R e p o r t s

Summer 2007 No. 392

INSIDE Diseases of Beneficial Insects

Developing a Regional Monitoring Plan for Recent reports of the disappear- its livelihood. For Chicago Wilderness ance of honey bees attributed to a example, in addition 2 mysterious disease called “colony to the recent colony collapse disorder” have brought collapse disorder and CTAP: 10 Years and many issues to the public eye varroa mite infesta- Going Strong! concerning, among others, the tions, a microsporid- 3 importance of beneficial insects, ian pathogen, Nosema the global movement of both ceranae, previously Frequency of Early insects and their diseases, and the thought to occur only Mortality Syndrome impacts of loss on human in the Asian honey in Southwestern Lake activities and health. Not all bee, Apis cerana, has Michigan Lake Trout insects are pests, nor are all dis- now been found to Populations eases detrimental—many disease occur worldwide in 4 organisms are used in control of colonies of Apis mel- pests and all are part of the natu- lifera, the European Species Spotlight: Southern Flying ral cycle of . But diseases honey bee. 6 in insects we depend upon are not Like all other always well understood and may animals and plants, The Naturalist's be devastating to agriculture and insects are victims of Apprentice: Looking for the natural environment. many different types Signs Honey bees are the most of diseases-viruses, 7 easily manipulated of the world’s bacteria, fungi, proto- pollinating species and, therefore, zoa, and nematodes. the most intensively studied. Disease organisms of Even with an extensive knowl- any or all of these Bombus griseocollis foraging on purple cone- edge base concerning their patho- groups are found flower. Photo by Lee Solter, INHS gen/parasite complex, researchers in any well-studied The Insect Pathology program and producers still are faced with host species. Like other natural at the Illinois Natural History unexpected epizootics and intro- enemies, diseases are important in Survey partners with federal, maintaining insect populations at state, and university cooperators levels that are actually optimal for to study diseases of both pest the species, preventing popula- and beneficial insects. Some of tions from outstripping their the more recent research proj- own food supplies. In terms of ects have dealt specifically with human interactions with insects, beneficial species. One project we would be much worse off if involves working with the USDA insects such as mosquitoes, black- Forest Service to identify and flies, house flies, and agricultural mitigate the occurrence of disease pests did not succumb regularly in several species of beneficial and in great numbers to diseases. beetles that are being used for There are, however, insects such biological control of the hemlock as bees and silk worms, predatory woolly adelgid. This Asian adel- The bee team (L–R): flies and beetles, and other man- gid pest is devastating popula- Jamie Strange, Terry ductions, and the bee industry is aged beneficial insects that benefit tions of eastern and Carolina Griswold, Sydney constantly focused on identifying, humans, and there may be serious hemlocks in both horticultural Cameron, and Lee Solter. treating, and avoiding various consequences when they are dev- Photo by Joyce Knoblett natural enemies that threaten astated by epizootic diseases. Continued on back page

1 Developing a Regional Monitoring Plan for Chicago Wilderness

The Chicago Wilderness consortium is an a regional monitoring plan. The survey discussions and breakout sessions, we alliance of more than 200 public and private has a long history of monitoring the natu- agreed that the two major questions to be organizations working to protect, restore, ral resources of Illinois. A prime example addressed through monitoring are 1) what study, and manage the natural ecosystems of the survey’s efforts is the Critical is the health of the region’s natural com- of the Chicago region; contribute to the Trends Assessment Program, which has munities and how is that changing over conservation of global biodiversity; and been monitoring trends in major natural time, and 2) what impact is management enrich local residents’ quality of life. Since communities around the state for more having on natural community health. its founding more than 10 years ago, the than 10 years. The survey’s charge is to Workshop participants also agreed that all consortium has recognized that monitoring develop a scientifically sound monitor- natural communities in the region should throughout the region is needed to assess ing program that reflects the consortium be monitored, but that special attention the status and trends of natural communi- members’ priorities. This effort has been should be given to rare or endangered ties, which cover more than 225,000 acres. led by Dr. Geoff Levin, director of the plant communities and species Reaching agreement among the consortium survey’s Division of Biodiversity and assemblages. In addition, the group rec- members on what should be monitored has Ecological Entomology. ommended that regional monitoring build proven difficult, however. The process of developing a regional on monitoring already being undertaken About two years ago, Chicago Wilder- monitoring plan began with a two-day by consortium members, insofar as those ness asked the Illinois Natural History workshop that brought together repre- efforts can be integrated. Survey (INHS), a charter member of the sentatives of many of the consortium’s Following the workshop, the survey consortium, to coordinate efforts to develop members. Through a series of facilitated spent many months interviewing consor- tium members to determine what monitoring they currently are doing. (This step has focused on terrestrial systems; a sepa- rate effort led by the Chi- cago Wilderness Aquatics Task- force is looking at aquatic monitoring.) Most monitor- ing is being done by govern- mental agen- cies, especially forest preserve districts, the Illinois Depart- ment of Natural Resources, and volunteer groups. A wide

Black-crowned Night-Heron hatchling. Photo by Jeff Continued on page 5 Levengood, Division of Ecology and Conservation Science

2 CTAP: 10 Years and Going Strong!

The Changing Illinois Environment: Criti- Some typical questions that can be ad- d) Are macroinvertebrates and aquatic cal Trends, a state-of-the-environment dressed with these time-series trend data life re-colonizing streams with improved report published in 1994 by the Illinois are: water quality? Department of Natural Resources conclud- a) How will the arrival of the emerald ash ed that habitats in Illinois were deteriorat- borer affect Illinois forests? e) To what extent are - forests ing as the result of becoming sugar- forests? and biotic/abiotic stressors. This report b) What effect is global climate change recommended that the state begin collect- having on Illinois’s flora and fauna? f) How are changes in surrounding lan- ing statewide data on both the current con- duse affecting flora and fauna? ditions and future trends in these habitats. c) Which invasive species are most Since 1997 the scientists of the Critical common or problematic, and which are Trends Assessment Program (CTAP) have spreading the fastest? Continued on page 5 undertaken this task. CTAP is a long-term habitat monitor- ing program that samples habitats across Illinois. It is sponsored by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (http:// dnr.state.il.us/) and housed at the Illinois Natural History Survey (http://www. inhs.uiuc.edu/). The goal of CTAP is to gather baseline data on the biological health of our forests, wetlands, grasslands, and streams, and to determine how these habitats are changing through time. This information supports efforts to better understand, conserve, restore, and manage Illinois forestlands, wetlands, grasslands, and streams. Over the last 10 years the program has surveyed 176 grasslands, 175 wet- lands, 177 forests, and over 150 streams (Figure 1). We have sampled sites in all 102 Illinois counties, identified over 1,270 species of plants, and found 202 species of birds. The program has produced 31 regional assessments reports for water- sheds throughout Illinois to inform local conservation work. These data are increas- ingly relied upon by public and private institutions throughout Illinois and even across to inform their deci- sion making. For example, the CTAP Web site (http://ctap.inhs.uiuc.edu) has received over 1.3 millions hits in only a few years. CTAP has accumulated the data to quantify the state of natural and semi- natural habitats throughout Illinois; it is now poised to address ecological trends through time—changes in the future. Figure 1. CTAP Fact Sheet.

3 Frequency of Early Mortality Syndrome in South- western Lake Michigan Lake Trout Populations

Self-sustainable lake trout, Salvelinus The Illinois Natural namaycus, populations in Lake Michigan History Survey, with are a primary but unmet goal of the fisheries collaborators from managers in the region. Large numbers of USGS Great Lakes hatchery-origin lake trout are stocked into Science Center and the Lake Michigan every year. Although these Ohio State University, is fish survive well to adulthood and produce investigating individual viable eggs, no significant natural recruitment variation in thiamine has been recorded. Poor lake trout recruit- levels in the eggs of Lake ment in various systems has been linked with Michigan lake trout insufficient broodstock, diminished spawning at the time of spawn- habitat, contaminants, on eggs and ing (picture). Eggs are alevins, and nutritional deficiencies. However, fertilized, incubated, no clear cause for lack of natural recruitment and hatched under con- has been identified for Lake Michigan lake trolled laboratory condi- trout. Nutritional deficiencies associated with tions. High performance Figure 1: Relationship between free thiamine concentration in inadequate levels of thiamine (vitamin B1) in liquid chromatography unfertilized, ovulated lake trout eggs and EMS-related mortality the eggs result in high mortalities of yolk sack (HPLC) is used to de- in the offspring. stages of several salmonid species in the Great termine concentrations ments, EMS frequency soared dramatically Lakes and in the Baltic Sea. Mortality caused of vitamin B1 in the eggs. by thiamine deficiency, commonly referred Finally, we quantify mortality caused by among lake trout offspring hatched from to as Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS), is a EMS in young lake trout and correlate it eggs containing free thiamine below this consequence of high levels of thiaminase, an with levels of thiamine found in eggs from threshold (Figure 1). Post-hatch mortality enzyme degrading thiamine, found in prey individual females. attributed to EMS occurred between 700 fishes such as alewife,Alosa pseudoharengus, Results to date indicate that egg thia- and 900 degree-days, an age at which lake and rainbow smelt, Osmerus mordax. Because mine concentration varies by an order of trout offspring are swimming and actively alewives are a major component of the lake magnitude among investigated females. looking for food. trout diet in Lake Michigan, we hypothesize More than 50% of all females sampled Understanding the potential importance that EMS may be a significant bottleneck in the produced eggs with free thiamine levels of EMS as a regulator of lake trout repro- survival of early life stages of this species. below 0.8 nmol/g. In laboratory experi- ductive success is critical for the effective management of this native Lake Michigan fish. These findings extend our ability to interpret the role of EMS in the lake trout recruitment dynamics. For instance, the actual number of spawning lake trout needed to generate natural reproduction in Lake Michigan may be underestimated by 50% or more once losses associated with EMS are taken into account. Because of the possible benefits of our findings for manag- ers, it is essential to investigate lakewide variability of thiamine deficiency as well as the importance of EMS compared to other sources of early mortality among Lake Michigan lake trout.

Sergiusz Czesny, and John M. Dettmers, Division of Ecology and Conservation Sciences; Konrad Dabrowski, TheOhio State University; and Jacques Rinchard, USGS Great Lakes Science Center Collection of lake trout eggs. Photo by Sergiusz Czesny, Division of Ecology and Conservation Sciences

4 tium members, tentative agreement has mer under the guidance of the Chicago Chicago Wilderness been reached to focus initially on plant Audubon Society with funding from continued from page 2 communities, birds, and turtles. Other Chicago Wilderness. Full implementation organisms either are extremely difficult of regional monitoring is slated to begin variety of plant and animal groups are being to identify accurately or do not provide in 2008. With guidance from the survey monitored, but most data are being gathered as much information about general eco- and input from consortium members, on plant communities and birds. In addi- system health. Randomly selected sites Chicago Wilderness will be positioned to tion, threatened or endangered plants and will include both managed and unman- provide natural resource managers, politi- animals are being monitored fairly exten- aged sites, allowing assessment of both cians, and the public with accurate and sively. Unfortunately, integrating much of ecosystem health and management ef- reliable information about the health of this information into a regional monitor- fects. The plan will also recommend that the Chicago metropolitan region’s natural ing effort will not be possible. Protocols Chicago Wilderness encourage expan- communities. vary widely among existing monitoring sion of existing successful programs that programs, making it difficult to compare monitor butterflies, frogs, and threatened Geoffrey A. Levin, Division of Biodiversity and their results. Most monitoring locations are and endangered plants. INHS staff cur- Ecological Entomology selected to answer specific questions rather rently are finalizing detailed monitor- than being randomly distributed, or are ing protocols, methods for selecting maintained in a variety of formats, includ- monitoring sites that provide a random ing paper files, making it difficult to bring and representative sample, and recom- the data together. mendations for data management and Because regional monitoring of ter- analysis. A draft plan will be presented restrial ecosystems will have to be based to consortium members at a meeting later largely on newly collected data, it will be this year and then revised in response to important to focus on efficient approaches. their input. Following discussions with experts from A pilot project to monitor plant within the survey and meetings with consor- communities will take place this sum-

cerns held by Illinois landowners, land CTAP managers, and policy-makers. The continued from page 3 first issue of CTAP Science and Eco- logical Policy will be an overview of management, conservation, and land g) How can preserves and other open spaces managing practices in Illinois forests. be designed and managed to promote bio- The first decade of the Critical logical health and biodiversity? Trends Assessment Program has produced volumes of data with which h) How do grassland birds benefit from the to determine the distribution and Conservation Reserve Program and other abundance of plants, birds, and stream grassland conservation programs? invertebrates throughout Illinois. The next 10 years will provide a com- In addition to addressing these and other parison by which to determine the questions, CTAP has initiated the CTAP direction of the Illinois environment. Science and Ecological Policy series. This With the creation of the CTAP Science is an initiative designed to inform manag- and Ecological Polic series, we hope ers, researchers, and property owners using to use these data to best manage and the most up-to-date ecological data we have conserve Illinois’ habitats. collected, along with the most current scien- tific expertise on subjects such as forestry, Michael Ward, Division of Ecology and Con- conservation biology, and wildlife biology servation Sciences as they relate to specific questions and con-

5 Species Spotlight cockaded , but I flattened bodies that are 8 to 10 In Illinois mating occurs in was off looking at something inches long and weigh from 2 to late February or early March and else. I reveled in a friend’s tale 4 ounces. Their fur, called pel- again in July with young born Southern of how they come to her bird age, ranges in color from steel- from late March to May and feeders every night at dusk, gray to gray-brown and is silky in August and September. The Flying but there is still no check mark and dense. The breast is creamy number of young varies from Squirrel by the for me. white. They have enormous dark two to seven. The newborns are This spring during a field trip eyes with brown eye rings that pink and hairless with closed Susan Post to the Lost Mound area (the contrast against their gray faces. eyes and ears, yet by eight decommissioned Savanna Army They have flattened featherlike weeks they are adult size and Depot) a friend found a walnut tails that comprise 40% of their furred. They are able to breed with interesting holes. She total length. A loose fold of skin within the next year. picked it up from the flotsam extends between the fore- and Populations of flying squir- of the Mississippi River; the hindlegs, along both sides of the rels are affected by the reduc- walnut had body. This flap, called a pata- tion of woodland areas and by two sets gium, is unique among North the removal of dead trees with of evenly American . By extend- nest cavities. The spaced ellip- ing their legs and stretching main predators of these squir- tical holes. the patagium like an airfoil, the rels are barred and great horned The edges are capable of graceful , while weasels, , had fine glides. Most of their glides are and black rat may prey tooth marks. less than 100 feet in distance and on them while in their tree nests. Looking the squirrels end up lower than Flying squirrels easily escape around we their take-off spot. our notice as they are the only found a Flying squirrels live in nocturnal squirrels in North small stash nests that are from15 to 20 feet America. Even though they of holey above ground in cavities such as may be abundant, seeing one is walnuts woodpecker holes. The globular- a rare treat. They might easily buried in an shaped nest is lined completely be mistaken for a falling leaf. old log. We with plant fibers such as shred- A comment by two biologists took several ded bark, leaves, and grasses. in 1911 gives credence to their back to the There is usually more than one common names of “fairy diddle” Illinois nest—primary and second- and “goblins of the night.” Natural His- ary—which may be used as “There is something ghostlike tory Survey feeding stations or retreats. The in this gliding flight . . .There and showed nests have small entries (1.6 to is not only an entire absence Southern flying squirrel,Glaucomys volans. then to our 2 inches in diameter) to prevent of fluttering wings but perfect Drawing by Aleta Holt for the INHS "Field Manual of Illinois Mammals" mammalo- other tree squirrels from using silence.” gist who them. Flying squirrels do not INHS mammalogist Joe My first encounter with exclaimed, “Southern flying defecate in their nests. While the Merritt is gratefully acknowl- a flying squirrel was as a squirrel!” I am getting ever squirrels do not hibernate, they edged for providing insights and young child, entertained closer to seeing this illusive do undergo periods of torpor. information about southern fly- by the cartoon antics of animal! Usually in the winter they will ing squirrels for this article. Rocky the flying squirrel Illinois has one species huddle with up to 10 to 20 other and his pal Bullwinkle of flying squirrel, Glaucomys flying squirrels in order to save the moose. Surely an an- volans, the southern flying energy. imal like Rocky couldn’t squirrel. Its scientific name lit- exist—a squirrel that erally translated means “flying flies? I would later learn gray mouse.” They inhabit the that, yes, there were such eastern half of the United States The Naturalist’s Apprentice Teacher’s Page things as flying squirrels; from southeastern Canada to I even handled a museum southern peninsular Florida. specimen—flattened but While they may be found in a soft. As someone who variety of habitats, from the dry Answers to “Looking for Signs” exercise on fol- keeps a list of all squir- brush country of eastern Texas lowing page: rel species, the flying to the pinelands of the South, squirrel has become a they prefer mature deciduous 1-d, 2-b, 3-h, 4-c, 5-f, 6-e, 7-a, 8-g. nemesis. I was close once forests with an abundance of when a small group of nut producing trees such as oak, them were frightened out hickory, or . of a tree occupied by red Flying squirrels have light,

6 The Naturalist's Looking for Signs Apprentice It is common for animals to be present in an area without being noticed. Flying squirrels, for instance, are nocturnal and are seldom witnessed by people who only frequent these areas during the daytime. Many animals are very secretive and stay quiet and hidden when people are present. Many of these Looking for animals do, however, leave signs that they were there. You may find tracks, scat, debris from feeding, burrows, cast skins, and other signs. See if you can match up the signs with the correct animal. Signs Carolyn Nixon When you are out in a natural area, look for these signs and study them. Photograph or sketch them, and then look in field guides to see if you can determine who left the clue to their activity.

1. southern flying squirrel ______(walnuts with smooth hole)

2. beaver ______A (chewed tree trunks)

3. Pileated Woodpecker ______B (rectangular holes in tree trunk)

4. crayfish ______(mud chimney)

5. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker ______(small holes drilled in straight lines)

6. leafcutter bees ______C (round holes cut from leaf)

7. cicada ______D (empty skins of immature insects)

8. insect galls ______(bulbous growth on twig or leaf)

E

H

G

All photos by Michael Jeffords (INHS) except the shot of Yellow-bellied Sapsucker holes, F which was taken by Kelly Cook of INHS

“The Naturalist’s Apprentice” presents educational activities for middle school students. Teachers are invited to photocopy this page7 for classroom use. ILLINOIS Non-Profit Org. NATURAL U. S. Postage HISTORY PAID SURVEY Champaign, IL 61820 Permit 75 1816 South Oak Street, Champaign, Illinois 61820 USA

in Logan, Utah, addresses the ies, identified several pathogens Beneficial Insects potential causes of population and parasites isolated from bum- continued from front page declines of some of our most ble bees collected in the American and natural environments, includ- important native plant pollina- West and Midwest. Individual ing old-growth trees in pristine tors, the bumble bees. There are bees from two populations in Illi- forest areas. Three of the beetle more than 50 species of bumble nois, as well as bees from western species being used in the adelgid bees ( Bombus) in North populations, were infected with a pathogen, a microsporidium, that Illinois Natural His- biological control programs have America and several appear is a genetic match for a species tory Survey Reports been found to harbor microspo- to be declining severely. Our is published quarterly team will approach the problem that occurs in European bumble by the Illinois Natural ridia, fungal-like pathogens that of identifying the reasons for bees. We will be working to History Survey, 1816 insidiously infect the insects and determine whether this pathogen decline by addressing two of the South Oak Street, cause shorter adult lifespans, is a recent invader that has spread Champaign, IL 61820. myriad potential causes—the larval death, and lowered egg pro- across the continent or is found Headquartered on isolation and fragmentation of duction. The microsporidia can globally in bumble bees. Illinois the campus of the bumble bee populations and the University of Illinois build up in the laboratory colonies residents can help by informing at Urbana-Cham- and cause death of a large percent- occurrence of diseases that might us about areas, particularly fields paign, the Survey is a age of colony insects that have be invading North America, and natural areas, where bumble division of the Illinois been painstakingly reared for or are native but with effects bees are frequent visitors so that Department of Natural that may be exacerbated by Resources. biological control projects. We we can sample the populations. are currently identifying these other pressures. Supported by a Contact Information: microsporidia and learning about grant from the USDA National Lee Solter INHS Reports is ed- how they infect and are spread. Research Initiative, we will Phone: (217) 244-5047 ited by Tom Rice and The most recent project, a compare historical information Email: [email protected] Charlie Warwick and collaboration between the authors from museums and the scientific printed on recycled literature with the current ranges and recyclable paper. at INHS and the University of Lee Solter, Division of Biodiversity and Design by Otto-Walker Illinois and Jamie Strange and of six species of bees and their Ecological Entomology and Sydney Communications. Terry Griswold at the USDA Bee parasites and pathogens. Cameron, Department of Entomology, Biology and Systematics Lab We have, in preliminary stud- University of Illinois Equal opportunity to participate in programs of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and those funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other agencies is available to all individuals regardless of race, sex, national origin, disability, age, religion, or other non-merit factors. If you believe you have been discriminated against, contact the funding source's civil rights office and/or the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, IDNR, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271; 217/785-0067; TTY 217/782-9175. This information may be provided in an alternative format if required. Contact DNR Clear- inghouse at 217/782-7498 for assistance. 8