Volume 36, No 1 Summer 2017

Home , Ameroseiidae, Ameroseius, Arctoseius, Blattisociidae, Ologamasidae, Opilioacariformes

Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada

Vol. 36(1) Summer 2017

The Newsletter of the BSC is published twice a year by the Biological Survey of Canada, an incorporated not-for-profit In this issue group devoted to promoting biodiversity science in Canada. From the editor’s desk...... 2 Information on Student Corner: Membership ...... 3 The Application of President’s Report ...... 4 Soil Mesostigmata as Bioindicators and a Summer Update ...... 6 Description of Common BSC on facebook & twit- Groups Found in the ter...... 5 Boreal Forest in Northern Alberta...... 9 BSC Student Corner ...... 8 Soil Mesostigmata...... 9 Matthew Meehan, MSc student, University of Alberta, Department of Biological Sciences Bioblitz 2017...... 13

Book announcements: BSC BioBlitz 2017 - A Handbook to the Bioblitzing the Cypress Ticks of Canada (Ixo- Hills dida: Ixodidae, Argasi- Contact: Cory Sheffield...... 13 dae)...... 15 -The Biological Survey of Canada: A Personal History...... 16 BSC Symposium 2017 Canadian Journal of Canada 150: Canada’s Insect Diversity in Arthropod Identification: Expected and Unexpected Places recent papers...... 17 Contact: Cory Sheffield ...... 14 Wild Species 2015 Report available ...... 17 Book Announcements: Handbook to the Ticks of Canada...... 15 Check out the BSC The Biological Survey of Canada: A personal Website: Publications ....17 History ...... 16 Biota of Canada Project Synopis ...... 18 Biota of Canada: Project synopsis BSC FAQs...... 19 Your chance to get involved...... 18

Notices ...... 20 FYI and FAQs about the BSC: Former BSC President Dave Langor answers questions about the Biological Survey...... 19

Visit our Website | Previous issues http://biologicalsurvey.ca http://biologicalsurvey.ca/pages/read/newsletter-past-issues

From the Editor’s desk Donna Giberson This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Biological Survey of Canada, and the BSC has a few initiatives to mark the occasion! The first one up is this summer, with the annual BSC Bioblitz occurring in July at Cypress Hills (Saskatchewan). This bioblitz (http:// bioblitzcanada.ca/events_science-cypress.aspx) is being held in conjunction with the Canada 150 Bio-Blitz initiative (http://bioblitzcanada.ca/). The annual BSC symposium at the Entomological Society of Canada meeting will also celebrate this anniversary, and there will be a special issue of The Canadian Entomologist (hopefully published in late 2017) devoted to the BSC as well. If you have not yet seen it, I also urge you to check out Hugh Dank’s new book on the history of the BSC, available as a free pdf on the BSC monographs website page (http://biologicalsurvey.ca/monographs/read/19). What a wealth of activities about Canadian Biodiversity for 2017!

If you haven’t yet looked up our website or checked out the BSC on facebook, consider doing so, and send us your comments; of course, if there are any little bumps in navigating the site, we’d like to hear about them. The new site will continue to have links to biodiversity resources of the BSC, and our publications, and will be easier to keep up to date. Check it out, at http://biologicalsurvey.ca/ D.Giberson Tiger beetles on Blooming Point Beach, PEI.

The Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada is published twice a year (summer and winter) by the Biological Survey of Canada, an incorporated not-for-profit group devoted to promoting biodiversity science in Canada, particularly with respect to the Arthropoda. Send submissions to: Dr. Donna Giberson ([email protected]) Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada Department of Biology, University of Prince Edward Island 550 University Ave., Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3

Masthead image: Tricoloured Bumblebee, Bombus ternarius photographed on lupins in PEI in 2010, D.Giberson Volume 36(1) Summer 2017 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 3

Biological Survey of Canada: Documenting Canada’s Biodiversity

The Biological Survey of Canada (BSC) has been collecting, collating, analyzing and disseminating information about Canada’s biological diversity since 1977. The BSC is a non-profit, charitable organization consisting of biodiversity scientists across the country, and in other countries, who have an interest in Canadian biota. The BSC prides itself in identifying and filling biodiversity information needs using a bottom-up organizational structure, whereby front-line workers identify the needs and work to address them. The BSC has successfully demonstrated its capacity to advance national level biodiversity science and knowledge concerning terrestrial arthropods, which account for >60% of Canadian species, and is now reaching out to the broader biological community to bring together those who are experts with other taxa and who share a common vision and goal of making biodiversity information more accessible.

Are you a member of the BSC? You may be on the mailing list to receive BSC newsletters, but may not be a member! To become a member, send a request for membership to the BSC Secretary, Joel Gibson (see below). Remember to request membership before the AGM so you are eligible to vote. If you don’t hear from us within a couple of weeks, please contact us again, to be sure your request has been received.

To Join the BSC: Send an email to Joel Gibson, Secretary, BSC. [email protected]

- In the subject line, write “BSC Membership” - in the body of the message, give your full name and contact information, and a valid email address. Remember to update the BSC if you change email addresses. Please also provide some information on your background and biodiversity interests.

Check out the BSC website! http://biologicalsurvey.ca/

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President’s report to the AGM of the Biological Survey of Canada/Commission biologique du Canada David Langor Northern Forestry Centre, Natural Resources Canada, Edmonton, AB

Members of the BSC, Colleagues and Friends:

This brief report of BSC activities covers the period October 2016 to April 2017. This year (2017) marks the 40th year of operations for the BSC. The BSC Board decided to move the AGM from fall to spring this year as the Canadian Revenue Agency requires the AGM to be held within the first 6 months following the end of the fiscal year. Thus, this report covers about a 7 month period. It is heartening to see that the BSC membership continues to grow steadily as more people, and people with a wider diversity of interests, join up. As well, more people are getting involved in BSC projects and activities. As the success of the BSC depends not on the number of names on its membership list but on the engagement of its members in activities, both ongoing and new, the single greatest challenge and most important goal of the BSC Board is to encourage/inspire the membership to get involved. Over the last 40 years, the BSC has accumulated a lot of materials that require ar- chiving. This material has been sitting in temporary storage for a couple of years. I am happy to announce that the BSC archives have now been moved to a new home at the Canadian Museum of Nature. Thanks to Andrew Smith for helping with this process. The BSC continues to be very active with dissemination of information about Canadian biodiversity through our web site, newsletter, journal, and monographs. The most recent newsletter issue was published last December, and the next issue is schedule for June 2017. Thanks to Newsletter editor Donna Giberson for her dedication and seemingly boundless energy. I encourage you all to think about contributing articles, news and announcements about your biodiversity activities. I’d also like to thank Erin Campbell, the student representative on the BSC Board, for her great work in mobilizing student submissions to the Newsletter. Our e-journal, the Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification, released two volumes since the last AGM: Volume 30 – Cleptoparasitic Bees of the Genus Epeolus (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Canada by T. Onuferko, and Volume 31– A Review of the Species of Drosophila (Diptera: Drosophilidae) and Genera of Drosophilidae of Northeastern North America by M.E. Miller, S.A. Marshall, and D.A. Grimaldi. If you are developing manuscripts that would be suitable for this peer-reviewed journal, please contact the editor, Steve Marshall ([email protected]). Thank-you to CJAI Editor Steve Marshall for his continued leadership. A couple of months ago, the BSC published an important historical document, The Biological Survey of Canada: A Personal History by Hugh Danks, one of the found- ers of the BSC. This work covers mainly the period 1977-2009, and some indices provide information current to 2016. It is chock-full of information and stories about the BSC and the many people who created it and kept it successful for so long. This document is available only as a free download from our website. Thanks to Hugh for authoring this valuable historical document, and to Donna Giberson for doing the lay-out for this volume. There is a suite of ongoing special initiatives that will commemorate the 40th anniversary of the BSC. A BSC Bio-Blitz will be held in the Cypress Hills of southern Saskatch- ewan and Alberta from July 27-31. This Bio-Blitz is part of the Canada 150 Bio-Blitz initiative. Thanks to Cory Sheffield for leading this initiative. The BSC (Cory Sheffield) is also organizing a celebratory symposium for the Joint Annual Meeting in Winnipeg this fall. Finally, a special issue of The Canadian Entomologist, edited by Héctor Cárcamo and Donna Giberson, to be published a bit later in 2017, will contain papers ranging from retrospective topics about the BSC to those that show how new technology and tools have changed how we measure and survey biodiversity.

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The Biota of Canada Species Checklist series will be initiated in 2017; there will be an introductory paper published in Biodiversity Data Journal and several checklist papers will be published under this banner soon thereafter. The Biota of Canada Biodi- versity Assessment series (Volume 1: Terrestrial Arthropods) is well advanced. Three manuscripts have been received and several others are imminent. This volume will be published by mid-2018. We hope to soon initiate planning for another volume, likely on “Other Animals”. Thanks to the Biota of Canada Editorial Board for pushing along these initiatives: Cory Sheffield (Chair), Jade Savage, José Fernandez Triana, Robb Bennett, Jeremy deWaard, Rémi Hebert, and David Langor. It has been my pleasure to work with a great Board of Directors: Robb Bennett (treasurer), Erin Campbell (student representative), Syd Cannings, José Fernandez-Triana, Kyle Knysh, Jade Savage (secretary), Cory Sheffield (vice-president), Alex Smith, and Terry Wheeler. I particularly appreciate the enormous amount of work done by Jade Savage, who has served as BSC Secretary for 4 years; she played an enormous role in keeping the operations of the BSC running smoothly. Furthermore, I thank all who have contributed energy, ideas and time to the BSC. I hope that you will stay engaged and inspire others to also get involved. Forty years of success is an accomplishment that we can be proud of. Throughout its history, the BSC has been productive by many measures; some examples are: mo- bilization of the collective intellect, creativity, and energy of its members to engage on particular science initiatives and create valuable products; engagement in national discussions related to biodiversity issues; dissemination of biodiversity information. It has never ceased to amaze me how much can be accomplished through good will, common purpose, and passion, even when financial resources are few. Nine years ago, the future of the BSC was highly uncertain in the eyes of some, but the collective energies and dedication of many ensured that the BSC continued to be viable and highly productive. With the energy, enthusiasm, and creativity that is abundant amongst its members today, I expect that the BSC will continue to be effective, productive and influential well into the future. I fully expect to join in the 50th and 60th anniversary celebrations and hear the BSC president report about how the BSC continues to thrive. This constitutes my final report to you as President of the BSC. Having served on the BSC Board since the organization became incorporated 8 years ago, and ten previous years as a member of the Scientific Committee of the BSC, I feel that it is the right time to step aside. I look forward to continuing to invest significant time into the BSC, mostly focused on the Biota of Canada project.

Thank-you for giving me the honour of serving as your president for the last 6 years.

Dave Langor (far right) helping to “wave the flag” at the Water- ton Bioblitz in 2005 with (from left) Joe Shorthouse, Felix Sperling, and Rob Roughley. A. Renelli A. Renelli

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Summer update: Welcome to our new President Biological Survey of Canada/Commission biologique du Canada Cory S. Sheffield Research Scientist - Curator of Invertebrate Zoology Royal Saskatchewan Museum, Regina, Saskatchewan

Greetings everyone!

This is my first contribution to the Biological Survey of Canada’s Newsletter as President, and hopefully this will serve to provide a brief but informative introduction. My background is largely as an entomologist, primarily as a melittologist (I study bees), though I dabble a bit as a botanist. I have been conducting research on bee taxonomy, diversity, conservation, and the ecological service that they provide to crops and native flowers in Canada since 1993. I have also had the good fortune to visit most areas of Canada in pursuit of bees. I have been the Curator of Invertebrate Zoology at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in Regina since 2012, and prior to that, a post-doctoral researcher at York University (with Laurence Packer). My main duties there were focused on the bee fauna of Canada, both coordinating much of the Canadian component of BeeBOL, the Bee Barcodes of Life campaign, and working closely with scientists across Canada during CANPOLIN, the NSERC- funded Canadian Pollination Initiative. Since arriving in Saskatchewan, I have been active with the Entomological Societies of Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and the Entomological Society of Canada. I also serve with the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSE- WIC) Arthropod Subcommittee, and the Biological Survey of Canada. COSEWIC has provided me valuable insight into the at-risk arthropods in Canada, and how we assess and list them. These experiences were further developed during my involvement with the National assessment of bees in Canada for the General Status of Species in Canada in partnership with Jennifer Heron (BC Ministry of Environment) for the Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada. My time as Vice President with the Biological Survey has provided me not only a great opportunity to discuss biodiversity in Canada with some folks that have become some of my favorite entomologists in Canada, but also to disseminate information on the country’s biodiversity to scientists (via symposia) and the public alike. The Biological Survey has an increasing social media presence, and we hope that this continues to grow and reach people across the country and beyond. In the few years that I have been with the Biological Survey, one of the main projects I have been involved with has been the “Biota of Canada” initiative which has largely been championed by former President, David Langor and a small but great group of BSC Board members. This initiative has been very exciting for me and for the rest of the Biota of Canada board, and we will soon have two deliverables stemming from the effort, the first being a series of published volumes on the family-level diversity of living things in Canada. The first volume will revisit and update the classic arthropod-focused “Canada and its Insect Fauna” edited by Hugh Danks, and published in 1979. Much new information on arthropod diversity in Canada has been gathered in the 38 years since its publication, and many new ways to compile biodiversity information have been developed since that time, including global online resources for disseminating museum collec- tions (e.g., CBIF, GBIF, Canadensys), and documenting the country’s biodiversity (e.g., Barcodes of Life). Of course, although arthropods are the most diverse taxa in Canada, there are many other groups that need faunistic summaries done, and these will be the subjects of subsequent volumes. Thus, one of my objectives as president of the Biologi- cal Survey will be to try to more fully engage more non-entomologists into our activities, boards, and these publication series. The family-level series will be complimented by a longer-running series which will document species in Canada though publication of

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checklists. This series, to be published with the Biodiversity Data Journal (and perhaps other venues) will provide national, regional, and special area (e.g., National Park, island) check lists of species, with data being used to build an online resource dedicated to maintaining an up-to-date list of all species in Canada. Other Biological Survey activities that will continually engage entomologists and non-entomologist alike are regularly held bioblitzes; the 2017 bioblitz will be held in Cypress Hills of Saskatchewan/Alberta in conjunction with the Canada150 Bioblitz celebration – see details in this newsletter. The Biological Survey also hosts a regular symposium which has routinely been held at the annual Entomological Society of Canada meetings (see details for the annual meeting in this newsletter). Thus, these have been largely entomological in focus, but it makes sense to expand these to include the annual meetings of other societies, or via joint annual meetings. The prospects of a joint ESC- CSEE meeting sets the stage for broader taxonomic coverage, and will compliment other national efforts focused on Canadian Biodiversity, including the Wild Species campaign of the General Status of Species in Canada and Barcodes of Life. Taking on the role of president of the Biological Survey at this time is both exciting, and a little intimidating. It is exciting as it allows me to meet regularly and work directly with great people from within and outside of Canada who are interested in the common goal of understanding and documenting Canada’s biodiversity. It is somewhat intimidating in that the Biological Survey has some pretty exciting and ambitious projects underway, and more so in that I have some very large shoes to fill. Those of you who have meet me know that I have pretty small feet, but I feel the shoes of the President of the Biological Survey will have many pairs of feet in them, these belonging to folks representing all the people, and the wildlife in Canada. In closing, I wish to thank the outgoing President David Langor, and Secretary Jade Savage, for their excellent achieve- ments while serving in these roles, and am very happy that they will both be continuing to be part of the Biological Survey.

Welcome to the new Board of Directors of the Biological Survey of Canada/Commission biologique du Canada

Robb Bennett, John Klymko, Greg Pohl,

Syd Cannings, Kyle Knysh, Cory Sheffield,

Joel Gibson, Zoe Lindo, Terry Wheeler

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BSC on Facebook and Twitter Kyle Knysh University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE

The BSC is now active on Facebook (www.facebook.com/biolsurvey1can) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/BiolSurCan). We are regularly sharing news about new biodiversity research in Canada and updates from the BSC. Like and Follow the Biological Survey of Canada! If you have content you would like to share with the BSC please email knyshk@gmail. com.

BSC Student Corner Erin Campbell, Student representative to the BSC Board

In this issue, we highlight a research project on mesostigmatid mites in Alberta. These are a fascinating group that may turn out to be important bioindicators of different types of habitat disturbance.

This is my last issue as Student Representative to the BSC board, and a new student representative will be taking over beginning in the autumn. If you are interested in taking on this role with the BSC, or know someone who might be, please contact the BSC to inquire: [email protected]

Do you have a Biodiversity Project you’d like to have highlighted in the BSC Newsletter? Contact the editor ([email protected]) to inquire about contributing. Articles can be on preliminary data, experiences in the field, or any other aspect of your work or study. Examples of other student articles can be found in this issue, or on pp.27- 35 in Vol 29(2) (http://biologicalsurvey.ca/newsletter/bscfall2010.pdf), pp.41-49 in Vol 30(2) (http://biologicalsurvey.ca/newsletter/bscwinter2011.pdf), and pp.7-19 in Vol 34(1) (http://biologicalsurvey.ca/newsletter/bscsummer2015.pdf).

Erin Campbell

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STUDENT CORNER: The Application of Soil Mesostigmata as Bioindicators and a Description of Common Groups Found in the Boreal Forest in Northern Alberta Matthew Meehan, MSc student, University of Alberta University of Alberta, Department of Biological Sciences

Introduction Mites are extremely diverse arachnids that occupy a wide variety of niches (Krantz and Walter 2009). Currently, there are approximately 55,000 described species, with true species richness believed to be 500,000 to 1,000,000 species. Mites are currently split into two superorders, Parasitiformes and Acariformes (Krantz and Walter 2009). Para- sitiformes includes the relatively large orders Ixodida (ticks) and Mesostigmata and two small orders that don’t occur in Canada (Opilioacariformes and Holothyrida). The large orders Trombidiformes and Sarcoptiformes are in Acariformes. Mesostigmatid mites are the main predators in temperate forest and agricultural soil systems, and will consume prey from more than one trophic level (Ruf and Beck 2005, Díaz-Aguilar and Quideau 2013, Klarner et al. 2013). Despite being an order of magni- tude smaller in body size, Mesostigmata have roughly the same biomass per unit area as other soil predators, like centipedes and spiders ((Schaefer 1990, Scheu et al. 2003). Although Mesostigmata are abundant, they are usually outnumbered in soil habitats by oribatid mites (Sarcoptiformes: Oribatida). Oribatids, which typically make up 60-90% of the mite species in soil, differ from Mesostigmata in being mainly fungivorous and detri- tivorous (Gulvik 2007). However they can be opportunistic predators of nematodes and other microfauna, and will also scavenge on dead microarthropods (Krantz and Walter 2009). Soil mite species patterns can give important information about habitat disturbance, and many species have been studied as bioindicators. Oribatid mites are used more of- ten as disturbance bioindicators than mesostigmatid mites, at least partly due to oribatid mites being better studied overall and having better developed protocols (Ruf and Beck 2005). However, mesostigmatid mites may be a better choice as soil bioindicators given their trophic status. Predator populations are more susceptible than detritivores to habitat change, as they need larger areas to support their dietary resources, and predators cannot colonize a new area until an established prey population is present (Hedlund et al. 2004, Srivastava et al. 2008). Thus Mesostigmata may be more sensitive to disturbance than Oribatida. This premise leads to my M.Sc. project, which involves assessing the utility of mesostigmatid mites as bioindicators under four disturbance regimes: forest harvest, forest fire, oil-related well-pad activities and presence of human-made linear features (seismic lines, pipelines and powerlines). In addition, I am using previously collected oribatid data from the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute (ABMI: http://www.abmi.ca/ home.html) to determine if assemblages of Mesostigmata and Oribatida are similarly af- fected by disturbance. I will analyze the sensitivity of mite assemblages to disturbance separately (Mesostigmata vs. Oribatida) and in combination (Mesostigmata + Oribatida). I am also creating a reference slide collection and on-line photo gallery that will cata- logue the Mesostigmata present in ABMI samples from the boreal forest in Alberta.

Methods Samples for my thesis project were collected by the ABMI, and provided by the Royal Alberta Museum (RAM). ABMI has 1656 study sites established in a grid pattern within Alberta, each of which is split up into or four quadrants: NE, NW SE, and SW (ABMI 2012). For my project, I paired disturbed sites with nearby undisturbed boreal forest sites to compare mesostigmatids from the following numbers of disturbed/undisturbed paired sites: 13 fire, 11 harvest, 3 oil-related well-pad, and 7 linear features (Figure 1). The standard ABMI program only identifies adult oribatid mites that are larger than

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300 µm, but many Mesostigmata can be very tiny (Figure 2). Other taxa (including Mesostigmata) are placed into residuals as two groups: all arthropods between 50- 300 µm in size, and non-oribatids greater than 300 µm. I have been identifying both adults and juveniles of mesostigmatid mites within both size categories. Adults have been identified to genus and morphospe- cies using unpublished keys that identify to genus provided at the Ohio State Acarology summer program, and some published keys to species level (e.g., Sikora 2014, Mašán and Halliday 2014). So far juveniles have been identified to the family level.

Figure 1. Map of Alberta showing location of the Alyssa Turnbull paired disturbed/undisturbed sites from which Figure 2. An adult Mesostigmata, Mesostigmata were identified, coded according Zygoseius sp. (Pachylaelapidae) on to disturbance type: Fire, Harvest, Well Pad and top of a Canadian dime for scale. Linear Features.

Taxonomy of Soil Mesostigmata Mesostigmata, like other mite taxa, are considered a difficult group to identify to species level, with few specialists found globally (Gulvik 2007). However, using a few morphological features, it is possible to identify soil-dwelling mestostigmatids into cohorts and families. Like most groups, there will always be exceptions when classifying organisms and Mesostigmata are no different; however, features listed below are the main identifiers for each group. In my research, I have come across two Mesostigmata sub- orders: Monogynaspida and Sejida (Figure 3). Monogynaspida is the most species-rich suborder of Mesostigmata (Walter and Proctor 2013), and most species from my research have been identified from that group. The two main cohorts that lie within Monogynaspida are Gamasina and Uropodina s.s. (sensu stricto), which excludes Microgyniina. One of the key features that separate the two groups is the shape of the tritosternal base. If the base is narrow, it is Gamasina, if it is enlarged or Alyssa Turnbull subrectangular, it is Uropodina s.s. (Figure 4a-b). Figure 3. Habitus picture a b showing a member of the suborder Sejida. This mite is from the genus Sejus within the family Sejidae.

Figure 4. Examples of tritosternal bases of (a) Gamasina and (b) Uropodina s.s. Note the wider, more substantial base for the uropodine mite versus the gama- Alyssa Turnbull Alyssa Turnbull Alyssa Turnbull Alyssa Turnbull sine. TB = tritosternal base.

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Within the Gamasina, a main character that separates individuals into families is the number of setae on the sternal shield. If the sternal shield has two pairs of setae (rarely one), it comes from the Ameroseiidae (Figure 5a). If the sternal shield has four pairs of setae, that mite belongs to the Rhodacaroidea, with some exceptions from the Halo- laelapidae (Figure 5b). If the sternal shield has three pairs of setae, it can belong to the commonly seen Ascidae, Phytoseiidae or Blattisociidae (Figure 6).

a b Alyssa Turnbull Alyssa Turnbull Alyssa Turnbull Alyssa Turnbull Figure 5. Image showing (a) two out of four pairs of sternal setae on the sternal shield of an Ameroseius (Ameroseiidae); (b) all four pairs on the sternal shield on a Gamesellus (Ologamasidae). SS = sternal shield. Alyssa Turnbull Alyssa Turnbull Figure 6. Image showing three pairs of setae on the sternal shield, with the fourth setae being on soft cuticle for Arctoseius (Ascidae). SS = sternal shield, MT = metasternal shield.

Within families, there can be high morphological diversity among the genera. Within Zerconidae, one of the dominant groups of Mesostigmata in boreal soils, the opisthonotal (lower dorsal) shield setae can be simple, plumose, barbed, or other shapes, and can also be arranged in many different ways (Figure 7a-c).

a b c Alyssa Turnbull Alyssa Turnbull Figure 7. Mites from the Zerconidae showing variations of the opisthonotal shield: (a) Mixozer- con borealis Díaz-Aguilar and Ujvári, (b) Parazeron radiatus (Berlese), and (c) Skeironozercon tricavus Blaszak.

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This project will provide a better understanding of an understudied group and has the potential to lead to more soil taxa being studied to determine their function in the environment, and how the environment structures their assemblages. Over the past few decades, there has been a decrease in the number of trained taxonomic specialists as it becomes more common to use molecular data to identify organisms (Luc et al. 2010). Classic morphological taxonomy should not be abandoned, however, as a species description, including morphology, is the first step towards understanding the overall biology of the species (e.g., diet, competitive interactions).

Acknowledgements I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr. Heather Proctor, for her continued guidance throughout my degree. I would also like to thank Dr. Hans Klompen (The Ohio State University), Dr. Ashley Dowling (University of Arkansas) and Dr. Fred Beaulieu (Agricul- ture and Agri-Food Canada) for their teaching at the OSU Summer Acarology Program. And finally, thanks to Alyssa Turnbull for taking and editing photos seen for this article.

References

Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute (2012). Terrestrial Field Data Collection Protocols (Abridged Version). Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute. Available from: http://www.abmi.ca/home/ publications/1-50/46.html Accessed 11 May 2017. Díaz-Aguilar I. and Quideau S.A. 2013. Trophic ecology of mesostigmatan and oribatid mites in har- vested and control coniferous and deciduous stands of the boreal mixedwood forest determined using 15 N stable isotopes. Soil Biology and Chemistry, 67: 147–154. Gulvik M.E. 2007. Mites (Acari) as indicators of soil biodiversity and land use monitoring: A review. Polish Journal of Ecology, 55:415–440. Hedlund K., Griffiths B., Christensen S., Scheu S., Setälä H. Tscharntke T., and Verhoef H. 2004. Tro- phic interactions in changing landscapes: responses of soil food webs. Basic and Applied Ecology, 5: 495-503. Klarner B., Maraun M., and Scheu S.. 2013. Trophic diversity and niche partitioning in a species rich predator guild - Natural variations in stable isotope ratios (13 C/12 C, 15 N / 14 N) of mesostigmatid mites (Acari, Mesostigmata) from central European beech forests. Soil Biology and Chemistry, 57: 327–333. Krantz G.W. and Walter D.E. 2009. A manual of Acarology. Texas Tech University Press, Lubbock. Luc M., Doucet M.E., Fortuner R., Castillo P., Decraemer W., and Lax P. 2010. Usefulness of morphological data for the study of nematode biodiversity. Nematology, 12: 495-504. Mašán P. and Halliday B. 2013. Review of the mite family Pachylaelapidae, Zootaxa, 3776: 1-66. Ruf A. and Beck L. 2005. The use of predatory soil mites in ecological soil classification and assessment concepts, with perspectives for oribatid mites. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 62: 290–299. Schaefer M. 1990. The soil fauna of a beech forest on limestone – trophic structure and energy bud- get. Oecologia, 82: 128-136. Scheu S., Albers D., Alphei J., Buryn R., Klages U., Migge S., Platner C., and Salamon J.A. 2003. The soil fauna community in pure and mixed stands of beech and spruce of different age: trophic structure and structuring forces. Oikos, 101: 225-238. Sikora B. 2014. Mites of the Family Zerconidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) of the Nearctic Region, Annales Zoologici, 64: 131–250. Srivastava D.S., Trzinski M.K., Richarson B.A., and Gilbert B. 2008. Why are predators more sensitive to habitat size than their prey? Insights from bromeliad insect food webs, American Naturalist, 172: 761-771. Walter D.E. and Proctor H.C. 2013. Mites: Ecology, evolution and behaviour. CABI Publishing, New York.

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BSC BioBlitz 2017 Bioblitzing the Cypress Hills Contact: Cory Sheffield [email protected]( )

This year’s Biological Survey of Canada Bioblitz will take place from July 27-31 in the Cypress Hills of Saskatchewan (an Interprovincial Park sharing a border with Alberta). In addition, for one 24 hour period (from 8 AM on July 28 to 8 AM, July 29), participants will have the opportunity to collect data for the Canada 150 Bioblitz (the major financial sponsor of this bioblitz; http://bioblitzcanada.ca/), and to interact with park visitors. More information can be found at the following link: http://bioblitzcanada.ca/events_sci- ence-cypress.aspx. We are encouraging parties with taxonomic skills interested in attending to contact Cory Sheffield at [email protected]. Participants will be asked to provide data for the Canada 150 Bioblitz for that 24 hr period, and all are encouraged to make use of the iNaturalist app and the project “BioBlitzing the Cypress Hills” for up- loading observations. There will be folks on site to help with this, though participants are asked to upload the application in advance (if using a smart phone) or use a laptop.

The Bioblitz location:

In the vastness of Canada, the Cypress Hills contain the highest elevations between the Rocky Mountains and Labrador. The Cypress Hills are interesting both ecologically, and geographically. During the Wisconsin Glacial Episode, the Cypress Hills were located in a northern-extended suture between the Laurentide and Cordilleran ice sheets (Figure 1), and thus are the northernmost point in North America south of the continental ice sheets that remained ice-free during this period. So like only a few other places in Canada (including Berin- gia, other areas of northern Canada, and parts of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland) (Figure 1), the Cypress Hills are among the few unglaciated areas in present-day Canada. As such, the flora and fauna of the area may be of interest to a wide range of ecologists and taxonomists.

In Saskatchewan, the Cypress Hills Provincial Park has two main areas: the West Block shares a border with Al- berta, while the Centre Block is located about 30 km east of the Alberta Border (Figure 2). Both blocks are accessible from Maple Creek (for West Block access, use the Fort Walsh National Historic Site entrance off of Hwy 271 (ca 40 km southwest of Maple Creek); for Centre Block access, travel ca 26 km south of Maple Creek on Hwy 21). To facilitate visitors to the bioblitz, a non-powered group camping area containing 20 sites has been reserved.

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The site has a powered kitchen area (plus a restaurant at the Cypress Resort). Other camping sites will be reserved in Maple Creek, which has all of the amenities. Visitors are asked to bring camping equipment with them. A limited number of bunks will be available at the University of Regina field station in West Block, close to Fort Walsh. In addition, there are a few non-powered campsites in West Block. More information on the Cypress Hills can be found here: http://www.cypresshills.com/.

Other Activities: Lastly, on the evening of July 29th, the Royal Saskatchewan Museum’s T. rex Discov- ery Centre in Eastend, Saskatchewan will be having it’s gala event, featuring a trivia game with a grand prize, live music, and silent auction. The reception will include hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Tickets are $25 per person. Parties interested in attending this event, and seeing the largest T. rex ever found, are asked to let Cory Sheffield know in advance. For more information, see https://www.royalsaskmuseum.ca/trex.

BSC Symposium 2017 Canada 150: Canada’s Insect Diversity in Expected and Unexpected Places Contact: Cory Sheffield [email protected]( )

The 2017 BSC Symposium will be held in conjunction with the 2017 Joint Annual Meeting of the Entomological Societies of Canada and Manitoba, at the Fairmont Winnipeg Hotel (22-25 October, 2017). The symposium will celebrate both the 40th anniversary of the BSC and the 150th anniversary of the establishment of Canada as an independent country, and will include a keynote address on citizen science, as well as papers on regional and taxon-specific topics. The BSC symposia typically feature lively discussions and opportunities to meet people working on biodiversity projects around the country, and offer great opportunities for new collaborations! If you are attending the JAM this year, please mark your calendar for this symposium:

Wednesday Oct 25 from 9:30am – 12:00pm

Volume 36(1) Summer 2017 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 15

New publications of the Biological Survey of Canada (2nd Notice)

1. A Handbook to the Ticks of Canada (Ixodida: Ix- odidae, Argasidae)

By Evert E. Lindquist Terry D. Galloway Harvey Artsob L. Robbin Lindsay Michael Drebot Heidi Wood Richard G. Robbins

With illustrations by King Wan Wu and Barry Flahey and Maps by Tom Naughten

317 pp, including 84 Figures, 4 plates, and 37 maps.

The new Handbook to the Ticks of Canada is an identification and information guide to all known active instars of the nine genera and forty species of ticks in Canada. Summaries are provided for the distribution, natural history and involvement of ticks in paralysis, and as reservoirs and vectors for a variety of patho- gens, including Lyme borrelio- sis, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, relapsing fever, tularaemia, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Q fever, Colorado tick fever, Powassan encephalitis, and others which af- fect humans, wildlife and domes- ticated animals. The guide is also fully applicable to the tick fauna of Alaska and the northern tier of contiguous American states bordering Canada. (See the Newsletter of the Biological Survey, 35(1) for a longer description of the book)

How to get your copy

Hard copy (soft-cover) ooks may be ordered (for CAD$29.95) through Volumes Direct http://www.volumesdirect.com/detail.aspx?ID=5483

The book is also available for free download on the BSC website: http://biologicalsurvey.ca/public/Bsc/Controller/Page/AGR-001-Ticks-Mono- gram.pdf

Volume 36(1) Summer 2017 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 16

2. The Biological Survey of Canada: A personal history

By Hugh V. Danks THE BIOLOGICAL SURVEY In this book about the history of OF CANADA: the Biological Survey of Canada, A Personal History Hugh Danks combines his abil- ity for impeccably correct report- ing about Survey activities with a range of anecdotes and the inside story of the Survey’s development. His account shows how the Biologi- cal Survey came into being, how it operated, and why it was successful. The many products of the Survey are listed for reference in detailed appendices. This readable and organized analysis not only documents the Survey as a significant chapter in the history of entomology in Canada, but also provides wider lessons about the remarkable co- operation of the Canadian scientific community and the value of collab- orative efforts.

Biological Survey of Canada H.V. Danks Commission biologique du Canada

How to get your copy

The book is available for free download on the BSC website http://biologicalsurvey.ca/monographs/read/19

Volume 36(1) Summer 2017 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 17

Recent papers in the Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification:

Onuferko, T.M. 2017. Cleptoparasitic Bees of the Genus Epeolus Latreille (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Canada. Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification No. 30: March 30, 2017. doi:10.3752/cjai.2017.30 (http://cjai.biologicalsurvey.ca/o_30/o_30.html)

Miller, M.E., S.A. Marshall, and D.A. Grimaldi. 2017. A Review of the Species of Drosophila (Diptera: Drosophilidae) and Genera of Drosophilidae of Northeastern North America. Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification 31: 280pp. doi:10.3752/ cjai.2017.31 (http://biologicalsurvey.ca/ejournal/mmg_31/mmg_31.html)

Wild Species 2015: The General Status of Species in Canada - Report published

The report, Wild Species 2015, The General Status of Species in Canada, published by the Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council National General Status Working Group is now available in pdf format at https://www.registrelep-sararegistry.gc.ca/virtual_sara/files/reports/Wild%20Species%20 2015.pdf

Reminder of BSC Publications The BSC has produced a number of monographs and briefs on various topics relating to Biodiversity. Briefs and some monographs are available as downloadable pdf documents from our website: http://biologicalsurvey.ca/home

Volume 36(1) Summer 2017 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 18

Synopsis of the Biological Survey of Canada initiative THE BIOTA OF CANADA: A CENSUS OF CANADIAN SPECIES The diversity and importance of The Biota of Canada project: Canadian species. An ambitious proposal In 1995, it was reported that about 71 The Biological Survey of Canada (http:// 000 species, spanning all 6 Kingdoms of biologicalsurvey.ca/home) is building a con- life, were known from Canada and that an sortium of partners to launch a new project additional 68 000 species are likely to oc- to develop a comprehensive and easy-to- cur (Mosquin et al. 1995). Human health access census of species diversity in Canada. and prosperity are intimately dependent on This project aims to collate, summarize, (or impacted by) biota and the economic, analyze and disseminate to the general pub- ecological and social bounty that species lic both new and already existing informa- provide. Consequently, knowledge about tion about the species diversity of Canada. the biota among which humans live and The Biota of Canada project is inspired by, interact with is of importance to Canadian and will be somewhat modelled after, an society. For some taxa such as plants and earlier BSC project that culminated in the vertebrates, recent lists of Canadian species publication of Canada and Its Insect Fauna and their distribution are readily accessible. (Danks 1979). However, this new initiative Nonetheless, there are still enormous infor- will expand its coverage beyond terrestrial mation gaps, particularly concerning hyper- arthropods to all species in Canada and build diverse groups such as invertebrate animals, an open-access, web-based dynamic product bacteria and fungi that are relatively poorly that can be updated continuously and into studied in spite of their influence on human the foreseeable future. To avoid duplica- health and prosperity. Clearly, much remains tion of effort, existing information and data to be discovered (and disseminated) about sources will be linked to the Biota of Canada Canada’s biota. At this time we do not even project, while other information and data will have an inventory of which species live in be compiled de novo as part of the project. Canada. Our capacity to respond to and predict Consult http://biologicalsurvey.ca/pages/ societal emergencies and services involving read/the-biota-of-canada for a complete ver- other species requires detailed understand- sion of the Biota of Canada vision document. ing of how we interact with those species and the roles that they play in the ecosys- tems on which we depend. Detailed study of all species in Canada is likely not achievable or affordable in the lifetimes of current Ca- nadians, however, a basic inventory including information about the known distribution and functional roles of species in Canada is an achievable goal that is foundational to meet international obligations (e.g., Conven- tion on Biological Diversity Aichi Targets) and fully implement the Canadian Biodiver- sity Strategy.

This is an opportunity for you to become involved in this project and have an influence on its design, content and functionality. Please send your feedback either via email to David Langor ([email protected])

References: Danks, H.V. (Ed.). 1979. Canada and its insect fauna. Mem. ent. Soc. Can. 108. 573 pp; Mos- quin, T. Whiting, P.G. & McAllister D.E. 1995. Canada’s biodiversity: the variety of life, its status, economic benefits, conservation costs and unmet needs. Canadian Museum of nature, Ottawa, ON. 293 pp.

Volume 36(1) Summer 2017 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 19

FYI and FAQ about the BSC This section is intended to answer questions about the operations and membership of the BSC. Dave Langor, Northern Forestry Centre, Natural Resources Canada, Edmonton, AB

1. What is the BSC? The BSC is grass roots network of biologists that has been in existence for 40 years. The BSC is a non-profit, charitable organization that is dedicated to discovering, synthesizing, and sharing knowledge about Canada’s biological diversity. The objectives of the BSC are to: 1) identify and address gaps in knowledge of Canada’s biological diversity; 2) promote the importance of fundamental taxonomic research on Canadian species, and provide access to expertise on Canadian biodiversity; and 3) promote awareness of the values and vulnerabilities of Canada’s biological diversity by inspiring, educating, and engaging Canadians.

2. Who can join the BSC and what is the process? The BSC is open to anyone who has an interest in Canadian biodiversity and wishes to contribute to the BSC mandate and objectives. This includes Cana- dians and non-Canadians and professional and amateur biologists. There currently is no membership fee for joining the BSC. Prospective members need only write to the Secretary of the BSC [biologicalsurvey@ gmail.com, or see last page of the newsletter] and express interest in joining. It would also be helpful if you could explain how you wish to contribute to the BSC activities so that you can be linked quickly to members involved in those particular activities. It is expected that BSC members will become involved in ongoing or new BSC projects or other activities (e.g., communication, syntheses, research)

3. Is the BSC strictly for entomologists? While it is true that entomology and arachnology have been the main focus of the BSC over its 40 year history, it has always been (and continues to be) the desire of the BSC to be more inclusive in terms of taxa covered. The BSC will be continuing to expand its coverage of the biota of Canada, so those interested in taxonomy and diversity of snails, slugs, nematodes, milli- pedes, centipedes, protists, plants, lichens and other groups are becoming involved in the BSC and helping to diversify our suite of activities.

4. Why should I join the BSC? No other organization in Canada has the mandate or the track record for surveying and documenting the biological diversity of Canada. While such work certainly can be (and has been) done through individual effort, partnering with others of like interest through the BSC network provides opportunity for increased scope of work and an opportunity to pool resources and pursue new resources through collaboration. The ongoing projects and activities of the BSC all originated as a result of discussions and planning catalyzed by the BSC. Thus, if you have interest in surveying Canada’s biodiversity and analyzing and disseminating such information, the BSC can help by providing: expertise and advice born of 35 years of experience in such work; connections to other individuals and organizations that can assist; support to publish/disseminate results; and increased profile to the work through our communication tools (web site, blog, Newsletter, etc.).

5. Does the BSC have meetings? The Board of the BSC meets monthly (except during summer) by conference call and has frequent email communication. Thus the Board can deal quickly with new issues as they arise. Each year the BSC holds its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in spring (electronically or via conference call), providing an opportunity for members to connect and discuss important issues. Mem- bers also have a chance to meet in person during the annual BSC symposium, held on a topic relevant to its activities and mandate. This is usually held at the Joint Annual Meeting of the Canadian Entomological Society and one of the regional entomological societies. This also provides an opportunity for members and non-members to interact.

6. What is the process for nominating and electing Directors and Officers? The By-laws of the BSC allow for up to 9 Directors. The current Officer positions are President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. Directors and Officers are generally members of the BSC and are elected by the Directors at the first business meeting following the AGM at which they are elected. Directors and Officers serve for a term of two years, and are eligible for re-election. BSC members have an opportunity to nominate and vote on Directors at every second AGM (the next elections will be at the 2017 AGM).

7. How do I fit into the BSC?If you have interest in surveying and documenting the biota of Canada and disseminating such information to all Canadians, then the BSC is the place for you. The BSC has a few ongoing projects and activities (see our web site for descriptions) where you may immediately find a niche. However, the BSC is open to adding new projects and activities as needs and suggestions arise. So if you have an idea for something new that fits within the BSC mandate, please come forward with your proposal so that we can have an open discussion among all BSC members.

8. Is there funding available for work? The current fiscal resources of the BSC are limited and are largely reserved to support publication of BSC products. However, the BSC does help seek funding from outside agencies to support BSC Projects. Recent examples of outside funding successes are the Northern Biodiversity Program and the Terrestrial Arthropods of Newfoundland and Labrador Project. Direct and indi- rect support have also been obtained to support recent Bio-blitzes and the Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification. The Board of the BSC continually explores opportunities to increase funding support to the BSC.

If you have more questions about the BSC, please send your enquiry to the BSC Secretary (bio- [email protected]) Volume 36(1) Summer 2017 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 20

Notices

Recent Books available from the Biological Survey of Canada. These are available for download on the BSC website, and most are also available as softcover bound versions. See http://biologicalsurvey.ca/monographs for information:

Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands series Volume 1: Ecology and Interactions in Grassland Habitats. Volume 2: Inhabitants of a Changing Landscape Volume 3: Biodiversity and Systematics, Part 1 Volume 4: Biodiversity and Systematics, Part 2

A Handbook to the Ticks of Canada (Ixodida: Ixodidae, Ar- gasidae)

The Biological Survey of Canada: A personal history

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Entomological Monographs

The Entomological Society of Canada has published a number of entomological monographs (including some of the popular Insects and Arachnids of Canada Series) on their website. To access these, go to: http://www.esc-sec.ca/aafcmono.php

If you prefer the monographs in bound format, these can still be obtained on a print-on- demand process though an agreement with Volumes Direct (http://www.volumesdirect. com/). Visit their website, and search for title or author.

Call for Proposals for a 2018 Biological Survey of Canada BioBlitz

A Bioblitz is a great way to start or implement a faunal inventory of a region, as can be seen by reading the report of the 2016 bioBlitz in the last issue. Plans are underway for a bioblitz in the Cypress Hills of Saskatchewan for 2017, held in conjunction with the Bioblitz Canada 150 programme. If you are interested in organizing a BioBlitz for the next summer, please contact the Bio- logical Survey of Canada: [email protected]

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Add Your Voice: Biological Survey of Canada on Social media

Join the biodiversity discussion on the BSC facebook site, and other ways to engage in discussing topics in Canadian biodiversity.

visit our facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/biolsurvey1can/?fref=nf#

Who we are: The Biological Survey of Canada is a Not-for-Profit Corporation dedicated to promoting biodiversity science in Canada - The BSC consists of an elected board of directors and hip representing all areas of biodiversity science, though with a focus on Arthropods. - We produce a newsletter twice per year, organize events such as the annual BSC Symposium at the Entomological Society of Canada (ESC) meeting, a “Curation Blitz” at some ESC meetings, and assist in organizing BioBlitzes when possible. Anyone can receive the newsletter, by sending a request to the Sec- retary (address below). - Membership is free, and includes this newsletter and the right to vote at the Annual General Meeting. All members are encouraged to become actively involved in BSC projects, propose new projects, or to run for the positions on the Board of Directors. (A nominal membership fee may be charged in future to cover infrastructure costs). - The Annual General Meeting is held each fall at the annual meeting of the Ento- mological Society of Canada.

To Join the BSC: Send an email to Joel Gibson, Secretary, BSC. [email protected]

- In the subject line, write “BSC Membership” - in the body of the message, give your full name and contact information, and a valid email address. Remember to update the BSC if you change email addresses. Please also provide some information on your background and biodiversity interests.

Volume 36(1) Summer 2017 Return to front page