Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada Vol. 37(1) Summer 2018 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 Information on Membership ....................3 Feature Articles: President’s Report ...........4 Notable grasshoppers from an BSC on facebook & twit- unusual tundra ecosystem ter....................................6 Paul M. Catling, Brenda Kostiuk, Student Corner.................6 Suzanne Carrière, and Bob Reid Contributing to the BSC ................................................7 Newsletter........................6 Feature Articles Notable grasshoppers from an unusual tundra ecosystem, by P.M.Catling, B.Kostiuk, S.Carrière Endemism among Canada’s and B.Reid........................... 7 mayfly species (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) Endemism among Canada’s mayfly Luke M. Jacobus.................... 13 species (Insecta: Ephemeroptera), by L.M. Jacobus..........................13 The Biological Survey of Canada: reflections on travelling on behalf of the Survey, by H.V. Danks......20 The Biological Survey of Canada: Canadian Journal of reflections on travelling on behalf of the Survey Arthropod Identification: Hugh V. Danks...........................................................20 2018 paper.....................33 Check out the BSC Notice: Website: Publications ....33 New publication in the Canadian Journal of Arthro- Notices ...........................34 pod Identification The paper, Seed Bugs and their allies (Hemiptera: Heter- optera: Lygaeoidea) of the Canadian Prairie Provinces (by D.J. Larson and G.G.E. Scudder, G.G.E.) has just been published in CJAI. ......................................................33 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 2018 is shaping up to be an exciting year for the Biological Survey of Canada, with the pending publication of the first volume of theBiota of Canada - a major project of the BSC over the past few years, aimed at updating the “Canada and its Insect Fauna” pub- lication from 1979. See the President’s Update on p. 4 for more details on this exciting project. We hope to have more information on this project for you in the winter issue of the BSC Newsletter. In this issue, we present updated biodiversity information on tundra grasshoppers and endemic mayflies, as well as an article by formerNewsletter editor, and Head of the BSC Secretariat, Hugh Danks, reflecting on his years of travel on behalf of the Survey through his long career. If you have not yet seen it, I also urge you to check out Hugh Danks’ new book on the history of the BSC, available as a free pdf on the BSC monographs website page (http://biologicalsurvey.ca/monographs/read/19). 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 37(1) Summer 2018 [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 Joel Gibson, 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 37(1) Summer 2018 [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 Cory S. Sheffield Research Scientist - Curator of Invertebrate Zoology Royal Saskatchewan Museum, Regina, Saskatchewan Greetings everyone! Following a very busy 2017 with much to report, this update for 2018 will seem rather short. However, this is not because the BSC has not been busy, but rather because it has mainly been focused on the large “Biota of Canada” family level series for ter- restrial arthropods which will be published in the journal ZooKeys. Past BSC President David Langor and I have been putting in long hours for most of the year so far, editing individual chapters for this series – we have now received most of the 30 or so draft chapters, so the work is moving along at a very good pace. This first volume will update the classic “Canada and its Insect Fauna” edited by Hugh Danks and published in 1979. In addition, with the collaboration of the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, this series will incorporate DNA barcoding into the summaries for each terrestrial arthropod family found in Canada, particularly the number of unique Barcode Index Numbers (or BINs) available from material collected in Canada. Dave and I have been very appreciative of the efforts that all of the authors have put into this work, which is still tentatively due to be published by late 2018. Unfortunately, some of the “traditional” BSC activities will not be held in 2018, in- cluding the annual BSC symposium (usually held as part of the Entomological Society of Canada annual meeting), and the BSC bioblitz. Following the precedent set when partnering with the large International Congress of Entomology (ICE) meetings in Florida in 2016, the Board decided not to hold the annual symposium at the large Joint Annual Meeting of the Entomological Societies of America, Canada, and British Columbia (which will be held in Vancouver from November 11-14th). It is our hope that we will resume our annual symposium series in 2019. I think it is also important to point out that the BSC encourages ideas for future symposia topics if they relate to biodiversity in Canada. Traditionally, these symposia have been entomology themed but there is much potential for this symposium to be more encompassing of Canada’s flora and fauna in the future, particularly if cross-disciplinary annual meetings are held. Much like at our bioblitzes, having expertise that encompasses all forms of life in Canada makes these events more interesting, and more rewarding. And although the BSC will not be holding its own bioblitz this year, many of its members will be involved in other bioblitzes throughout the country. These events make me happy – they provide a great opportunity to see colleagues, meet new ones, have a lot of fun, and contribute to documenting Canada’s biodiversity. Of course there are many ways to share information about life in Canada, and the BSC’s social media pages continue to attract attention. Currently our Facebook page has 216 followers, while our Twitter feed has 244 followers. These pages continue to be an easy to use and fast way to share some of the exciting biodiversity-related events that the BSC is involved with, and also the scientific research and news stories that are, or should be, of interest to those interested in biodiversity. As stated in the past, the BSC’s social media pages are also great venues to post links to your own biodiversity-related events, and we encourage you to contact us at [email protected] if wish to do so. If your biodiversity research takes you to interesting places in Canada, and you study organisms that you think are worth sharing a story on (and you should feel this way), why not share your experiences with other members of the BSC through this newsletter? Volume 37(1) Summer 2018 [click here to return to front page] Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 5 We are always excited to receive contributions, so I encourage you to write up a piece for us, and photographs are welcome.