ALG News - Volume 2: Issue 1 ALG’s Favorite by Doug Macaulay Recently a question arose as to Charley Bird: “ I go along with the images you have shared of what my favorite species of John.” ( c. gloveri ) them. I probably don't even was. At first I had know of the existence of what Fall 2006 Chris Schmidt: “…maybe not no idea. I never realized how one day I will think is the much thought needs to go into attractive in the conventional most beautiful or otherwise Lepidoptera sense, the wing- a question like this. So I favorite one. But, if I just go Erannis tiliaria started off with a list of ten less Erannis ( ) with moths in my growing females out right now are cer- worthy candidates. Once I 'virtual' collection, I'll vote for finalized this list after hours of tainly plain old weird !” the ' Autographa ' moths as a scrutinizing my favorite in- Gary Anweiler: “ I had to group - and so far Syngrapha sects I decided to base my really think about this one microgamma as the most fa- choice on appearance and how because - as dear old mom vorite of them. But others that intriguing it was. An hour or used to say - they are ALL my have struck me as extraordi- two later I decided my favorite favorites. BUT - I think it is narily pretty include Sicya two were Geina tenuidactyla , the first spring pink form of macularia , Mesothea incer- a wonderful little Pterophorid, the Dogwood Thyatirid, tata , funebris and and the elegant Dysstroma If Polychrysia I'm going to esmeralda . vote based on the juvenile After making and adult as a my own deci- 'team', then in sion, I wondered my collection what moths it is Orgyia other ALG antiqua and members would it's toothbrush choose. I sent caterpillar. I'm out an email intrigued by query, and re- the nomina- ceived the fol- tion of Poly- lowing re- chrisia esmer- sponses: alda I John Acorn: searched long “My friend Bill and hard for Abler frequently Hyalophora columbia gloveri voted ALG member’s favorite the ID of this reminds me of (photo Doug Macaulay) familiar del- his deep love of phinium balluca (formerly Euthyatira pudens muncher and finally Ernest Plusia balluca ), a vaguely MMMMMMM mmmm MM. Mengerson revealed it's name iridescent green noctuid. But And it is not even a noctuid!” to me (It was to be included in for sheer "what moth im- my garden bug book - and to presses you most-ness" I'm Nora Bryan: “ How can one do so required a name). This is choose? I like all the nomina- personally shameless - our the only caterpillar I have tions so far, (the Erannis til-

OF THE best, in my opinion, is Hyalo- reared, because I wanted to iaria is cool in a kind of phora c. gloveri !” see the moth.” creepy way) and I remember (Continue d on page 3)

Inside this issue:

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER Special points of interest: LepTree News Article 2 • ALG’s Favorite Moths • 2007 Wolley-Dod Award 3 LepTrees 4 • New Moth for Alberta ALG NEWS NEWS ALG “I get high on butterflies” • Poetry Beaverhill Natural Area Butterfly Count 4 • Butterfly Count Results Upcoming Events 4 Page 1 ALG News Volume 2, Issue 1

LepTree by Amanda Roe, Susan Weller, Cyndy Parr, and Charlie Mitter Lepidoptera are an easily rec- from donations of identified, preserved out the preliminary LepTree website at ognized, charismatic group of organ- material, an extraordinary resource will http://leptree.net , and please send us isms, but currently many of their evolu- be available to the research community. your feedback or recommendations on tionary relationships are shrouded in how to improve the website. If you mystery. This is all about to change. Finally, an illustrated, interac- have any comments, or would like tive on-line glossary of morphological This year our research community re- more information about becoming in- ceived an Assembling the Tree of Life structures will be developed that will volved with LepTree, please contact allow new enthusiasts to learn the com- (AToL) grant from the US National Charlie Mitter, Cyndy Parr, Amanda Science Foundation to explore the rela- mon descriptive terms for all the life stages (and their synonyms in the older Roe or Susan Weller. tionships among Lepidoptera. This AToL project, now called LepTree, is a literature!). We will have on-going The LepTree Core team: discussions about homologies of prob- community-based initiative that is de- Mike Cummings (phylogenetic compu- signed to promote scientific exchange lematic structures. Contributions to the glossary will be coordinated by a net- tational methods) of lepidopteran knowledge, and im- [email protected] prove our understanding of their taxon- work of morphological/taxon special- ists (aka Twig Leaders), and their in- omy and evolutionary relationships. Don Davis (morphology and super- volvement is key to the success of Lep- family initiatives; taxon sampling The most important aspect of Tree. Check out who is in charge of and specimen acquisition for molecu- LepTree is community involvement. your favorite groups and volunteer to lar study) [email protected] An impressive collective knowledge help your Twig leaders. already exists among lepidopterists, Akito Kawahara (assistant coordinator and by tapping into this resource, we for specimen acquisition) kawa- will be able to lay a foundation for fu- [email protected] ture Lepidoptera research and promote Conrad Labandeira (conduct review of large collaborative projects. An inter- lepidopteran fossil record) laban- active website ( http://leptree.net ) and [email protected] database of current knowledge will be a “one-stop-shop” for all things Lepidop- Charlie Mitter (overall coordinator, tera. The website will host discussion chief contact for questions/problems) boards, protocol lists (everything from [email protected] pinning techniques to molecular meth- Cyndy Parr (web site design and biolo- ods), specimen exchanges, project di- gist-web team liaison) rectories, links to other Lepidoptera [email protected] resources, and up to date accounts of other LepTree initiatives (e.g. molecu- Jerry Regier (generation of DNA se- lar results). This website will be the It is hoped that these projects quences and alignments) will empower a virtual Lepidoptera key link between all other LepTree [email protected] projects, and is essential to promoting community that will outlive LepTree itself and provide a foundation for the Amanda Roe (assistant coordinator for international community involvement. next generation of Lepidopterists. superfamily initiative) To expand our knowledge of [email protected] So are you wondering how lepidopteran relationships, a molecular Susan Weller (coordination of mor- “backbone” phylogeny from 26 nuclear you can be involved? Great!!! We are constantly looking for submissions to phology and superfamily initiatives) gene sequences will be used to build a [email protected] phylogeny for lepidopteran families expand the LepTree website. We need your recommended links to great web- and superfamilies. In conjunction with So where are we now? After nearly a the sequencing project, a collection of sites. Protocols, such as a good moth year of work, the LepTree project has baiting recipe or tricks of the trade for identified, preserved Lepidoptera speci- come a long way. Below is a brief list mens is being assembled (called Alco- photographing butterflies, would be of some of our accomplishments over most welcome. We are also looking hol Tubes of Lepidoptera, or ATOLep the past year. for short). This material is available to for snazzy pictures of both adults and larvae to decorate the website. We Molecular Project Updates: researchers around the world for DNA sequencing. Detailed protocols for would be particularly grateful for any Bombycoids: 70 species representing identified, preserved specimens that collecting molecular quality specimens all families and most subfamilies, for is outlined on the LepTree website you would be willing to contribute to 4-5 genes (6000 bp). the ATOLep collection (for detailed (http://leptree.net/collecting_protocols ). instructions, please contact Charlie Macrolepidoptera: all but one of the By expanding this frozen collection (Continue d on page 3) Mitter). We encourage you to check

A LG NE W S Page 2 ALG News Volume 2, Issue 1

(“ALG’s Favorite Moths,” continued from page 1) chosen a critter I have collected here.” How does it live where it does (barren scree slopes at high alti- Felix Sperling: “ One of my favorites is tude)? Why is it so rare (lack of still Hyalophora c. gloveri , just like collection sampling?)? Etc. Etc. John and Charley, in part because find- Etc. My favorites will always be ing one when I was child was a sort of the unknowns. Incidentally, it epiphany for me. But now I think that does not seem to have a common the "pushup moths" ( Caloptilia fraxi- name. So, I propose (entirely in nella or any of its kin) are even cuter jest) that H. sordida should have than the big furry saturniids. There are the common name of "Nora's just so many truly wondrous moths to Squished Tiger moth". Based on choose from, each with their own spe- Holoarctia sordida (photo Nora Bryan) her photo of this year (to the best cial charisma! of my knowledge) the only photo Thomas Simonsen: “Since I haven't col- of this moth in a "natural setting" lected that much in Alberta myself, I “There are just so and "behaving naturally". (Right, won't limit the list to those, but just to it is dead and squished/squashed. what's been collected in the province. many truly wondrous What else would you expect it to Well, I am a micros man, so first I was be doing?)... "Nora's squashed thinking about the Rostrolaetilia tiger moth" could also work. (Pyralidae) Gary collected last year, and moths to choose from” NSTM for short.” then the Acanthopteroctetes collected by So after this flurry of emails it Charley, both not only new to the prov- Dave Lawrie: “ If I had to choose my Hyalophora ince but also scientifically very impor- favorite it would still be an Alberta looks like columbia gloveri- the Glover’s Silk Moth - tant. But no, I have to let my heart bug, Holarctia sordida. There are so choose: the hepialid Sthenopis purpuras- many unanswered questions about this is ALG’s favorite moth. cens ! And that even means that I have thing and so few known specimens.

(“LepTree,” Continued from page 2) 2006 Wolley-Dod Award took a bit of sleuthing by he and I by Greg Pohl to pin down the probable identity. superfamilies for 4-5 genes (6000 bp). This group is in need of revision, Lower Ditrysia: 32 species, for all 26 Each year ALG presents the Wolley- so it can't be identified with cer- genes. Dod Award for the "most significant tainty without examining the type. Lepidoptera discovery of the year" in However, we know it's Antispila , An additional 200 species in progress Alberta. For 2006, this was a tough and we're fairly certain it's either ATOLep Collection Holdings : decision; we had discoveries of new A. aurirubra , or an undescribed species for Alberta in the , species near aurirubra. Thanks to 105 Families with 8000 specimens in Sesiidae, Pyralidae, and heliothine Noc- Jason and Allison for adding this >1600 genera tuidae. However, the winner goes to to our knowledge of the Alberta Morphology Workshops new Albertans Jason Dombroskie and lepidoptera. It's a beautiful little Allison , for discovering a new moth with metallic green wings Upcoming : family of moths for Alberta, the and white markings; the picture, Homology Challenges in the Lepidoptera Heliozelidae. They collected a speci- taken Tree of Life Symposium and Workshop men of under (Entomological Society of America Antispila artificial Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, IN Dec. near or = lighting, aurirubra 13 th 2006) doesn't do at dusk in it justice Lepidopterists’ Society Annual Meeting, Edmonton at all. Bakersfield, CA July 2007 this past There are Past: spring. currently Jason re- 57 fami- Morphology Homology work- members lies of shop (Lepidopterists’ Society Annual seeing the Lepidop- Meeting, Gainesville, FL 2006) moth in near or = tera flight, Antispila aurirubra Superfamily Network Template work- known in shop (Lepidopterists’ Society Annual standing Alberta, with two more expected, out to his trained eye as a moth among Meeting, Gainesville, FL 2006) the Tischeriidae and Incurvarii- a swarm of midges. He knew right dae. away that it was an Antispila , but it

A LG NE W S Page 3 ALG News Volume 2, Issue 1

I get high on Beaverhill Natural butterflies by Joe Area Butterfly Count Rosenblatt (from ‘Til All the by Allicia Kelly Stars Have Fallen’) Not surprisingly, Alberta is home to sev- submitted by Gloria J. Brons eral North American Butterfly Associa- I get high on butterflies; tion (NABA) Counts-- a one-day census the way they loom in the air of the butterflies sighted in a designated count circle. The Butterfly Count at and land on air-domes Beaverhill Butterfly Count Participants Beaverhill Natural Area returned in 2006 of petals after a four year hiatus (previous counts (left to right): Jim Beck, Ed Cameron, and with nervous wings Barb Beck, David Lawrie, Claudia occurred in 1996 and 1998-2001). This year the butterfly chasing began at the shake off their colours Cameron, Jessica Bennett, and Erik of orange, Ligtenberg. Not in photo: Katie Cam- Beaverhill Bird Observatory and fin- ished sweetly at Mom’s Ice Cream shop green and blue…. eron and Allicia Kelly (BBO summer in Tofield. Since the count was held I get high on butterflies; staff) during the height of the Northern Cres- their very names: cent abundance there was no lack of Tiger swallow tail butterflies! The Natural Area was Zebra Upcoming Events swamped with Northern Crescents and White Admirals, and a short side trip to Pygmy blue • Ferelia Festival 2007 to be held on Arctic skipper February 17th, 2007 in Edmonton. the wet roadside areas beside Anise For more information visit ALG Creek revealed an early Grey Copper Spring azure and a Peck’s Skipper. Sixteen species Common wood nymph. website. and 629 individual butterflies were docu- Caught in the net of my mind • “ All the Flutter” held at Edmonton mented in the area that was surveyed. they whirl around Valley Zoo on March 25th, 2007. and around…. For more information visit ALG This event was also the first time 4 of the website. 9 participants had ever swung a butterfly net; it’s a great way to introduce people • Chief Editor: Doug Macaulay The 2007 Annual Meeting of the to the excitement of the Lepidoptera Lepidopterists' Society to be held in world! Join a count next summer or start Bakersfield, California on July 12- Additional Editors: 15. For more information visit Lepi- your own. Go to http://www.naba.org for more information. Jason Edwards & Gary Anweiler dopterists' Society website.

What is the ALG? THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE ALBERTA The Alberta Lepidopterists' Guild (ALG) is a non-profit society made up of LEPIDOPTERISTS’ GUILD amateur and professional Lepidopterists. Our objective is to support and en- courage the study and appreciation of Alberta Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths). We coordinate research projects, facilitate the exchange of informa- tion among members, and host events where people can collect and look at Lepidoptera and exchange information and ideas. We have an elected execu- tive, and hold at least one annual general meeting to handle society business. We also host a members-only electronic bulletin board, and numerous scien- tific and social events throughout the province. To contact or join us, you can Alberta is a province in western Canada which includes a diverse range of reach the ALG President habitats, including mountains, boreal forest, and prairie. Over 3000 species Greg Pohl at: of butterflies and moths are thought to live here; so far about three-quarters [email protected] of these are known. daytime phone: (780) 435-7211 We’re on the Web! Visit us at http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/uasm/alg/

Page 4 ALG News Volume 2, Issue 1