The Phasmid Study Group
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The Phasmid Study Group Newsletter No. 110 June 2007 ISSN 0268-3806 Above Left: Agamemmon cornutus Natalie Ford News, Information & Updates ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 2 Editorial........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 3 Diary Dates .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 3 Sticks In The News ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 The Phasmida Species File (phasmida.orthoptera.org) - Statistics............................................................................................................................... 4 Wants & Exchange List ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 5 StickTalk ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 PSG Summer Meeting Agenda - Saturday, 14th July 2007 .......................................................................................................................................... 8 Phasma Culture List Survey 2007 ................................................................................................................................................................................ 9 PSG Summer Meeting - Saturday, 14th JULY 2007 ................................................................................................................................................... 11 Articles & Contributions ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Extension of Livestock Labels for Meetings................................................................................................................................................................ 12 The Kettering Entomological Fair 2007....................................................................................................................................................................... 13 A Way Of Life (An Autobiography).............................................................................................................................................................................. 14 The Old Curiosity Shop .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 15 The Newsletter of The Phasmid Study Group #110 Lord Howe Island By now I am sure that most people are familiar with the story of the Lord Howe Island Stick Insect. The species was endemic to Lord Howe Island (below) until the introduction of rats following the introduction of rats in 1918 (escaping from the sinking freight ship Makambo). The last recording of live stick insects was made in the early 1920s, and it was presumed to be extinct. Until that is, it was found again on a small island called Ball’s Pyramid (left). Just how small this island is many people fail to realise – around 200m in length, and just over 560m in height. It is the remains of a volcano that existed 7 million years ago, and is some 20km from Lord Howe Island. Before the introduction of rats, the insects were abundant enough to be used as fishing bait on the Island and this is one possible reason why the insects were found on the Pyramid – by any measure, it’s a far from an ideal habitat. Submitting Images Photographs and artworks are welcomed from anybody. They may be submitted to me via e-mail or by post (addresses in Committee section). Drawings should be finished in Indian or black ink for best reproduction. 2 www.stickinsect.org.uk March 2007 The Newsletter of The Phasmid Study Group #110 News, Information & Updates Editorial Ed Baker (Editor) The old saying “things get easier with time” has proved to be half right. This edition of the newsletter was a breeze to put together compared to the last. While this may be a good thing, I cannot help thinking that is mainly due to the lack of contributions I have received. So with the exception of all those who regularly take the time to make sure something ends up on the Editor’s desk I would encourage you all to write something! It really isn’t that difficult, and unless you write an extended article shouldn’t take up a huge amount of time. This issue is rather short and focuses mainly on the upcoming Summer Meeting and the Phasma species return. I did start an article on the basics of phasmid taxonomy (after many people have requested an explanation on why names keep changing) but unfortunately this will now be in the next Newsletter (because I didn’t have enough contributions to warrant having 20 pages in this issue). If you want more well-rounded newsletters then please send me material! I have already mentioned the Phasma species report. I would urge as many of you as possible to send it in. Feel free to send it to me if you’d prefer and I’ll send a bulk lot (might save you a few pennies). If you don’t want to ruin(!) your newsletter then I can e-mail you a copy to print out. Since last time the main event in the phasmid world has been the three day Phasma meeting. Despite a few requests no article was forthcoming, so I have devoted much of the StickTalk section to this. I have only heard praise for this event, and would like to congratulate the Phasma team on behalf of all those PSG members who made the trip to Veurne. By all accounts it was a complete success. I would like to thank Tom Low for his assistance with proof-reading the newsletters – his comments and advice have been very useful, as have those of Paul Brock, Phil Bragg and Judith Marshall. The newsletter really is a team effort! Finally an apology for not including the Summer Meeting date in the last newsletter, but I did try and get the word out to as many people as possible via e-mail and StickTalk. I would also like to apologise for the lack of the Wants & Exchange list last time. Janine and I had a few communication problems with e-mail and old addresses – but all has now been resolved. Diary Dates All event information has been accepted as bona fide, however we recommend checking with the organisers closer to the date of the event. Sunday 10th June 2007 - Newark Entomological Fair Grove Leisure Centre, Balderton, near Newark, Notts. (12.00 noon to 4pm) (Winter Fair Sunday2nd Dec). For more details or to book tables (£10 each) contact Paul Holton 01636 674 723 or 07901 577 251 or e-mail: [email protected] Saturday 14th July 2007 – PSG Summer Meeting Details and agenda in this Newsletter If you know of any other events, or you are organising one then please contact the Newsletter Editor with details so that it can be included in this list. Members Area at www.stickinsect.org.uk Username: PSGmembers Password: Aniscantha080 March 2007 www.stickinsect.org.uk 3 The Newsletter of The Phasmid Study Group #110 Sticks In The News May 2007 http://www.abc.net.au/sydney/stories/s1918482.htm?backyard – A podcast on the life cycle of stick insects and a phasmid quiz. http://www.independent.com/news/2007/may/24/photographs-tom-miller-and-dennis-sheridan-brooks-/ - The head and egg of a phasmid form part of this contemporary artwork. Many thanks to the person who sent me these links via e-mail – if possible could you e-mail me again with your name? [Ed} The Committee CHAIRMAN Judith Marshall Department of Entomology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD (T:020 79 425610; F:020 79 425229; E:[email protected]) TREASURER/MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Paul Brock “Papillon”, 40 Thorndike Road, Slough, Berks, SL2 1SR (T:01753 579447 after 5pm; E:[email protected]) NEWSLETTER EDITOR Edward Baker 34 Rycroft, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 4HG (T:07835 294925; E:[email protected]) PHASMID STUDIES EDITOR Phil Bragg 8 The Lane, Awsworth, Nottinghamshire, NG16 2QP (T:01159 305010) EXHIBITION & MEETING OFFICER Paul Jennings 89 Brackensdale Avenue, Derby, DE22 4AF (T:01332 343477) LIVESTOCK COORDINATOR Janine Fletcher 125 Malvern Drive, North Common, Warmley, Bristol, BS30 8UY (T:01179 604917) LIBRARIAN David Robinson (T:01908 653493; E:[email protected]) PSG Membership The current annual subscription rate is £12 (UK), £14 (Europe) and £15 (rest of the world). If you know anybody how would like to join the group then an application form is available from Paul Brock (address above). The Phasmida Species File (phasmida.orthoptera.org) - Statistics Ed Baker (Editor) Authors 706 Publications 841 References 1860 Citations 21260 Depositories 412 Images total: 139 unique taxa: 37 Sound recordings total: 1 unique taxa: 1 End points in keys total: 0 unique taxa: 0 Specimen records