VES News - Spring 2016 - Vermont Entomological Society

The Newsletter of the Vermont Entomological Society
On the web at www.VermontInsects.org
Number 91
Spring 2016
VES NEWS
Contents
The Newsletter of the
Vermont Entomological Society
VES Officers
Michael Sabourin
Warren Kiel
Trish Hanson
Luke Curtis
Deb Kiel
Bryan Pfeiffer
President
Vice President
Secretary & Newsletter
Treasurer
Deputy Secretary
Webmaster
Emeritus Members
Joyce Bell
Ross Bell
John Grehan
Gordon Nielsen
Michael Sabourin
Mark Waskow
The Vermont Entomological Society is devoted
to the study, conservation, and appreciation of
invertebrates. Founded in 1993, VES sponsors
selected research, workshops and field trips for
the public, including children. Our quarterly
newsletter features developments in
entomology, accounts of insect events and field
trips, as well as general contributions from
members or other entomologists.
Number 91
Spring 2016
DEPARTMENTS
 Profile: Alan Quackenbush
Page 3
 VES Calendar of Events
Page 5
 Field Notes: On the Road with Tiger Beetles
Page 6
 Zadock Thompson Identification Blitz
Page 7
 2015 Vermont Survey for Tick-Borne Diseases Page 8
By Alan Graham
 Vermont Habitat Stamp
Page 10
By Louis Porter
 Member News: H. Peter Wimmer
Page 11
By Andi Lloyd
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.
Newsletter Schedule
You can join VES by sending dues of $15 per
year to:
Luke Curtis, VES Treasurer
2177 Ripton Road
Lincoln, VT 05443
Cover photographs: Front: Cicindela
tranquebarica tranquebarica photographed by
Josh Lincoln on August 10, 2015 in the
Northeast Kingdom of VT. (See more tiger
beetles on page 6.) Back: Bill Boccio
photographed this goldenrod spider, Misumena
vatia.
See this newsletter in living color
on the web at:
www.VermontInsects.org
Page 2
Spring:
Summer:
Fall:
Winter:
Deadline April 7 - Publication May 1
Deadline July 7 - Publication August 1
Deadline October 7 - Publication November 1
Deadline January 7 - Publication February 1
Up to Date on Dues?
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 at
Vermont Entomological Society
c/o Luke Curtis
2177 Ripton Road
Lincoln, VT 05443
Thanks!
VES News - Spring 2016
Member Profile
ALAN QUACKENBUSH: WETLAND SPECIALIST
ed my involvement with the Pine Street Barge Canal
project when I moved into the VT Wetlands Proam a charter member of VES, and at the time VES gram as a District Wetlands Ecologist, even though
was chartered, I was working in the Biomonitor- the project was really about wetland contamination
ing and Aquatic Studies Section (fondly know as
and remediation.
BASS) of the Water Quality Division of the Vermont
Department of Environmental Conservation. Start- Coincidentally, at that time EPA was promoting the
ing out working as a field assistant in the Acid Rain biological assessment of wetlands. I was a founding
program (a great job by the way!), I subsequently
member of the New England Biological Assessment
worked in the
of Wetlands
toxicity testing
Working
program (unGroup
fondly know as
(NEBAWWG)
beaker boy). In
and pushed for
addition, I
wetland bio“picked bugs”
logical assessfrom the many
ment in Verfall sampling
mont. As a resites of Versult, the BASS
mont’s wadeaprogram apble streams.
plied for, and
Eventually I
received, a
specialized in
grant from
the identificaEPA to investition of the
gate the use of
aquatic forms
macroinverteof the Odonata
brates, amphiband Plecoptera.
ians, and plant
With my dicommunities to
verse experiassess the bioence in BASS, I
logical and ecowas enlisted as The photo shows me delivering the trees to the students who planted them. The pho- logical health
to was used by the Land Trust Alliance to showcase land trust connections to their
a member of
of vernal pools
communities.
the VT DEC
and northern
Ecological Workgroup on the Pine Street Barge Ca- white cedar swamps. While not directly working for
nal Superfund project. With the US Fish and Wildlife BASS, I kept my hand in the project as part of the
Agency and the Environmental Protection Agency
group overseeing the grant. Because the staff in(EPA), I established the importance of the canal and volved with the field work were temporary employadjacent wetlands as an oasis of bird habitat within ees who left before the project was completed, the
the city of Burlington. Working on this project and
completion of the final report was left to Doug Burnguiding the direction of the final remediation plan
ham of BASS and Eric Sorenson, Ecologist with the
was one of the highlights of my early career at DEC. VT Natural Heritage Program. I had the privilege of
Unfortunately, because of the bureaucratic nature of reporting the results of the project at the Wetlands
the state government (the proverbial “silos”), I endBy Alan Quackenbush
I
(Continued on page 4)
VES News - Spring 2016
Page 3
Member Profile (cont’)
I was the supervisor of the VT Wetlands Program
from 2005 until my retirement at the end of 2013.
2000 conference of the Society of Wetland Scientists Among my accomplishments was a re-write of the
in Quebec City.
Vermont wetland legislation, signed into law by
Governor Jim Douglas, and subsequent revision of
A national workgroup (Biological Assessment of
the Vermont Wetland Rules to include additional
Wetlands Working Group) was also investigating
protection for thousands of acres of wetlands. I was
methods for the biological assessment of wetlands at also proud to leave a professional team of wetland
the same time as NEBAWWG was founded. Ultiecologists in the Wetlands Program.
mately this work contributed the EPA’s national assessment of waters of the US, looking at lakes and
I have a B.S. in Psychology from the University of
ponds, wadeable
Rochester, NY; (followed
streams, estuaries, rivers
by a stint in the Peace
and wetlands. I was a
Corps in Benin) and a
member of this
M.S. in Botany from the
workgroup and contribUniversity of Vermont.
uted to the methods used
Before shifting into the
in the national assesswetlands work, I was
ment of wetlands. Mapreviously a child proteccroinvertebrates were not
tive services worker, prochosen as one of the subbation officer, and social
jects of the national asworker. I grew up as one
sessment; the focus was
of six brothers in a farm
on the plant community,
family in Canastota, NY.
soils, and water quality
My first insect collection
parameters. While superwas a 4-H project for the
visor of the wetlands proNY state fair. It was pretgram, in 2011 I led a Verty pathetic (a cardboard
mont wetland assessbox with a cellophane
ment team to assess sites
cover) and gained only a
selected in the national
white “worthy” ribbon.
study. This national asThe next year, I returned
sessment is slated to be
with a nice wooden disrepeated this year.
play case with a glass
cover, all the right pins
As an interesting side
and labels from a sciennote, the 2011 field work
tific supply company, for
for the national assessa blue ribbon. I knew
ment was just finished
more insects then than I
the Friday before TropiAlan doing wetland field work
know now!
cal Storm Irene hit the Environmental Laboratory in Waterbury. All of the
I currently live in Duxbury with my wife Audrey
field reports and botanical samples were in the lab. and our dog Sadie. I am chair of the Duxbury Land
The following week after the storm I recovered all of Trust, vice-chair of the Duxbury Planning Commisthe field report forms and botanical samples and was sion, and am the principal of AQBOGS LLC, consultable to dry them out in my barn. I salvaged all of the ing on wetlands and water quality projects.
data and the botanical samples to complete the report for the national assessment.
(Continued from page 3)
Page 4
VES News - Spring 2016
VES CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR 2016
May 14, 11 AM. Geprag’s Town Park in Hinesburg.
The park, comprised of approximately 80 acres of agricultural and open land, was bequeathed by the last survivor
of the Geprags family to the Town of Hinesburg. This
was a former collection site of John Grehan, one of the
authors of Moths and Butterflies of Vermont – A Faunal
Checklist. Geprags Park, which features woods, fields and
walking paths, is in position to be affected by the VT Gas
pipeline between Burlington and Middlebury. Species
records from a VES field trip will be a good follow-up to
Grehan’s historical surveys. Directions: Geprag’s Park is
on Shelburne Falls Road, northwest of the intersection of
Route 116 and Shelburne Falls Road. Contact: Mike Sabourin [email protected].
bers who wish to attend. Michael Sabourin will be leading a training session in Maine prior to the BioBlitz. For
more information, contact Michael at [email protected].
July 30, Middlebury. VES will promote and take part in
National Moth Week events. Details to follow.
August 6 (rain date August 13), 11 am – 2 pm. White’s
Cove Walk and Paddle, Springfield. Insect walk and
gentle paddle around the mouth of the Black River. Directions: At junction of US 5 and VT 11. Contacts: and
Kelly Stettner [email protected] and Laurie
DiCesare [email protected] (802.893.1845).
Check BlackRiverActionTeam.org for updates.
June 4, Black Fly Festival in Adamant. VES will have a
display table. If you can help, contact Michael at [email protected].
August 13, Missisquoi WMA (including lighttrapping). Meet at 3PM at southern parking lot on Tabor
Road near Steven J. Young swamp; then meet at 8 PM at
refuge visitor’s center on Tabor Road. Event will focus on
July 2, 10 a.m.: Walk around Gilbrook Reservoir,
Winooski, VT. Leisurely walk around three ponds to see moths and other insects, depending on interests. The
butterflies and dragonflies. Miles of walking trails. Direc- group will walk along the railroad passage trail adjacent
tions: From Exit 15 off I-89, take a left (toward Winooski) to Maquam Bog in the late afternoon, then set up lights at
then an immediate right onto Dion St.; second right onto the visitor’s center in the evening. For more info see
http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Missisquoi/about.html.
LaFountain St.; pass under the interstate, then left onto
Contact Deb and Warren Kiel [email protected].
Gilbrook Drive. The reservoir is at the end of the road.
Contacts: Laurie DiCesare at [email protected] (802-893-1845) and Don Miller at
September 10, Shelburne Farms Harvest Festival. VES
[email protected].
may set up a display table.
July 16 (rain date on July 17) 10- noon, Birds of Vermont
Museum, Huntington. Meet in the parking area near the
museum and we’ll venture up to the pond and beyond.
If it’s raining, call the Museum (434-2167) to see if we
have rescheduled. Directions: The museum is 8 miles
from the Richmond exit (exit 11) off I-89 in the town of
Huntington. At the stoplight in Richmond Village, turn
right (south) towards Huntington and follow the signs (5
miles). You will turn off the paved road onto Sherman
Hollow, a dirt road, just after crossing the Huntington
town line. The museum is one mile up that road and 1/2
mile past the Green Mountain Audubon Nature Center.
Contact: Birds of Vermont Museum at
http://birdsofvermont.org/ or 434-2167.
October 1, Buckner Preserve, West Haven. Details will
follow, but here’s how to get there. Directions: From
Rutland, VT, take Route 4 West. Then from Route 4
you’ll cross the state line from Vermont into New York.
From the state line, continue west on Route 4 for about
5.5 miles, crossing a set of Rail Road tracks. Turn north
(right) onto Route 9A. (Please note that the sign for Route
9A is easily missed! If you reach a traffic light, you’ve
gone too far.) Travel about 1 mile on Route 9A, and then
turn left onto Rte. 9 at the “T” intersection. Take the first
right onto Rte 10 (Doig Street). Drive a half mile, then
turn left onto the dirt road (the paved road curves right).
Cross the bridge and turn left. The Susan Bacher Trailhead is about two miles down the dirt road on the right
(past Tim’s Trail parking). Contact Laurie DiCesare NaJuly 22-24 is the Acadia BioBlitz, with this year’s focus [email protected] or Michael Sabourin mothon Lepidoptera. VES may be able to help sponsor mem- [email protected].
VES News - Spring 2016
Page 5
Field Notes
ON THE ROAD WITH
TIGER BEETLES
Wally Jenkins, Josh Lincoln and Bryan Pfeiffer had a great
day on August 10, 2015 in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom
observing and photographing tiger beetles. In one day,
they saw Cicindela punculata , C. scutellaris, C. tranquebarica
tranquebarica, C. longilabris longilabris, and C. formosa generosa. Josh commented, “Ironically enough we did not get
any C. repanda that day.”
Cicindela punctulata Photo: Josh Lincoln
Cicindela longilabris longilabris Photo: Josh Lincoln
Bottom series: Left: Cicendela
formosa, Middle: Cicindela
scuttelaris (Bryan Pfeiffer’s
photos); Right, Cicindela
tranquebarica tranquebarica
(Josh Lincoln) Also see cover
image!
Josh Lincoln and Bryan Pfeiffer praying for tiger beetles. (Prayers answered!) Photo: Wally Jenkins
Page 6
VES News-Spring 2016
ZADOCK THOMPSON COLLECTION ID BLITZ
O
n April 23, Ross Bell’s 87th birthday, members of the Vermont
Entomological Society joined forces with Laura CaicedoQuiroga and her crew at UVM for an Identification Blitz at the Zadock
Thompson Zoological Collection. Taxa tackled included some grasshoppers and their relatives, various moths and butterflies, longhorned
beetles and metallic woodboring beetles. Though our work that day
represented a drop in the bucket, we all enjoyed seeing the improvements to the collection and the large number of carabids (thanks in
large part to Ross and Joyce Bell) that are housed there. Laura demonstrated the specimen digitization process. She and her assistants and
students deserve a hearty thank you for being such great hosts and for
providing such fine refreshments. Our time there gave us an appreciation of the work that has been completed and the tasks that remain.
We're looking forward to future visits.
VES News - Spring 2016
Page 7
2015 VERMONT SURVEY FOR TICK-BORNE DISEASES
By Alan Graham
D
uring the spring and fall the Vermont Agency
of Agriculture (VAA) surveyed ticks for three
tick-borne pathogens in Vermont, Borrelia burgdorferi,
Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Babesia microti, all
carried by the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis.
Twenty towns were surveyed, representing 7 counties in Vermont. With the exception of one site in
Bennington, all sites were selected randomly from
Delorme Atlas Maps before visiting. The one site in
Bennington had been previously sampled twice before. We included this site because we wanted to see
how tick populations at the same site may vary over
time.
At each site, two or four 100 meter long transects
were surveyed for ticks. Tick flags made from 1
square meter of white flannel, were swept back and
forth, stopping every 10 meters. Ticks were placed
into vials containing 95% ethyl alcohol.
(Continued on page 9)
Page 8
VES News - Spring 2016
In the lab, ticks were identified to species and placed into Of the 659 ticks tested from transects, 55.52 percent of the
individual PCR tubes for testing. The Vermont Agency
males and 62.33 percent of female ticks tested positive for
of Agriculture laboratory in Burlington tested for Borrelia Borrelia (total of 383 ticks). Anaplasma was found in 67
ticks, and five ticks carried Babesia. A total of 57 ticks
burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Babesia
microti, using RT-PCR testing. This included a total of tested had co-infections.
708 ticks: 72 ticks collected from 2015 spring transect surCo-infections
# Ticks
Percent
veys, 589 ticks collected from 2015 fall transect surveys, 6
ticks collected from horses, 9 ticks collected from clothing
An-Ba
1
0.2%
in Colchester, and 34 ticks collected from clothes in
An-Bo
52
7.9%
Hinesburg. Ticks tested from transects equaled 659 after
Bo-Ba
3
0.5%
two ticks were lost in testing.
An-Bo-Ba
1
0.2%
659 Ticks Tested from Transects
Number
Borrelia
Percent
Anaplasma
Percent
Babesia
Percent
Males
353
196
55.52%
38
10.76%
1
0.28%
Females
300
187
62.33%
29
9.67%
4
1.33%
Nymph
5
0
0.00%
2
40.00%
0
0.00%
Larvae*
1
0
0.00%
0
0.00%
0
0.00%
*6 larvae were pooled into a single sample for testing
Density
(Ticks/square
Town
meter)*
Bennington
0.24
Brattleboro
0.015
Colchester
0.245
Essex
0.015
Fairfax
0.0025
Hartland
0.105
Hinesburg
0.025
Isle La Motte
0.015
Manchester
0.03
Montpelier
0.005
Pomfret
0.16
Reading
0.25
Rockingham
0.0225
Rupert
0.1025
Shaftsbury
0.0825
South Hero
0.135
Swanton
0.005
Waitsfield
0
Weathersfield
0.105
Williston
0.025
Wilmington
0.0025
*Data within towns can be highly variable.
VES News - Spring 2016
Number
#Ticks
Tested
216
6
98
6
1
21
10
6
9
1
32
50
9
41
66
54
2
0
21
10
1
% Borellia
49.2
55.1
33.3
100.0
81.0
4.5
100.0
77.8
Percentage
%
Anaplasma
21.0
% Babesia
1.3
14.3
11.1
59.4
68.0
77.8
61.0
46.1
56.7
50.0
18.8
57.1
60.0
9.5
11.1
26.8
13.3
Page 9
THE HABITAT STAMP OFFERS A NEW OPTION FOR
CONSERVING CRITICAL LANDS IN VERMONT
For the last few years, the Vermont legislature has allocated
general funds to support the gaps in our operating budget.
These funds provide much-needed support to ensure our
current work continues but does not provide for purchasing
ne of the many things that makes Vermont special is
our abundant wildlife and conserved open spaces. Ver- land to provide critical habitats. To help reach this goal, we
have developed the Habitat Stamp, a new way for all Vermonters treasure conservation but few appreciate the nuts
and bolts of how it’s funded. For most of a century, while the monters to contribute to habitat conservation in Vermont.
The Habitat Stamp is a voluntary donation of $10 or more
public interest in and legislative mandates for conservation
that goes towards acquiring and improving habitat on statehave grown exponentially, funding strategies for state fish
owned Wildlife Management Areas. It is available on the Verand wildlife agencies has largely remained unchanged, and
mostly rests on the contributions of hunters and anglers. Yet mont Fish & Wildlife Department website on our donations
in its nearly 150-year history, the mission of the Vermont Fish page, and is also an optional add-on while purchasing a fishing or hunting license. The stamp offers anyone who wants to
& Wildlife Department has
chip in for conservation a
expanded far beyond its origichance to help protect land
nal role of managing game
that is home to many species.
species to include the conserA single parcel can simultanevation of all species and the
ously provide deer the cover
habitats on which they dethey need to survive the winpend.
ter, a shrub for a hermit thrush
to nest in, a secluded field for a
Simply put: we’ve been tasked
turkey hunter, a roost for enwith providing an ever broaddangered Indiana bats, and a
er variety of wildlife-related
place for a birdwatcher to spot
services to all Vermonters
birds.
across the state. These responsibilities range from bringing
One of the first critical pieces
back species such as common
of land that will benefit from
loons and American marten, to
the Habitat Stamp is the Lemdiscouraging snack-seeking
on Fair WMA in central westbears in suburban back yards
ern
Vermont.
Lemon
Fare
is
an
incredibly rich habitat for
and redirecting wayward moose, to fostering a connection to
many
species,
including
green
and
great blue herons and rare
ecology and nature through education programs for both
four-toed
salamanders,
as
well
as
waterfowl
and deer, and its
children and adults.
conservation is only the beginning of the benefits the Habitat
At the heart of all our conservation efforts is the understand- Stamp will bring to Vermont’s natural world and those who
ing that wildlife and fish need good places to live, just as we enjoy it. I encourage you to make the trip to the wildlife mando, in order to survive and thrive. Yet as human development agement area nearest you (there are 80 across the state) to see
takes up more of the land in Vermont and carves driveways conservation in action.
by Louis Porter, Commissioner of the
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
O
and access roads into what remains, cherished wildlife species have a harder time finding suitable homes. Imagine if
you had to cross a 4-lane highway on foot with no crosswalks
or lights to reach the grocery store or school every day. You
can quickly appreciate what challenges wildlife and fish face.
Before we can take on the conservation challenges of the
years ahead, we clearly must tackle the need to set aside more
unbroken land for the wild Vermont we want to continue to
experience. Second, we must find a way to finance conservation that includes all of us whether we are hunters, anglers,
hikers, paddlers, birdwatchers or many others who simply
appreciate the natural world.
Page 10
We hope that Vermonters and visitors will also continue to
support the valuable work we do, through the Habitat Stamp
and other means, to keep Vermont the special place that it is.
Help us give wildlife –from bobcats and bears, to birds and
brookies – a better place to call home.
[Editor’s note: To see the original op-ed piece, visit
http://vtfishandwildlife.com/cms/One.aspx?portalId=7
3163&pageId=246549. To learn more about purchasing a
Vermont Habitat Stamp, visit the Vermont Fish and
Wildlife website at http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/.]
VES News - Spring 2016
Member News
H. PETER WIMMER
al invertebrates be listed as threatened or endangered species in the state.”
By Andi Lloyd, Vice President for Academic
Affairs & Dean of the Faculty
Ian Worley, a professor emeritus of environmental studies at
UVM, said, “The crowning achievement of Peter’s professional life was his time serving on the Endangered Species
Committee with such dedication, hard work, and passion.”
W
ith sadness, I write to report the passing of a former
faculty member, H. Peter Wimmer, who was Assistant in Instruction for the Department of Biology from 1972
until his retirement in 2000. Pete, a longtime resident of
Shoreham, died on February 18 at the age of 77.
For generations of Middlebury College students,
Pete was the primary lab
instructor in organismal
biology, genetics and
evolution, and cell biology. His colleague Vickie
Backus, Senior Associate
in Science Instruction,
said, “He took his teaching very seriously and
was always willing to go
the extra mile with his
students.”
Funeral arrangements were private; his colleagues are planning a celebratory memorial fit for an entomologist for a
time “when the weather
is fine for a picnic, and the
birds and bugs are all
abuzz.”
David Wimmer wrote
that Sunday the 22nd of
May is a promising date
for the intended memorial hike and later gathering at the Tolgyesi home
in honor and remembrance of Pete Wimmer.
The plan is to picnic on a
scenic ledge a short walk
“The biology faculty adfrom the base of the Abmired Pete’s energy,
bey Pond trail, just off Rt.
Here’s Pete with some of the iSAG committee members
knowledge, and passion
116, a few miles east of
for the natural world and life science,” said Tom Root, Pro- Middlebury. It will be a bring your own lunch/snack/
fessor of Biology. “Whether sharing tales about animals in
beverage outing, with a late morning departure time and
Lake Champlain or insisting that introductory biology stu- early afternoon return. Those unable to attend the hike pordents do quality experiments, Pete’s excitement and childtion and folks who wish to make a whole day of it, would
like curiosity were infectious and gave us a deeper underthen be welcome to meet at the Tolgyesi's home in Cornstanding of our world.”
wall, for a pot luck augmented by some of Kristi and Zsolt's
excellent cooking and additional beverages. If there's really
A natural historian and entomologist, Pete earned his Ph.D. bad weather that day everyone will be welcome to skip the
in zoology from the University of Vermont. He earned his
hike and meet at the Tolgyesi's place in the early afternoon.
bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology from Lehigh University.
If any are inclined to make a donation in remembrance of
Pete, the Platt Memorial Library in Shoreham and Native
After retirement Pete studied the distribution of aquatic in- American Education are both causes that were dear to him
sects on Vermont’s third-highest mountain, Camel’s Hump, (donations to the Native American educational charity of
and was active with the Invertebrate Scientific Advisory
your choice). Donations to other progressive conservation
Group to the Vermont Endangered Species Committee, a
organizations would also be appropriate. If you have quesdivision of the State Agency of Natural Resources. Backus
tions, you can reach David at (802) 989-0092 or
recalled, “Pete wrote the group’s position paper on the effect [email protected].
of lampricide application on the larvae of Vermont’s freshwater mussels, and was a force in recommending that severVES News - Spring 2016
Page 11
Bill Boccio
Vermont Entomological Society
c/o Luke Curtis
2177 Ripton Road
Lincoln, VT 05443
Misumena vatia , the Goldenrod Crab Spider