron Hooper’s time at the museum.

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Table 1. The number of databased specimens in the Royal Saskatchewan Museum’s Invertebrate Zoology collection from 1902 until 2010, including the relative size of each insect order (%), and the number of specimens not identified at the present.

Order No. of % of No. of Specimens Specimens Collection not Identified

Arachnids 3,629 4.21 Odonata 1,609 1.87 Ephemeroptera 64 0.07 64 Plecoptera 70 0.08 50 Dermaptera 69 0.08 64 Orthoptera 1,388 1.61 4 Hemiptera 5,514 6.40 259 Thysanoptera 11 0.01 10 Megaloptera 8 0.01 8 Neuroptera 229 0.27 87 Coleoptera 31,763 36.87 340 Lepidoptera 35,362 41.05 426 Trichoptera 1,202 1.40 647 Diptera 4,228 4.91 2,911 Siphonaptera 1 0.00 Hymenoptera 498 0.58 49 Unplaced 500 0.58 500 Insects

Total 86,145 5,419

long after his retirement. Between the 1950s and 2010 (though largely in the 1970s) (Figure 2), Hooper added tens of thousands of insect specimens to the RSM’s collection: 52,780 databased specimens and counting. There are several thousand specimens collected by Hooper that are not yet databased, so these total will grow substan- tially. However, during Hooper’s time, another museum employee, curator Keith Roney, also made significant contributions to the growth of the invertebrate zoology collection, adding almost 10,000 specimens. One of the first duties I took on as Curator of Invertebrate Zoology upon my arrival at the RSM was to replace the existing cabinets and drawers in which the entomology collection was housed (Figure 3a). With support from the federal Museum Assistance Program (MAP) and the RSM, the entomology collection was transferred into new “museum standard” unit trays, drawers (Figure 3b) and cabinets (Figure 3c). These purchases also accommodate the expected growth of the collection. The entomology holdings have increased significantly, largely due to the large collection (~50,000 specimens, mostly Hymenoptera) that I brought with me, but more so due to the RSM’s 2013 season long “bioblitz” (Figure 2; post-Hooper). The 2013 bioblitz employed 8 full-time students that were partnered in 4 groups of 2, and stationed at Grasslands National Park, the Great Sandhills (near Leader), the Big Muddy Valley, and in Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park. We have only just started to process this material (an estimated 100,000 specimens), and thus far have databased about 15,000 specimens of aculeate Hymenoptera.

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Figure 3. A) An old entomology drawer of “non-standard” dimen- sions containing moths without unit trays. These were recently replaced by B) new U.S.N.M. style drawers and unit trays, and C) metal entomology cabinets at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum. Cory Sheffield

The major topic of my taxonomic research will be bees and other Hymenoptera, with ecological studies of pollination and diversity. Taxonomic research is strongly supported at the RSM, with its investment in a Digital Imaging System capable of photo- graphing even the smallest insect parts (Figure 4). The RSM has set a goal of being a Canadian centre for studies on bees and pollination, and will continue to build the entomology collection to meet this objective. As a research scientist and curator, I expect to have an active research program that will not only Cory Sheffield increase our understanding of hymenop- Figure 4. The Digital Imaging System at the Royal teran diversity in western Canada, but Saskatchewan Museum, equipped with studio lighting, a motorized lift, and a digital SLR camera interfaced will add to the museums entomological to a computer. holdings. Saskatchewan offers many opportunities for entomological inquiry, and in the near future, our entire entomology collection holdings will be available online. The RSM also recently hired Dr. Ryan McKellar as Curator of Invertebrate Paleontology. Through his studies of Canadian amber, Dr. McKellar is in the process of building a fine collection of amber inclusions to support his research, generating a lot of excitement for both potential research and exhibits projects. The RSM is now prepared to have very productive research programs in entomology, spanning the provinces geological history up to the present. Through our close ties with the University of Regina, including teaching duties, co-supervision of graduate students, and the initiation of the RSM Graduate Scholarship in 2014, we hope that these efforts will encourage research and future collaborations with the RSM.

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Re-cap of the new Biological Survey of Canada initiative THE BIOTA OF CANADA: A CENSUS OF CANADIAN SPECIES The diversity and importance of cies in Canada is an achievable goal Canadian species. that is foundational to meet interna- In 1995, it was reported that about tional obligations (e.g., Convention on 71 000 species, spanning all 6 King- Biological Diversity Aichi Targets) and doms of life, were known from Canada fully implement the Canadian Biodiver- and that an additional 68 000 spe- sity Strategy. cies are likely to occur (Mosquin et al. 1995). Human health and prosperity The Biota of Canada project: are intimately dependent on (or im- An ambitious proposal pacted by) biota and the economic, The Biological Survey of Canada ecological and social bounty that spe- (http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/ cies provide. Consequently, knowledge bschome.htm) is building a consortium about the biota among which humans of partners to launch a new project to live and interact with is of importance develop a comprehensive and easy-to- to Canadian society. For some taxa access census of species diversity in such as plants and vertebrates, recent Canada. This project aims to collate, lists of Canadian species and their summarize, analyze and disseminate distribution are readily accessible. to the general public both new and Nonetheless, there are still enormous already existing information about the information gaps, particularly concern- species diversity of Canada. The Biota ing hyper-diverse groups such as inver- of Canada project is inspired by, and tebrate animals, bacteria and fungi that will be somewhat modelled after, an are relatively poorly studied in spite of earlier BSC project that culminated in their influence on human health and the publication of Canada and Its Insect prosperity. Clearly, much remains to be Fauna (Danks 1979). However, this discovered (and disseminated) about new initiative will expand its coverage Canada’s biota. At this time we do not beyond terrestrial arthropods to all even have an inventory of which spe- species in Canada and build an open- cies live in Canada. access, web-based dynamic product Our capacity to respond to and pre- that can be updated continuously and dict societal emergencies and services into the foreseeable future. To avoid involving other species requires de- duplication of effort, existing informa- tailed understanding of how we interact tion and data sources will be linked to with those species and the roles that the Biota of Canada project, while other they play in the ecosystems on which information and data will be compiled we depend. Detailed study of all spe- de novo as part of the project. cies in Canada is likely not achievable or affordable in the lifetimes of current Consult http://biologicalsurvey.ca/ Canadians, however, a basic inventory pages/read/the-biota-of-canada for a including information about the known complete version of the Biota of Canada distribution and functional roles of spe- vision document.

You are needed! This is an opportunity for you to become involved in this project and have an influence on its design, content and functionality. Please send your feedback either via email to David Langor ([email protected]) or by using the SurveyMonkey questionnaire available at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/N8D58PP

References: Danks, H.V. (Ed.). 1979. Canada and its insect fauna. Mem. ent. Soc. Can. 108. 573 pp; Mos- quin, T. Whiting, P.G. & McAllister D.E. 1995. Canada’s biodiversity: the variety of life, its status, economic benefits, conservation costs and unmet needs. Canadian Museum of nature, Ottawa, ON. 293 pp.

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Biota of Canada: Next steps

Watch for the following activities that are planned to set the ground- work for the project:

• Advertising the project vision and opportunities for involvement to the widest possible audience of front-line biodiversity scientists and biodiversity informatics specialists;

• Providing opportunities for an open sharing of ideas about the construction, content and functionality of this project;

• Initiating conversations with other organizations (government entities, ENGOs, biological societies, and projects) towards the goal of developing a consortium of partners and a strategic approach to ensure relevance and viability of the project; and

• Exploring opportunities for direct and in-kind support.

Already the word is spreading about this new initiative and the team is rapidly expanding. The future is ripe with possibilities and Canada has the opportunity, expertise and innovative capacity to build a biodiversity information architecture that will serve our national needs and set a global standard for the management and application of biodiversity information.

Recent papers in the Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification:

Weirauch, C., Bérenger, J.-M., Berniker, L., Forero, D., Forthman, M., Frankenberg, S., Freedman, A., Gordon, E., Hoey-Chamberlain, R., Hwang, W. S., Marshall, S. A., Michael, A., Paiero, S. M., Udah, O., Watson, C., Yeo, M., Zhang, G., Zhang, J. 2014. An Illustrated Identification Key to Assassin Bug Subfamilies and Tribes (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification No. 26: December 10, 2014. Available online at http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/ejournal/wetal_26.html http://dx.doi.org/10.3752/cjai.2014.26

Rochefort, S., Giroux, M., Savage, J., Wheeler, T.A. 2015. Key to Forensically Important Piophilidae (Diptera) in the Nearctic Region. Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification No. 27: January 22, 2015. Available online at http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/ejournal/rgsw_27.html http://dx.doi.org/10.3752/cjai.2015.27

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FYI and FAQ Biological Survey of Canada/ Commission biologique du Canada Dave Langor, Northern Forestry Centre, Natural Resources Canada, Edmonton, AB

This section is intended to answer questions about the operations and membership of the BSC. This is of concern to the Directors as there has been considerable effort invested over the last three years to clarify and communicate these issues and seek broader involvement in the BSC. The purpose of this article is to pose and answer frequently asked questions concerning the BSC.

1. What is the BSC?

The BSC is grass roots network of biologists that has been in existence for almost 35 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. How does the BSC (Biological Survey of Canada) differ from the BSF (Biologi- cal Survey Foundation)?

The BSF was created before the BSC became a charitable organization. The BSF is a charitable organization that was created to accept proceeds of sales of BSC publications and donations for BSC activities. The BSF then invests its funds for supporting new BSC publications. In 2012, the two organizations agreed to merge, with a commitment to continue using the funds previously held in the BSF for publication and related activities. This merger should be accomplished soon.

3. 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 Canadians 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 [[email protected], 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)

4. Is the BSC strictly for entomologists?

While it is true that entomology and arachnology have been the main focus of the BSC over its 35 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, millipedes, centipedes, protists, plants, lichens and other groups are welcome to join the BSC and diversify our suite of activities.

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5. 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 35 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, blog, Newsletter, etc.).

6. Does the BSC have meetings?

The Board of the BSC meets monthly by conference call and has frequent email communication. Thus the Board can deal quickly with new issues as they arise. Each year, during the Joint Annual Meeting (JAM) of the Entomological Society of Canada, the BSC holds its Annual General Meeting (AGM), thus providing an opportunity for members to connect and discuss important issues. As well, during each JAM the BSC hosts a symposium on a topic relevant to its activities and mandate. This provides additional opportunity for members and non-members to interact.

7. 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, Treasurer, and Communications Officer. Direc- tors and Officers need not be members of the BSC, although to date most have been. 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 2013 AGM). Members do not vote for officers…they are determined by vote of the Directors at the first business meeting following the AGM.

8. 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.

9. 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 indirect 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 ([email protected]), and a Director or Officer will quickly contact you with an answer. In the meantime, please check out the web site of the BSC, which continues to be updated, and this may provide answers to your questions, or generate new questions.

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Requests for Material or Information Invited The Biological Survey of Canada Newsletter traditionally served as a forum to encourage cooperation in taxonomic and ecological studies of the arthropod fauna through publishing requests for material or information that might be obtained by someone elsewhere in Canada. If you have a request that you would like to see in the newsletter, please send it to: Requests should clearly indicate that Owen Lonsdale, PhD they are for the Biological Survey of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Canada Newsletter, and be made by K.W. Neatby Building, Central Experimental Farm, the end of November for the Winter 960 Carling Ave., Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0C6 issue, and by the end of April for the E-mail: [email protected] Summer issue.

CANADIAN AGROMYZIDAE. Canadian specimens of the genera Liriomyza and Phyto- myza (Diptera: Agromyzidae) are welcome for ongoing revisions, particularly if these are associated with host plant rearing records. All other specimens of Agromyzidae are also welcome, as these will eventually be used for similar treatments in this series. Please contact Owen Lonsdale ([email protected]). NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR ARTHROPODS Do you have specimens of terrestrial arthropods from the province of NL in your collection? As part of the BSC project on the Terrestrial Arthropods of NL, we would like to include as many existing records as possible in our survey efforts. We are especially interested in Coleoptera and Lepi- doptera, but all Classes and Orders of terrestrial arthropods are of interest. Please contact David Langor, [email protected] CARABID BEETLE DATA SETS As part of a synthesis of the structure of carabid beetle assemblages in North American forests, we are looking for those who are willing to share datasets from sampling of carabids in forests (undisturbed or undisturbed by natural or man-made means). We are especially interested in data sets that include an entire season of activity. Information on assemblage composition, relative abundance of species and temporal (seasonal) patterns of change is desired. Depending on the degreee of contribution and involvement in the synthesis, there is the possibility of co- authorships. Please contact David Langor, [email protected]

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Notices

Volumes 1 through 4 of the Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands series available on line and for purchase

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

To download chapters: http://biologicalsurvey.ca/monographs/read/17 To purchase copies, go to: http://www.volumesdirect.com/SearchResult. aspx?KeyWords=Arthropods%20of%20Canadian%20Grasslands

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Entomological Monographs

As you may have noted in the article on the Canadian National Collection of Insects in the Winter 2011 issue of this newsletter, the Entomological Society of Canada has received per- mission to publish 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 2015 or 2016 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 2010 bioBlitz on p. 7 of Vol. 29(2), or other issues of the newsletter. If you are interested in organizing a BioBlitz for the upcoming summer, please contact the Biological Survey of Canada: [email protected]

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Add Your Voice: Biological Survey of Canada Blog

The BSC is looking for input into the the future and role of the BSC. The discussions from the the AGM in Halifax in 2011 continue on the BSC blog, set up to provide a forum to facilitate wider community discussion. Whether or not you are a member of the BSC we would like to encourage you to visit this site and add your ideas and opinions as the BSC moves ahead in redefining itself.

See http://biologicalsurvey.wordpress.com/

... and Don’t forget: The BSC has a listserve that acts as a convenient bulletin board for items related to surveying arthropods in Canada. If you are not already a member, think about joining it and using it.

http://www.mailman.srv.ualberta.ca/mailman/listinfo/canadian-arthropods

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 represent- ing all areas of biodiversity science, though with a focus on Arthropods. - We produce a newsletter twice per year, and 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 Secretary (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 Dr. J. Savage, 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.

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