The Newsletter of the Vermont Entomological Society Number 98 Winter 2017 - 2018 On the web at www.VermontInsects.org VES NEWS Number 98 Winter 2018 The Newsletter of the Vermont Entomological Society C VES Officers Member News Page 3 Michael Sabourin President Warren Kiel Vice President VES Treasurer’s Report Page 3 Deb Kiel Treasurer By Deb Kiel Laurie DiCesare Newsletter Compiler Janine Gydus Newsletter Editor Field Notes: Bryan Pfeiffer Webmaster BioBlitz at Hammond Pond Page 4 Emeritus Members By Laurie DiCesare Joyce Bell Ross Bell Field Notes: Black Mountain Page 6 John Grehan Gordon Nielsen By Michael Sabourin Michael Sabourin Mark Waskow VES Calendar Page 7 News Articles Page 8 The Vermont Entomological Society is Book Review Page 9 devoted to the study, conservation, and By Laurie DiCesare appreciation of invertebrates. Founded in 1993, VES sponsors selected research, workshops and field trips for the public, including children. Siricidae in Vermont Page 10 Our quarterly newsletter features developments By Judy Rosovsky in entomology, accounts of insect events and field trips, as well as general contributions from members or other entomologists. Moth Night in Bennington Page 11 By JoAnne Russo VES is open to anyone interested in arthropods. Our members range from casual insect watchers to amateur and professional entomologists. We welcome members of all ages, abilities and interests. You can join VES by sending dues of $15 per Newsletter Schedule year to: Deb Kiel Spring: Deadline April 7 - Publication May 1 147 Allen Irish Road Summer: Deadline July 7 - Publication August 1 Underhill, VT 05489 Fall: Deadline October 7 - Publication November 1 Winter: Deadline January 7 - Publication February 1 2018 Memberships are Due Photographs: (Front) The Herald Moth at Check Your Mailing Label Niquette Bay State Park (Scoliopteryx libatrix) The upper right corner of your mailing label will inform you of the Photo by Laurie DiCesare (Back) Black- shouldered Spinyleg (Dromogomphus month and year your VES membership expires. Dues are $15 and spinosus) at Green River Reservoir, Photo by can be sent to our Treasurer: Ron Kelley Vermont Entomological Society c/o Deb Kiel 147 Allen Irish Road Underhill, VT 05489 See this newsletter in living color on the web at: Thanks! www.VermontInsects.org Page 2 VES News - Winter 2017-2018 Member News 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 Macromia illinoiensis, West Branch of Machias River, Maine. VES Treasurer’s Report By Deb Kiel, Treasurer FINANCIAL STATEMENT 2017 As your new treasurer, I remain indebted to Assets at Start of the Year $4,777.72 Luke Curtis, our outgoing treasurer, for the ease Income with which this transition took place. Thanks Membership Dues $1,150.00 also go to Mike Sabourin, our president, and Trish Hanson, our secretary, for their help with Donations $55.00 this. I look forward to serving VES in the years Book Royalties $32.00 ahead. Donation for Cases $80.00 VES remains strong with positive financial Net Income $1,317.00 assets. Membership dues received this year were Expenses able to cover the cost of printing and distributing Web Hosting $89.00 of our newsletter which remains our largest Newsletter Printing $793.81 expense. A donation for cases which were gener- Newsletter Postage $210.84 ously offered by Jeff Freeman and book royalties rounded out our income. Thank you to all of our Foreign check process fees $14.24 members who remain committed to VES. Paper Statement Fees $14.00 New Checks $26.05 Our assets this year allowed us to help in the transition of material to The McGuire Center in Education Fund $200.00 Florida and continue our support of educational Transfer of materials to $400.00 pursuits. Mcguire Center, Gainesville, FL Net Expenses $1,747.94 VES dues for 2018 are due now. They are $15 for an individual or a family per year. Thank you to Net Difference $ -430.94 (Income - Expenses) several folks who have already paid for the year. Assets at Close of Year $4,346.78 See page 2 for information on submitting payment. If you have any questions, contact me at [email protected]. VES News - Winter 2017-2018 Page 3 Field Notes: BioBlitz at Hammond Pond 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 dragonfly 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) moth larva with brilliant red- and yellow-striped markings. The bountiful number and variety of species we documented made the trek worthwhile. Spangled Skimmer (Libellula cyanea) at Hammond Pond 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 fly-bys, there were not many Brown-hooded Owlet Moth Caterpillar dragons or damsels to be seen. (Cucullia convexipennis) 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 Page 4 VES News - Winter 2017-2018 Field Notes: Black Mountain 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. INSECT 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 lepidoptera species as caterpillars. The red humped oak worms were particularly prominent DIPTERA (Flies): 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 Anthomyiidae (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 HEMIPTERA (Bugs): iNaturalist, https://www.inaturalist.org/home. Reduviidae (Assassin Bugs): Zelus 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 Laurie DiCesare (left), Charley Eiseman and Julia and pussy willow) Blyth at Black Mountain Natural Area. Photo by Michael Sabourin Sawfly pupa on leaf. [same as Ostrya?] VES News - Winter 2017-2018 Page 5 (Continued from page 5) Vespidae (Paper Wasps, Hornets, Yellowjackets): Torticiodea (Leafroller Moths): 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-