Wisconsin Entomoloqical Society Newsletter
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Wisconsin Entomoloqical Society Newsletter Volume 43, Number 1 February 2016 Welcome Dr. Craig Brabant, Academic Curator, UW Insect Research Collection By Daniel K. Young, Ph.D. [email protected] Please join me in welcoming Dr. Craig Brabant, 4th Academic Curator of the University of Wisconsin Insect Research Collection (WIRC), following the long career of Distinguished Curator, Steven During the last four years of his Krauth. Craig will be already well known to degree program, Dr. Brabant was a Research some of you as a former student in my Assistant under an NSF grant I shared with a Systematic Entomology Laboratory where number of other insect collections. This he completed a Master's thesis conducting a grant, attached to the WIRC under my survey of the velvet ants (Hymenoptera: directorship, is entitled "Advancing Mutillidae) if Wisconsin in 2003. With a Digitization of Biodiversity Collections" passion to continue his studies on (ADBC) - part of the InvertNet group Mutillidae, Craig embarked on a doctoral (http://invertnet.org/about). This work research project entitled, required hands-on, day-to-day work in the "Taxonomic Revision and Phylogenetic collection and daily demonstration of a Analysis of the South American robust suite of curatorial skills from Genus Tallium Andre (Hymenoptera: specimen interpolation of incoming new Mutillidae)." Craig defended his dissertation material and handling loan transactions to this past August. taxonomically revising and phylogenetically updating large portions of the collection holdings; from assisting with planning and Our collection website has largely been his carrying out a major move and expansion of product (ht_m_://lab~russell. wisc.edu/~irc/) the collection holdings into our expansion conceptually, in terms of layout, and now facility in the Stock Pavilion, the "WIRC content. He continues to work with our web Annex," to design, layout and management support staff to update our (WIRC) web of current collection space. The content. development of work flows, protocols, and A number of years ago, I was able to extensive trouble-shooting with the piece together funding for a new imaging WIRC's digitizing robotic system (Digi-Pan system: our Auto-Montage microscopy technology) was - and is - entirely under the system with Syncroscopy image stacking initiative of Dr. Brabant, and he has software. Some of you have had an communicated frequently with colleagues at opportunity to use our system with your own the "home institution" (Illinois Natural imaging projects. It was Dr. Brabant whom I History Survey) to the benefit of the entire, called upon to assemble and install the new 24-member group oflnvertNet participant system, wade through the user manuals and universities and institutions. make it functional. Following several years Although our collection of well over of very regular use by numerous faculty lab three million specimens and twice that in groups, students, classes, and colleagues bulk lots is in its data-basing infancy, Craig from the WI-DNR, the system "crashed." It has been instrumental in converting our was Dr. Brabant who was able to work disparate pre-existing databases (Biota, File directly with our Russell Labs IT staff as Maker, various spreadsheets and Word files) well as numerous emails with the technical to our current relational database, Specify. support staff at Syncroscopy in the United This required not only a considerable Kingdom to trouble shoot and finally get us taxonomic working knowledge base but a back up and running. He also wrote a user plethora of emails and telephone manual and suggested and configured a user conversations with the Specify technical log-in system to help promote better support staff in Kansas. Dr. Brabant also tracking and trouble-shooting. His efforts recently developed a working knowledge not only made the Auto-Montage functional of WordPress, the option currently used by at a critical time in the lives of several the department for webpage development. graduate students requiring publication- 2 quality images to finish research projects bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. degrees in and theses, but those skilled efforts saved us zoology from the University of Wisconsin several thousand dollars in system upgrades Madison. For more than 30 years. he was a that we candidly did not have. professor of biology at UW-Oshkosh. In Following the retirement of Steve 1996, the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology Krauth, Craig was able to step in as Interim (WSO) bestowed its Bronze Passenger WIRC Curator while our departmental Pigeon A ward on Kaspar for recognition of Search Committee worked through the his lifetime contributions to the field of tedious process of evaluating some 30 ornithology. applicants to the posted curatorial position. I Kaspar also served on the council of am most pleased to say that Dr. Brabant rose the Citizen's Natural Resources Association to the top of the finalist group and his (CNRA) of Wisconsin and (of more interest position "officially" began on 1 January to WES members) the American 2016. Arachnological Society (AAS)'s Genera of I'm sure I join Craig in inviting you North America revision team. The bulk of to conduct research in the WIRC: get to information concerning Kaspar's life and know - or continue to know more about - work has been provided by Dreux J. what a unique resource the WIRC provides Watermolen, Wisconsin Department of to the local, regional, and - indeed - world Natural Resources (WDNR). entomological communities. We also A more in-depth obituary and photo encourage you to contribute your time and of Kaspar appeared in The Badger Birder talents to the WIRC as we seek to expand (Wisconsin Society of Ornithology), Jan. volunteer opportunities. 2016, on p. 19: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thenorthw estem/obituary .aspx?pid= 17 695 7994. Dr. John L. (Jack) Kaspar (1927-2015) Two of Kaspar's leading publications in the field of arachnology are Professional ornithologist and cited below. arachnologist Dr. John L. (Jack) Kaspar of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, passed away on 18 Blasczyk, M. J., J. P. Lass, and J. L. Kaspar. December 2015. Kaspar had earned his 1992. "Spiders of the UW-Milwaukee Field 3 Station." University of Wisconsin the Bell's Vireo bird. She also completed a Milwaukee Field Station Bulletin 25(2): 10- biological inventory of the Badger Army 20. Ammunitions Plant. A Master Gardener, Kirk also served Snyder, B. A., M. L. Draney, J. L. Kaspar, on the board of The Prairie Enthusiasts. Her and J. Whitehouse. 2004. "Preliminary most notable entomological publication was Survey of the Terrestrial Isopods (Isopoda), her co-authorship, with Charles R. Bomar, Millipedes (Diplopoda), Harvestmen of the Guide to the Grasshoppers of (Opiliones), and Spiders (Araneae) of Toft Wisconsin (Kirk and Bomar 2005). A Point Natural Area, Door County, memorial service honoring Kathryn was Wisconsin." The Great Lakes Entomologist held on 24 January 2016 at the Friends 37(3-4): 105-115. House in Madison, Wisconsin. Again, most of the information contained in this notice Kathryn Kirk (1951-2016) has been provided by Dreux J. Watermolen of the WDNR. A more complete obituary Kathryn Kirk, born Kathy L. Baker to and photo of Kirk may be found at the parents in Peoria, Illinois, passed away on 9 website below: January 2016, after living with ALS for http://host.madison.corn/news/local/obituari three years. Kathy graduated from the es/kirk-kathryn/article 07al33a5-f2b5- University of Illinois and first moved to 55b3-a3 l l-f0b3a74cc23a.html. southwestern Minnesota before settling in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin. She then Kirk, K. and C. R. Bomar. 2005. Guide to earned a master's degree in conservation the Grasshoppers of Wisconsin. Madison: biology from UW-Madison in the 1990s. Wisconsin Department of Natural She had done fieldwork for The Nature Resources. Conservancy, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Endangered The Wisconsin Entomological Society Newsletter is Resources within the Wisconsin Department published three times per year. The newsletter is of Natural Resources (WDNR). She engaged provided to encourage and facilitate the exchange of information by the membership, and to keep in projects to protect the Hines Emerald members informed of the activities of the Dragonfly, the Kamer Blue Butterfly, and organization. Members are encouraged to contribute 4 items for inclusion in the newsletter. Please send all news items, notes, new or interesting insect records, seasonal summaries, and research reports or requests to the editor. 2014 dues notices were sent out in January. Please note that the year through which dues are paid appears on the newsletter's mailing label after your name. Second Place: Kyle Johnson (moth). Membership Dues: Individual or family: S10 per year Sustaining: S15 per year Patron: S25 per year Please make checks payable to WES and send to: Les Ferge, Treasurer, 7119 Hubbard Avenue, Middleton, WI 53562-323 l . [email protected] Please report any address changes to the Treasurer. Third Place: Marci Hess (velvet mite). Winners of the 2015 Photo Salon Contest: Books and Websites By Andrew Khitsun [email protected] From Nebraska with love, along comes another book in a long series of titles (some free) on scarab beetles: The First Place: Don Parsons, "Bold Jumper." Dynastine Scarab Beetles of West Indies Jumping spider, Phidippus audax. by B. Ratcliffe, et al., while Illustrated Guide To The Emerald Ash Borer by M. Chamorro, et al., has 33 species of the beetle 5 genus Agrilus illustrated in full color. The of Vermont & New Hampshire by R. Bell book is pricey, but a free . pdf version can be is currently available from only one downloaded at: bookstore at: http://www.fs.fed.us/nrs/pubs/jrnl/2015/n http://www.northshire.com/book/9780970 rs 2015 chamorro 001.pdf. Hyper 082312 (thanks to WES member Peter Nature by P.