SCARABS Rich Cunningham William B. Warner Barney Streit 3889 Walnut Avenue 2338 W. Rockwell Court 1011 N. Craycroft Road #107 Chino, CA 91710 Chandler, AZ 85224 Tucson, AZ 85711 Occasional Issue Number 13 Jé banse hujé, te hooinda July, 1997 prairie dog towns, or from infected wild Don’t Catch That -or- fleas brought into their home by a pet. Disease Risk Reduction & Rodent Pets can also contract plague, and plague WITHIN THIS Inquiline Collecting can be transmitted from mammal to mammal via inhalation (hence the term ISSUE.... by William B. Warner “pneumonic plague”).

It has been four days since you filled kill Every so often a plague epidemic (an jars with rare, inquiline Aphodius and “epizootic”) will course through a rodent Onthophagus you so painstakingly exca- population, killing off most of the vated from the dung middens and bur- rodents in months. Such an epizootic in rows of woodrats, prairie dogs and white-tailed prairie dogs was tracked as pocket gophers. It was a glorious trip, it slowly spread across northeast Arizona and you finished pinning up the speci- during 1995. After mass die-offs of their mens late last night just before you hosts, newly emerged and potentially started running a fever. After some aspi- infected fleas will concentrate near the rin and a few restless hours of sleep you mouths of now empty rodent burrows. A wake up a 4:00 A. M. with a killer head- beetle-hungry entomologist or other ani- ache and a fever now running 104° F. A mal passing by or entering the burrow is The Plague Scooper 2000™ bothersome sensation causes you to feel like ringing the flea dinner bell—in the under your left arm, and you find a ten- flea’s world when you are hungry any der, already walnut-sized swelling in warm body will do in a pinch! So stay Malaysian Jungle Rumble your armpit. Your heart sinks... you know away from inactive burrows and prairie you have to get to the hospital soon. You dog towns. You can still get plague from know you will have to explain to the doc- fleas even in active burrows, however. New Address tors what you no doubt have, because if you don’t you could die before they get There are also other disease concerns, the diagnosis correct. You know that anti- albeit the incidence of infection is low, Sweet Smellin’ Stuff biotics will probably cure you quickly, when working with rodents. Chagas dis- unlike the scores before you who died a ease has been isolated in the United grisly death. You also know that you will States, so obviously, rubbing Triatoma or Nikon 200 mm Close-Up Lens now be a statistic because Plague, the Rhodnius feces into an open wound or historical killer of millions, is the only onto mucous membranes is unwise. worldwide reportable disease. Your only There is always a small chance of con- Bugs on the Net solace is knowing that “... at least it isn’t tracting Chagas, various fungal diseases Hanta.” and Hanta viruses via inhaling dust dur- The Ultimate Collecting Hat? ing burrow excavations. The highest This is not as unlikely a scenario as one potential mortality from these is perhaps might think. At least two scarabaeolo- Hanta, although the serious forms have Rich and Barney’s Excellent gists in recent years have contracted so far been isolated only from field mice Adventure plague while collecting in prairie dog (Peromyscus). At least one wood rat mounds. Plague is a disease of rodents, (Neotoma) has tested positive for expo- spread by fleas, and can readily infect sure, but it was believed to be infected, man. Fleas of prairie dogs, ground squir- not infectious. Still, although inquiline rels, marmots, wood rats, rock squirrels, scarab collectors would normally not tar- pocket gophers and many other groups get field mice burrows, field mice may of rodents are known plague vectors. use Neotoma mounds and other larger Most human victims in the U. S. become rodent nests as sites for their own nests, infected with plague from unknowingly so be careful. picking up fleas when walking through Infection Prevention clothing makes them more difficult to some side-to-side play in the connection spot. so that the ladle can go around mild bur- Wearing respiratory protection when row turns. doing burrow excavations is wise. Any Chemical repellents sprayed on pants type of dust mask will help prevent air- legs, shoes and exposed socks are a big 5) To use, simply jam the ladle end down borne pathogens from being inhaled dur- help. DEET formulations and Per- a burrow, turn it so that the ladle scoop is ing “rodent work.” The professional manone (permethrin) are EPA/FDA down, and scrape back up to the burrow epizootic investigators, however, wear labeled ectoparasite repellents for appli- entrance. A good handful of soil and Tyvek suits and use respirators with cation to human clothing. Permethrin has rodent pellets will come up with each HEPA filters anytime they are doing an advantage in that, in addition to hav- scraping. The soil can either be picked Hanta virus surveys. This may seem like ing repellent activity, it is also an insecti- through by spreading it out at the site and overkill given the low probability of cide that will kill fleas that contact (not recommended as you will have contracting Hanta, and is probably man- treated clothing. scraped-up fleas too), or you dump it into dated by bureaucrats paranoid about a five-gallon pail and move quickly to the workman’s compensation claims. But, Under the “putting some distance next burrow. The pail’s contents can be with the very high mortality experienced between yourself and the potentially haz- floated, picked through by hand, or run with Hanta infections in the United ardous burrow biota,” Scarabs would through a Berlese funnel later. I found a States, it might be prudent to err to the like now to formally introduce the five-gallon pail more than sufficient to side of caution. In other words, wear a PLAGUE SCOOPER 2000™. This keep fleas from escaping. If you are good dust mask and stay away from field handy device can be made quickly and interested in collecting the fleas, simply mice nests! cheaply, and when used with a five-gal- blow onto the dirt in the pail and fleas lon plastic pail, will keep you about as far will start “popping” about in response to Some scarabaeologists have used that from those hopping vectors as is physi- the carbon dioxide in your breath. tried-and-true Aphodius collecting cally possible. It has been successfully method that, for lack of a better name, we used in its first outings in Arizona and Remember that anytime you are working will call “Gordoning.” This consists of Colorado to collect series of a new Aph- around rodent dung (or any dung, for that lying down on the ground at the entrance odius and Aphodius dentigerulus in matter), you are potentially exposing to a prairie dog burrow, jamming your white-tailed and black-tailed prairie dog yourself to diseases and parasites. Being arm into the burrow as deeply as you can, mounds respectively. prepared and taking a few simple steps to and scraping back the soil on the bottom avoid inhalation or ingestion of the “bee- of the burrow with your hand or a spoon. To make your own PLAGUE SCOOPER tle medium”—or becoming a paratenic Obviously, this maximizes your chances 2000, follow these easy steps: host to ectoparasites of the “medium’s on coming into contact with plague-vec- producer”—will keep you healthy toring fleas, as history has proven. It also 1) Go to the “dollar store” and buy a ladle enough to collect again. maximizes your chances your chances of with a scoop diameter of about 2.5 inches breathing in airborne pathogens, finding (~ 7 cm.). You can also steal the one in the business end of a rattlesnake by the your kitchen, but your spouse may beat Braille Method, or coming into contact you with it when you return it covered Scarab Collecting in Malaysia -or- with a pair of large incisors belonging to with dirt and rodent poop. Also, plague The Rumble... In the Jungle a frightened rodent. bacilli can survive in soil for a little while. So, if you do this, I recommend by Barney Streit So, how does one avoid these perils and you wash it well prior to that next bowl still get the beetles? The answers lie in of minestrone. For quite some time I have been proper clothing, chemical repellents, and intrigued by the collecting expeditions in putting some distance between your- 2) Obtain a 6-7 foot or longer piece of led by lepidopterist Dr. Thomas C. self and the potentially hazardous burrow PVC pipe one inch in diameter, or one- Emmel. His company is now called biota. inch electrical conduit, or similar diame- Expedition Travel, Inc. The address is ter stiff, lightweight piping. The end of a 1717 NW 45th Avenue, Gainesville, Proper clothing includes light-colored tubular net handle works well too! Florida 32605. Their telephone numbers pants, with the cuffs stuck into the socks, are (352) 392-5894 (days), (352) 377- and preferably a long-sleeved, light-col- 3) Drill a hole through both walls of the 6300 (evenings) and (352) 392-0479 ored shirt with the cuffs inside of gloves. pipe, perpendicular to its length, and (FAX). Of all the trips offered, the trip to Generally, most collectors will skip the about once inch (2-3 cm.) from one end. Malaysia most interested me. gloves and long-sleeved shirts and opt for blue jeans. I can tell you from per- 4) Fit the ladle handle inside the pipe and I was fortunate enough to save up for the sonal experience (with a severe cat flea affix it to the pipe with a cotter pin, bolt, not-insignificant cost ($2,940.00 per per- infestation at a dairy I visited a few years or piece of wire running through the son from Los Angeles) and actually ago) that fleas are very difficult to dis- holes in the tube and the hole in the end attend the May, 1997 trip. What follows lodge from denim, and dark-colored of the ladle handle. (Drill one if there is is an account of this trip in hopes of sup- not one there already.) It is best to have plying our beloved readership with tips Page 2 to make any future trips productive, pre- until four weeks after your return. Be great right there in the hotel, offering dictable and enjoyable. forewarned, this drug is very expensive. American food if you desire it.

Even though this trip is designed for lep- Two tablets of the antibiotic Cipro were Kuala Lumpur - The Capital idopterists, I reasoned that, “Where there dispensed in case of traveler’s diarrhea, are great butterflies, there will be great but were not needed. The next morning, we met our guide and scarab beetles.” This assumption, as we the other couple attending, who flew in shall see, proved to be true, not only for Getting There from Hong Kong. By comparison, the scarabs, but also cerambycids. 1996 expedition to Malaysia was Transportation provided by Malaysia attended by a dozen lepidopterists. The The Big Question Airlines was memorable. It should be, as first trip was attended by 33 people! you are traversing 10 time zones from As a personal aside, I was accompanied Los Angeles, for a nine hour difference. By the way, I learned lepidopterists in on this trip by my long-standing girl- As you board the Boeing 747, you will California and elsewhere have a nifty friend, Sandra. At some point during this be struck by the appearance of the flight way of discovering new localities. If the trip, it was my intention to propose to attendants. The men wear green bow ties bug is host plant specific and the host her. Many of my friends were queried as and tuxedo-like jackets, while the gor- plant is known, the collectors will look to what they thought the most opportune geous ladies are adorned in two-piece up references to the distribution records time to “pop the question” would be. kimono-like outfits and sandals. for that plant in botanical books. Go find Many thought that deep within the bow- the plant, and whamo!, there’s the bug! els of tangled jungle would be the most Prepare to eat like a pig. You will be Wouldn’t life be simple if we could sim- memorable spot. My friend, and yet served dinner and breakfast, each with ply do this for Bolbolasmus variabilis again neighbor, Chuck Wirth, disagreed. your choice of two entrees. Red or white here in Arizona, for example? So, I took his advice and asked her on the wine is served with dinner. Moist tow- plane flight to Malaysia. Chuck rea- elettes (hot or cold) are offered at appro- The first day was spent touring the capi- soned, probably correctly, that if I asked priate times, as well as a nice, malty beer tol city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. The her after I set out my own human dung and of course peanuts. first stop was a local butterfly farm, traps, I would no doubt remain a bache- which also had a nice display of pre- lor forever. There is a one-hour stopover in Taipei, served and live Coleoptera. Next stop Taiwan, followed by the short (4 hour was the Negara Museum, which is the Vaccinations and Medicines and 10 minutes) jog to Kuala Lumpur, National Museum. Its address is Jalan the capital city of Malaysia. This trip was Damansara, 50566 Kuala Lumpur. There In preparation for this trip, Expedition attended by only four people, so we were were a few small displays of insects. The Travel recommends inoculations for (1) on our own for the first day. Travelers to main thrust of this museum is the anthro- cholera and (2) yellow fever. This infor- Malaysia are informed verbally by the pology of the Malaysian Archipelago. mation is incorrect. I checked into the airline, and also on your Departure/ After lunch, Batu Cave, a fantastic lime- Travel Clinic at a large medical center Arrival Card: stone formation with Hindu temples here in Tucson. Cholera inoculations are inside was visited. The cave entrance is problematic, and are not recommended. Be Forewarned atop a long series of steep, monkey - Yellow fever is found in the New World Death For Drug Traffickers Under infested steps. Next we toured the Royal only. Instead, I received (1) tetanus Malaysia Law Selangor pewter factory and showroom. booster, (2) polio booster (needed if you After a rest at the hotel, we walked to a have not had a booster as an adult) (3) the So, guess what country in Southeast Asia nearby restaurant for a dinner of tradi- newly-developed hepatitis A vaccine has no drug problems? tional Malaysian cuisine. As an aside, (another inoculation 6-12 months con- gridlock is an everyday occurrence in fers lifelong immunity) and (4) Japanese At the airport, you can exchange dollars Kuala Lumpur. encephalitis vaccine, which is a set of for ringgits, the Malaysian equivalent of three shots, with the last two given one our dollar. The ringgit is designated as Cameron Highlands week and one month after the first. The “RM” on merchandise, to distinguish it Japanese encephalitis inoculation is rec- from other currencies. At this writing, Cameron Highlands is a pleasant four- ommended for travelers to Malaysia for the ringgit was worth just under 40 cents, hour drive from Kuala Lumpur, passing all months of the year, according to the getting you roughly 2.5 ringgits per dol- rolling hills of oil palm plantations. We Center for Disease Control. lar. We traded $300 dollars, and used less stopped at Kuala Woh Park, were males than half of it, as credit cards are widely of Rajah Brooke’s Birdwing Malaria protection is best offered by the accepted. After customs, we took a taxi (Trogonoptera brookiana) were abun- new mefloquine (Larium®) drug, which to the Holiday Inn Centre, 50750 Kuala dant on wet sand. I had always envi- protects against the new strains resistant Lumpur, West Malaysia S.A. 28130. sioned birdwings as speedy fliers, to the older drugs such as chloroquine Their telephone number is (03) 293- judging from their powerful dive- and fansidar. These are tablets taken 9233, or (03) 293-9634 (FAX). Try and bomber-like anatomy. This is not true. once a week, starting one week before sleep as much as you can. The food is Instead, they tend to flit around in a lei- Page 3 surely fashion unless frightened by a sticks. Nets were fashioned from plastic ernment. You must park your vehicle at clumsy American coleopterist with a ten- bags, attached to a wire hoop taped to a the bottom of the hill, and take a Land nis-serve swing. pole. Though the hoop was hardly bigger Rover (driven at Indianapolis 500 speeds than a birdwing, it was amazing to see by government drivers) up to the lodg- From the park, Highway 59 winds how accurate some of the young children ings. The term “resort” is a bit of a mis- steadily upward. There were large were. It was embarrassing to miss badly nomer. The entire place can house only amounts of fresh cutdown along the in front of them with our nice 15-inch 66 people at a time. There are several roadside, probably a paradise for collec- BioQuip nets. bungalows. The best collecting is at the tors of Cerambycidae. lowest one and at the highest one. We A Neat Extendable Net stayed at the lowest, or Permai View Our lodging was at the finest place in the Bungalow, which has a spectacular view Highlands: Strawberry Park Resort. While on the subject of nets, our guide of Taiping. Contact information is P. O. Box 81, Lot Cheng exhibited a nice, compact, fiber- 195 & 196, Tanah Rata, 39000 Cameron glass telescoping net from Japan. It tele- Conditions are a bit primitive. Ladies Highlands, Pahang, telephone 6(05)- scopes with a quick twist of the wrist to should have no problem staying here if 4911166, FAX 6(05)-4911949. This any size, unlike our aluminum tropics they are forewarned first. The toilets are Tudor-styled resort consists of 230 net, with its aluminum sections which flush. By “flush” I mean they are embed- rooms and apartments 6,000 feet above must be screwed together one-at-a-time. ded flush in the floor. This is the only sea level. My second-floor room (#421 in This net can be purchased from: bungalow with hot water. Showers must Block D) was chosen for lighting at be taken by splashing water on yourself night. It has a covered porch, facing jun- Mr. Hajai with a large plastic cup, which is filled gle, where a sheet can be taped. I ran a Shiga Konchu KK, from a faucet. Cheng provides home- self-ballasted mercury vapor and one BL 7-6-1-chome Shibuyaku cooked food courtesy of his wife. His tube off a Radio Shack 240 to 110 volt Shibuya parents live in Taiping, so he visited each stepdown transformer. Here, and at the Tokyo day while we collected. He returns late in lights of the hotel, the large scarab JAPAN † 150 the afternoon with fresh fruit and fantas- Cheirotonus parryi, belonging to the tic food. subfamily Euchininae is taken. I took He can be reached by telephone at 81-33- one large male and two females. The 4096401, or by FAX at 81-33-4096160. Again, I set up lights under a covered dynastid Xylotrupes gideon flew in as Although the catalog is in Japanese, he porch. The Cerambycidae that flew in well. circled the items of interest. were big, varied and spectacular. The same can be said of the moths, which Dung beetle trapping was not impressive A Local Dealer included nearly two-dozen species of at this high elevation, yielding only a few Sphingidae, the Atlas Moth (Attacus), specimens of Onthophagus. It should On the way to our next destination, we the Comet Moth (Argema) and the large also be mentioned that I set out ferment- stopped for a short visit at the home of Urania Moth (Lyssa). The big saturniids ing malt and banana traps at the three pri- the aforementioned insect dealer: come in just before dawn. mary localities visited this trip. These yielded no specimens. Yet, at the butter- Mr. Chong Kia Kwang As for scarabs, Maxwell Hill was the fly farm back at Kuala Lumpur, I 61, Taman Tapah high point of the expedition. There was observed cetonids feeding on fermenting Jalan Pahang Chalcosoma atlas (both sexes) and many banana and pineapple. 35000 Tapah smaller species. I was lucky enough to Perak bag the rare Elephant Beetle, an unusual During our stay in the Cameron High- MALAYSIA rutelinid with a long, recurved head horn lands, side trips included the BOH (Best of the genus Ceropleophana. I also took of Highlands) Tea Plantation, which was His home telephone number is 011- a specimen of what is probably the sel- done on a rainy day; a trek to Robinson 546982, and his telephone/FAX number dom-collected Fruhstorferia, which Falls; and a drive to the top of Brinchang is 05-4012266. I saw large numbers of looks more like a male stag beetle than a Mountain, where Lepidoptera hilltop. insects stored bulk in alcohol, and also scarab. dried in cellophane stapled over card- Another interesting trip was at the 31 km board rectangles. At no time did I see any Dung beetle trapping was productive marker on Highway 59. Here, there is a collecting data on any of these speci- here as well. Forget cheesecloth or gauze small village of aboriginal people behind mens. Perhaps they were all collected at for holding the bait in Malaysia—it rains a small store. A path leads up into the the same locality. too often, too hard, and too unpredict- jungle along a stream. At a couple spots, ably. “Barney Bags” are the only way to the locals collect insects for a dealer in Maxwell Hill Resort go in this country. Remember the mantra Tapah. Teenagers scale flowering trees of the Barney Bag Users: for large, iridescent Buprestidae, adults Our second destination was Maxwell and children net butterflies along stream Hill Resort, near the city of Taiping. This If your eyes are still blinkin’ clearings, others bring in giant walking operation is run by the Malaysian gov- It’ll keep on stinkin’ Page 4 At the bottom of the hill, the big black white plates) and Volume II (384 pp. plus Kudos to Cheng and yellow birdwing Troides helena was 97 black and white plates) sell for $RM common. I had figured on collecting 120/200. One cannot say enough good things cetonids off flowering trees in the Max- about our guide, K. W. Cheng. Cheng is well Hill area, but never came across any. A book titled The Butterflies of the fluent in Malaysian, English, and two With this in mind, lugging along a big Malay Peninsula by A. S. Corbet and H. dialects of Chinese. He attended to our dedicated tropics net is not recom- M. Pendleberry (595 pp. plus 69 plates), every need, from Malaysian collecting mended. contains some general details about the permits to driving us about on the left Malay Peninsula, a map, and plant side of the road. The roads are not well Books zones. It can be purchased from BioQuip marked, and it would have been difficult or from its distributor: without him. After he observed me pho- Next, we drove to Penang to catch a tographing a spectacular green damselfly flight to our next destination. First, E. W. Classey Ltd. (Neurobasis chinensis chinensis) he gave though, we visited a bookstore. I picked P. O. Box 93 me its Latin name. He supplied us with up three books here from the series of Faringdon, Oxon SN7 7DR detailed, hand-drawn maps of local col- Malaysia Nature Handbooks, each for ENGLAND lecting sites, and tutored us beforehand. about $10. Of most interest is Common At the conclusion of the trip, he gave us Malaysian Beetles, by Vincent Weng- North, to Langkawi a list of all the localities we collected, Yew Tung (142 pp. plus 32 color plates) including elevation. for $RM 26.40. Of lesser interest is Com- After a quick tour at a place where batik mon Malaysian Moths, by Avril Fox (105 prints are made and sold, we took a short Cheng’s “real” job is a quality control pp. plus 32 color plates) for $RM 25.20, flight to Langkawi Island, situated in the manager in a Japanese textile factory in and also Common Malaysian Butterflies, formerly pirate infested Straits of Penang. He has two young son’s, and by R. Morrell (64 pp. plus 20 color Melaka, just south of the Thailand bor- loves old American pop and 50’s music. plates) for $RM 25.20. These handy little der, in the Indian Ocean. A short taxi ride Your Cheatin’ Heart, by Ray Charles, is guides are published by: from the airport brought us to Best West- among his favorites. ern’s luxurious Berjaya Langkawi Beach Longman Malaysia Sdn.Bhd Resort. The lodgings here are very nice, Should anyone wish to employ him as a 3, Jalan Kilang A with sumptuous breakfast and dinner private guide, I would suggest giving 46050 Petaling Jaya buffets included. There is a beach, three him several months’ notice. His address Selangor Darul Ehsan pools, tennis courts, a gym, and all the is: MALAYSIA trappings of a five-star resort. Mr. K. W. Cheng Their telephone numbers are (03) Dung trapping is good here, but I did no 502 Jalan Permatang Rawa 7920466 and (03) 7920803. light collecting, as our chalet was in the 14000 Bukit Mertajam middle of the resort, in disrupted forest, Penang, MALAYSIA The Malaysian Nature Society publishes but with a beautiful view of the ocean. I more detailed books, but none on definitely would like to light there, His telephone/FAX number is (04) Coleoptera that I am aware of. Their should I ever return. With this in mind, I 5399378. address is: wrote down the numbers of some of the chalets I think would be ideal—they are If I Did It Again The Malaysian Nature Society situated against dense lowland forest. P. O. Box 10750 They are: 4116 and -18; 5101, -02, -06, If I had it to do over, I would travel 50724 Kuala Lumpur -12, -14, -19, -20, -21, -22, -30, -31, -32 lighter. Though I brought no generator, I MALAYSIA and -33; 6115, -16, -17 and -18. Anyone brought much extension cord. One or who has a chance to blacklight there is two little 20-30 foot cords should do, and Their telephone number is (03) 7912185, requested to write me. two white sheets. No vertical frame is and their FAX number is (03) 7917722. needed. I taped the sheet to a window in BioQuip carries some of their books. If A little time can be spent at a crocodile the Cameron Highlands, and hung it by a purchased directly, members receive a farm nearby. When one of their critters thin nylon rope on Maxwell Hill. A trop- discounted price, which is the first price “kicks the bucket” they use its hide for ics net was not needed. listed. apparel, which is sold at their gift shop at exorbitant prices, along with a certificate Coleopterists should note that taxis are Moths are covered by An Introduction to giving you permission to possess items available by the hour at reasonable rates. the Moths of South East Asia, by H. S. made from protected species. If I wanted to set dung traps away from Barlow (305 pp. plus 51 color plates) for the hotel, or beat for Cerambycids on $RM65/90. Another work of interest I should mention that the flights from roadside cutdown, I would not hesitate to may be the two-volume set Wayside Penang to Langkawi and from Langkawi rent a taxi and break away from the but- Trees of Malaysia, by E. J. H. Conner. back to Kuala Lumpur were both busi- terfly collectors. It will be a trip you will Volume I (476 pp. plus 138 black and ness (first) class, a nice added touch. not soon forget. Page 5 pay more if you want the U. S. warranty referred to as “dog-nose distortion.” The New Address as well. narrower angle of view also means that there will be less of the background in Yes, Editor Barney has finished his mid- There are other disadvantages that this the image. Therefore, the subject will life schooling and has taken a position in lens brings. For general photography, it have more presence or “pop.” an endodontic group practice in Tucson. cannot be hand held due to its longer Mail can be directed to my work address focal length. However, for photomacrog- Extension tubes and 62 mm 5T and 6T listed on the first page. raphy, a flash must be used anyway, so supplemental close-up lenses, used sin- for close-ups, it can be handheld. gly or in combination, will yield all sorts My phone numbers are (520) 615-1430 of other higher magnification ranges. Of (home), (520) 322-0800 (work), (800) Getting the flash out over the lens, where course, this holds true for all lenses. 322-0887 (work, toll free) and (520) it belongs, is another consideration. For Remember also that these close-up 323-7453 (work FAX). Alternately, my this, there is a flash arm from a small lenses, and the smaller 52 mm Nikon e-mail address is bstreit@flash.net. company called Really Right Stuff (P. O. close-up lenses (3T and 4T), work beau- Box 6531, Los Osos, CA 93412, tele- tifully on lenses of other manufacturers. phone (805) 528-6321, FAX (805) 528- 7964). Though extremely well made, it is As a final note, photography buffs will Avon Skin-So-Soft not cheap either, selling for $186.00. The want to order the catalog from Kirk flash must be connected to the camera by Enterprises Inc. (107 Lange Lane, Effective insect repellents are worth their a cord. They sell a specially shortened Angola, IN 46703, telephone (219) 665- weight in gold, especially while collect- Nikon SC-17 cord for $90.00. This com- 3670). They carry all sorts of nifty acces- ing in the tropics. Trouble is, whatever is pany also sells what are considered the sories for the nature photographer. in those concoctions that repels critters finest quick-release brackets for many utterly stinks. Want to be the sweetest- makes of cameras. These allow you to smelling guy or gal in the forest? Then attach and detach the camera from a tri- try Avon Skin-So-Soft, which comes in pod effortlessly. Bugs on the Net Original Scent (#315-262) and Herbal Fresh Scent (#315-277). It is touted as an Even if money were no object, one must Since our last issue (remember now, we effective moisturizer plus a repellent of consider the all-around awkwardness of said this newsletter was occasional), the mosquitoes, fleas and deer ticks by virtue this setup. It is heavy, bulky, and takes Internet has blossomed into an everyday of a plant-based insect repellent. It also time to assemble, even if the flash arm if occurrence for most of us. With this in contains SPF 15 PABA-free sunscreen left screwed onto the tripod socket of the mind, any readers who desire to have and offers waterproof protection. A 4 lens. their e-mail address listed in a forthcom- fluid ounce tube normally sells for $9.95, ing issue please contact Barney at but often is sold on sale for $7.95. The “ED IF” designation denotes that bstreit@flash.net. this lens is made of expensive extra-low In the equestrian world, this material is dispersion glass and focuses internally. The World Wide Web part of the internet mixed with traditional insect repellents These are desirable qualities. The special has several web sites that may be of inter- for a sweet smelling, double-action bug glass scatters light less than regular opti- est: beater. Now, anything that can keep flies cal glass, yielding brighter, truer colors. off horses has got to be good. Internal focusing is accomplished by The Coleopterists’ Society has a page at moving an internal lens element. This http://www.auburn.edu/beetles/. The way, the lens stays balanced in your main page offers the following headings: hands (or on the tripod) because it does General Society Information, Society Nikon’s New Macro Lens not grow longer or shorter as you focus. Officers, The Coleopterists’ Bulletin, Upcoming Meetings, News and Notices, A few years ago, Nikon introduced the Are there any other advantages to this Prizes and Awards, Information “Big Daddy” of its famed macro lenses, lens? Yes. The 200 mm focal length does Resources, Society Directory, Beetle the 200 mm f/4D ED IF Micro-Nikkor. Is a couple of things. You can achieve a 1:1 Links and Related Sites and Beetle Con- this a lens that scarabaeologists should reproduction ratio at a staggering 19 plus servation. consider? inches from the subject. But getting close, say with a shorter 105 mm lens, is For those of you who did not know, Dr. Unless you are looking for a tax deduc- not generally a problem with most spe- Art Evans, Ph.D. has donated his entire tion, and can afford the hefty cost, the cies of scarabs. collection to the Los Angeles County answer is decidedly “No.” As of this Museum. To commemorate this glorious writing, this piece of glass was selling at Because the camera is further away, the event, the Museum put up a web page at B & H Photo in New York (800-947- proportions of the subject are truer, in http://www.lam.mus.ca.us/lacmnh/ 9980) for about $1,120.00 Whoa! And that the part of the subject closest to the departments/research/entomology/ this is the “gray market” price, including lens will not be disproportionately larger scarabs/. This site also contains color only the international warranty. You must in the final image. This problem is images of assorted scarab beetles. Page 6 Doctor Art has been busy. Together with Of more general interest, the Department Tilley also sells other apparel designed Chuck Bellamy (a Buprestidae expert of Entomology at Colorado State Uni- with the traveler in mind: pants and shirts now residing in South Africa) he has versity has a page at http:// that can be washed in a sink! authored the popular book An Inordinate www.colostate.edu/Depts/Entomology/ Fondness for Beetles. The Los Angeles ent.html which has many links. County Museum has put up a page regarding this book at http:// The same can be said of the Department Rich and Barney’s Adventure www.lam.mus.ca.us/~lorquin/evans/. I of Entomology at Iowa State University, have seen this book for sale at Barnes & which can be found at http:// Some time ago, we mentioned in these Noble. This book was even reviewed by www.ent.iastate.edu/. pages that Rich and Barney are involved Discover magazine (May, 1997, page in a publishing effort. Since our last 108) and included a collage of Plusiotis The page for the Entomological Society issue, many changes have occurred beetles. of America can be found at http:// which should be of interest to our read- www.entsoc.org. ers. An update is in order. Speaking of Chuck Bellamy, check out the page from the Department of The Young Entomologists Society has a There are now three entities involved: Coleoptera at Transvaal Museum at page at http:// http://www-tm.up.ac.za/coleop/ insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/yes/ L.A. Out-of- Print, On-Demand Publish- coleop.htm. yes.html. ing, Inc. is the company that reprints important, previously published works From the land down under, Australia’s From these sites, you should be able to whose original copies are no longer major science publisher CSIRO, has a find links to most any web site of inter- available and/or sell for prohibitively page listing their publications, as well as est. The world still awaits Bill Warner’s expensive prices. software specially written for generating page devoted to dung beetle trapping keys, at http://www.publish.csiro.au/. baits. Wolfsgarden Books is the company that publishes new projects. The Ceramby- A nice discussion of the phylogenetic cidae was the focus of the first efforts, relationships of Coleoptera (and the sub- but major works in the Scarabaeidae and orders within Coleoptera) can be found The Ultimate Collecting Hat? Buprestidae are in the hopper. at http://phylogeny.arizona.edu/tree/ eukaryotes/animals/arthropoda/ We have all been there: you buy a cheapo The Occasional Papers of the Consor- hexapoda/coleoptera/coleoptera.html. bug hat, wear it, then get rained on (or tium Coleopterorum is the journal we are This page originates from the University put it in the wash) and presto! Your hat no establishing to publish papers on taxon- of Arizona in Tucson. As one might longer fits. Maybe the bargain was not omy, etc. This would have a fairly short expect, U of A has a large collection. such a bargain after all. review time with a limited subscription to some major institutions and a large A few minutes drive from the University Billed as the world’s finest hat, “The number of reprints going to the authors can bring you to the Sonoran Arthropod Tilley” comes in three vintages: the so they can fill requests for their articles. Studies Institute. Their page is at http:// short-brimmed T1, the wide-brimmed Our motivation is to get monographs into www.azstarnet.com/~sasi/. T2, and the Scarabs-recommended print so that we can incorporate any medium-brimmed T3. Tilley Endurables major taxonomic changes into our major ITIS (Interagency Taxonomic Informa- is located at 300 Langner Road, West projects without the lengthy wait for tion System) has a home page of the ITIS Seneca, New York 14224. Catalogs come publication in one of the existing jour- Coleoptera Section at http:// with a measuring band and special nals. We are busy forming an editorial www.inhs.uiuc.edu/biod/waterbeetles/ instructions for ordering, as your tradi- advisory board. We have a first paper itis-coleoptera.html. This involves a tional hat size will often be too small. promised by John Chemsak. database project for North American Call 1-800ENDURES for a catalog. . Coleoptera. L.A. Out-of- Print, On-Demand Publish- The hats are made with pre-shrunk cot- ing, Inc. works in-progress are: For those who can read español, Costa ton, is insured against loss, has a lifetime Rica has a popular interest page at http:/ guarantee, floats, has ventilation grom- Longicornia Malayana by Francis Pas- /www.inbio.ac.cr/papers/insectoscr/ mets, a secret pocket, a tie cord for coe, 1866. Work has begun. Coleopt.html. windy weather. The brim stiffens in the rain, which is great for Pleocomaniacs The Tribe Onciderini, Parts. I & II by For those who read français, check http:/ and tropical collecting. Besides being L.S. and E.S. Dillon, 1945-6. /inapv.inapg.inra.fr/entomo/present.htm rain and mildew repelling, they block for the Coleoptagro page from the Insti- both UV-A and UV-B radiation. We have a signed agreement from the tut National Agronomique Paris-Gri- Reading Public Museum, and can begin gnon. Included here are keys to and The cost? The T3 runs between $45 and Monographie Des Cetoines by H. Gory descriptions of families. $49. & A. Percheron, 1833. Page 7 Wolfsgarden Books has these titles avail- able:

Checklist of the Cerambycidae and Dis- teniidae of the Western Hemisphere. by Miguel Monné & Edmund Giesbert. This project is updated each year. Natural History Books Illustrated Revision of the Cerambycidae of North America, Volume I, by John Chemsak. The titles now available from L.A. Out-of- Print, On-Demand Publishing, Inc. Wolfsgarden Books future titles: are as follows:

From Miguel A. Monné, Catalogue of Order#: Biologia Centrali-Americana Price Cerambycidae of the Western Hemi- 1-19 Insecta-Coleoptera Vol.I pt.1 Cicindelidae,etc. $248 sphere., two volumes. 1-22 " " Vol.II pt.2 Scarabaeidae,etc. $259 1-23 " " Vol.III pt.1 Buprestidae,etc. $278 From Gayle Nelson, Catalogue of the 1-24 " " Vol.III pt.2 Cleridae,etc. $248 Buprestidae of North America. This 1-27 " " Vol.IV pt.3 Curculionidae $273 would serve as a basis for a multi-vol- 1-32 " " Vol.V Cerambycidae,etc. $268 ume monograph on the Buprestidae of 1-33 " " Vol.VI pt.1 Chrysomelidae,etc. $275 North America which would have illus- 1-34 " " Vol.VI pt.1 " Supplement $205 trated keys and color plates of the spe- 1-35 " " Vol.VI pt.2 " $205 cies. 1-36 " " Vol.VII Erotylidae, etc. $245 1-50 " Neuroptera, Ephemeridae, Odonata, etc. $238 From Charles Bellamy (Transvaal 1-55 " Rhyncota: Homoptera-Cicadidae, Fulgoridae $235 Museum, South Africa) and Henry Hespenheide (Life Sciences, UCLA), Systema Cerambycidarum by James Thomson, 1866; 540 p. $156 The Buprestidae of Mexico, a multi-vol- ume set, with illustrated keys and color Cerambycidae Of North America by E. G. Linsley & J. A. Chemsak photo plates of the species. Pt.I Introduction, 1961 $83 Pt.II Parandrinae, Prioninae, Spondylinae, Aseminae, 1962 $78 Also from Charles Bellamy, Catalogue Pt.III Cerambycinae (Opsimini-Megaderini), 1962 $76 of Buprestidae of World, two volumes. Pt.IV Cerambycinae (Elaphidioni-Rhinotragini), 1963 $73 Pt.V Cerambycinae (Callichromini-Ancylocerini), 1964 $74 A monograph on Scarabaeidae of North Pt.VI, no.1 Lepturinae, 1972 $76 America, a multi-volume work contain- Pt.VI, no.2 Lepturinae, 1976 $76 ing illustrated keys and color photos of the species is still in formative stages. Wolfsgarden Books has these titles available:

From Miguel A. Monné & Ubirajara Checklist of the Cerambycidae and Disteniidae of the Western Hemisphere. by Martins in Brazil, The Cerambycidae of Miguel A. Monné & Edmund Giesbert, 1995 edition. Price $74.60. South America, a multi-volume set, of course. Illustrated Revision of the Cerambycidae of North America, Volume I, by John A. Chemsak. Price $138.60 From John A. Chemsak, Illustrated Revi- sion of the Cerambycidae of North These companies can be reached at: America, Volume II, the Lepturinae. We are making good progress on this P. O. Box 10716 project, which treats nearly twice the Burbank, CA 91510-0716 U. S. A. number of species that appeared in the first volume. The following volume will Telephone: (818) 761-1145 be on the Cerambycinae. FAX: (818) 761-0763 We are looking forward to the release later this year of the French translation of the Illustrated Revision of the Ceramby- cidae of North America. Vol. I, by John A. Chemsak, translated by D. Keith. Page 8