The Phasmid Study Group
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The Phasmid Study Group Chair: Mrs Judith Marshall Department of Entomology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD Treasurer/Membership: Paul Brock (Phone 0753-79447) "Papillon, 40 Thorndike Road, Slough, Berks SL2 1SR Secretary: Ms Angela Parwani 64 Kingsway, Gillingham, Kent ME7 3BD March 1991 NEWSLETTER NO. 46 ISSN 0268-3806 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING REPORT Despite the disappointing fall in the numbers from across the Channel, about 50 members still attended. Some 23 species were given away - also 2 species of betting-shop biro and some hissing cockroaches! 1 Phil Bragg (No. 445) displayed photos and drawings of some of the sticks he has collected from Sarawak, together with a summary of his three trips so far. Paul Jennings (No. 80) showed 12 small living species, for those of us who are short of cage space. * MONEY AND MEMBERS - Paul Brock (No. 26) reported a record 343 members at the end of 1990 - more than one-third from over 20 countries outside the UK. The recent trend of small "losses" has been replaced by a healthy £200 profit, as a result of generous donations, higher interest rates and, surprisingly, 14% lower printing costs. No changes were proposed for the subscription rates for 1992. With the easier availability of back issues, it is hoped that demand for these will increase. NEWSLETTERS - Michael Lazenby and Frances Holloway (No. 3) again reported that the previous year had seen the largest ever Newsletter. But, although each Species Report was intended to include comments from the whole Group, once again the PSG was in the unhealthy situation of having to depend on the work of only a very few members. However, there will be no excuse for this situation continuing, since Reports should start soon on eight common species (to replace most of those in the earliest no-longer-available Newsletters). LIBRARY - David Robinson (No. 29) is still receiving his fortnightly printout of phasmid papers. He repeated his request for members to send in articles from news- papers or books. EXHIBITIONS AND MEETINGS - Paul Jennings (No. 80) reported that in 1990 the PSG had exhibited at six major events spaced out around the country; the only one the Group missed was largely snowbound! Members' meetings included two on the Continent. Paul continued to hope for more local meetings; also for new ideas and offers for future talks, displays, etc. LIVESTOCK CO-ORDINATION - Phil Bragg (No. 445) reported that the Species List (latest issue with this Newsletter) was expanding almost daily: there were about 30 further species being attempted. Members should inform Phil if these become estab- lished so he can add them to the list and avoid confusion when eggs are sent out. As regards distribution, demand greatly exceeded supply for PSG 2, 12, 20, 26, 38 and 84. The newer species from PSG 99 to 105 were doing well (except PSG 102). Wants should be phoned in to Phil first (0602-222118) - these will be taken off the waiting list after 6 months. As reported in Newsletter 45 (page 1), Phil will no longer accept live insects, but only eggs. However, if you have any surplus live- stock, you can still let Phil know and he will pass your name on if he gets any suitable requests. Further volunteers keeping several common species are needed for the Livestock Suppliers' Panel. 46:2 OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE - The officers who gave the preceding five reports or who are listed at the top of page 1 were elected for 1991, together with the following Committee members: Adrian Durkin (No. 78), Mel Herbert (No. 232), Kim D'Hulster (No. 372), Paul Taylor (No. 852) and Eric van Gorkom (No. 250). It was good that two new people offered to serve on the Committee. NEXT PSG MEETING - The Natural History Museum on 27th July - Judith Marshall (No. 13) had received no suggestions for other London venues. Please send any Agenda items to the new Secretary, Angela Parwani (No. 419), to reach her by 15th April. TALK AND VIDEO - Judith somehow managed to make really interesting the difficult subject of the classification of stick insects, using a historical approach to the literature. The importance of knowing the standard scientific languages Latin and German was emphasised by the fact that no literature in English was published until the 1970s. Judith also described the three phasmid features which are most useful for identification - even when incorrectly translated. Bed-time reading of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature Code rules was recommended as a perfect cure for insomnia! Finally, to remind us that we were, after all, talking about living creatures, Judith showed slides of 20 species of phasmid and two stick- like grasshoppers. (The text of Judith's talk can be found on pages 4-5.) Pat Matyot's (No. 604) Radio-Television Seychelles' video (complete with incidental music) showed all the six species of phasmid found on these islands, with examples of their foodplants, camouflage by. both sticks and eggs, and a multiple mating attempt. Two of the wingless species have close relatives in India, and so presumably have been around since 66 million years ago when India was joined to the Seychelles. But why are the close relatives of Graeffea seychellensis only to be found as far afield as the South Pacific? Pat ended with a moral and intellectual plea for the protection of all these insects. FRENCH GEP PUBLICITY INITIATIVES - Pierre-Emmanuel Roubaud (No. 4.15), the GEP founder, reported that, in addition to the initiatives described in Le Monde des Phasmes [summarised on page 10 of this issuej, the GEP is seeking firms to sponsor a trip to Malaysia by 5-10 members. DUTCH-BELGIAN PSG ACTIVITIES - This sub-group now has 60 members. To communicate with this greatly increased number, and because only a limited proportion of them read English, a quarterly Dutch newsletter called Phasma has been started covering basics on rearing, species, exchange, and questions and answers. The Dutch version of Wapiti children's magazine also had an article about phasmids - some 50-60 people wrote for eggs, advice, etc, to Johan van Gorkom (No. 250). Johan is also organising four cages of sticks as part of an exhibition of "Animals kept at home" running from 29th March to 7th April in Zwijndrecht. The next sub-group meeting is on 20th April at Hortus Haren (contact Kees Boele, No. 751). EXHIBITIONS IN 1991 by Paul Jennings (No. 80) Thirteenth Midlands Entomological Fair - Sunday 28th April, 11a.m. -5p.m., at the Granby Halls Leisure Centre, Leicester. Two tables have been booked. Admission 30p juniors, 70p adults. Contact myself (0582-583954) for further details. Second South London Entomological Fair - Sunday 9th June, 11a.m. -4.15p.m., at the Arnhem Gallery, Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, Croydon. Two tables have been booked. Admission 30p juniors, 75p adults. Contact myself as above. Possible exhibitions - Tables have not yet been booked, so if you are interested in attending, please contact the relevant person first: The Creepy Crawly Show - Sunday 9th June, 12 noon - 5p.m., at the Queen Eliza- beth Hall, Oldham Town Centre. I need someone to offer to run a PSG stand before I can book tables! Contact myself as above. Manchester Zoo Fair - Contact David Hewitt (0706-842355) for details. Members wishing to bring a display of livestock, photographs, etc, to any exhibition should please contact in advance the appropriate person above so that they know what to expect. If anybody knows about other suitable exhibitions, particularly if he/she would like to run a PSG stand, please contact me as early as possible. Please ensure that all livestock brought to give away at exhibitions is properly contained, labelled (including person's name) and that you check before leaving that your livestock has been given out. Enjoy your exhibitions in 1991! DERBYSHIRE ENTOMOLOGY SOCIETY EXHIBITION Report by Phil Bragg (No. 445) As last year, this well-organised local exhibition was a 2-day event held at Elvaston Castle Country Park just outside Derby. Attendance on the Saturday was just over a hundred, about as many as the organisers had expected. More effort had been put into publicity this year, but even so the attendance of over a thousand on the Sunday was far beyond expectations. Paul Taylor (No. 852) provided some much needed help on our stand on that day. A lot of interest was shown, and quite a few membership forms, care sheets and phasmids were distributed. HOW TO GIVE AWAY STICKS by Michael and Frances (No. 3) Sticks can be given away to members or non-members at meetings or exhibitions, to organisations, or by post, so you have six different possibilities in all. What and how to post should be read up carefully in Newsletters 30 (pages 4-5) and 38 (page 7). To amplify on some of the less-obvious possibilities, nearby organisations such as zoos, butterfly houses, field study centres and perhaps schools may be glad to receive personally (or even perhaps to collect) quite large numbers of sticks. But, when making arrangements, also look to see that they do/will look after insects well - some don't! Another way of giving away a considerable surplus (but by post) is to contact individuals by writing a letter to a provincial paper (Willings Press Guide gives a list of all of these in the UK and is available in most public libraries). If you briefly describe what and how many sticks you have to offer, ask for good homes and only charge for postage (say how much this will be), we have found that provincial papers will usually print your letter.