Sugar Shack Bugs

Christopher Majka

he collection of maple sap for plastic tubing to gather the sap, eas- lion. Québec accounts for 91.1% of T the production of maple sugar ing the work of collection. domestic production, followed by has a long history in North America. Two species of trees, sugar maple New Brunswick (4.5%), Ontario Before the arrival of European set- and black maple, are utilized in (3.9%), and Nova Scotia (0.5%). tlers, native people in the northeast maple sugar production, although Small volumes are also produced in collected maple sap by cutting a sugar maple accounts for the major- Prince Edward Island. In the United diagonal incision in the trunk and ity of trees tapped. In the Maritime States, production in 2006 was 1.449 inserting a strip of bark at the lower Provinces, red maples are also occa- million gallons. A small amount end to serve as a spile. The sap was sionally tapped. Other trees, such as (1,000 gallons) of syrup is collected in birch-bark containers, paper birch and yellow birch have also produced annually, chiefly in poured into hollowed-out logs, and also been utilized for syrup produc- Alaska with even smaller quantities heated with stones to evaporate the tion, although the sugar concentra- in Canada and (utilizing other spe- water and concentrate the syrup. tion of birch sap is only half that of cies of birch) Russia, Belarus, the European settlers learned the skill maple sap, requiring more boiling Ukraine, and Scandinavia. from native people, collecting sap and twice as much sap to produce a In 2006 in Canada, 9,731 maple in wooden buckets and boiling it corresponding amount of syrup. sugar producers tapped approxi- in large iron kettles. In the 1880s Canada produces 85% of the mately 38,077,400 trees. Two col- a significant innovation was the world’s maple syrup; the United lection methods are used: the tradi- introduction of the forerunner to the States the other 15%. In 2007 tional bucket system placed on trees, contemporary flue pan evaporator. Canadian production was 5.235 mil- and plastic tube collection. A rough In the 1950s producers began using lion gallons valued at over $168 mil- estimate indicates that in Canada

16 some 2.5 million trees (6.6% of the “Sugaring for ” in The are croaking in the pond. The fire- total) are still tapped using tradition- Book, William Jacob Holland (1848- flies soar upward and flash in spar- al buckets. 1932), a pioneering North American kling multitudes where the grass lepidopterist (someone who stud- grows rank near the water.” ies butterflies and moths), outlined Holland goes on to describe Bugs in the Buckets the technique in a lyrical style now returning through the “sugared” for- long-vanished from entomological est to find many splendid moths Despite the long history of maple literature. supping at the bait. syrup production, and the very “The woodland is the haunt of Over a hundred years ago, E.J. sizeable number of trees that are many a joyous thing, which fre- Smith, a lepidopterist with the tapped over a considerable portion quents the glades and hovers over Cambridge Entomological Club in of the continent, there has been very the flowers. Tonight the lightning Massachusetts, noted the propensi- little attention paid to the in the air, the suggestion of a com- ty of many moths to be attracted to attracted to maple sap during ing storm which lurks in the atmo- the sap of trees, particularly that of extraction and collection. In the tra- sphere, will send a thrill through all sugar maples. He highlighted sword- ditional bucket collection system, the swarms… and they will rise as grass moths, sallows, the willow there are considerable opportuni- the dusk gathers. It is just the night dart (Cerastis salicarum), the speck- ties for insects to participate in the upon which to take a collecting trip, led green fruitworm moth (Orthosia harvest as well. Even though maple resorting to the well-known method hibisci), and the red-winged sallow sap buckets generally have covers of “sugaring.” (Xystopeplus rufago) as species par- (chiefly to keep twigs, bark, and Here we have a bucket and a ticularly attracted to maple sap. In other contaminants from falling into clean whitewash brush. We have put , Professor Roy W. Rings point- the sap) many insects have a high- into the bucket four pounds of cheap ed out that the ashen pinion moth ly developed sense of smell (using sugar. Now we will pour in a bottle ( antennata), triple-spot- chemo-receptors on their anten- of stale beer and a little rum. We ted pinion moth (Lithophane latici- nae), are able to detect the “smell” of have stirred the mixture well. In our nerea), and the dowdy pinion moth various chemical compounds found pockets are our cyanide jars. Here (Lithophane unimoda) are all attract- in maple sap, and then make their are the dark lanterns. Before the ed to maple sap and can become a way into the containers by crawling darkness falls, while yet there is light nuisance by accumulating on the sur- under the lids or around the spile. enough to see our way along the face in collection buckets. All these Maple sap consists of approxi- path, we will pass from tree to tree species (except for the red-winged mately 97.5% water, 2.4% sug- and apply the brush charged with sallow which occurs north to ) ars (primarily sucrose with small the sweet semi-intoxicating mixture. are found in the Maritime Provinces. amounts of glucose), and 0.1% The task is accomplished! Forty Amongst beetles, members of minerals (primarily potassium and trees and ten stumps have been bap- Nitidulidae (sap beetles) are well calcium, with smaller quantities of tized…. Let us wash our sticky fin- known to be attracted to natural sap zinc and manganese). There are also gers in the brook and dry them with flows on a variety of trees. George B. trace amounts of other organic com- our handkerchiefs. Let us sit down Vogt (1920-1990), a coleop- pounds. on the grass beneath this tree and terist (someone who studies beetles), There is a long history of moths puff a good Havana. It is growing documented 33 species of this family being attracted to sap flows on darker. The bats are circling over- that he collected at sap flows, primar- trees. Indeed “sugaring” for moths head. A Screech-owl is uttering a ily on white oaks. Richard Dearborn is an important collection tech- plaintive lament, perhaps mourn- of the Maine Forest Service, reported nique. In a poetic ing the absence of the moon, which that the diurnal firefly often become essay entitled tonight will not appear. The frogs a pest by falling in large numbers into maple sap buckets. Ross H. Photo: Chris Adam. Photo: Chris Photo: Tom Murray. Tom Photo:

The plush-napped pinion moth Lithophane pexata. The diurnal firefly, Ellychnia corrusca.

17 Arnett, Jr. (1919-1999), one of North orator, transforming what had been them into two groups: those associ- America’s leading experts on bee- a hobby, producing a few litres of ated with sap and nectar (21 spe- tles, and an inspiration to genera- syrup on their kitchen stoves, into a cies), and those that were accidental tions of coleopterists, noted that the partnership which has become the visitors (7 species). Accidental visi- common and familiar “snow flea” longest running commercial syrup tors are insects that are found in for- (Hypogastrura nivicola), actually a making enterprise on PEI. The 430 ests on trees or under bark, that are species of springtail, is attracted to trees they tap take between one not known to be attracted to maple maple sap and can become a pest in and three spiles each, producing sap, and probably crawled or fell by buckets during periods of harvest. an annual yield of 300-400 litres of accident into the collection buckets. These insects don’t actually harm the syrup. Syrup output can be highly sap, but must be filtered out before it variable because of yearly weather is poured into the evaporators. conditions. While visiting their sug- Marsh, Ambrosia, arbush on April 4, 2010, I took the opportunity to inspect approximate- and Sap Beetles Maple Syrup production ly 70 of the sap collection buckets, Amongst the beetles, two species on Prince Edward Island gathering the insects found in them. were very abundant (more than 100 individuals) in the collection buck- Bearing this in mind, I decided to ets: investigate the insects that are asso- What’s sucking sap on The diurnal firefly is a very com- ciated with maple sap on Prince Prince Edward Island? mon beetle throughout the Maritime Edward Island. Compared to New Provinces found in many forested Brunswick and Nova Scotia, syrup In the buckets I found 28 species of habitats. It is a member of the firefly production in Prince Edward Island insects including 18 beetles, eight family (Lampyride), which are actu- is a rather small enterprise with only moths, and two caddisflies (there ally beetles and not flies. However, a handful of producers on the Island. were also flies in some of the buck- adults of this species are not biolu- The Hallaig Farm in Belle River, oper- ets, but these were not collected and minescent, so they are less notice- ated by Rob MacLean and Melissa identified). Eighteen of these (all the able than their sparkling nocturnal Mullen, has a pipeline operation moths and caddisflies, and ten of relatives. The reason why these bee- on a 200 acre woodlot that in some the beetles) were newly recorded on tles are attracted to sap flows has not years produces as much as 450 litres Prince Edward Island. This discovery been investigated by entomologists. of syrup. The Mill River Provincial is a contribution in documenting The diurnal firefly is active through- Park taps just shy of 100 trees for the invertebrate biodiversity of the out the year (including early in the demonstration purposes. Darrell province. It is not, however, quite as spring) and so it may be that they Chaisson taps about 100 maple trees surprising as it might first appear. are opportunistically taking advan- in Tignish. A Little Gift, located in The fauna of Prince Edward tage of this food at a time when Bonshaw, produces maple syrup and Island is the most poorly-document- there are few other sources of sugars maple wood products, and my friends ed of any Canadian province so even available to them. Richard MacPhee and Max Newby many common species have not A small marsh beetle called in Woodville Mills tap approximate- been recorded from the island in Cyphon variabilis. This was a rath- ly 430 trees. The PEI Maple Syrup the scientific literature. The lack of er surprising discovery since this Company, which formerly tapped up a provincial natural history museum species (a Holarctic one found in to 9,000 trees in Breadalbane, went on PEI is an important reason why both Europe and North America) out of business after several years. research of this kind has been held has not previously been reported at Richard and Max (a.k.a. back in the province. sap flows. As its name implies, it is a Woodlands Maple Syrup) have been After examining the common beetle in marshes, and the producing maple syrup for 13 years biology of these 28 species, maple stand in Woodville Mills is after Richard bought their first evap- it was possible to separate approximately 0.25 km from a small Photo: Tom Murray. Tom Photo: Photo: Christopher Majka.

The ambrosia beetle, Trypodendron The marsh beetle, Cyphon variabilis. retusum.

18 beaver pond and associated marsh reported in several eastern states in Winter Moths: that provide a suitable habitat for the United States. In North America, it. The large number of specimens it is associated with alders. Shivering to Stay Warm attracted to maple sap (and small- The most diverse group of bee- Of the eight species of moths found er numbers of the related Cyphon tles found in the collection buck- in the collection buckets, seven confusus) is unexpected, apparently ets, however, were five sap beetles: were members of the reflecting an aspect of the biology of Cryptarcha ampla, Glischrochilus (the owlet moths), one of the most these marsh beetles not previously fasciatus, Glischrochilus quadrisig- diverse families of moths in North documented by entomologists. natus, Glischrochilus sanguinolen- America. They included the grey Three other species found in the tus, and Glischrochilus siepmanni. swordgrass moth, the nameless pin- maple sap buckets were the ambro- All sap beetles are attracted to saps ion, the wanton pinion, the plush- sia beetles, Trypodendron retusum, and liquids. The two “picnic bee- napped pinion, the strait-toothed Xyloterinus politus, and Xyloborinus tles,” Glischrochilus fasciatus and sallow, and the three-spotted sal- alni. Ambrosia beetles form a group- Glischrochilus quadrisignatus, derive low. All these moths are known to ing within the bark beetles, which their name from a fondness for sweet be attracted to maple sap. Their in turn are a subfamily of weevils. and fermenting juices. Put a fruit physiology and behaviour were Ambrosia beetles excavate galleries salad, some pickles, or a glass of beer thoroughly investigated by Bernd beneath bark of unhealthy or dying or wine on a picnic table and in short Heinrich (1940- ) in a pioneering trees. These galleries are inoculated order these beetles appear and wade study called “Thermoregulation by with symbiotic fungi carried in so- right in. Glischrochilus sanguinolen- winter-flying endothermic moths” called “mycangial” pits, depressions tus, another member of this genus, is published in 1987 in the Journal of found on the heads of adults. As the typically found in coniferous forests Experimental Biology. Heinrich is a beetles excavate the bark they intro- feeding on sap oozing from broken professor emeritus at the University duce spores in the galleries where limbs, torn bark, or recent injuries. of Vermont, well known to many the fungi (molds or mildews) grow. The dried-fruit beetle, Cryptarcha naturalists from his many publica- Adults and larvae then feed on these ampla, frequents sap flows on maple tions on nature, behaviour, biology, fungal hyphae. Bark beetles of all trees. Another widely distributed ecology, and evolution such as Mind kinds are known to be attracted to species in Eastern Canada and New of the Raven, The Snoring Bird, The chemicals released by trees when England, it was recorded for the first Trees in My Forest, and Why We Run. they are injured (for example, by time on Prince Edward Island. In his research on these moths, having a hole drilled into them) so One final species, a carpet bee- Heinrich found that all of them are these bark beetles are attracted to tle called Anthrenus castanae, is a active during the winter months, maples through such chemicals sig- member of the skin and hide beetle whenever ambient temperatures nals, and in seeking their source, fall family (Dermestidae). Like other spe- rise above 0ºC. Heinrich found that into the maple sap. cies in this family, the larvae feed on they are able to be active at such low Both Trypodendron retusum and dried and plants products, temperatures because they maintain Xyloborinus alni are newly recorded however, adult carpet beetles mate thoracic temperatures 10ºC higher on Prince Edward Island. The for- in the field and feed on nectar and than other moths. They accomplish mer is a native species, widely dis- pollen. Consequently, like other nec- this through a combination of behav- tributed in eastern Canada and New tar-eating species, they are attracted ioural adaptations (shivering to England, which is associated with to sugars found in maple sap. The warm the thorax, which commences poplars. Xyloborinus alni, however, is other six species found in the buck- at temperatures of -2ºC, much lower an introduced Oriental species only ets (single individuals), represented than other moths) and anatomical recently found in North America. common forest beetles, but not ones features (a thick pile on the head It was originally detected in 1995 associated with sap flows. in British Columbia and 1996 in Washington State, and was later Photo: Tom Murray. Tom Photo: Photo: Tom Murray. Tom Photo:

The nameless pinion moth The strait-toothed sallow moth. Lithophane innominata. vinulenta.

19 and thorax; a series of abdominal air sacks that act as insulators; and Names of insects collected in maple sap in an aortic configuration that acts Woodville Mills, PEI as a heat exchanger). The moths obtain the energy for these activi- ties by drinking sugar saps. Heinrich observed that, given the opportuni- Scientific Name Common Name ty, the moths will bloat themselves COLEOPTERA BEETLES by consuming saps, increasing their Carabidae Ground Beetles body weight by up to 95%. Even a Dromius piceus Dejean no common name much smaller normal meal of maple Coccinellidae Lady Beetles sap would yield a moth approxi- Anatis mali (Say) eye-spotted lady beetle mately three days of energy reserves. Thus, the presence of these moths in Corylophidae Minute Fungus Beetles maple sap buckets is not unexpected. Orthoperus suturalis LeConte no common name In addition to the owlet moths Curculionidae Bark Beetles discussed above, one leafroller moth, Trypodendron retusum (LeConte) poplar ambrosia beetle the lesser maple leafroller, was abun- Xyloterinus politus (Say) ambrosia beetle dant in maple sap buckets. This is Xyloborinus alni (Niisima) an ambrosia beetle a widespread species that feeds on apple, beech, birch, maple, and oak. Dermestidae Skin and Hide Beetles Tortricids are one of the four fami- Anthrenus castanae Melsheimer a carpet beetle lies of moths that are attracted to natural sap flows. What role such Histeridae Clown Beetles feeding may play in the biology of Euspilotus assimilis (Paykull) no common name this species has not been investigat- Lampyridae Fireflies ed. One other moth, a single speci- Ellychnia corrusca (Linnaeus) diurnal firefly men of the Norman’s Quaker, was found in the study. It is not associ- Nitidulidae Sap Beetles ated with sap flows and it appears Cryptarcha ampla Erichson dried fruit beetle that its presence in the maple sap Glischrochilus fasciatus (Olivier) picnic beetle buckets was accidental. Glischrochilus quadrisignatus (Say) picnic beetle Glischrochilus sanguinolentus (Olivier) no common name Glischrochilus siepmanni Brown no common name Caddisflies Scirtidae Marsh Beetles Cyphon confusus Brown a marsh beetle Almost all adult caddisflies are liq- Cyphon variabilis (Thunberg) a marsh beetle uid feeders, consuming sap and flo- ral nectar. Single individuals of two Staphylinidae Rove Beetles species, Glyphopsyche irrorata and Silusa californica Bernhauer no common name Limnephilus ornatus (neither have Nudobius cephalus (Say) no common name common names), were found in the MOTHS collection buckets. Glyphopsyche Noctuidae Owlet Moths irrorata over-winters as an adult Crocigrapha normani (Grote) Norman’s Quaker and, like the moths discussed above Eupsilia vinulenta (Grote) strait-toothed sallow is regularly active in the winter Eupsilia tristigmata (Grote) three-spotted sallow months at temperatures near 0ºC. Lithophane innominata (J.B. Smith) nameless pinion Lithophane petulca Grote wanton pinion Lithophane pexata Grote plush-napped pinion What have we learned? cineritia (Grote) grey swordgrass moth The insect fauna of Prince Edward Leafroller Moths Island is the most poorly docu- chalybeana (C.H. Fernald) lesser maple leafroller mented of any province province in TRICHOPTERA CADDISFLIES Canada. Over the past decade, with Limnephilidae Northern Caddisflies the assistance of many colleagues, Glyphopsyche irrorata (Fabricius) no common name I have been particularly focused Limnephilus ornatus Banks no common name on investigating the island’s bee- tle fauna. My collections, coupled Note: Many species of moths have common names. Beetles (except those with an examination of the excel- considered as pests) generally have not had common names assigned to lent collections maintained at the them. University of Prince Edward Island by Donna Giberson, and those at the

20 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Crops and Livestock Research Centre in Charlottetown, maintained by Mary Smith and Christine Noronha, have greatly expanded our knowl- edge of this group of insects in the province. Whereas, the 1991 Checklist of Beetles of Canada and Alaska contained records of only 341 species from the province, we have now recorded 939 species from Prince Edward Island – 608 new spe- cies and a 275% increase! This is a major step forward, but the process is far from complete and with almost every field study and expedition that I embark on, Photo: Christopher Majka. on Prince Edward Island, I find yet Max Newby of Woodlands Maple Syrup, stoking the fire of the evaporator in more new species for the province. the sugar shack. Furthermore, the moths of Prince Edward Island are even more poorly can we monitor to see if they are in quantitative study would need to be documented than are the beetles, decline or changing their distribu- done. as evidenced by the fact that all tion – and if so, why. Similarly, if Finally, the study has opened a eight species found in this study are we want to monitor for the intro- window on this fascinating group of newly recorded in the province. It’s duction of alien species (some of forest insects whose ecology is asso- not that they are rare on the island, which might become invasive pests), ciated with sap flows. In the ways just that no previous scientific stud- we first need to know what is there, discussed above, the biology of all ies have documented their presence before continuing to look for what of these species is reliant on this there. So studies that help document might be new. So, contributing to a energy and nutrient-rich resource the biodiversity of the province con- knowledge of biodiversity is a useful and they have evolved various adap- tinue to be useful. by-product of this study. tations to take advantage of it. While This isn’t just because it is nice Beyond this, even though the study other moths may hibernate, these to know what the flora and fauna I undertook was a preliminary one, it moths can be active much earlier in of Prince Edward Island consist of is nonetheless, perhaps the first pub- the season, even during warm spells (laudable though this may be), but, lished study that specifically exam- in the winter. Forests are amazing- such information is indispensable ines the suite of insects attracted to ly rich and diverse environments. in determining and tracking human maple syrup production – not only When we examine them carefully impact on the province’s environ- on Prince Edward Island, but any- we discover the intricate ecological ment. If we want to ascertain the where at all. In maple syrup opera- clockwork that makes them tick and effects of pollution, acid rain, the tions that employ collection buckets, gives them the stability and resil- use of biocides (such as herbicides, these insects are a small, but signifi- ience that they possess. insecticide, fungicides), clear cutting cant problem, and entail continually of forests, climate change, and other filtering the collected sap to remove impacts of human civilization on their bodies. Beyond that, there is the Sources the natural world, we first need to unanswered question of what eco- know what species are present, logical impact maple syrup collec- The scientific paper on which this and where, and in what tion might have of the insect popula- article is based is “Insects attract- numbers. Only then tions of maple forests. If a sap collec- ed to maple sap: observations from tion season lasts for several weeks, Prince Edward Island, Canada” by and each day hundreds or thou- Christopher Majka. It was published sands of insects are being killed as in 2010 in ZooKeys: 51: 73-83 and is a by product of the operations, available online at: http://pensofton- will this have an ecological line.net/zookeys/index.php/journal/ impact on the populations article/view/478/486. The citations of these species, or indeed of additional sources are available by on the forest ecosystem as checking this paper. a whole, since the beetles, moths, Many thanks to Max Newby of caddisflies, and flies that drown in Woodlands Maple Syrup who sup- Photo: Tom Murray. Tom Photo: the collection buckets are themselves plied much useful information and the source of food for other denizens assisted with the study. (spiders, birds, squirrels, etc.) of the The picnic beetle Glischrochilus forest? To answer questions such quadrisignatus. as these, a much more detailed and

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