The Entomological Society of Manitoba Newsletter

Volume 27 Number 2 ISSN 0836-5830 Fall 2000

About the ESM accurate. I would like to thank Dr. Darren Pollock Newsletter *Important* for his on Stamps submission in this issue. The Entomological PLEASE NOTIFY US OF For those of you who Society of Manitoba ANY CHANGES IN don’t know Darren and his Newsletter is published ADDRESS family are now living in three times per year. Texas where he is working Contact: It is a forum whereby with Coccinellids. Please Bill Preston information can be enjoy this issue. 946 McMillan Avenue disseminated to Society members. As such, all Winnipeg, MB Jason Diehl, members are encouraged R3M 0V6 Newsletter Editor to contribute often. The Ph: (204)475-4692 diehl55@hotmail .com

Newsletter is interested in opinions, short articles, Insects on Stamps - news of research projects, Note from the Editor Good Guys and Bad meeting announcements, workshops, courses and Greetings fellow ESM Guys other events, requests for members. Winter is on the materials or information, way and it is time for Philately & news of personnel or another issue of our are both large, multi- visiting scientists, newsletter. The last one faceted fields of study. literature reviews or before the much For those who are both announcements and anticipated joint meetings entomologically and anything that may be of of the Entomological philatelically inclined, the interest to ESM members. Societies of Canada and combination of both America in Montreal. I am pursuits into 1 J. Diehl, Editor confident someone will "entomophilately" can be a R. Lafreniere, Co-editor step forward with a very rewarding and B. Elliott, Co-editor synopsis of the meetings to educational hobby. Still, include in the next issue of what does one include in a the newsletter. Maybe short treatment of the 1 Dept. of Entomology, Brent and Rhéal can team subject? Obviously, University of Manitoba up and review some of insects have been around Winnipeg, Manitoba Montreal’s more popular considerably longer than R3T 2N2 watering holes. Of course, postage stamps, and have being the newsletter editor been both reviled and Ph. (204) 474-9257 I will have to accompany revered by humanity. I [email protected] them and make sure their have decided to opinions are entirely concentrate on the

depiction of these two these stamps are issued The asparagus extremes (i.e., the with the collector in mind. stamp from Madagascar beneficial and the harmful There are extremes in (1993) is part of a set of insects) on postage stamps. scientific accuracy of , none of which are Before that, however, I names, accuracy of the native to Madagascar. should like to say a few actual images, and Solomon Islands issued a words about insect stamps in the overall aesthetic set of five stamps in 1990 and thematic stamp value. The insects on showing five different collecting. some stamps are little harmful insect species, If one flips through the more than cartoons, while including the sweet potato pages of a stamp others are true works of weevil illustrated here. catalogue, it becomes fine art. immediately apparent that As mentioned earlier, insects are a popular insects have both theme. Almost all fascinated and terrified countries have issued people for many thousands stamps depicting insects. of years. This was not lost As of 1990, 300 inde- on designers of postage pendent countries or other stamps, who have deemed political sub-divisions had insects worthy of issued about 5,000 stamps prominence as stamp portraying over 1700 subjects. Although the species of insects in 14 vast majority of insect The migratory locust has different orders. The species are directly neither been a in Africa for earliest insect stamp was harmful nor beneficial to many years; in 1964, Mali issued in 1891 by humans, there are some issued a set of three Nicaragua and consisted of that fall into either of these stamps with the theme a hive as part of a two categories. For the "war against the locust". scene depicting rest of this article, I shall The 5f value shows a map productivity and address some of the of Africa with the area fruitfulness. The first villains and heroes of the invaded by these coleopterous subject insect world, as they are from 1928- matter was the stag beetle portrayed on postage 1942. Chiasognathus granti, stamps. issued as part of a faunal Harmful insects have series by Chile in 1948. made their way onto Butterflies, which are postage stamps; most of easily the most popular these are pests of crops, subjects for insect stamps, trees, and other human appeared first in 1951, on commodities. a stamp from Sarawak. Over the years since then, insect stamps have greatly increased in frequency.

The variety of In 1967, Austria issued a entomological subject stamp commemorating the matter on world postage 6th International Congress stamps is incredible. Of on Plant Protection course, the showy, showing an adult Colorado colourful species potato beetle. predominate, since most of

style beehive suspended in a tree.

The final example shown is from Iran, from a series of two stamps devoted to The stamp from Tanzania the fight against harmful (1986) shows worker insects. The illustrated 6r Apimondia is the performing one of their value shows a bark beetle. International Federation of most important tasks -- Beekeepers' Associations, pollination. and every two years, a congress on apiculture is held in a host country throughout the world.

While mankind is The second most constantly at war with popular group of various harmful species of beneficial insects on insects, there are some stamps are the ladybird species that are highly beetles (). revered. The domesticated These beetles are honeybee, Apis spp, is acknowledged as very revered not only for its important predators of production of , but Many of these host various pest insects and also for its value as a mites, and are even the pollinator, and of course, nations, including Hungary (1983), Japan subject of various nursery for its intriguingly rhymes and folklore. Of complex life history and (1985), Poland (1987), China (1993), and course, they are a good habits. The fact that we topic for stamps even if hold this insect in such Belgium (1997), have issued stamps only for their dramatic high esteem is evident by orange and black the number of postage commemorating both the , and their colouration. Ladybird stamps depicting images beetles have been used of the honeybee and of hosting of the Apimondia congress. Shown above extensively in biological apiculture. Many different control efforts throughout countries have devoted a and at the top of the next column are Apimondia the world, as is evident stamp, or an entire series from the stamps I chose to of stamps to the honeybee. stamps from Poland and the Soviet Union. illustrate here. The first example shown is from the Soviet Union, and illustrates a bear breaking into an early-

Three of the ladybirds are these "buggy" stamps. Coccinella septempunctata The task of collecting even Linnaeus, which has been most of these issues is not introduced to many easy, but there are several different areas; among important sources of other countries, this information that can help. species has been portrayed There are several different on stamps of Denmark, world stamp catalogues, China, and Republic of the most popular of which Congo. are Michel, Scott, Stanley

Gibbons, and Yvert and The Anatis mali (Say) Tellier; these are definitely depicted on the United a place to start, and while States issue is part of a usually quite expensive, fantastic series of 20 they usually can be found stamps showing various at the local library. There insects and spiders. These exist several more specific stamps are unique (at least stamp catalogues for insect among world insect issues, including: Domfil stamps) in that each stamp Thematic Stamp has a small description of Catalogue. 1996. the insect on the reverse, Butterflies and Other so that licking the adhesive Insects (24th Edition), can be a learning Sabadell, Spain; Hamel, experience! D.R. 1991. Atlas of Insects on Stamps of the World. Tico Press, Falls Church, VA, USA;

Wright, D.P., Jr. 1993. Insects on Stamps of the World. American Topical Association Handbook No. 123. There are hundreds

of pages on the Internet Stamps have been devoted to philately in issued to celebrate useful general, but for a site insect species, alert us to devoted specifically to the battles against the insect stamps, try the harmful ones, draw following WWW site: The issue from Argentina attention to the need to http://clubs.yahoo.com/clu is part of a series of five conserve endangered bs/insectsonstamps. values devoted to species, or simply to beneficial insects, two of portray the varied and Darren A. Pollock which are ladybirds, with a wondrous shapes and Texas Agricultural stink bug, and damsel bug, colours of insects. I have Experiment Station, and a ground beetle. found the collection of The Texas A & M entomologically-related University System stamps to be a very 2301 Experiment Station satisfying hobby, and I Road Bushland, TX continue to be amazed at 79012-0010 the numbers and variety of

First Meeting of the Martin Erlandson, Registration for the Entomological Society from the Insect BioControl meeting is at 8:30 am on of Manitoba in the Laboratory (Agriculture Friday, October 20, 2000 New Millennium and Agri-Food Canada) in at the Freshwater Institute Saskatoon, will discuss the Reminder of the 56th potential of insect-specific Robbin Lindsay Annual Meeting of the viruses to act as biological Chair, ESM Scientific Entomological Society of control agents of insect Program Committee Manitoba. October 20 & pests. 21, 2000 In addition to these AWEME, MB - An invited speakers, we once important historical again have a good crop of In honour of the new grasslands site. millennium, the theme for speakers drawn from students, Agriculture this year’s meeting will be: Part 2 of 2 “Looking Ahead: New Canada scientists and

Frontiers in Entomology”. others with expertise and Aweme site description. To make the meeting even interest in entomology. A The paleoecology of more dynamic than in past total of 12 oral southern Manitoba was years, we have modified presentations will be given dominated during the late the format somewhat. covering a range of insects Pleistocene and Holocene This year’s program will from agriculture pests like by Glacial Lake Agassiz feature three keynote wheat midge, through and most of the land forms speakers rather than one stored product insects, parasitoids to mites of of the area are remnants of and the line-up of speakers old lake shorelines and is impressive. bees. beaches. Details of the Harvey Artsob from As in previous years, the annual meeting will be geological & vegetational the Zoonotic Diseases and history of the area can be Special Pathogens Branch held at the Freshwater inferred from papers in of Health Canada will Institute at 501 University Crescent on the University Mayer-Oakes (1967). The discuss arbovirus activity postglacial, geophysical in Canada: past, present of Manitoba campus. The banquet will be held on history of southern and future. Medical Manitoba is summarized important viruses like Friday evening at the Round Table Restaurant in Teller and Last (1981). Western equine The flora of Manitoba encephalitis virus, and the on Pembina Highway. This English-style is documented by Scoggan recent emergence of the (1957). The native mosquito-borne pathogen, pub/restaurant is well known for its fine cuisine, vegetation of Aweme is West Nile virus, will be described in Bird (1927) focal points of his talk, friendly atmosphere and recreational activities and Coupland (1950). The Steve Ashe, Chief vegetation of Aweme is Curator of the Natural (darts, billiards, elbow- bending, etc.). Bob Lamb dominated by the History Museum at the shortgrass Bouteloua University of Kansas, will and Pat MacKay will once again host the mixer on gracilis (HBK.)Lag. discuss biological [Buffalo grass], a sedge, informatics and the Saturday night so we will have a chance to meet the Carex obtusata Lilj., and changing nexus of the midheight bunch- museum collection data, speakers and other visitors. Mark your calendar and grasses Stipa spartea Trin. biodiversity research and [Porcupine Grass] and systematic biology, we look forward to seeing you at the meeting. Andropogon scoparius Michx. [Wiregrass] as well

as the somewhat taller Albans are undisturbed, the insect fauna known Koelaria cristata Pers. unploughed fescue prairie. from Aweme is fairly [June Grass]. In The remainder of the area widespread throughout the undisturbed areas the appears to have been Province of Manitoba and creeping evergreen shrub, cultivated. Compared to many are widespread Juniperus horizontalis an earlier photographs of across Canada. Some Moench [Creeping St. Albans, the site is now species are western species Juniper], is common and more treed with trembling with their eastern limits at there are a number of aspen in particular Aweme; some species are common forbs such as becoming more dominant eastern species with their Artemesia frigida Willd. and increasingly western limits at Aweme [Prairie Sagewort], overgrowing the prairie. and other species are Cerastium arverse L. prairie species with their [Field Chickweed] and Insect fauna. northern limit at Aweme. Galium boreale L. For many years our The distribution of [Northern bedstraw]. knowledge of the insect certain other species are The invasive weed, fauna of Manitoba was much more restricted. leafy spurge Euphorbia synonymous with our Quedius (Megaquedius) esula L., is a problem on knowledge of the insect manitobensis (Casey) the property and it rapidly fauna of Aweme. It [Coleoptera:Staphylinidae] colonizes disturbed areas. remains true that the was described from Although this area is a majority of the insect Aweme. It is an release site for the fauna recorded from interesting example of the biological control agent, Manitoba is known only collecting abilities of the Aphthona spp. (Shay from or was first recorded Criddles. It is presently 1995a) it is occasionally from Aweme. It is not known only from Aweme treated with broadleaf possible, at the present and Calgary, Alberta. It is herbicides. The European time, to list the insects known from Aweme from flora, predominantly collected at Aweme. only a few specimens invading from abandoned Therefore a few examples collected in July, 1910, agricultural areas is might indicate the nature May, 1918, & November, composed of Poa of the insect fauna of 1927 (Smetana, 1971). pratensis [Blue Grass], Manitoba. The specimens were and Bromus inermis Pollock and Roughley probably extracted from [Brome Grass]. These two (unpubl.) have surveyed the nest or dung chambers introduced grasses are all published records of of the northern pocket taller and negatively affect Carabidae (incl. gopher, Thomomys the native prairie species. cicindelines) of Aweme talpoides. During the Brome grass appears to be and supplemented this by 1980's, the entomologists a very poor habitat for examining all of the from the Department of insects (Roughley, pers. holdings of the JBWM and Entomology at the obs.) reinforcing the long- CNC for records from University of Manitoba held observation that Aweme. This combined have made a number of many things appropriate effort has amassed a list of forays to collect this insect for agriculture are not 190 species and subspecies and other pocket gopher appropriate for of ground beetles from inquilines such as Foxella conservation. Aweme which represents ignota (Baker) From vegetation 54% of the 350 species of (Siphonaptera: analysis, it appears that Carabidae known from the Ceratophyllidae). In each certain areas directly to the province (Bousquet 1991). case we abandoned our north and south of St. This suggests that some of attempts after much

searching and digging and Manitoba pinkstriped Manitoba record may at about 2 m in depth. Our oakworm, Anisota seem problematic until it is problem was that we did manitobensis McDun. realized that Aweme is not know how to find the (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae), located in a region of appropriate habitat; when is known only from fossil Pleistocene sand we asked the local southern Manitoba and dunes which formed at the mammalogists about the extreme northern delta of the Assiniboine depth, position and Minnesota (Tuskes et al. River where it entered appearance of a pocket 1996). Type specimens glacial Lake Agassiz gopher nest chamber they were collected by Norman (Dubois 1976, Teller said that the only Criddle at Aweme, 1984). Therefore the published attempts to dig Manitoba and were southern shoreline of Lake up the nest were made by described by McDunnough Agassiz may have Norman and Stuart (1921). This very provided a biogeographic Criddle. Also associated handsome is corridor between the dunes with these burrows are the confined to bur oak of the Assiniboine delta beetles, Aphodius habitats and is rarely and those of the Great talpoides (Brown) and A. encountered. This species Lakes shoreline when peculiosus Schmidt which has been extirpated from glacial Lake Agassiz are still known only from many areas of southern drained southeastwards Manitoba and Aweme in Manitoba by intensive into the Great Lakes. A Canada. The anthicid agriculture and habitat similar biogeographic beetle, Notoxus manitoba destruction. The known pattern could be inferred Chandler, is known only distribution of these for the winter stonefly, from the male holotype insects are examples of a Capnura manitoba (Chandler 1982) collected pattern of grassland (Plecoptera: Capniidae) at Aweme by Norman distribution in which (Burton 1985). This Criddle in 1924. Aweme is at or near the species occurs in a Other species, found at northern limit of Sphagnum spring-fen Aweme, appear to be at distribution. located on the margin of the northern limit of their A somewhat different the Assiniboine River ca. 3 range. The northern-most biogeographic pattern is km SSW of St. Albans. record of the stink bug, emerging from studies of The type locality is Chlorochroa belfragei, is other groups of insects. A Aweme but the known Aweme (Scudder and moth, Pyla arenaeola distribution is decidedly Thomas, 1987). There are Balogh & Witerding eastern with most records sporadic records south (1998) (Lepidpotera: from Ontario and Quebec, through North Dakota, and Pyralidae) is a resident of extending north to Ungava South Dakota to Nebraska sand dunes and it feeds on Bay, east to the Gasp‚ and east to Illinois. It was the leaves of bearberry, Peninsula & southeastward formerly listed as a Arctostaphylos uva-ursi into New England candidate species for (L.) (Ericaceae). Despite (Hitchcock 1974). The endangered or threatened the widespread distribution Aweme record is separated species status but it is now of its holarctic host, this from the closest eastern considered to be a species pyralid is apparently record by more than 1000 of management concern in restricted to a few km (Nelson and Baumann North Dakota localities with loose, sandy 1987, fig. 50, p. 23) (http://www.greatplains.or soils. Documented g/npresource/distr/others/ localities include the dunes Concluding statement nddagner/ species/ of the Great Lakes and I admit an inordinate chlobel.htm). The Aweme. The disjunct fondness for Aweme. Is it

the feeling of being at a need to be a member of "Students Meet the historically important ESA. Board", at 8 p.m. in the locality? Is it the ghosts of With the registration museum, where they will past entomologists package you received, you have time to meet and chat collecting, thinking and will find a copy of the with the ESC Executive discovering knowledge ESC membership and Governing Board about insects? Is it the application form that is members (not that we are feeling of having the wind also found on our website. all museum pieces, but, in your hair out on the You can pass along to a whatever works for you). prairie? Is it a day away potential new member (or In order to maximize the from telephones and e- lapsed member). Declining useful contacts and mail? Yes. membership is a problem interactions, I invite (From original article for most scientific the students to remain and appearing Arthropods of societies, and you can do a make other contacts at the Canadian Grasslands great service for the President's Reception, also Newsletter No. 6, 2000) Entomological in the museum, which Society of Canada by continues until midnight. Written by R.E. Roughley recruiting new members. To make it even merrier, Dept. of Entomology With your registration SEQ President François University of Manitoba material, you will also Lorenzetti and I have receive a calendar of social decided to combine the Joint Annual Meeting events and society ESC President's Reception Information activities planned with the SEQ social this by the Entomological year; all ESC and SEQ Subject: Meeting Society of Canada and la members are invited registration material, and Société d'entomologie du to attend. change of schedule for the Québec. ESC and SEQ annual general meeting social activities will be Dan L. Johnson held Monday evening at President, Ent. Society of Dear friends, the Château Ramezay Canada, AAFC Research You should have received Museum, a former Centre, P.O. Box 3000 your registration packages governor's residence. 5403 1st Ave S. by now, or you soon will. Correction: The ESC Lethbridge, AB, Canada (If it does not arrive, e- Annual General Meeting T1J 4B1 mail me at will not be held Monday tel (403) 317-2214 [email protected] or night as stated in the [email protected]) calendar of activities in Calendar of Events . You may use the paper your registration packet, copy to register, or you but has been rescheduled 50th Annual Meeting may register via the on- to Tuesday, Dec 5, at 5-6 Joint Meeting with the line version at: p.m. (Palais des Congrès; Entomological Society of HTTP://www.entsoc.org/a room TBA). All ESC America and the Société nnual_meeting/2000/Regis members are welcome and d'Entomologie du Québec _new.pdf encouraged to attend. 3-7 December 2000 Please note that in The SEQ Annual Montréal, Canada order to qualify for General Meeting will be The ESC Annual Meeting member rates you must be held on Monday, Dec 4, at will be held at the Palais a member (with dues for 7-8 p.m. in the museum, as des Congrès de Montréal, 2000 paid) of any of stated in the calendar. the city's convention the three societies: ESA, ESC students are centre. ESC or SEQ. You do not invited to attend the