The Newsletter of the Entomological Society

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On the web at www.VermontInsects.org VES NEWS The Newsletter of the Vermont Entomological Society

Newsletter Schedule Spring: Deadline April 7 - Publication May 1 Summer: Deadline July 7 - Publication August 1 Fall: Deadline October 7 - Publication November 1 Winter: Deadline January 7 - Publication February 1

2018 Memberships are Due

Check Your Mailing Label The upper right corner of your mailing label will inform you of the - month and year your VES membership expires. Dues are $15 and can be sent to our Treasurer: Vermont Entomological Society c/o Deb Kiel 147 Allen Irish Road Underhill, VT 05489 Thanks!

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Congratulations to Bryan Pfeiffer who was recently honored with the Julie Nicholson Citizen Science Award. A tribute From Anisoptera to Zonotrichia: A Legacy of Science and Conservation written by Kent McFarland may be found at the Vermont Center for Ecostudies’ website, https:// vtecostudies.org/blog/from-anisoptera-to- zonotrichia-a-legacy-of-science-and- conservation/ Bryan and a illinoiensis, West Branch of Machias River, .

By Deb Kiel, Treasurer

As your new treasurer, I remain indebted to Luke Curtis, our outgoing treasurer, for the ease with which this transition took place. Thanks also go to Mike Sabourin, our president, and Trish Hanson, our secretary, for their help with this. I look forward to serving VES in the years ahead. VES remains strong with positive financial assets. Membership dues received this year were able to cover the cost of printing and distributing of our newsletter which remains our largest expense. A donation for cases which were gener- ously offered by Jeff Freeman and book royalties rounded out our income. Thank you to all of our members who remain committed to VES. Our assets this year allowed us to help in the transition of material to The McGuire Center in and continue our support of educational pursuits. VES dues for 2018 are due now. They are $15 for an individual or a family per year. Thank you to - - several folks who have already paid for the year. See page 2 for information on submitting payment. If you have any questions, contact me at [email protected].

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Text and Photos by Laurie DiCesare elsewhere. Ebony Jewelwings (Calopteryx maculata), shining metallic blue and green in the On August 13, 2017, in ninety-degree heat, five dappled sunlight, were out in great numbers, in Odonate enthusiasts (Laurie DiCesare, Linda tandem and mating. As we stepped out of the “Stick” LaPan, Matt Schlesinger, Paul Novak and woods and onto the gravelly shoreline, we were Erin White, the latter three from NY’s Depart- greeted by an abundance of dragons and ment of Environmental Conservation), hiked to damsels. We followed them with nets and Hammond Pond in North Hudson, NY. cameras snapping.

The first wetland we encountered, a large open Among our finds for the day were a Sedge Sprite pond with ample emergent vegetation, looked (Nehalennia irene), Canada Darner (Aeshna like good habitat. But, we saw very canadensis), Black-shouldered Spinyleg few Odes flying, so we ventured farther into the (Dromogomphus spinosus), a Dragonhunter woods. (Hagenius brevistylus), a Brush-tipped Emerald (Somatochlora walshii), a possible Eastern Least Clubtail (Stylogomphus albistylus?), and a Span- gled Skimmer (Libellula cyanea.). We also photographed a Brown-hooded Owlet (Cucullia convexipennis) larva with brilliant red- and yellow-striped markings. The bountiful number and variety of we documented made the trek worthwhile.

The trail led us through rocky terrain, by a small stream and past many interesting fungi, includ- ing Scaly Vase Chanterelles (Gomphus floccosus) to a beaver pond with only a few Common Meadowhawks (Sympetrum species) and Bluets (Enallagma spp.) noted along the shore. Aside from some distant -bys, there were not many - dragons or damsels to be seen.

After lunch, we continued on to Hammond Pond. As soon as we arrived at the outlet stream, we began seeing the Odes we had been missing

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By Michael Sabourin Black Mountain Species (Windham Co.) VES Walk Sept. 23, 2017 Five individuals (Julia Blyth, Laurie DiCesare, Charley Eiseman, Joanne Rousso and Michael List compiled by Laurie DiCesare, Michael Sabourin) participated on the VES field trip to Sabourin, and Charley Eiseman Black Mountain Natural Area in Dummerston, VT on September 23rd. LIST

This Nature Conservancy property is rather COLEOPTERA (Beetles): unique. Outside of the trailhead parking area, Buprestidae (Jewel Beetles): Brachys howdeni the majority of the day was spent walking (trailing arbutus leafminer) – NEW STATE through pine, hemlock, and hardwood forests to RECORD the savannah-like summit. Cerambycidae (Longhorn Beetles): Megacyllene robiniae (Locust Borer Beetle) Highlights of the day were observing a half Staphylinidae (Rove Beetle): Tachinus sp. dozen species as caterpillars. The red humped worms were particularly prominent DIPTERA (): littering the forest floor with their leaf drop- Culicomorpha (Mosquitoes and Midges): pings. Charley Eiseman and Julia Blyth were up Culicomorpha sp. to their usual leafminer expertise discovering (Root-maggot Flies): Chirosia three new state records. Don Miller, in a personal gleniensis (sensitive fern leafminer) communication, noted that the grasshopper Mel- Tachinidae (Tachinid Flies): Hystricia abrupta anoplus punctulatus is associated with conifers, (Bee-like Tachinid Fly) especially white pine. A number of identifica- tions here were made through (Bugs): iNaturalist, https://www.inaturalist.org/home. (Assassin Bugs): luridus (Pale Green Assassin Bug)

HYMENOPTERA (Sawflies, Bees, Wasps and Ants): Crabronidae (Square-headed Wasps): Trypargilum sp. (Square-headed Wasps) Ichneumonoidea (Ichneumonid Wasps): Atanycolus sp. (Braconidae sp. (black and red) Phygadeuontini sp. (https://bugguide.net/ node/view/1467412)

Ichneumonidae sp.

Pompilidae (Spider Wasps): Dipogon sayi

(Spotted Two Beards)

Tenthredinidae (Common Sawflies): Tenthredin-

idae spp. (sawfly larvae on hophornbeam

and pussy willow) Sawfly pupa on leaf. [same as Ostrya?]

-- (Continued from page 5) Vespidae (Paper Wasps, Hornets, Yellowjackets): Torticiodea (Leafroller ): Pelochrista Ancistrocerus sp. (Potter Wasp) dorsisignatana (Triangle-backed Eucosma Dolichovespula maculate (Bald-faced Hornet) Moth) Polistes fuscatus (Northern Paper Wasp) Unplaced to superfamily: Cycloplasis panicifoliella Vespula flavopilosa (Downy Yellowjacket) (a leafminer of deertongue grass) – NEW STATE RECORD LEPIDOPTERA (Butterflies and Moths): Papilionoidea (Butterflies): Misc. Lepidopterans: 1.25” caterpillar, light Aglais/Nymphalis milberti ssp. milberti (Milbert’s green, with black dots along the side [one of Tortoiseshell) the above?] Lycaena phlaeas ssp. Hypophlaeas (American Cop- per) ORDER ( and Damselflies): Moths: Gelechioidea (Curved-horn, Twirler and Gelechi- Dragonflies: oid Moths): Chionodes thoraceochrella (Summer Darner Family (Aeshnidae): Oak Leaftier) Darner patrolling trail about 8 ft. in air. Geometroidea (Geometer Moths, Inch Worms): Campaea perlata (Pale Beauty) ORDER ORTHOPTERA (Crickets, Katydids, Nepytia canosaria (False Hemlock Looper Mantids, Walkingsticks): Moth) Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers): Melano- Gracillariioidea (Leaf Blotch Miner Moths): plus punctulatus (Grizzly Spur-throat Grass- Caloptilia scutellariella (Mad-dog Skullcap hopper) Leafminer) – NEW STATE RECORD Grasshopper, dead, parasitized? Marmara fasciella (White Pine Bark Miner

Moth) Nepticuloidea (Pygmy Leafmining Moths): Stigmella spp. (Black Birch Leafminers) Pseudopostega? spp. (Bugleweed Leaf/Stem Miner) Noctuoidea (Tiger, Noctuid, Prominent Moths): Acronicta americana (American Dagger Moth) Lochmaeus manteo (Variable Oakleaf Caterpil- lar Moth) Lophocampa caryae (Hickory Tussock Moth) Symmerista sp. (Red-humped Oakworm Moth) Xestia badicollis (Northern Variable Dart) Pterophoroidea (Plume Moths): Amblyptilia picta (Geranium Plume Moth) Sphingoidea (Sphinx and Hawk Moths): Hemaris diffinis (Snowberry Clearwing) (Trumpet Leafminer Moths): Astro- tischeria solidagonifoliella (Goldenrod Leafminer)

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Events for 2018 Programs of Interest

March 18: 11 a.m. VES Annual Winter Meeting Eagle Hill Institute Programs: at VT Agency of Agriculture, Vector Lab, 322 The following is a sampling of -related Industrial Ave., Berlin, VT. Directions: Take I-89 seminars to be offered this summer at Eagle Hill to Exit 7, VT-62 toward US-302/Berlin/Barre; Institute, located a half an hour north of Acadia Continue onto VT-62 E; Turn right onto Airport National Park in Steuben, Maine. For more Rd. Take a right on Industrial Ave. After passing information: www.eaglehill.us or e-mail: cemetery on left turn into lot on left. The office is [email protected] or phone 207-546-2821 ext. 1; in rear of the second building. Contacts: Judy Eagle Hill Institute, P.O. Box 9, 59 Eagle Hill Rosovsky, [email protected], 802-324-3473 Road, Steuben, ME 04680. or Michael Sabourin, [email protected], 802- July 1 – 7: Dragonflies and Damselflies: Field Tech- 345-0644. niques and Identification, Bryan Pfeiffer and Michael Blust. March 29: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Amazing Odonates: July 8 – 14: Spiders: Identification, Biology and Dragonflies & Damselflies, Milton Town Ecology, Kefyn Catley. Office, Bombardier Road, off Rt. 7. July 8 – 14: Native Bees: Biology, Ecology, Identifi- This is a FREE program offered by the Milton cation and Conservation, Sara Bushmann and Conservation Commission. Contact Laurie Kalyn Bickerman–Martens. [email protected] or 802-893-1845. July 22 – 28: Microlepidoptera: Collection, Prepara- tion, Dissection, Identification and Natural His- April 13-15: Northeast Natural History tory, Jason Dombroskie. Conference, Burlington Sheraton Hotel, Burling- July 29 – Aug. 4: Tracks and Sign of and ton, VT. Other Invertebrates, Charley Eiseman. This is the largest regional, broad-spectrum forum in the northeast for researchers, universi- Laurie DiCesare’s Natural History Programs: ty professors, students, natural resource manag- Ask Laurie for her current Green Events list ers and naturalists. See (including information on NatureHaven Day https://www.eaglehill.us/NENHC_2018/NEN Camp) by calling 802-893-1845 or e-mailing HC2018.shtml. For more information: of- [email protected]. [email protected] or 207-546-2821 ext. 1; Eagle Hill Institute, P.O. Box 9, 59 Eagle Hill Rd., May 23: 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. Lovely Lepidopterans: Steuben, ME 04680. Butterflies and Moths, CVU H.S. Hinesburg (off Rt. 116.). Fee $20 ($5. 65+ elder discount.). To Save the Date sign up contact CVU Access 802-482-7194 or http://access.cvuhs.org. Montpelier BioBlitz

July 21 – 22, 2018 Inquire at: [email protected]

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Dragonfly Society of the Americas VT Center for Ecostudies Meeting in Lancaster, NH: An Emerald Discovered in Victory By Bryan Pfeiffer, By Michael Blust and Joshua Lincoln DSA Northeast Regional Coordinator for 2017 Lancaster Conference In an article dated September 20, 2017, the VT Center for Ecostudies announced that, after some During the 2017 Northeast gathering of the strenuous slogging to Victory Bog, Michael Blust Dragonfly Society of the Americas (July 13 – 16, and Josh Lincoln located what they originally 2017), we did indeed accomplish our major thought were Forcipate Emeralds (Somatochlora objective— to encounter the charismatic, the forcipate). After closer microscopic inspection, striped emeralds, dragonflies in the genus though, they were identified as Vermont’s first Somatochlora. In total, we found 10 Somatochlora Incurvate Emerald (S. incurvata), a rare striped species, affirming this region’s claim to the some emerald. See their full story at of the highest Somatochlora diversity on the https://vtecostudies.org/blog/an-emerald- continent. You can download our final species discovered-in-victory. list, 70 species in total, in the Resources section of the DSA website https:// www.odonatacentral.org. Next year, we hope to meet in June at the coastal plain of .

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By Laurie DiCesare The appendices at the back of the book are very helpful. They include a plant index, a glossary of Tracks & Sign of Insects and Other Invertebrates biological terms, and an extensive reference by Charley Eiseman and Noah Charney section that is divided into specific topics (plant

Tracks & Sign of Insects and Other Invertebrates is damage, pollination, beetles, grasshoppers, etc.) an amazing, comprehensive resource and a as well as more generalized, “multitaxon” insect source of delight for those who enjoy delving guides. into the natural world. The scope of the book includes tracks (creature footprints in sand, This user-friendly, easily-readable yet authorita- mud, and underwater) and tive book offers ideal winter browsing. It is also signs (eggs, droppings, nests, an excellent arthropod feeding traces, and pupal reference guide to help you skins) of a generous sampling identify which creatures of invertebrates from all over visited the fields, woods, wet- North America. lands, and seashores before you did, and left their incon- Preliminary scanning through spicuous yet identifiable call- the macro photos reveals ing cards. close-ups of commonly-seen mud-dauber tubes, gnawed The authors’ dedication note leaves, spider webs, moth at the beginning of the book cocoons and a wide variety of offers some insights: colorful galls that you might “To the creatures we observe on an afternoon field accidentally harmed in the trip. Other photos offer making of this book: glimpses into the more Our intention was never to elusive and ephemeral world harm you but to better

of slug tooth marks, frass understand you, to share your chains, spider droppings, stories with our readers, and glistening snail trails, story- thereby win you respect. telling leaf mines, cicada exit holes and crayfish We hope this changes the way “chimneys.” we humans interact with you, and ultimately benefits your Although the book is profusely illustrated with lineages.”

color photographs, it is not designed as a field guide. The authors admit that there was not Tracks & Sign of Insects and Other Invertebrates: A guide enough room to include photos or range to North American Species by Charley Eiseman and Noah maps. What it does offer is some fine examples Charney with John Carlson. @ 2010 Stackpole Books, Me- of millipede, crayfish, horseshoe crab or chanicsburg, PA. 582 pages; 5.5x8.25”; $44.94. ISBN-13: 978 -0-8117-3624-4. To check out Charley Eiseman’s blog: dragonfly nymph and myriad other invertebrate https://bugtracks.wordpress.com/2017/12/01/ trails all in one easily-accessible volume. announcements/

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By Judy Rosovsky It was previously thought that the fungus found in each Siricid was species specific. But the fungus The group known as woodwasps or horntails, or carried by the invasive wasp has now been found in more formally as : Siricidae, are some native Siricids, and the native Siricid fungal infamous for harboring an invasive species, Sirex species has been found in the invader. Thus a noctilio, or the Sirex woodwasp. S. noctilio is native to tree-killing woodwasp has made a contribution to Europe, Asia and Africa, but has been found in the science by demonstrating that there is flexibility in northeastern U.S. and Canada. There are about 100 these mutualist fungal arrangements. Besides their species worldwide, but only 23 native species in five fungal biology, this family has attracted an interest- genera in North America. ing suite of predators and parasitoids, including the ichneumonid wasps in the genus Megarhyssa. The invasive species S. noctilio was first found in Vermont in Stowe, in 2007. None were found until Species list for Vermont: 2010, but since then several more specimens have Sirex edwardsii been discovered during exotic bark beetle Sirex nigricornis trapping programs. S. noctilio is a forest pest insect Sirex juvencus juvencus that oviposits in pine trees and other conifers, and Sirex noctilio their presence can lead to tree mortality. When the Urocerus cressoni females oviposit their eggs, they introduce a wood Urocerus flavicornis decaying fungus, usually in the genus Amylostereum Urocerus albicornis sp., and in S. noctilio they often inject a toxic mucus Tremex columba to assist the fungus in its colonization of the tree. The fungus is a white-rot fungus, and the decay it Species list for : causes provides digestible nutrients for the wasp Sirex behrensie larvae. Sirex cyaneus

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By JoAnne Russo Our Lepidoptera List:

Episimus argutana – Sumac Leaftier On June 15th 2017, Laura Gaudette and I gave a Ancylis burgessiana – Oak Leaffolder presentation on moths at the One World Conserva- Pandemis limitata – Three-lined Leafroller tion Center in Bennington. The 1995 publication, Clepsis persicana – White-triangle Tortrix Moths and Butterflies of Vermont, A Faunal Check- biplagialis – Double-striped Scoparia list, compiled Lepidoptera records from a variety of badiusalis – Chestnut-marked Pond private and institutional collections and surveys. weed Most of these were from various locations concen- Anania funebris – White-spotted Sable trated in the middle and northern counties of Desmia funeralis – Grape Leaffolder Vermont; the southern counties are underrepresent- Blepharomastix ranalis – Hollow-spotted Blepharo ed in this document. Laura and I have been actively mastix mothing in Windham County over the last 7 years Microcrambus elegans – Elegant Grass-veneer and reporting our findings in iNaturalist, adding a Sciota basilaris - Yellow-shouldered Leafroller number of new species to the known Vermont Eulogia ochrifrontella – Broad-banded Eulogia fauna. Bennington County needs further exploring Heliomata cycladata – Common Spring and documentation. We hoped our talk would pinistrobata – White Pine Angle inspire a few Bennington residents. larvaria – Bent-line Gray Campaea perlata – Pale Beauty I began the evening with a PowerPoint presentation Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria – Blackberry Looper that gave an overview of moths which are common Epirrhoe alternata – White-banded Toothed Carpet in Vermont. We also discussed identification guides, inornata – Unadorned Carpet reporting via iNaturalist and mothing equipment. It Horisme intestinata – Brown Bark Carpet Pasiphila rectangulata – Green Pug was followed by a lively question-and-answer Gluphisia septentrionis – Common Gluphisia period. We had a great audience, both young and Apantesis nais – Nais Tiger old, who were very inspired by what can be found Idia americalis – American Idia at home just by leaving on the porch lights. Idia aemula – Common Idia Phalaenophana pyramusalis – Dark-banded Owlet We then moved across the street to the Greenberg Palthis angulalis – Dark-spotted Palthis Reserve where Laura and I set up UV lights. As the Rivula propinqualis – Spotted Grass moths started to fly in, clouds filled the sky and the Leuconycta diphteroides – Green Leuconycta first drops of rain began to fall. Unfortunately, Balsa tristrigella – Three-lined Balsa shortly after 10 p.m., a steady rain forced us all to Xestia dolosa – Greater Black-letter Dart leave. Our moth count ended at 33 species. All the Eucosma species attendees were amazed at the variety, colors and Hellinsia species intricate patterns of our nocturnal visitors. We left Bennington knowing we had sparked many with a

new passion! Grehan, J.R., et. al., 1995. Moths and Butterflies of Vermont, a Faunal Checklist. Agr. Experiment Station, University of Vermont, Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, State of Vermont, Misc. Publication 116. January 1995.

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