Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada
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Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada Vol. 39(1) Summer 2020 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 Membership........................3 President’s Report.................4 Feature Articles: The Waterton Lakes National Park Insect Collec- BSC Facebook & Twitter..........5 tion: A Tale of Romance and Drama Contributing to the BSC David Langor............................................................22 Newsletter.......................5 Reminder: 2020 AGM............6 First records of Climaciella Request for specimens: brunnea (Neuroptera: Carabidae from across Canada; Mantispidae) in Saskatch- Kevin Floate.............................6 ewan Mel Hart and Victoria Student Corner A. Kjoss............................26 1. Daily Life of a Student Bee Researcher, Emily Hanuschuk..7 2. Martens in the Museum, Christopher M. Stinson...........10 Student Corner Updates Daily Life of a Student Bee Researcher 1. Survey of Terrestrial Arthro Emily Hanuschuk........................................................7 pods of Waterton Lakes National Park, David Langor.....14 Martens in the Museum 2. IISD Artist-in-Residence Christopher M. Stinson...............................................10 program, Sean Landsman.....18 Feature Articles 1. The Waterton Lakes Nation Project Update al Park Insect Collection: A Survey of Terrestrial Arthropods of Waterton Tale of Romance and Drama, Lakes National Park David Langor........................21 Dave Langor..............................................................14 2. First records of Climaciella brunnea (Neuroptera: Mantispidae) in Saskatchewan History Corner: Mel Hart & Victoria A. Kjoss....25 Two grassland entomologists stay connected over a span of 62 years Tales from the Field Joe Shorthouse..........................................................29 Peeping Robert, Robert Wrigley................................27 History Corner Tales from the Field: Two grassland entomologists stay Peeping Robert connected over a span of 62 years, Joe Shorthouse .......29 Robert Wrigley..........................................................27 Canadian Journal of Request for specimens: Carabidae from across Ar thropod Identification: Canada 2019 papers ....................45 from Kevin Floate, Agriculture and Agrifood BSC publications available Canada ......................................................................6 on the Website ...............47 Notices ...............................48 2019 papers in the Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification......................................45 Visit our Website | Previous issues http://biologicalsurvey.ca http://biologicalsurvey.ca/pages/read/newsletter-past-issues Contact us: [email protected] Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 2 From the Editor’s desk Donna Giberson The Waterton National Park motto, ‘where the mountains meet the prairies’, seems very pertinent to this issue of the Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada, with two articles directly relat- ing to Waterton Park itself, plus articles on prairie grasslands and BC mountains. Taxonomically, the focus ranges from bees and rose gall wasps through mantidflies, beetles, and general insect collect- ing, right through to examining mammal museum specimens to sort out some thorny biodiversity issues. I’m excited to note that we have two student articles this issue, thanks to the efforts of our Student Liaison, Emily Hanuschuk, and new Newsletter Assistant Editor, Dan Peach! Our new feature, Tales from the Field, includes a story on collecting tiger beetles on the west coast and other articles highlight BSC history, a new species record for Saskatchewan, and a har- rowing tale of rescuing an important collection from a raging wildfire. This is definitely a diverse issue! This newsletter would not be possible without the contributions from our readers, and I urge you to read these and consider submitting an update or article on your own work. This issue also benefitted from a thorough copy-editing from one of our contributors, Victoria A. Kjoss, who picked up a number of typos and inconsistencies that have crept in to this and other issues without our noticing, and for that I’m very grateful! Please also consider getting involved with the BSC, whether it be standing for one of the positions on the board, or engaging with on-going projects, or, as shown below, helping out with the website or other outreach activities! 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/ Questions? Please contact us at [email protected] 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 39(1) Summer 2020 [click here to 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 Canadian non-profit, charitable organization consisting of biodiversity scientists across Canada, 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 organiza- tional 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 (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 Donna Giberson, Secretary, BSC. [email protected] - In the subject line, write “BSC Membership” - in the body of the message, give your full name and contact infor- mation, and a valid email address. Remember to update the BSC if you change email addresses. Please also provide some informa- tion on your background and biodiversity interests. Check out the BSC website! http://biologicalsurvey.ca/ Volume 39(1) Summer 2020 [click here to return to front page] Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 4 President’s update Biological Survey of Canada/ Commission biologique du Canada Greg Pohl Natural Resources Canada, Northern Forestry Centre Edmonton, AB Greetings from my home office in Edmonton, AB, where days and weeks slide by with the eery sameness of a “new normal”. I won’t dwell on our collective coronavirus situa- tion any more than necessary here; I hope this newsletter finds you and your loved ones well. Over the past year, the new board of the BSC has rolled up our collective sleeves and gotten to work on things, including a revamp and rejuvenation of the society website (http://biologicalsurvey.ca/) and a revival of the “Biota of Canada” editorial committee. This newsletter reports several BSC initiatives and other research new and old by our members across Canada. From species presence data such as Mel Hart and Victoria Kjoss’ new mantispid record for SK, to Christopher Stinson’s research clarifying the division between related marten spe- cies, to Emily Hanuschuk’s update on bee ecology research, it’s exciting to see what BSC members are learning about the species that share the Canadian landscape with us. My thanks go out to Donna Giberson and Dan Peach for putting this issue together. I hope you enjoy it as we head into a most unusual “sessile summer”. As Sean Landsman notes in his update on the IISD Artists in Residence program, “Life is what happens after you make plans.” And so, most of us are getting on with life as we rethink our summer plans. The BSC had been planning for a summer 2020 bioblitz, and a fall 2020 symposium on high-alpine insects at the annual meeting of the Entomological Society of Canada. Un- fortunately, those have both been derailed due to the pandemic. I thank the people who have been organising those events, particularly Dave Langor,