NEWSLETTER of the Wisconsin Entomological Society Volume 16, Number 1 Les Ferge, Editor March 1989 NEXT MEETING IN MILWAUKEE ON APRIL 1. The next meeting of the Wisconsin Entomological Society is scheduled for 1:30 PM on Saturday, April 1 at the Milwaukee Public Museum, 800 W. Wells St. The Museum is easily reached via 1-94 from Madison. Take the 7th St. -Civic Center exit and follow 7th St. north for three blocks to Wells St. and the Museum. Parking is available at several nearby facilities. For those coming to Milwaukee from the north, the Museum is easily reached via 1-43 and the Wells St. exit. Please check in with the Security staff in the main lobby to be admitted. PRESIDENT'S NOTES Phil Pellitteri The program for the upcoming meeting promises to be another good one. Included will be two speakers from the University of Wisconsin Entomology Dept. "Swallowtails and Foodplants" will be presented by Rick Lindroth, and Greg Henderson will speak on "Prairie Ants." A slide presentation on butterfly gardening will also be shown. We will try to allow ample time to visit the Museum insect collection. An informal dinner at a nearby restaurant is also planned for after the meeting. If you have something that you would like to include on the program, contact me at the Dept, of Entomology, University of Wisconsin, Madison WI 53706 or phone (608) 262-6510. The November meeting was a real barn-burner! The Annual Photo Salon had a good number of entries, and the ultimate winning slide was submitted by a new member, Bruce Edinger. The winner was a shot of both immature and adult Burying Beetles tending a "mouse ball." There were 25 slides submitted in all, and I think this was the best collection yet. In addition to the scheduled talks on cranberry insects by Rose Kachadorian and my review of 1988 insect happenings, Greg Lintereur gave us an update on the Wisconsin forest insect situation, and Bill Smith of the DNR's Bureau of . Endangered Resources gave us an update of work on the Natural Heritage Inventory. The election of officers for 1989 was also on the agenda. The slate of candidates included myself for President, Wally Kmentt for Vice-President, Carol Ferge for Secretary and Bob Borth for Treasurer. Since no further nominations were received, the candidates were elected by a voice vote. The Newsletter of the Wisconsin Entomological Society is published three times a year, at irregular intervals. It is provided to encourage and facilitate the exchange of information by the membership, and to keep the members informed of the activities of the organization. Members are strongly encouraged to contribute items for inclusion in the Newsletter. Please send all news items, notes, new or interesting insect records, season summaries, research requests etc. to the editor: Les Ferge, 7119 Hubbard Avenue, Middleton, WI 53562. - 2 - The warm January was a fitting end to the crazy season of 1988. Any '* comments about box elder bugs have, become forbidden words in my home. During the last warm spell, my office phone was as busy as it gets in July; I am amazed by the new behaviors I have heard about from these little devils. One person reported that an adult spent about 15 minutes feeding on a cooked green pea (a new host record?), while a certain 18 month old child has become fond of eating them (the bugs, not the peas), much to the dismay of his parents. The recent interest in butterfly gardening has generated an informal meeting of people from around the state having an interest in Lepidoptera. A slide set is being developed to introduce the subject. It is exciting because it exposes a whole new group of people to the concepts of butterfly habitat needs, butterfly conservation, and it offers an opportunity to introduce people to the work of the Wisconsin Entomological Society, the Xerces Society and the Lepidopterists’ Society. INVERTEBRATE CONSERVATION ISSUES EXPLORED Ann Swengel Issues in invertebrate conservation were included in the Fifth World Conference on Breeding Endangered Species in Captivity, which met in Cincinnati 9-12 October 1988. Zoo directors and employees, private breeders, conservation- ists and field researchers from around the world attended this conference. Michael Robinson presented a paper addressing the concerns of invertebrate conservation as a whole. He is director of the National Zoological Park in Washington, D. C. and former deputy director of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama. He emphasized the enormity of the situation: Invertebrates overwhelmingly dominate biodiversity and biomass on earth. He also pointed out that there are far too many invertebrates to conserve them individually , species by species. He strongly advocated efforts to preserve habitat. Robert M. Pyle presented an evening slide program on butterfly conservation. He is the author of several books on butterflies, and is a founder of the Xerces Society, an organization devoted to the conservation of invertebrates. He highlighted efforts to re-establish extirpated butterflies in Great Britain, and explained butterfly farming in southeast Asia — native farmers rearing butterflies in a regulated manner for the international specimen trade. An informal workshop convened after Pyle’s inspiring talk to discuss specific methods for tackling the formidable problems of invertebrate conservation. The role of zoos in educating the public through butterfly houses, gardens and invertebrate displays was discussed. The consensus of the group was that, although zoos should consider developing or cooperating with a program to breed an endangered invertebrate in captivity, this cannot be the main approach to invertebrate conservation. Rather, such a breeding program should be applied only to ’’flagship species, ’’ and the major efforts of invertebrate conservation should concentrate on habitat preservation and public education. I attended this conference with my husband, Scott Swengel. He works at the International Crane Foundation, which breeds endangered cranes in captivity. We are heartened to find invertebrate conservation receiving attention outside the small circle of amateurs and scientists devoted to invertebrate study and preservation. We are pleased that people normally restricting their thinking and concern to vertebrates are now awakening to the plight and importance of invertebrate conservation. -3- DUES REMINDER A considerable number of members have not yet paid their dues for 1989. Another dues envelope is being included in this Newsletter for the convenience of those listed as not paid as of 8 January. Your prompt attention to this will be most appreciated, and will assure that you will continue to receive Society publications. Send dues to the Treasurer: Bob Borth, 6926 N. Belmont La., Fox Point, WI 53217. FIELD TRIP PLANNED FOR NORTHWESTERN WISCONSIN A spring field trip is tentatively scheduled for 26-28 May (Memorial Day weekend) near Gordon in Douglas County. Jim Knudson, a W. E. S. member now living in Duluth, has' a cabin on Whitefish Lake and has offered to host the field trip. Beside the opportunities for collecting and observation around Jim’s cabin, there are extensive areas of bog and barrens habitat within a few miles that should have a very good diversity of northern Lepidoptera on the wing at that time. Whitefish Lake and the nearby St. Croix River offer good opportunities for aquatic insects. Further details and directions will appear in the next Newsletter. 1988 WISCONSIN LEPIDOPTERA SEASON SUMMARY Les Ferge Contributors : George Balogh (GB) , Cathy Bleser (CB), Su Borkin (SB), Robert Borth (RB), Carol Ferge (CF), Les Ferge (LF), Hugo Kons Jr. (HK) , Karl Legler (KL), Jim Parkinson (JP), Clark Schultz (CS), Ann Swengel (AS), Raymond Sullivan (RS), Jim Wiker ( JW) . . The appearance of spring-emerging butterfly species was a bit advanced from "normal” but not as early as last year. Drought conditions and record- breaking heat were the rule for much of the season, with relief coming in late August and September. In general, numbers of butterflies and moths were down considerably, yet many noteworthy species were reported. It appeared that the effects of the drought were less severe in parts of northern Wisconsin. In particular, the Bayfield Penninsula seemed little effected, with good numbers of Lepidoptera noted. The season ended early and rather abruptly, with little activity noted after early October. The most unusual event of the season was the extensive outbreak of Pontia protodice (pictured). The females are much more boldly patterned than the males. Rare and sporadic in Wisconsin for many years, it was first noted near Muscoda in Grant County on 22 May, and appeared in substant- ial numbers in 17 counties in the southern half of the state by late August and September. Known protodice sites should be checked this coming spring, to document if the species is capable of surviving the winter here. Dry, disturbed habitats such as weedy waste places, roadsides and edges of gravel pits supported good populations of protodice . Pholisora catullus , another weedy species, was also found in above-average numbers. -4- In the north, the Nymphalid populations appear to be on the increase. In particular, Nymphalis vau-album was reported in numbers, especially in the northeastern counties. This species appears to go through long-term cycles of scarcity and abundance, and has rarely been seen since its last population peak in 1980. Nymphalis milberti also seems to be increasing. Nearly as many species of migrant butterflies as last year were reported, most late in the season, unlike the very early appearance of some of these species noted last year. Species found widespread or in large numbers last year but rare to absent this year include Eurema lisa , Nathalis iole , Zerene cesonia and Junonia coenia . Phoebis sennae was not seen at any of the sites it was found in last year. New county records are indicated by the county name in CAPITAL letters, and new state records by the STATE notation. BUTTERFLIES : Erynnis horatius , 20 Aug, WAUKESHA Co, STATE (RS), 19 Sept 1987 , JEFFERSON Co (LF). Erynnis persius , 14-27 May, Adams Co (JP), Burnett Co (CF, LF, AS), Jackson Co (AS), Juneau Co (AS, LF). Pyrgus communis , 5 Aug- 9 Oct, Crawford Co (JP, LF) , Dane Co (KL) , Grant Co ( JP) , Sauk Co (JP, AS), Winnebago Co (CS). Hylephila phyleus , 11-24 Sept, Crawford Co (LF, JP) . Hesperia ottoe , 25 June-19 July, Grant Co (JP, AS), Green, Sauk Cos (AS). Hesperia leonardus , 21 Aug-3 Oct, Green Co (JP), Juneau Co, on Joe-Pye Weed flowers (LF), Sauk Co (AS). Hesperia metea , 4-23 May, Marinette Co (JP), Sauk Co (AS). Pompeius verna , 12 July, Waukesha Co (RS). Atalopedes campestris , 7-28 Aug, Milwaukee Co (SB), WAUKESHA Co (RS) . Poanes massasoit , 30 June- 6 July, Jackson Co (sight), SAUK Co (AS). Euphyes conspicua , 3-16 July, JEFFERSON Co (CB), SAUK Co (AS). Atrytonopsis hianna , 22-27 May, Eau Claire Co (JP), Burnett Co (CF, LF), Grant Co (RB, LF) . Amblyscirtes hegon , 17 May- 10 June, Langlade, Marathon, VILAS Cos (RB) , Forest, JACKSON Cos (AS). Papilio cresphontes , 22 May-2 Oct (late), Dane Co (KL), Grant Co (KL, JP) , Jefferson Co (LF), Sauk Co (AS), Walworth Co (SB). Pontia protodice , 22 May-9 Oct, COLUMBIA, GREEN Cos (AS), CRAWFORD, RICHLAND Cos (CF, LF, JP), Dane Co (CB, CF) , GRANT Co (RB, LF, JP) , IOWA, JACKSON, Marathon, Monroe, VERNON, WOOD Cos ( JP) , Jefferson, WALWORTH Cos (RB, LF), Sauk Co (CF, LF, JP, AS), Waukesha Co (LF), Winnebago Co (CS). Pieris virginiensis , 31 May-10 June, Forest Co (AS), Langlade Co (RB). Eurema lisa , 11 Sept, Crawford Co (JP), LaCrosse Co (HK). Nathalis iole , 11 Sept, Crawford Co (JP). Gaeides xanthoides dione , 29 June- 7 July, Grant, SAUK Cos (AS). Epidemia epixanthe , 29 June, OCONTO Co (CB). Epidemia dorcas , 24 June, ASHLAND Co (AS), MARINETTE Co (JW). Epidemia helloides , 26 May-21 Aug, ADAMS Co (LF), Burnett, ROCK Cos (AS), Marinette Co (JW). Satyrium acadica , 26 June-3 July, SAUK Co (AS), Winnebago Co (CS). - 5 - . y,,n May. 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Effis* ■>»«' „.«■ 17 *’• 22 S.tt. — 1‘ ->« 17 ' • OSS^ S^ssa"" Co (»s). 58^ S 7 T^U8S!£»’ 'riST®®* 2 TSTb“ 1m „ ,coccn- coiasca-^. 4 lone, * , B “» ett ’ Jjustssia Marathon Co ( „ p ar£ax anror,. , Gran (jp) . 3 vers ^f^Mocis t^’ 25 June, Grant Co zz iSaa^Lc.co- Jft «. “ iw tt » ^ 2 In ^ sB£e ^’c° <“• JP1 - cSf^o«- s, *, C \o s. P c. ®“® “n -j-^, wm** w ^ g»u- Srt ^.ejsssa- 1 ister £10 .... cco S£00^S«E8aa' W0S CO BB- Co , „ - ^2^10, 27 «' ■ . u July* , o 29 Sep^» — n -7 May* 13 w Qomnrapha X0V^^ Co ' Burnett - 6 - Green Co (LF), Sauk Co (CF, LF, JP, AS). Lemmeria digitalis , 30 Sept, MARATHON Co (JP). Spartiniphaga panatela , 19 June, BAYFIELD Co (LF). Macronoctua onusta , 3 Sept, MARATHON Co, in bog (JP). Papaipema cerina , 20 Aug-17 Sept, Grant, Richland, TREMPEALEAU Cos (JP). Papaipema circumlucens , 1 Aug 1987 , TREMPEALEAU Co (LF). Papaipema lysimachiae , 10 Sept, WALWORTH Co (LF). Papaipema baptisiae , 17 Sept, Iowa Co (LF). Papaipema appassionata , 9 Sept, OZAUKEE Co (LF). Papaipema eupatorii , 1 Oct, DANE Co (LF). Properigea costa , 3 Aug, SAUK Co (LF). Magusa orbifera , 10-25 Sept, MARATHON Co ( JP) , Ozaukee Co (LF). Stiriodes obtusa , 6 July, DANE Co (LF). Hillia irus , 3-29 Sept, in Tamarack bogs, DANE Co (LF), MARATHON Co (JP), OZAUKEE Co (GB, LF). Anarta cordigera , 17-21 May, Langlade Co (JP), Oneida Co (GB, JP). Faronta rubripennis , 20 Aug, Trempealeau Co (JP). Euxoa quebecensis , 19 June, BAYFIELD Co (LF). Anomogyna dilucida , Eugraphe subrosea , 10 Sept, OZAUKEE Co, in bog (LF) . Schinia septentrionalis , 10 Sept, Green Co (JP). Schinia lucens , 25 June, Grant Co (LF, JP). TWO NEW STATE RECORD BUTTERFLIES VERIFIED Les Ferge The Western White, Pontia occidentalis (Reakirt), a species more at home in the mountainous west, is included in Wisconsin’s fauna on the basis of a single stray caught in Minocqua Twp., Oneida County on 19 September 1981. The identity of the specimen was verified by Art Shapiro (a leading Pierid expert) and Paul Opler. This species is very similar to .P. protodice , and may be distinguished by the more greenish veining pattern on the underside of the hind- wing. The upper surface markings are black, unlike the brown seen in typical protodice females. The specimen is pictured below, and is significantly larger than any of the protodice seen from Wisconsin. The first report of Horace’s Dusky Wing, Erynnis horatius (Scudder & Burgess) in Wisconsin was received from Su Borkin of the Milwaukee Public Museum. A male specimen was captured by her father, Raymond Sullivan, on 20 August 1988 near his home in Waukesha County. This report prompted me to look at an "odd" and somewhat battered Erynnis I collected in Jefferson County near Palmyra on 19 September 1987, which also turned out to be horatius . This species is very -7- similar to the common EL juvenalis , and is most easily distinguished by the absence of the two subapical spots found on the underside of the hindwing in juvenalis . Unlike juvenalis , which has a single brood in May , horatius has at least two broods northward, in May and July-August. The larval host plants are species of oak, with species in the red oak group favored, and the adults are associated with open woods and forest edges, possibly favoring hilltop sites (Opler & Krizek, Butterflies E. of the Great Plains). In Wisconsin, horatius would best be searched for in the southernmost counties. More data is needed to determine if breeding populations occur in the state, or if the above records represent only casual strays. With these additions, Wisconsin’s butterfly list now stands at 149 species. It was also noticed that Erynnis brizo (Boisduval & LeConte) , the Sleepy Dusky Wing, was inadvertantly omitted from the butterfly checklist appearing in the May 1988 W. E. S. Newsletter. This species is found statewide in open oak woods and has a single brood in May. NEWS AND NOTES Dan Capps wrote a while back, and is more involved with insects than ever before. He continues to do presentations and exhibits in schools, and finds them very rewarding. The enthusiasm and excitement of the children as they see the exhibit is contagious and uplifting. Shopping mall exhibits took him as far away as Cincinnati, Ohio last year. Judging from the response of the general public, it seems that people are really increasing their awareness of conservation and environmental concerns. It is fun to share a seldom-seen glimpse of our world with people, and he often finds many new friends this way. He has also created a new mail order business offering tropical insects for sale, mainly Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and Orthoptera, and offers a free price list to anyone requesting it. He also enjoys sharing his stunning collection, and encourages anyone interested in seeing the largest and most beautiful insects to contact him. Contact Dan Capps, 702 Whitehall Drive, Madison, WI 53714. FOR SALE: Redwood Insect Boxes, standard 9 x 13 x 2j fl size. $6.00 each. Jim Parkinson, 1951 James St., Mosinee, WI 54455. Arrangements can be made to have these available at the Milwaukee meeting on April 1, to save shipping costs. Wisconsin Entomological Soc. Les Ferge, Editor 7119 Hubbard Avenue Middleton, WI 53562