Newsletter of the Michigan Entomological Society
Volume 59, Numbers 3 & 4 December 2014 Inside this Issue: 61st Annual MES Meeting: June 26-28, 2015 MES Historical Notes ... 18 Angelica J. Pytel, President-Elect Department of Biology, Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, MI 49242 Successful Dragonfly Society of the Americas Annual Meeting ... 19 The 2015 MES annual conference will take place on June 26-28, 2015 at the G.H. Gordon Biological Station and Rockwell Lake Lodge (http://www.therockwelllake- Balsam Woolly Adelgid lodge.com), located in Lake County approximately 25 miles southeast of Cadillac, Quarantine in Michigan ... 20 MI. This is the largest private college biological station in Michigan, combining an active research station with a functioning resort and conference center. Urban Entomology ... 20-21 The property features a 50-acre lake with good fishing. There are kayaks, canoes, and other boats available for attendees to use free of charge. The property Gus Howitt 1919-2010 ... 21-22 also contains a small creek, upland forest, meadows, and various types of wetland habitats. There are also several miles of interpretive hiking trails. Insect collecting Poetry: “Name Game” ... 23 is encouraged. Elegant rooms for 1–2 people at the Lodge will be available (which Northern Blazing Star ... 24-26 includes breakfast). Beds in the cabins are also available for a much more modest price. Meals can also be purchased in any combination from the Lodge. All MES Governing Board Minutes 27 lodging options include free Wi-Fi. Look for more specific registration details that will be mailed to all members and will also be found on the MES Website in the MES Annual Meeting Abstracts near future. Our keynote speaker will be Dr. R. Ed DeWalt of the Illinois Natural History and Pictures ...28-35 Survey. Ed will be speak on his past and future modeling efforts of aquatic insect Request for New State Insect distributions based on climate change and other factors. We hope to see you at this year’s meeting. We encourage submission of oral Records ...36 and poster presentations on any topic related to entomology. Undergraduate and graduate students are especially welcome and there will be cash awards for the top MES Website Update ... 36 student presentations. For more information, contact Angelica Pytel by phone at The MES Newsletter is (517) 607-2582 or by Email at
December 2014 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V59 (3&4) M E S MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org 17 2014-2015 Officers of MES MES Historical Notes Robert A. Haack, Newsletter Editor President...... David Stanton 1989 – 25 years ago. In early 1989, Phil Watson was President; ...... [email protected] Dick Snider was President-Elect; Ken Kraft was immediate Past- President-Elect...... Angie Pytel President; Mo Nielsen was Executive Secretary; Dick Fleming, ...... [email protected] Gary Dunn, and Mark Scriber were the three Members-at-Large; Mark O’Brien was Journal Editor; and Bob Haack and George Immediate ...... Martin Andree Heaton were the Newsletter Editors. The 35th MES Annual Past President...... [email protected] Meeting was held on 2-3 June 1989 at Hidden Lake Gardens near Tipton, MI, with the evening banquet held at the Hatha- Secretary...... Adrienne O’Brien way House in Blissfield, MI. Ken Christiansen from Grinnell ...... [email protected] College in Iowa was our guest speaker who spoke on “Caves as Treasurer...... David Houghton Natural Evolutionary Laboratories.” There were 11 additional talks at the annual meeting that addressed hop vine borer biol- ...... [email protected] ogy, mate choice in tiger swallowtails, the Cerotoma complex, Member-at-Large (14-17) .. Mark VanderWerp gypsy moth control, Galapagos insects, urban drosophilids, mosquito attractants, harvestmen, silk moth host relations, forest ...... [email protected] insects along an acid rain gradient, and colletid bee nest archi- Member-at-Large (13-16)...... Julie Craves tecture. Other stories that were featured in the MES Newsletter dealt with the monarch butterfly overwintering site in Mexico by ...... [email protected] Bruce Giebink, and the pear thrips, a new exotic pest of maples Member-at-Large (12-15)...... David Cuthrell from Europe, by Bob Haack. Entomology Note #20 on acorn ...... [email protected] insects by Charles Williams was published in 1989. Annual dues Journal Editor...... Therese Poland were $8 per year for active members, $4 for students, and $20 for libraries. Journal page charges were $30/page. There were ...... [email protected] 438 members in good standing and 158 library subscriptions at Associate Journal ...... Anthony Cognato the close of 1988. Editor...... [email protected] 1964 – 50 years ago. In early 1964, Stanley Gangwere was Associate Journal ...... David Houghton President, Mo Nielsen was President-Elect, David Cook was Editor...... [email protected] immediate Past-President, and Julian Donahue was the Execu- tive-Secretary. The 10th annual meeting was held at Michigan Associate Journal ...... Ronald Priest State University in East Lansing on 28 March 1964. The annual Editor...... [email protected] meeting was held in conjunction with the Michigan Academy Associate Journal ...... Daniel Swanson of Sciences annual meeting. Eleven MES talks were presented on such topics as stable flies, 4-H entomology, acridid grasshop- Editor...... [email protected] pers, potato tuberworm, cicadellids, katydids, water mites, June Newsletter Editor ...... Robert Haack beetles, non-target pesticide effects, and forest floor arthropods...... [email protected] Feature articles from the 1964 MES Newsletters covered sub- jects like bumblebees and mites by Robert Husband, entomolo- Webmaster ...... Mark O’Brien gists and plants by Ed Voss, and advances in black lighting by ...... [email protected] John Newman. In 1964, MES dues were $2 per year for regular members and $1 for students, the Society had a balance of $374, Current Annual Dues Schedule and there were 76 members. Student (through Graduate School)..... $12.00 Active ...... $25.00 Notice: Check out the websites of these two Institutional ...... $45.00 Michigan Butterfly Associations for upcoming Sustaining...... $35.00 meetings and field trips: Life ...... $500.00 ISSN 1554-2092 Southeast Michigan Butterfly Association http://www.sembabutterfly.com/
West Michigan Butterfly Association http://www.glsga.org/wmba.htm
December 2014 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V59 (3&4) 18 MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org M E S Dragonfly Society Annual species of Odonata, including a Meeting Held in Northern number of new county records still to be tallied, were found Wisconsin through the week. This meeting celebrated Ken Tennessen the 25th anniversary of the PO Box 585, Wautoma, WI, 54982 DSA and was held in conjunc- Email: [email protected] tion with the 3rd meeting of the Wisconsin Dragonfly Society Good weather, good food, and really (WDS), providing opportunity good dragonflies set the stage for fun and for emerging odonatologists to success at the 25th annual meeting of the meet and discuss mutual inter- Dragonfly Society of the Americas (DSA) ests with some “old-timers.” held in northern Wisconsin June 11–18, On June 14 (luckily the only 2014. Nearly 100 people (Fig. 1) from 25 totally cloudy-windy-rainy day states and Canada attended the week-long the entire week), the group met event. Field trips led by Bill Smith, Robert inside the Ladysmith Public Li- DuBois, Denny Johnson, Ryan Chrouser brary for the business meeting, and Ken Tennessen to the Eau Claire, presided over by President-Elect Chippewa and Flambeau rivers, plus the Chris Hill of Coastal Carolina Figure 2. A male of Cordulia shurtleffi, a fairly common Vilas County lake region, provided University, and for the scientific northern corduliid, photographed in Oneida County, opportunities to see 24 species of presentations. Sixteen 20-min. Wisconsin, by Ken Tennessen, 17 June 2014. gomphids, including several rare species talks covered topics such as were curious about what we were doing, of Ophiogomphus with restricted distribu- taxonomy, phylogeny, life history, and when meeting some of the dragonfly tions. Outings to several wetland/peatland migration, and the landowner/odonate enthusiasts, they were anxious to tell them habitats, including an un-surveyed fen landscape. That evening, a delicious ban- how abundant the mosquitoes were this (dubbed Ken’s Fen) in the Flambeau River quet was catered by a local restaurant, plus spring (not new news to us, all bit up, by State Forest, turned up a number of Cor- a silent auction was held that netted over the way) and how after the dragonflies duliidae (Fig. 2), including some “lucky- $1400 to support DSA’s website finally showed up in June, the numbers of to-find” species such as Williamsonia (OdonataCentral) — a fitting ending to a mosquitoes declined. Some people were fletcheri and five species of Somatochlora. long day. also concerned about “the dragonflies,” Also found here was an aeshnid that is Wearing our new t-shirts (Fig.3), we commenting that the number they were sparsely distributed in Wisconsin, Gom- sort of “stood out” in the small northern seeing in some areas appeared to be much phaeschna furcillata. In all, adults of 84 Wisconsin communities. Many local folks lower than in years past.
Figure 1. Attendees of the 25th Annual Meeting of the Dragonfly Society of the Americas, held in Figure. 3. T-shirt sold at the 25th Annual Ladysmith, Wisconsin, 11-18 June 2014. Photo by Steve Valley. Meeting of the DSA
December 2014 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V59 (3&4) M E S MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org 19 Urban Entomology: What this article will share what Rose’s clients the pest. A paper out this past November (primarily residing in the States of MI, found bed bugs to be competent vectors Services Homeowners and IN, and OH) have been buying for the first of the often undetected and potentially Businesses Purchase in the three quarters of 2014. deadly trypanosome that causes Chagas’ Great Lakes Region disease; it’s still too early to see if that will be a game changer. Public Health Pests. When it comes Mark VanderWerp BCE to protecting public health the control Rose Pest Solutions, 1130 Livernois Rd, of mosquitoes, ticks, rodents, and sting- Troy, MI 48099 ing insects (mostly yellow-jackets) are Email: [email protected] of prime importance. However, when looking at our production numbers by We view insects as a blessing, an im- these target pests they are fairly minor mensely complex rainbow of biodiversity categories. Taken together, jobs specifi- that can only bestow wonder, mystery, and cally for the public health pests make up excitement; not to mention inexhaustible about 5-6% of our production. (It should scientific inquiry! If insects were some- be noted that recurring clients, namely how horribly removed from the face of “commercial PC” and “home service,” get the planet we would be at an indescribable Bed Bugs. You’ve heard that they’re rodent control included and many also re- loss (not to mention the ecological disaster back, but how big of a deal are they re- ceive stinging insect coverage at no extra that would ensue). I suppose that’s what ally? They’re big! Rose did its first bed charge, so these numbers are deceptively makes entomologists special, as much of bug job (since the resurgence) in 2002. low.) But this does indicate that very few the general public is quite comfortable Since then it has grown at an unbelievable homeowners call us specifically to deal with doing away with any and all insects rate and now comprises about 12% of our with rodents, mosquitoes, ticks, or sting- found on their premises! Perhaps that is annual revenue! The rate of growth in ing insects. This is probably attributable an overstatement, as public consciousness this market has slowed but shows no signs to the fact that all of these pests have con- is beginning to register remorse over bee of disappearing anytime soon. There are trol products including repellents, knock- declines and feels sympathy towards cer- a number of products that work against down aerosols, and baits that are widely tain charismatic endangered species, like bed bugs, but all require skill and thor- available and specifically marketed to the oughness to achieve control. There is no the Karner blue butterfly. general public. It will be interesting to indication of any silver bullets that would Of course, there are plenty of bona- dramatically simplify or lower the cost of fide pest species that should be controlled treatment coming out of any university or in the urban environment in the interest industry that is researching the pest. With of protecting public health and property, the general public’s current mistrust of and preventing other economic losses. pesticides, this blood-sucking ectoparasite Rose Pest Solutions, my employer, has might be here to stay for a while. Interest- been doing just that since 1860, making ingly, bed bugs had not been considered it the oldest pest management company medically significant and many health in the United States. The remainder of departments were reticent to deal with
Balsam Woolly Adelgid Quarantine – On June 24, 2014 Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) established a quarantine to protect Michigan’s fir (Abies spp.) trees from balsam woolly adelgid (BWA, Adelges piceae), an exotic pest that has caused the death of millions of fir trees in NorthAmerica. The BWA quarantine generally prohibits the shipment of fir nursery stock and fir timber products into Michigan from infested states. Fir nursery stock and forest products from non-infested areas are allowed, although they must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate indicating the place of origin. Cer- tain low risk fir products are exempt, including Christmas trees and wreaths and heat-treated timber products. The quarantine also allows fir seedlings grown under an active pest management program to be shipped into Michigan. The BWA quarantine imposes strict restrictions on shipment of true fir species Abies( spp.) into Michigan from infested US states and Canadian provinces. a. Currently known infested states include California, Idaho, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia. b. Infested Canadian provinces include British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. Fir products exempt from the provisions of this quarantine include fir forest products with the bark removed, forest products with bark attached that have been heat treated or treated with wood preservative compounds, seeds and cones of fir species, and compos- ted or shredded fir bark and mulch. Additional information about the BWA quarantine is available at
December 2014 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V59 (3&4) M E S MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org 20 see what the future of rodent control will type of behavioral resistance that is emerg- bring as the EPA has recently cancelled ing to these bait products that use glucose as the registrations of 12 rodent control an attractant—or, as momma cockroaches products manufactured by Reckitt call it, kids that are picky eaters! Undoubt- Benckiser, the maker of D-con, that will edly, cockroaches will again rise to promi- impact their availability beginning in nence in the future as they become harder to control with easy to use baits. 2015. When working with insects it’s always Cockroaches. Once the dominant an interesting and dynamic experience; no group of insects of the pest management doubt there will be plenty of surprises ahead world, cockroaches are now scarcer in for us, 154 years of experience, or not! homes and businesses. When a problem does arise it can generally be handled with less effort and less expense nowadays thanks to a variety of very attractive commercially available baits. Through September 2014, they have only comprised 0.5% of our business. However, they are considered a “covered pest” for commercial and home service clients so this number is lower than the actual effort that we expend for them. If anyone has been keeping up with the cockroach literature you have certainly heard of glucose aversion, which is a Rose Pest Solutions production by target pest during January – September 2014. The total number of jobs was 26,200.
Dr. Angus “Gus” J. Howitt, with the Royal Canadian Air Force in working on the Pioneer in Applied Tree Fruit a patrol bomber searching for German control of pests submarines from 1939 until the war ended such as sym- Entomology: 1919 - 2010 6 years later. As part of the Canadian GI philids. In 1955, Bill, he obtained his bachelor’s degree Gus the boxer David Biddinger from the University of Guelph in biol- married Eva Mae Fruit Research & Extension Ctr. ogy in 1949. For those that knew Gus, Delaney, a figure Pennsylvania State University it is of no surprise that he helped put skater, who PO Box 330. Biglerville, PA 17307 himself through school as a middleweight remained the Email: [email protected] boxer with no losses in 30 fights. He still love of his life remained feisty and ready to take on all until she died 38 comers well into his 70s. He moved to the years later. They Dr. Angus J. Howitt, orn in a farm house without electric- B U.S. to obtain his Master’s degree in ento- had one daugh- Director of the Michigan ity or running water on February 9, 1919 mology from Montana State University in ter, Colleen Cal- State University Trevor in Guelph, Ontario, Gus served in WWII 1951 researching the biological control of lahan, who gave Nichols Fruit Research Farm & professor of rangeland grasshoppers. In only 2 more him two grand- Entomology (mid 1970s) years, he earned his Doctorate in entomol- daughters. ogy at Kansas State University in 1953. His tree fruit career began in 1960 That same year he accepted a faculty posi- when he accepted a faculty position in the tion at Washington State University where Department of Entomology at Michigan he worked on vegetable crops developing State University (MSU) and established host plant resistance breeding trials and the Trevor Nichols Research Complex at Fennville. The station was about 2.5 Gus Howitt standing next to a plum tree being hours away from the MSU campus, but evaluated for cambium-feeding damage by where it needed to be in the heart of the the American plum borer in 1987. Note the fruit industry where fruit growers had bark peeled away to examine the dark injured daily access to Gus and where he could cambium layer beneath.
December 2014 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V59 (3&4) 21 MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org M E S station soon afterward, Gus continued to build facilities and capabilities of the sta- tion through grower support and through financial donations for pesticide evalua- tions from the pesticide industry. Receiv- ing a Fulbright Scholarship in 1967, Gus traveled to Uruguay and throughout South America and also to New Zealand, work- William Thompson (MSU Extension), Gus ing with fruit researchers in each country. Howitt, and student Jim Cole examining pheromone monitoring traps (1971). These experiences provided Gus with many adventures with which he loved to work directly in research and grower regale his students and fruit growers with. orchards to find solutions to pest prob- It was often said that the best Gus story, lems and become one of the pioneers in could only be told by Gus himself. His professional awards included the Entomo- Integrated Pest Management in the early Gus examining apple shoots for insect pests 1970s that would optimize pest control logical Society of America Recognition soon after the Trevor Nichols station was while reducing pesticide inputs and Award for Best Applied Entomologist established in 1967. increasing reliance on biological control in North America (1984), Fruit Man of agents. At first, working out of a do- the Year (1983), Pioneer Award from the That was the secret to his success and why nated WWII Quonset Hut with a minimal North American Blueberry Association, the fruit industry loved him so much. Gus budget and relying mostly on research National Cherry Industry Award (1994), passed away peacefully at the age of 91 grants from the fruit industry, Gus began Outstanding MSU Extension Specialist on April 24, 2010 in Glenn, Michigan. planting orchards for applied research Award, and Outstanding Award for Pear His biggest regret was that his golf game programs and then began teaching fruit and Grape Research. never got better after he retired. growers about pest biology and control in Often remembered mostly for his “winter fruit schools” every winter until pesticide work, he also mentored over 30 his retirement in 1989 at the age of 70. A graduate students, many of which were compilation of his notes from those winter encouraged to determine the natural his- classes, as well as results from student tory, monitoring techniques, and natural thesis projects, and pictures from the field enemies of each pest. His love and ap- served as the basis for his book, Common preciation of nature continued throughout Tree Fruit Pests (NCR63 1993), which his life and he passed it on to all those he he published after his retirement in 1989. worked with. That was the legacy with One of the farmers he taught (Trevor which Gus was most proud of. Gus had Nichols) donated 80 acres of his farm to a lively “larger than life” personality and Michigan State University in 1967, which was given to outrageous statements at formed the nucleus of the current 175 times, but his students and fruit grow- acre station which is considered one of ers knew him as a compassionate friend the premier pest management facilities in whose generosity knew no bounds and the U.S. Formally instituted as a research who never hesitated to help those in need. His example to his students, such as myself, who continue to work in applied entomol- ogy, is an inspiration to never lose the joy and excitement of discovering new things in na- ture as we did when we were children, to always use your talents to help meet the needs Gus evaluating a tart cherry tree with a hammer of growers, and to always and chisel for damage by a new cambium- pass on your experiences to feeding pest, the American plum borer, in the a new generation of students mid-1970s. This moth became a serious pest of or growers. He always felt cherry due to the switch from hand harvesting he could learn from growers to the use of mechanical trunk and limb shakers ‘who did this for a living’ and during this period. The hydraulic clamps on never felt superior to them. these harvesters caused the bark to crack and allowed the larvae of this previously insignifi- Gus, George Ayers (Gus’s first graduate student and later on the MSU Entomology faculty), and cant pest access to the inner bark where it feeds Matt Daly (farm manager) outside the research laboratory of the station (circa 1985). in the cambial region and girdled the trees.
December 2014 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V59 (3&4) 22 MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org M E S Name Game
I can’t help making up names for the bugs that I see, not that entomologists haven’t named them properly.
It’s just the way some behave and the way that they look that conjures up names you don’t find in any book.
And this black-n-red odonate, it flits like a butterfly spilling blood from its veins. I named it “The Blood-er-fly!”
Well, I better get going, there’s so many to name -- Like this wild-eyed beetle once you get started, looking somewhat like Frodo, there’s no end to this game bumping into everything, I’ve dubbed it “Crashymoto.”
Ë º . .
– Ken Tennessen 2014
There’s this gray grasshopper that looks like a twig, festooned with fake lichen— [I thank Cary Kerst for the “wild-eyed” beetle photo.] it’s got to be “Fezzywig.”
December 2014 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V59 (3&4) M E S MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org 23 The Northern Blazing Star find any beeriana or nielseni populations in a 2-year survey of pine barrens near Borer, a Possible New Grayling, MI (Crawford County). How- Papaipema Species or ever, the MNFI has found another nielseni Subspecies of population in Otsego County, a short distance from the original sighting. In a Papaipema beeriana recent publication by Metzler et al. (2005), they describe the nielseni population as a Ted Herig “phenotype” of the more typical beeriana 237 East Pine St., P.O. Box 201, Elsie, populations found in Ohio and southern Lower Michigan. MI 48831. Email: [email protected] In the text below I will describe some Typical habitat in Otsego County where the of the differences that I have noticed northern form occurs. Mo Nielsen shown This is my first attempt at describing between the beeriana and nielseni popula- collecting at the site on his last visit in 2012. a possible new species or subspecies of tions based on personal observations in the been found on host plants and on paper moth. It is by no means a final description field and lab. Up until now, all observa- toweling in the laboratory. Ova are reddish -- that will be done by trained taxonomists. tions on the northern (nielseni) population pink in color, if fertile, turning darker a This article is meant to show some of have been lumped with beeriana in the few days before eclosion. Ova diameter: the differences that I have noted between literature. Years ago the late Mo Nielsen slightly smaller, about 0.07 mm. Under two Michigan populations of Papaipema told me of a debate regarding whether the similar laboratory conditions, beeriana beeriana moths separated by hundreds of Otsego population is truly P. beeriana or if ova tend to eclose 2-3 days earlier than miles. The northern population we found it represents a new species or subspecies. nielseni. is in Otsego County, MI, and appears to Larval host. In a 2003 report by the Larva--1st-2nd instars. In nielseni be a small isolated population that shows USDA Forest Service, the wetland species the head capsule is yellowish tan. Protho- distinct differences in habitat, eggs, larvae, Dense Blazing Star (Liatris spicata) was acic shield: pale yellowish with a small and adults. Since my 2010 MES article listed as the preferred host of P. beeriana, vertical black collar. The collar is some- (Herig 2010), I have learned much more and Rough Blazing Star (Liatris aspera) times absent in second instars. Thoracic about the Otsego population by collect- was specifically mentioned as not being legs are black in both instars. Spiracles: ing, rearing, and breeding individuals a host. However, in Otsego County, we small, nondescript but more pronounced in under laboratory conditions. I will refer have consistently reared nielseni from 2nd instars. Prolegs on segments A3-4 are to the Otsego population as the “nielseni” field-collectedLiatris aspera (Herig not functional in the 1st and 2nd instars, population after its discoverer Mogens 2010). but they become functional by the 3rd “Mo” Nielsen, and the populations from Habitat. The typical habitat for the instar. Body color-yellowish orange, southern Lower Michigan as simply the southern form of P. beeriana is wet mead- lighter between segments, all segments “beeriana” populations. Subsequent field ows, swampy areas, around lakeshores have vertical orange-brown bands, unlike work by myself and fellow lepidopterists and stream banks. However, all nielseni other species of Papaipema that have dor- in six Michigan counties near to Otsego populations have been found in dry, sandy sal/subdorsal banding. Segments A3-6 are County did not find anynielseni popula- pine barrens (Herig 2010). Some of the slightly darker than the others, this holds tions. These included surveys in Montmo- common plants found in association with true for the 2nd instar also. No dorsal/sub- rency, Roscommon, and Clare Counties nielseni include white pine, poplar, black dorsal bands. The anal plate is yellowish by Dwayne Badgero; Mecosta County by cherry, choke cherry, juneberry, viburnum, brown, with some black scalloping along Ted Herig; and Montcalm and Crawford blueberry, blazing star (2 species: Liatris the top. Overall length of 1st instar Counties by Mo Nielsen and Ted Herig. aspera and Liatris scariosa, Northern averages about 1.6 mm, and about 6.0 Similarly, in Barry and Clinton Counties Blazing Star), Hill’s thistle, and various mm for 2nd instars. The head capsule on in southern Michigan, I have not yet found species of goldenrod, aster, grass, sedge, nielseni tends to be larger than on beeri- any beeriana populations. and reindeer club moss. ana. Setae: full, but not readily notice- In other surveys, the Michigan Natural Ova. Eggs of nielseni are usually de- Features Inventory (MNFI 2000) did not posited in groups of six or more but single eggs to as many as 50 have been seen on host plants or on paper toweling supplied to mated females in the laboratory. Color: yellowish buff, until a few days before eclosion when they darken to nearly black with a whitish cast over outer covering. Ova diameter: about 1/32 of inch or 0.08 mm. Finely ribbed from top to bottom. Ova of the southern beeriana population are deposited in clusters that are similar to Eggs of southern form (left, reddish) and Adult moth of the northern form. nielseni, i.e., clusters of 2 to 35 eggs have northern form (right, yellowish) December 2014 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V59 (3&4) 24 MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org M E S shield along the sides. yellowish and the anal prolegs are black. Thoracic legs are black. Pupa. As in other Papaipema the Spiracle on T1 is black, pupa is rather long and wine colored. bold. Spiracles on other As is typical of pupal Lepidoptera, wing segments A1-A8 are casings, proboscis, antennae, spiracles black, bold. Setae are are all very visible, and the pupa wiggles visible on all seg- when touched. Color just after molting is ments, the base of setae more orange, whereas in beeriana the new (pinacula) are dark red- pupa is whitish at first, then turning wine dish brown. Anal shield colored. In my rearings, nielseni pupae is yellowish tan, with tend to be slightly larger (22.2 to 24.6 mm weak black scalloping. long) than beeriana (19.1 to 23.8 mm). Body color- pale pasty Both beeriana and nielseni pupate in the Northern form (left) and southern form (right) white between seg- soil near their host or in the root of their of mid-instars. ments, vertical bands light tannish brown host if large enough. with a pinkish hew, especially on 6th Adult moth. The adult nielseni from able, but slightly more visible in 2nd instar larvae. Body length of 5th instars Otsego County, Michigan, are more color- instars. averages about 29.1 mm, and 6th instars ful, and more variable in adult coloration Larva--3rd-4th instars. In nielseni, average about 44.1 mm. than adult beeriana, which are a more head capsule is light reddish tan, mouth- Some differences between 5th and 6th uniform, dark mousy gray/brown with a parts black. Prothoracic shield: yellowish instar nielseni and beeriana include: 1) few adults showing a reddish-brown tint brown, wide black base. Spiracle bold in beeriana on segments A-8,9 10, dorsal on the forewings on occasion but very below shield. 4th instar similar. Thoracic area, base of setae (pinacula) are larger little contrasting color or other markings. legs black in both instars. Spiracles dark and dorsal spots on A-9 merge into a solid There is a spotted form of beeriana known brown almost black, much bolder but area, but do not merge in nielseni; 2) in as P. beeriana form lacinariae, which has even bolder in 4th instars. Setae: D1, beeriana the anal shield on segment A10 white spots in the orbicular and reniform D2, SD1, SV1, SV2 plus others more is black and extends down the outer sides areas of the forewings. The spotted form prominent on their respective segments. of the anal proleg, and the lower portion of comprises roughly 10% of adult beeriana The bases of the setae (pinacula) are proleg is yellow, while in nielseni the anal moths, whereas over 98% of the nielseni deep dark reddish brown in both instars. shield is yellow with no black scalloping, adults have spots. The following text is Body segments T2 through A9 dark pur- and the anal proleg is all black; and 3) the my attempt to describe the nielseni adults plish tan-brown bands, yellowish green prothoracic shield in beeriana has heavy from Otsego County, Michigan. between segments when larvae extend black scalloping on the sides of the shield Head area. Palpus: In nielseni the themselves. Segments A1-A4 are slightly that extends across front of the shield color of the palpus ranges from light darker brown in both 3rd and 4th instars. between the head capsule and prothoracic reddish brown to dark reddish brown and Anal shield- yellowish tan, black scallop- shield, while in nielseni the scalloping is even to a light buff, most have frosted tips ing along top and extending down each less prominent. In addition, the shield in (scales) and some adults have a real hoary side. Body length of 3rd instars averages beeriana is darker red than in nielseni. appearance. Eye: dark blackish brown in about 7.9 mm, and about 15.9 mm for 4th Larva--7th instar. In nielseni the head all color forms of adults. Antennae: bicol- instars. capsule is dark reddish brown, mandibles ored, light gray or buff below, darker red- Some of the differences between black, prothoracic shield is dark yellowish dish brown or buff colored on upper side, 3rd and 4th instar nielseni and beeriana brown, no black scalloping, spiracle T1 also finely haired. Thoracic area: (collar, include: 1) segments A-8,9,10, along is black and bold. Thoracic legs: black. lappet or tegulae) (patagium or shoulder dorsal area, base of setae (pinacula) are The spiracles are bold, black, on segments lappet) and (thorax) are all hairy and can larger and darker brown in beeriana than A1 thru A8. Anal shield is light tan, with be either dark reddish brown, reddish in nielseni; 2) segment A9, pinacula lower almost no black scalloping. Setae: moder- brown, light reddish brown, and even light on the sides merge together on beeriana, ate, pinacula on all segments not colored. buff colored, and some with the frosted but are well separated on nielseni; and 3) Body color is pasty white, and the vertical white (scales) tips. Some adult moths have anal shield segment on A10 is dark black banding is very weak or nonexistent. a hoary appearance and a very prominent on beeriana with black scalloping along Overall body length averages about 44.5 tuft at top of the thorax when the adult the sides that continues to the upper por- mm, but appearance is heavier/stouter. moth is fresh. Legs: all legs hairy; with tion of the anal proleg, lower anal proleg Time from egg hatch to pupation, 80-90 femur the same color as upper thorax. yellow, while on nielseni the anal shield days on average, at room temperature. Wings. Front wing. Color can range is yellowish overall, and the anal proleg is The main differences between 7th from reddish brown, to light reddish all black. (prepupal) instar beeriana and nielseni brown, to light reddish buff, to a nearly Larva--5th-6th instars. In nielseni are that in beeriana the anal shield is all buff ground color. Contrasting colors the head capsule is reddish tan, mandibles black and the anal prolegs are yellowish of darker reds and browns on some adult black, prothoracic shield is dark yellowish with black scalloping extending down the moths at the basal area extending out to tan, with mild black scalloping below the prolegs, while in nielseni the anal shield is the apex, down to the median nervure December 2014 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V59 (3&4) 25 MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org M E S to vein #5. In others the darker mottling may extend nearly to the inner margin. Frosted scaled tips (hairs) are present on some moths but not on others. No basal dash present, reniform center spot lunule tan, others spot’s white and fairly large, but vary in size. Orbicular spot, white and varies in size, with other spots smaller and not always present on some adults near claviform. A few adults have these spots filled with color, usually a reddish Northern form reared from eggs collected in Northern form collected in the field in buff color, making them difficult to notice, Otsego County, MI Otsego, County, MI form (lanei). The PM line is often the only data) provide further support that the and Jim Wiker for comments on an earlier line with distinct contrast, but occasionally nielseni individuals should be considered a version of this paper; and to my devoted the outer margin can be contrasting. A pur- distinct form. and beloved wife, Donna Herig, who has plish cast can be seen on some adults from Briefly, in the cross-breeding studies put up with hours (actually years) of rear- the PM line out to the outer margin. In the conducted in 2012-13 that will be reported ing larvae in our home and at times in the hind wing, the ground color is usually pale in more detail later, I crossed male and refrigerator, and for supporting me on my tan, but can be a darker medium brown, female beeriana individuals from Monroe many collecting adventures. Thanks all! with the outer margin line visible along County, MI, with male and female nielseni with the discal cell mark, which is faint in individuals from Otsego County, MI. I References consulted most adults. Wing length: measured tip to obtained 133 ova from the Otsego male x Bird H., 1923. New life histories, species and varieties tip on spread specimens, is usually 31.8 to Monroe female crosses, and 152 ova from in Papaipema (Lepidoptera) No. 22. The Canadian Entomologist 55:106-109. 41.3 mm in nielseni, whereas in beeriana the Monroe male x Otsego female crosses. wing length is usually 27.0 to 38.1 mm. Bird H. 1925. New life histories in Papaipema (No. After overwintering the ova were set up 23) (Lepidoptera). The Canadian Entomologist Abdomen. Hairy, color ranging from to allow larvae to eclose in spring 2013 57: 303 – 306. light grayish buff, to light reddish brown, using techniques that have been highly Bird H. 1926. New life histories and notes in Papaipema always lighter than the collar lappet and successful in the past for rearing Papa- No. 24 (Lepidoptera). The Canadian Entomologist 58: 249-252. shoulder lappets. In beeriana this area of ipema. Overall, all ova collapsed and the abdomen is mousy gray in color. Bird H. 1927. The fern-feeding species of Papaipema; failed to eclose from the Monroe male x No. 25 (Lepidoptera). The Canadian Entomologist Considering the many life-history and Otsego female crosses, whereas 34 of the 59: 92 – 96. morphological differences noted above 133 ova from the Otsego male x Monroe Forbes WT. 1954. The Lepidoptera of New York and between individuals of beeriana and female crosses eclosed. Most of the 34 neighboring states. Noctuidae, part III. Memoir 329. Cornell Univ. Ag. Exp. Station. 433 pp. nielseni, and the fact that no beeriana- larvae died within a few hours after they like individuals have been collected in Herig ET. 2010. Observations on the Blazing Star Borer emerged, and only 3 were successfully (Papaipema beeriana) in Michigan. Newsletter of Otsego County, suggests that the nielseni reared to adults, which in my experience is the Michigan Entomological Society. 55 (1-2): 15. population represents a new subspecies or typical when crossing different species. Hessel SA. 1954. A guide to collecting the plant bor- species of Papaipema. Back in the 1950s, ing larvae of the genus Papaipema (Noctuidae). Lepidoptera News 8: 57-63. Mo was told by his best friend and mentor Acknowledgments John H. Newman that the nielseni popula- MNFI (Michigan Natural Features Inventory). 2000. I dedicate the eventual naming of this North Camp Grayling Pine Barrens Management tion appeared to represent a new species of moth to my late collecting buddy and Plan. Report No. 2000-02, Lansing, MI. Papaipema and that Mo should describe it. close friend Mr. Mogens (Mo) Nielsen Nielsen MC. 1995. Detecting noctuid borers. Entomol- However, Mo never completed that task. who shared his knowledge of leps with me ogy Notes No. 24. The Michigan Entomological Society Given that Mogens Nielsen made the first during many years and nights of collect- collections of nielseni in 1955 (I have Metzler EH, JA Shuey, LA Ferguson, RA Henderson, ing and turned my interests to Papaipema PZ Goldstein. 2005. Contributions to the under- some of Mo’s specimens from the 1960s moths (of which we both shared a love). standing of tallgrass prairie~dependent butterflies in my personal collection), and for his Thanks Mo! I also thank James Wiker, for and moths (Lepidoptera) and their biogeography in devotion to the study of Lepidoptera and many hours of discussion about this spe- the United States. Ohio Biological Survey Bulletin New Series. 15(1): 1-143. to mentoring amateur lepidopterists, I sug- cies and other Papaipema moths; Dwayne gest that the northern form from Otsego Stehr, F. W. 1987. Order Lepidoptera. 288–305. In: Badgero, for collecting Papaipema Stehr, F. W., editor. Immature Insects. Kendall/ County be named in honor of Mo Nielsen. females for ova, for helping to fill data Hunt Publishing Company. Dubuque. No matter its final status, this topic obvi- gaps in various life history studies, and for USDA Forest Service. 2003. Conservation assessment ously deserves more study to determine sharing collection data from several areas for blazing star stem borer (Papaipema beeriana). Eastern Region of the Forest Service, Milwaukee, the correct taxonomic status. in Michigan; Eric Quinter, who challenged In addition, recent cross-breeding Wisconsin. me to prove that nielseni was possibly a Wyatt, A.K. 1915-1942. The fieldnotes of Alex. K studies (Ted Herig, unpublished data) and new species, and to try to cross breed the Wyatt. Part 11. Noctuidae (in part). Noctuinae to DNA analyses (Dwayne Badgero, Kyle two forms; John Peacock, Tom Carr, Bill Amphipyrinae - personal notes bound and stored by Johnson, and Bob Borth, unpublished Taft, Dwayne Badgero, Kyle Johnson, the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL.
December 2014 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V59 (3&4) 26 MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org M E S MES 2014 Annual Meeting Minutes, Old Business: Ron Priest followed up on the leftover funds th ($500) from an old grant for Michigan state-listed butterfly June 13, 2014, 60 MES Annual Meeting, species which were donated to MSU Entomology museum to be held at Saginaw Valley State University used for supplies. Mo Nielsen’s insect collection has been moved to the MSU entomology collection; his notes and records are Present: The General Membership plus Governing Board with Duke Elsner (MSU Extension). Funds are needed in order Members: Martin Andree, Tina Ciaramitaro, Bob Haack, Dave to house Mo’s extensive Lepidoptera collection at MSU. Mark Houghton, Adrienne O’Brien, Mark O’Brien, Ron Priest, and O’Brien made a motion to approve the idea of MES supporting Dave Stanton. this effort, Adrienne O’Brien seconded, motion passed. The dollar amount will be determined when Gary Parsons has a Reports: better idea of how many more drawers will be needed. The MES Secretary: Adrienne O’Brien - Minutes from the March board would then vote for approval of the specific funds Governing Board meeting at Breaking Diapause were submitted requested. (See update on this page) for review by Martin Andree. Toby Petrice made the motion to approve, seconded by Mark O’Brien, motion was passed. MES New Business: John Douglass suggested an idea to encourage membership has been steady at around 270 individuals and 101 more involvement in MES. His idea is to change the name of institutions. the “Member-at-Large” position to “Board Member,” reduce the term from 3 to 2 years, and elect 2 Board Members per year. Ide- Treasurer: Tina Ciaramitaro - As of June 13, 2014, total assets ally, one of the Board Members would later run for President were $27,128.25. Printing, postage, supplies and insurance ex- Elect, or become involved with another Governing Board penses since Nov. 2013 were $2353 and income during the same position once their term is done. Mark O’Brien made the motion period from membership and institutional subscriptions, GLE to discuss this further at a Governing Board Meeting to decide page charges and payments for copyright was $10,080. Angie if this concept should be brought to a vote by the MES General Pytel made the motion to approve and Dave Stanton seconded, Membership. Adrienne O’Brien seconded, motion passed. motion was passed. Tina will be leaving Michigan and moving to Mississippi and will be unable to carry out the duties of MES Elections: Congratulations to our new Member-at-Large, Mark Treasurer. David Houghton has volunteered to be our new VanderWerp (2014-17) and President Elect, Angie Pytel. Thank treasurer. Thank you Tina and Dave. Your contributions have you to the other candidates who agreed to be on the ballot: Mark been (and will be) huge. O’Brien and Ted Herig. The winners were each decided by one vote. And, finally, thanks to Sarah Smith, Member-at-Large Newsletter: Bob Haack – Bob is working on the Spring News- (2010-13) and Dave Houghton, Immediate Past President, for letter. It will be out in June. This issue will be a tribute to Mo their service to the MES. Nielsen, with several stories and articles. As always, please send stories and notices to Bob. Submitted by MES Secretary, Adrienne O’Brien
Journal: Therese Poland – submissions are down for the Great Updates Lakes Entomologist. The spring issue, volume 47 (1,2) is late New page charge rates started in 2014 for TGLE. If you because there have not been enough papers submitted to fill the didn’t notice, the rates to publish in The Great Lakes Ento- 100 pages needed. It is in the final stages of editing and will be mologist were reduced in 2014. Previously, MES charged printed and mailed soon. The fall issue will be delayed as well $42/page. That rate was changed to $25/page for MES because of the lack of papers. This seems to be a trend for all members, and $40/page for non-members. We hope this scientific journals because there are so many free on-line reduced rate will encourage more people to join MES as well journals now. Therese outlined several options and the need for as publish in The Great Lakes Entomologist. more research before we decide what route to go. Toby Petrice made a motion to set up a publications working group and MES Donation to MSU in Honor of Mo Nielsen. The MES Ron Priest seconded, motion approved. Therese Poland, Mark Governing Board agreed to purchase and donate 30 Cornell O’Brien, Ron Priest and Martin Andree volunteered to serve on drawers to the Albert J. Cook Arthropod Research Collection that committee. (See update on this page) at Michigan State University to help house Mo Nielsen’s life- long collection of Michigan Lepidoptera. An expanded story Webmaster: Mark O’Brien – All newsletters are being scanned on this topic will appear in the Spring 2015 issue of the MES and will be added to the MES website. There are still a few years Newsletter. of journal articles to upload as well as several years of recent Research Request. Seeking permission to measure and newsletters to upload. Because of possible changes at the UM photograph Michigan tiger swallowtail butterflies. I would Museum of Zoology, Mark would like to set up the website, like to see (a) early flight females (collected before June 17), which currently sits on a computer in the UM Insect Division and (b) late flight males and females (collected after July 13). Museum, to a new host, independent of UM. He will research I would need to know the collection date and location (at possibilities that will allow us to develop new strategies for least county). Thanks. Contact Goran Blomberg by email at: improving our online presence. [email protected] or 517-402-6471.
December 2014 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V59 (3&4) M E S MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org 27 60th MES Annual Meeting Terrestrial Invaders and ecology and basic and applied research of carrion decomposition (Figure 1). In The 2014 MES Annual Meeting was Aquatic Insect-Microbe this presentation, I introduced examples held at Saginaw Valley State University Interactions of microbe-insect interactions using these (SVSU), in Saginaw, MI on Saturday, model systems, linking carrion decom- 14 June 2014. Thanks to MES President M. Eric Benbow position with aquatic ecosystem function Dr. Dave Stanton for organizing a great and demonstrating how a riparian plant Department of Entomology, Michigan meeting, and to SVSU for hosting MES invader can affect these processes in head- at a Friday-evening social. Our featured State University, 243 Natural Science water streams. speaker was Dr. Eric Benbow, the new Blg., East Lansing, MI, 48824 One system that my collaborators aquatic entomologist at MSU. Abstracts Email: [email protected] have studied to better understand microbe- of the talks can be found on the next insect interactions and employ next-gen- several pages. Recent studies have demonstrated that eration sequencing technology is that of microbes may affect how, when and why carrion decomposition and how blow flies insects colonize certain resources, while (Calliphoridae) interact with microbes these insects also change the micro- to mediate decomposition rates. Given bial communities of the resource in an that blow flies directly affect carrion unexplored ecological coupling (Ma et decomposition, they may be important al. 2012, Tomberlin et al. 2012, Pechal biological mediators of microbial succes- et al. 2013, Pechal et al. 2014a, Pechal sion and thereby changing these com- et al. 2014b). Based on these recent munities through three primary pathways: studies and advances in next-generation 1) directly competing with microbes for sequencing that the resource through feeding activity; 2) is revolution- introducing antimicrobial compounds to izing microbial the resource; 3) transporting exogenous Entrance at SVSU Curtiss Hall where our ecology, my lab microbial species to the resource in a way meeting was held uses ecological that shifts community composition and theory to explore succession; or 4) some combination of interactions these activities. In an effort to explore how between entire fly communities varied with fly species- microbial communities and individual specific microbiome communities, my lab insects, populations or entire communi- conducted a survey of blow flies and their ties in aquatic systems, related to disease associated internal microbiome communi- AQUATICS! ties in several ecoregions of the USA to better understand the natural interactions between animals and microbes. Several ecoregions were located in Southeast Alaska, to explore these interactions on evolution! salmon carcasses that result from the an- Microbes! nual migrations into streams (Figures 2 Some of the attendees at the 2014 MES ecology! and 3). The internal microbiome commu- Annual Meeting at SVSU. nities were variable among ecoregions at Invertebrates! the phyletic and family levels. In the east- ern USA, Phormia regina microbiomes
DISEASE! CARRIOwereN! dominated by Bacteriodetes while applications! Figure 1: The research in the Benbow lab Firmicutes and Proteobacteria dominated centers on microbial community – insect Calliphora terraenovae microbiomes in community interactions within three systems: Alaska. This study demonstrated that as aquatic ecosystems, disease ecology and molecular sequencing technologies contin- carrion decomposition. The lab focuses on ue to improve, microbiome communities research using ecological theory to explore and their interactions with animals may interactions between entire microbial com- become more important considerations munities and individual insects, populations for the discovery of novel and potentially or entire communities of insects. The lab is transformative ecological interactions. combining insect community and ecosystem ecology with next-generation high-throughput In addition, benthic macroinvertebrate sequencing technologies to better understand taxa are commonly used as indicators of the insect microbiome and how this commu- water quality (e.g., Ephemeroptera) and MES members visiting Dave Stanton’s nity of microbes mediates insect fitness and are important members of the aquatic laboratory at SVSU. community dynamics. December 2014 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V59 (3&4) 28 MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org M E S Figure 4: The invasive riparian shrub Lonicera Figure 2: Salmon in a Southeast Alaskan maackii (Amur honeysuckle) forms dense Figure 5: The invasive riparian shrub Lonicera stream during their annual migration into monocultures along riparian corridors of maackii (Amur honeysuckle) contributes large streams for spawning. After spawning is com- headwater streams. This invasive coloniza- volumes of leaf litter into headwater streams plete, the adults die and their carcasses become tion changes the timing, quantity and quality during late autumn leaf senescence. The dense a large resource subsidy for the stream and ri- of organic matter subsidies into these systems, colonization along headwater stream banks parian communities, including blow flies (Cal- with possible downstream and ecosystem scale affects the timing, quantity and quality of liphoridae) that immediately lay eggs on the consequences. organic matter subsidies into these systems, carcasses and the larvae consume the tissues. with possible downstream and ecosystem scale community. However, despite studies taxa and stream collection location. Iden- consequences. Amur honeysuckle leaf senes- from terrestrial habitats suggesting the tification of the microorganism communi- cence generally occurs 4-6 weeks after native trees have lost their leaves. importance of the insect microbiome to ties has potential for better understanding life history traits and ecology of insects, macroinvertebrate life history and fitness a functionally important effect on benthic there have been very few studies address- trait variation within aquatic ecosystems. microbial communities. Future studies ing aquatic insect microbiomes. Here I Lastly, I evaluated the impacts the will employ the metagenomic techniques presented a study that provided descriptive invasive riparian shrub Lonicera maackii that my lab has used for blow flies and survey of the bacterial communities from (Amur honeysuckle) had on organic matter mayflies to test how this invasive plant the internal microbiome of Heptageniidae subsidies, nutrient dynamics, and the mac- species has impacted ecosystem processes collected from four Southeast Alaska roinvertebrate community in a headwater through functional shifts of insect-microbe salmon bearing streams. There were four stream in Ohio (Figures 4 and 5). My interactions. Heptageniidae evaluated: Cinygmula, colleagues and I first reported significant References Epeorus, Rhithrogena, and Aneporus impacts of this invasive species on leaf lit- Ma Q., A Fonseca, W Liu, Fields AT, ML Pimsler, AF rusticus. Bacterial DNA was extracted ter breakdown rates and macroinvertebrate Spindola, AM Tarone, TL Crippen, JK Tomber- use of leaf packs, suggesting potential im- lin, TK Wood. 2012.Proteus mirabilis interking- from individuals to assess the internal dom swarming signals attract blow flies. ISME bacterial community structure using 454 pairment on watershed ecosystem process- Journal 6: 1356-1366. pyrosequencing. There were 25 phyla es (McNeish et al. 2012). In a subsequent McNeish R., E Moore, M Benbow, and R identified across all heptageniids with five study, these effects were evaluated in more Mcewan. 2014. Removal of an invasive shrub predominate taxa representing 76 to 100% detail using a restoration approach. Hon- from riparian forests mediates headwater stream eysuckle was removed along a 160 meter biota and ecosystem function. Rivers, Research of the community relative abundance: and Applications (in press). Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, stream reach in August 2010. Autumnal, McNeish RE, ME Benbow, and RW Mcewan. 2012. Proteobacteria and Tenericutes. Bacterial in-stream leaf litter was assessed over 75 Linkages between terrestrial and aquatic com- community structure varied across mayfly d, while macroinvertebrate density and munities: the invasive shrub Lonicera maackii secondary production were measured for influences leaf breakdown rates and macroinver- three years and a nutrient limitation study tebrate colonization. Biological Invasions 14: 1881-1893. was conducted during one season. Hon- Pechal J, M Benbow, T Crippen, A Tarone, and J eysuckle removal significantly reduced Tomberlin. 2014a. Delayed insect access alters canopy cover and light availability (both carrion decomposition and necrophagous insect P < 0.01) and differentially influenced the community assembly. Ecosphere 5(4): part45. timing and abundance of leaf litter genera Pechal, JL, TL Crippen, ME Benbow, AM Tarone, and JK Tomberlin. 2014b. The potential use of within the stream (McNeish et al. 2014). bacterial community succession in forensics For example, Platanus spp. (sycamore) as described by high throughput metagenomic contributed the most organic matter within sequencing. International Journal of Legal Medi- the removal reach (35-40%) but was main- cine 128: 193-205. Figure 3: Salmon carcasses can be very dense ly absent in the control reach. Macroinver- Pechal, JL, et al. 2013. Microbial community in many Southeast Alaskan streams during their functional change during vertebrate carrion annual spawning migrations. Blow flies (Calli- tebrate biomass increased ~99% one year decomposition. PLoS ONE e79035 phoridae) immediately lay eggs on the carcasses after invasive removal compared to ~50% Tomberlin, JK, et al. 2012. Interkingdom responses and the resulting hatched larvae consume the increase in the control reach. Honey- of flies to bacteria mediated by fly physiology tissues of the carcasses to where there is often suckle removal also resulted in in-stream and bacterial quorum sensing. Animal Behavior bones and some skin left. nitrogen limitation (P <0.05), suggesting 84: 1449-1456.
December 2014 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V59 (3&4) M E S MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org 29 Case Reconstruction and Thermal Tolerance of Mortality of Pycnopsyche Different Populations of guttifer (Trichoptera: Embossed Stonefly Limnephilidae) at Different Temperatures Markie Zimmer Department of Biology, Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, MI 49242 Hannah Russell and Email: [email protected] Angelica Pytel Gordon Biological Station 3943 The harmful effects of thermal pollution Skookum Rd. Luther, MI 49656 can be assessed by a non-lethal endpoint, Email: [email protected] Critical Thermal Maximum (CTM), which measures relative thermal tolerance. Four This report represents the second year populations of the Embossed Stonefly, of a continuing study to observe the Paragnetina media (Walker) (Plecoptera: effects of selected stream temperatures Perlidae), were sampled in mid-May 2014 and oxygen levels on the case building from the Big Sable River (photo, left) behavior and survival of Pycnopsyche in northwestern Lower Michigan. The guttifer under consistent and continuous Big Sable River passes through 4 km of laboratory conditions. Specimens were Bear Swamp that warms the water, which collected from the Little Manistee River mimics anthropogenic sources of thermal in northern Lower Michigan and accli- pollution. Specimens were acclimated to mated in a laboratory stream to ambient 14°C, an estimated average of the river temperatures (either 14°C or 17°C) for at temperatures of the collection sites, during least 3 full days. Just prior to starting the a 60 hour acclimation period. CTM was trials, specimens either had their natural determined by placing specimens into a cases removed, by forced evacuation with Julabo Circulating Heated Water Bath a blunt probe, or were left in their natural (photo left), which raised the temperature case (controls). Three control and three at a rate of 0.33°C/minute. I determined evacuated specimens were added to each that CTM was reached when specimens of ten treatment groups (N = 60 per trial). lost their grip on the substrate. After the The treatment groups consisted of five dif- trials were complete, all specimens were ferent water temperatures (17, 20, 23, 25 monitored for survival over the next 48 and 29°C) all of which were designated to hours. The river collection site with the be either aerated or not aerated. All trials highest water temperature (19°C, com- ran for 72 hours. Environmental metrics pared to 17.9, 18.2 and 18.4°C at the (water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and other sites) also had the highest CTM percent oxygen saturation) were recorded 480 number of specimens for both years). and highest post-trial survival, suggest- every three hours while behavioral ob- Complete case reconstruction was nearly ing that these specimens had adapted to servations (case building behavior, state 80% in the 17°C and 20°C non-aerated these slightly higher water temperatures. of case construction, and mortality) were experimental groups and almost 90 % with I suspect temperature differences between taken every six hours all during daylight aeration. Case construction was nearly sites will increase later in the summer; hours. Four rounds of experimental trials 45% in the 23°C aerated group and half of thus, I plan a second round of experiments occurred that in the non-aerated group. A similar in July 2014. during trend of lower case construction was late May observed at 25°C. Mortality was nearly through 100 % in the 29°C treatment groups and mid-June almost absent at 5% in both the 17°C and 2014 and 20°C groups. Mortality began to increase these data at 23°C, which also seemed to be the were add- threshold where case reconstruction began ed to the to decline. Interestingly, P. guttifer larvae data that customarily aestivate during the hottest had been months of the summer; this behavior could collected be an adaptive mechanism to avoid warm- in summer ing conditions. 2013 (N =
December 2014 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V59 (3&4) M E S MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org 30 A Befuddling Bahamian Borer of Caribbean pine also occurs on the nearby Turks and Caicos Islands. There are five major bark beetle (Cole- 1 2 Robert A. Haack, Ariën Sikken, optera: Scolytinae) species that infest pines Toby R. Petrice,1 and in the southeastern USA, including two Steven C. Passoa3 species of Dendroctonus and three species 1 USDA Forest Service, Northern Re- of Ips. All three Ips species [Ips avulsus search Station, 3101 Technology Blvd., (Eichhoff), Ips calligraphus (Germar), and Ips grandicollis (Eichhoff)] are native to Suite F, Lansing, MI 48910 The Bahamas, but no Dendroctonus species 2 FAO Forestry Specialist, Bahamas Na- are known to occur there. Before arriv- tional Trust, P.O. Box AB 20953, Marsh ing in The Bahamas, I was expecting Ips Bob Haack talking with local foresters in Harbour, Abaco, The Bahamas calligraphus to be the principal bark beetle 3 Abaco, The Bahamas. USDA APHIS, The Ohio State Universi- involved in the local outbreak on Abaco ty, Museum of Biodiversity, 1315 Kinnear given that I had investigated two I. calligra- feeding on most pine trees, and it was clear Road, Columbus, OH 43212 phus outbreaks previously in the Caribbean that they had been preying on these same Email: [email protected], a.sikken@ -- both in the Dominican Republic (Haack borers given that their feeding activity was gmail.com, [email protected], 1998, Haack et al. 1989) and worked with restricted primarily to the outer bark. On [email protected] this beetle in Florida during my Ph.D. only one occasion did we find a live insect program in the 1980s (Haack 1985, Haack et in one of these galleries, and it was a larva al. 1984a, 1984b, 1987a,1987b, Slansky and n December 2013, I (RAH) received (photo, p. 32). At first glance it looked I Haack 1986). like the larval stage of a longhorned beetle an interesting Email message from Claus After arriving in Abaco, I traveled with (Cerambycidae), but after returning it to the Eckelmann, who works out of Barbados as Ariën Sikken to visit some of the pine stands USA (in alcohol) and more careful inspec- the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organiza- on the island. We set up two funnel traps on tion under a microscope by Toby Petrice and tion of the United Nations) Forestry Offi- the day that I arrived and baited each with Steven Passoa the larva was clearly a cater- cer for the Caribbean, informing me about the two common Ips pheromones: ipsenol pillar (Lepidoptera), with the crochet pattern a possible bark beetle outbreak in the pine and ipsdienol (photo, p. 32). The funnel on the prolegs being similar to members of forests of The Bahamas. I had worked traps were placed in separate pine stands, moth families Cossidae and Sesiidae. Given with Claus in 2000 on a major bark beetle several kilometers apart and suspended by that only a single larva was recovered, and outbreak in the pine forests of Belize ropes between pine trees with the collection subsequently placed in alcohol, we could not (Haack et al. 2000), and as a result of that cup approximately 1 m above ground. The rear this individual to the adult stage to make consultation he was contacting me again. collection cups were filled with soapy water a positive identification. Therefore, later we As it turned out, I was asked to travel to as the killing agent. extracted a DNA sample from this larva and the island of Abaco in The Bahamas for As we looked over the pines, most of compared it with known lepidopteran species a week in February 2014 and work with which were about 50 years old, the trunks that had been entered into the Barcode of the local FAO forester Ariën Sikken to of nearly every pine tree had several small Life database. The DNA evidence suggested evaluate the pest problem as well as give circular exit holes (see photo), which are that the larva was a member of the genus a 2-day forest health short-course to the typical of bark beetles and many other borers Givira (Cossidae), which is reasonable given local forestry staff (http://www.bahamas- (Solomon 1995). However, the needles in that there are species of Givira that develop the crowns of these same trees were still forestry.com/), most of whom work for the in the outer bark of pines in nearby Florida green, indicating the trees were still alive (Heppner 2007, Tschinkel 2002). Bahamas National Trust (http://www.bnt. and apparently healthy. Elsewhere in the As the title of this abstract implies, the bs/). stands, where there was some recent logging identity of this borer is befuddling, although The native pine species growing in activity, we did find evidence ofIps galler- the recent DNA evidence is now direct- the Bahamas is a variety of Caribbean pine ies, exit holes, frass, and all life stages on the ing us on a clearer path. Given that nearly (Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis). Currently pine logging slash. As we debarked several every pine tree on Abaco had dozens of exit there are about 180,000 ha of Caribbean pine of the standing and green-topped pine trees holes that led to galleries that were nearly forest in The Bahamas. This same variety over the next few days (photo, p. 32), as well as a few that had been felled during the pre- vious few days, we noted that under nearly every exit hole there was a single, elongate and irregular gallery, with loose frass that was constructed almost entirely in the thick outer bark, and seldom appeared to reach the inner bark and almost never the sapwood. These were not bark beetle galleries that are typically constructed at the interface of the inner bark (phloem) and sapwood and consist of a maternal egg gallery and several individual larval galleries (Solomon 1995). View from Hope Town Lighthouse, Healthy pines with many exit holes on the bark. There was also evidence of woodpecker Elbow Cay, near Abaco, The Bahamas December 2014 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V59 (3&4) M E S MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org 31 the bark of the standing live pine trees were made by some of the above insects, but it is more likely that these insects had developed in pine trees that had recently been cut. There are also several exotic pests that are currently in The Bahamas or on nearby islands that are of local concern. One of the most serious threats to the pines of The Bahamas is a soft scale insect native to North America that is commonly called the pine tortoise scale [Toumeyella parvicornis (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Coccidae)]. The A cossid larva that was tunneling in the outer Debarking recently felled pines to search for pine tortoise scale was recently introduced bark of the pines in Abaco, The Bahamas. borers that might be infesting the pines. into the Turks and Caicos Islands (first completely contained within the outer bark, reported in 2005; Malumphy et al. 2012) and Florida Department of Agriculture & Con- it appeared that there must have been a local sumer Services. Division of Plant Industry. Puerto Rico (2009: Segarra-Carmona et al. Gainesville, FL. 670 pp. “outbreak” of this borer in the recent past or 2010). The pine tortoise scale likely entered Malumphy C, Hamilton MA, Manco BN, Green alternatively that the galleries and exit holes these islands on pine Christmas trees that PWC, Sanchez MD, Corcoran M, Salamanca are retained on the tree trunks for many were imported from the USA (Malumphy et E. 2012. Toumeyella parvicornis (Hemiptera: years. In support of the latter hypothesis is al. 2012). In the Turks and Caicos Islands, Coccidae), causing severe decline of Pinus the work by Tschinkel (2002) who reported the pine tortoise scale has caused widespread caribaea var. bahamensis in the Turks and that Givira francesca (Dyar) is a rare insect mortality of Caribbean pine (Green 2011, Caicos Islands. Florida Entomologist 95: 113-119. in Florida but because galleries and exit Malumphy et al. 2012, Sanchez 2012). holes can be retained for decades until the Sanchez M. 2012. Conservation genetics and References biogeography of the Caribbean pine (Pinus damaged bark is eventually sloughed off, Green SJCE. 2011. The Caribbean Pine (Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis) in the Bahaman local populations of the moth can appear caribaea var. bahamensis): monitoring and archipelago. PhD thesis, Birkbeck, University high. For example, of 800 galleries uncov- ecology, in the Turks and Caicos Islands. of London. ered during debarking, only 3.8% had live M.S. Thesis, Imperial College London. Segarra-Carmona AE, Cabrera-Asencio I. 2010. G. francesca larvae (Tschinkel 2002). Ariën Haack RA. 1985. Seasonal development and Toumeyella parvicornis (Cockerell) (Hemip- had continued to monitor the pine forests of emergence-flight patterns ofIps calligraphus tera: Coccoidea: Coccidae): a new invasive in Florida. Florida Entomologist 68: 658-667. Abaco looking for borers that could be re- pest of pine trees in Puerto Rico. Journal of Haack RA. 1998. Pine bark beetles on the heels of Agriculture of the University of Puerto Rico sponsible for the observed damage, however, Hurricane Georges. Newsletter of the Michi- 94 (1-2): 175-177. as of December 2014, no other candidates gan Entomological Society 43(4): 18-19. Slansky F, Haack RA. 1986. Age-specific flight had been recovered. In addition, frass from Haack RA, Foltz JL, Wilkinson RC. 1984a. behavior in relation to body weight and lipid some of the old galleries was later sampled Longevity and fecundity of Ips calligraphus content of Ips calligraphus (Coleoptera: Sco- by Ariën and shipped to the USA to look for (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in relation to slash lytidae) reared in slash pine bolts with thick insect remains (which is now underway). In pine phloem thickness. Annals of the Entomo- or thin phloem. Entomologia Experimentalis logical Society America 77: 657-662. fact, the frass of many wood borers is very et Applicata 40: 197-207. Haack RA, Wilkinson RC, Foltz JL, Corneil JA. Solomon JD. 1977. Frass characteristics for iden- distinct and can be used in identification 1984b. Gallery construction and oviposition tifying insect borers (Lepidoptera: Cossidae (Solomon 1977). by Ips calligraphus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) and Sesiidae; Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in The two funnel traps were monitored in relation to slash pine phloem thickness and living hardwoods. The Canadian Entomolo- weekly by Ariën for the next four weeks temperature. The Canadian Entomologist 116: gist 109: 295-303. following my departure in late February 625-632 Solomon JD. 1995. Guide to insect borers in 2014. Overall, for both traps combined, Haack RA, Wilkinson RC, Foltz JL, Corneil JA. North American broadleaf trees and shrubs. 1987a. Spatial attack pattern, reproduction, about 3200 Ips bark beetles were collected USDA Forest Service Agriculture Handbook and brood development of Ips calligraphus AH-706. (pooling all 3 Ips species together, with most (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in relation to slash Tschinkel, W. R. 2002. The natural history of being I. grandicollis), 34 weevils (possibly pine phloem thickness: A field study. Envi- the arboreal ant, Crematogaster ashmeadi. species of Hylobius), 114 trogossitid beetles ronmental Entomology 16: 428-436. Journal of Insect Science 2:12 (online) URL: (these predatory beetles were likely species Haack RA, Wilkinson RC, Foltz JL. 1987b. Plas- http://www.insectscience.org/2.12. of Temnochila, which are often now called ticity in life-history traits of the bark beetle Turnbow RH, Thomas MC. 2008. An annotated Temnoscheila), 82 cerambycids that were Ips calligraphus as influenced by phloem checklist of the Coleoptera (Insecta) of the thickness. Oecologia 72: 32-38. Bahamas. Insecta Mundi 0034: 1-64. likely Acanthocinus obsoletus (Olivier), and Haack RA, Billings RF, Richter AM. 1989. Life 4 cerambycids that were likely Monochamus history parameters of bark beetles (Coleop- titillator (Fabricius). Tentative identifica- tera: Scolytidae) attacking West Indian pine in tions of the weevils and cerambycids were the Dominican Republic. Florida Entomolo- based on Turnbow and Thomas (2008) as gist 72: 591-603. well as electronic images sent to Michael Haack RA, Eckelmann CM, Green E. 2000. C. Thomas (Florida Department of Agricul- Southern pine beetle outbreak in Belize. Newsletter of the Michigan Entomological ture, Gainesville, FL). Selected specimens Society 45(3-4): 13-15. have been stored in alcohol at the US Forest Heppner JB. 2007. Lepidoptera of Florida. Part Service laboratory in East Lansing, MI. It is 1. Introduction and Catalog. Arthropods of One of the baited funnel traps deployed in possible that some of the exit holes seen on Florida and Neighboring Land Areas. Vol. 17. Abaco, The Bahamas.
December 2014 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V59 (3&4) 32 MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org M E S Suitability of green ash DNA Fingerprinting of results indicate that only a portion of the (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and Michigan Emerald Ash Borers genetic variation present in native popula- tions of EAB in Asia was introduced to blue ash (Fraxinus quadrangu- (Agrilus planipennis) Michigan. This suggests that, if further lata) to emerald ash borer introductions are minimized, it may be (Agrilus planipennis) David Stanton possible that the final geographic spread of Saginaw Valley State University, EAB within North America may be lim- ited due to lack of high genetic diversity. Donnie Peterson, Steve Yaninek, Department of Biology, University and Cliff Sadof Center, MI 48710 Email: [email protected]. Adult Flight Periodicities of Department of Entomology, Purdue 12 Caddisfly Species in a University, 901 W State Street, West The Emerald ash borer (EAB) is native First-Order Michigan Stream: Lafayette, IN 47907 to eastern Asia but was found in Michigan Email: [email protected] in 2002. It was most likely transported A 3-Year Study to Michigan in infested wood packaging, Blue ash (Fraxinus quadrangulata) is such as pallets or crating. In the last 12 David C. Houghton the species of ash tree least susceptible years it has spread throughout the Great Department of Biology and G.H. and most likely to survive emerald ash Lakes region Gordon Biological Station, Hillsdale borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis, attack and to much College, Hillsdale, MI 49242 of the eastern in the Great Lakes area of North America. Email: [email protected] However, the mechanism of resistance United States. The EAB has not been well researched. In order to he adult flight periodicities of 12 cad- larvae feed T determine the extent to which blue ash disfly (Trichoptera) species were studied primarily on may be resistant, green (F. pennsylvanica) from 2010 to 2012 in Fairbanks Creek, a the inner bark and blue ash trees were infested with EAB first-order stream located in Lake County and outer eggs in order to determine host suitability in northwestern Lower Michigan. Ultra- sapwood of in both field and laboratory studies. In the violet light trap samples were collected ap- all species of ash trees (Fraxinus) so far field, overwintering last-instar J-shaped proximately weekly as weather permitted encountered and EAB has already been larvae were significantly larger and from mid-May through the end of Septem- responsible for the destruction of tens of weighed more in green ash in contrast to ber for all three years. Eight of the species millions of ash trees in Michigan alone. blue ash. Additionally, significantly more appeared to exhibit univoltine life cycles. EAB has had a significant negative impact larvae overwintered as J-shaped larvae in Adult abundance of two of these species both ecologically and economically in green ash than in blue ash, 85% vs. 68%, peaked in May, one in June, three in July, many communities. respectively. In the lab, EAB larvae infest- one in August, and one in September. EAB adults were collected in the ing 25-cm-long bolts in green and blue ash Four species appeared to exhibit bivoltine summer of 2013 and the spring of 2014 were peeled on five sampling dates. EAB life cycles. Two species peaked in June from three locations in Michigan, includ- gallery width, larval prothoracic width, and July, and two in June and August. ing Edmore State Game Area, Baldwin, and larval weight were measured. Aver- Species richness was highest in July for all and Beaverton. Specimens were frozen at age values of these parameters from each three years of the study. Continuing the -20ºC or stored in a 70% ethanol solu- sampling period were compared between study for several more years will allow for tion until DNA extraction was performed ash species. There was a general trend that correlations between yearly differences in on leg tissue using a DNeasy extraction green ash larvae were larger and weighed adult flight patterns with weather or other kit. DNA fingerprinting was performed more during each sampling period for all factors. Study continuation may also al- for two loci using PCR with dye labeled measurements. This suggests that EAB low for deducing the patterns of additional primers and capillary electrophoresis. larvae are developing faster on green ash species at this site whose flight periodici- Data analysis included determination of than on blue ash. The slower develop- ties were not readily apparent. ment rate of EAB larvae on blue ash may the number of alleles per locus, allele provide more opportunities for natural frequencies, observed (Ho) and expected enemies to attack EAB in the field. (He) heterozygosities, Hardy Weinberg equilibrium (HWE), genetic distance (D)
and population substructure (FST). Three alleles were observed for the C5 locus and two for the C8 locus. Ho values were near He for all populations and all were found to be in HWE. Ge- netic distances between populations were low (average D = 0.09) and population
substructure was low (FST = 0.04). These
December 2014 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V59 (3&4) M E S MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org 33 Attraction of Agrilus (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) to Different Trap Colors and Trap Types
Toby R. Petrice and Robert A. Haack USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, 3101 Technology Blvd., Lansing, MI 48910 Email: [email protected] Since the accidental introduction of emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), into North Amer- triacanthos; trap height ranged ica there has been a considerable amount of research focused on from 1.5–2 m) trees. We found developing an effective trap for monitoring and detecting this that green traps captured the beetle. Prior to EAB’s discovery, little research had been con- most native Agrilus individu- ducted on traps for Agrilus beetles or other Buprestidae. One of als on both species of trees. the few published studies was conducted by Oliver et al. (2003) Green traps also captured the EAB, Agrilus planipennis in which different colored cylinders were tested for monitoring most Agrilus species in hybrid buprestid beetles in nurseries. In this particular study, purple and poplars; however, differences in Agrilus species captured among violet captured the highest number of buprestid beetles. Results trap colors in honeylocust trees were not significant. In 2012, we from this study led researchers to test an array of trap colors for tested the attraction of green (old green- the same shade used in trapping EAB. Their initial results found purple to be the most the 2009 and 2011 studies), a new green (Sabic green-darker than effective color for EAB (Francese et al. 2005). Later, electro- old green), and purple sticky traps; and funnel traps that were retinogram assays with EAB adults found EAB to be stimulated green or black. Funnel traps were coated with fluon to make their by colors in the ultraviolet, violet, and green spectrums (Crook surface more slippery. We found that the most native Agrilus et al. 2009). Also, females showed a higher response to colors in individuals were captured on the old green sticky traps, but the the red spectrum compared to males. Another study found that most Agrilus species were captured in the green funnel traps. EAB males were attracted to and landed on In our studies, we found that green sticky traps (old green) dead EAB females that were pinned to foliage were overall the most effective for capturing native Agrilus. (Lelito et al. 2007). In addition, other stud- Funnel traps seem promising for capturing different Agrilus ies found that males of some other Agrilus species and avoid the use of insect trapping glue. It is important species shared this same behavior and one to note that trap color preference can vary significantly among species was also attracted to the elytron of a Agrilus species and sex, with some species preferring purple or Cicindella tiger beetle species that was pinned other colors over green. to foliage of its host plant (Domingue et al. 2011; Lelito et al. 2011). A study by Petrice References Crook, D.J., Francese, J.A., Zylstra, K.E., Fraser, I., Sawyer, A.J., Bartels, D.W., et al. (2013) found that both dead Agrilus used Lance, D.R. and Mastro, V.C. 2009. Laboratory and field response of the emerald as decoys and large Agrilus silhouettes en- ash borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), to selected regions of the electromagnetic hanced attraction of certain buprestid beetles spectrum. Journal of Economic Entomology 102: 2160-2169. to sticky traps and that the response varies Domingue, M.J., Csóka, G., Tóth, M., Vétek, G., Pénzes, B., Mastro, V. and Baker, among species and even sex. During 2009- T.C. 2011. Field observations of visual attraction of three European oak buprestid beetles toward conspecific and heterospecific models. Entomologia Experimen- 2012, we conducted several studies comparing the attractiveness talis et Applicata 140: 112-121. doi:10.1111/j.1570-7458.2011.01139.x. of native Agrilus and other Buprestidae to different colors and Francese, J.A., Mastro, V.C., Oliver, J.B., Lance, D.R., Youssef, N. and Lavallee., trap types that had been previously tested on EAB. S.G. 2005. Evaluation of colors for trapping Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: In 2009, we tested the attraction of Agrilus subcinctus, a Buprestidae). Journal of Entomological Science 40: 93-95. native species, to sticky traps that were green, purple, white, or Lelito, J.P., Fraser, I., Mastro, V.C., Tumlinson, J.H., Böröczky, K. and Baker, T.C. 2007. Visually mediated ‘paratrooper copulations’ in the mating behavior of yellow. Traps consisted of corrugated plastic (7.6 cm × 12.7 cm) Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), a highly destructive invasive that was coated with insect trapping glue and hung in ash trees pest of North American ash trees. Journal of Insect Behavior 20: 537-552. attacked by EAB approximately 2 m high on dead branches doi:10.1007/s10905-007-9097-9. above live sprouts. We found that A. subcinctus was most at- Lelito, J.P., Domingue, M.J., Fraser, I., Mastro, V.C., Tumlinson, J.H. and Baker, T.C. tracted to yellow, followed 2011. Field investigation of mating behaviour of Agrilus cyanescens and Agrilus by green trap; purple and subcinctus. The Canadian Entomologist 143: 370-379. doi:10.4039/n11-011. Oliver, J.B., Fare, D.C., Youssef, N. and Klingeman, W. 2003. Collection of adult white traps were least flatheaded borers using multicolored traps. In Proceedings of the Southern attractive. In 2011, we Nursery Association Research Conference. pp. 193-199. suspended green, purple, Petrice, T.R., Haack, R.A. and Poland, T.M. 2013. Attraction of Agrilus planipennis white, and yellow sticky (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) and other buprestids to sticky traps of various colors traps (15 cm × 30 cm) from and shapes. The Great Lakes Entomologist 46: 13-30. the lower limbs of hybrid poplar (Populus spp.; trap height ranged from 2–15 m) Twolined Chestnut Borer and honeylocust (Gleditsia Agrilus bilineatus
December 2014 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V59 (3&4) M E S MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org 34 Impact of Corthylus Table 1. Attack rate of Corthylus punctatissimus on saplings in survey plots in Michigan punctatissimus (Coleoptera: No. of saplings No. attacked and Percentage of spe- Species surveyed killed cies killed Scolytidae) on the Woody Sub-canopy Vegetation in Maple 1385 179 12.9 % Central Michigan Oak 58 2 3.5 % Black cherry 73 5 6.8 % Richard Roeper (emeritus) and Total 1516 186 12.3 % former students and High School teachers Steven Larson, This study was conducted in three Michael Allen and Brian Palik mature woodlots with a rich understory of woody saplings in Gratiot County, Michi- Department of Biology, gan. C. punctatissimus has been reported Alma College, Alma, MI 48801 to attack 18 species of woody sapling trees Email: [email protected] and shrubs (Roeper et. al.1987a, http:// www.barkbeetles.info/) but our study Corthylus punctatissimus (Zimmer- showed a strong preference for maple mann) is the only endemic ambrosia saplings (Table 1). Figure 1. Number of maple saplings killed by beetle of the northern deciduous forest of The impact of the beetles on the maple Corthylus punctatissimus vs. the total number the United States and Canada known to sapling community was conducted using of susceptible maple saplings per 6x6 m quad- attack and kill woody hosts (Roeper. et al. 6x6 m quadrats. The count included all the rats in Central Michigan. 1987a). The beetle attacks young maple maple saplings of susceptible age and the from C. punctatissimus so it appears that saplings, constructs a spiral gallery system number that were actually attacked and the beetle is not a vector of disease organ- in the xylem and kills the saplings, which killed in each quadrat. The results showed isms that would kill saplings that survive are easily found by their wilted leaves. a positive correlation (r = 0.74) between initial attack. For decades the Canadian Forest maple sapling density and the number of In summary, C. punctatissimus pre- Service reported that C. punctatissimus saplings that were attacked and killed (Fig. ferred to infest maple saplings in Central had an effect on maple regeneration in 1). The beetle was not observed to elimi- Michigan, thinning the maple regeneration Ontario and Quebec but failed to provide nate entirely the regenerating saplings but not eliminating the maples. The beetle any definitive data. They reported that from a given area, but did thin and reduce can attack older maple saplings without the damage caused by the beetle is often the number of saplings and thus may have killing them. Thus in the mature northern localized and can have a significant impact the suggested beneficial effect. deciduous forest the symbiotic association upon maple regeneration. The Canadians In another intensive study of older of C. punctatissimus and its fungi interact suggested that the beetle might actually saplings that were no longer of an age with the regenerating sapling maples to have provided a benefit by thinning out susceptible to be killed by the beetle, we form a complex and interacting niche. densely stocked maple regeneration areas. found that some of these older saplings Finnegan (1967) reported eight percent (n=33) had been attacked earlier by C. Finnegan, R. J. 1967. Notes on the biology of the of the young maple saplings were killed punctatissimus but not killed. A few maple pitted ambrosia beetle, Corthylus punctatis- annu- saplings had as much as 75% of their simus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), in Ontario ally and trunk’s cross-section excavated by the and Quebec. The Canadian Entomologist that the beetle’s spiral gallery system, yet these 99: 49-54. saplings Roeper, R. A., D. V. Zestos, B. J. Palik, and L. saplings did not show any sign of leaf R. Kirkendall. 1987a. Distribution and host became wilting. The characteristics of the attacked plants of Corthylus punctatissimus (Cole- immune older maples and the gallery systems optera: Scolytidae) in the Lower Peninsula to attack of the beetles can be compared to those of Michigan. Great Lakes Entomologist 20: after saplings that had been attacked and killed 69-70. about 10 Roeper, R. A., B. J. Palik, D. V. Zestos, P. G. (Table 2). Hesch, and C. D. Larsen. 1987b. Observations years of Reproduction by C. punctatissimus in of the habits of Corthylus punctatissimus age. the attacked but not-killed maple saplings (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) infesting maple appeared to be much reduced. No phyto- saplings in central Michigan. Great Lakes pathogenic microbes have been isolated Entomologist 20:173-176. Table 2. Comparison of understory maple saplings that were killed vs. not killed by C. punctatissimus (Roeper et.al. 1987b) Parameter Attacked and killed maple saplings Attacked but not killed saplings Mean age (range) 5.8 years(3-12) 12 years (8-25.5) Mean basal diameter of stem (range) 6.9 mm (4-14) 9.6 mm (4.5-25.5) Mean length of gallery 26.4 mm 16.9 mm Mean number of larval cradles 4.64 2.9
December 2014 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V59 (3&4) M E S MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org 35 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
web-hosting services, and with the MES Requesting First State Send your information to Ron Priest Governing Board’s blessing, I set up an Arthropod Reports at: [email protected] or 243 Nat. Sci. Bldg., account with Bluehost.com and have now M.S.U., East Lansing, MI 48824-1115. If completed the transition. I have com- you have questions, then please contact me pleted all of the work that is required to ITS TIME AGAIN TO SET THE RECORD by Email, phone: 517-353-3891, or U.S. mail. STRAIGHT! Have you recovered an arthro- move our domain name michentsoc.org to I look forward to hearing from you, learning a new hosting service. I have moved all pod species not before recorded from your what’s new, and seeing your records in print state? Perhaps you’ve recovered one a few of the MES files from our server here at UM to the Bluehost server, updated links, years ago which has not yet been reported in Ron Priest print. Publishing new state records signifi- and made corrections to our website. My cantly adds to our understanding of species next goal is to update the pdf files and add ranges as well as their expansion. MES Website News the more recent newsletters and journals to the site. It is now stand-alone with no Submit your record(s) for our next News- s the long-time webmaster of MES, referrals back to the UM servers. This letter (spring 2015). If you’re not sure of A I have tried to maintain the site as well service will allow us to potentially try the identity of your specimens, it’s a great as my level of knowledge and time will some technologies and services that were reason to attend our next Breaking Diapause, allow. Until Dec. 9, 2014, the actual not previously available on our UM server. Saturday, 14 March 2015 (see p. 17). The website was hosted by the University of It will also provide an independent host more information you have regarding your Michigan on our divisional server. With so that any future MES webmaster can recovery the better. Include as many of the the forthcoming move of the UM Mu- maintain our files. following points that you have: species, seum of Zoology to Varsity Drive, I have So, we are good for at least 3 years, common name (if there is one), family; date, no guarantee that anything regarding our with a stable web-hosting service. The location of recovery, method of recovery, webserver will be the same. I was also URL remains:
December 2014 NEWSLETTER of the MICHIGAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY V59 (3&4) 36 MES Homepage: http://michentsoc.org M E S