NEWSLETTER of the Wisconsin Entomological Society Volume 5 Number 2 _______ May, 1977 James W. Mertins, Editor EDITOR’S NOTES Only after I picked up the last NEWSLETTER from the printer did I notice that the date on the first page was wrong. It JLs 1977, is it not? Yes, by May I am ^ finally used to the concept, and the date on this issue is guaranteed correct. That's good, because I want to make this issue as perfect as possible. At the March, 1977 meeting of WES I gave notice that I would be resigning as Editor of the NEWSLETTER as of this issue. I have taken a new position in Ames, Iowa, and I feel that I cannot do this publication Justice while living outside the State of Wisconsin on which the Society's interests are focused. As of this writing, no one has stepped forward to volunteer as my replacement. I hope that someone will do so soon, as the NEWSLETTER serves an im- portant function in our organization, and although I am sure that the Publications Com- mittee will be able to put together future issues, a single responsible Editor is needed to steer a steady course. Please contact WES President William Hilsenhoff if you feel that you can serve in this capacity. I have found it most rewarding, if sometimes a frustrating experience, for the last four years. Let us pay some "dues' 1 right here on the front page to those who responded to the recent request for supplemental monetary support for WES. We now give that promised special recognition to those who have made extra contributions to the Society thus far in 1977: Patron Members- John Medler, Jim Mertins, Bill Sieker, Dave DeSwarte Sustaining Members- Gene DeFoliart, Gene Drecktrah, Les Ferge, Dick Narf, Bob Topczewski, Jim Zimmerman Thank You - to these members who have assured a treasury in the black, and a static dues structure for the near future. Thanks also to Paul Grimstad,who sent along an extra $1.00 in appreciation of all the "goodies" WES provides to his mailbox. Finally, see the article under Wisconsin Insect Notes by Carolyn Baker later in this issue. I think you will find it very interesting, and provocative. Perhaps the mem- bers would like to select an insect for WES to formally reccommend to the Legislature as a State insect. Why not send your nominations to the Secretary, Carolyn Baker, De- partment of Entomology, UW-Madison, WI 53706. She will then list them in a future is- sue and take a straw vote from the membership on which we should reccommend for official recognition. NOTICES Convolvulus survey - M. G. Maw, Research Scientist with the Canada Department of Agri- culture, is preparing a list of insects associated with the Convolulaceae (morning glories and bindweeds) in North America. John and Carolyn Baker, UW Department of Entomology, Insectarium, are particularly interested in the The NEWSLETTER of the Wisconsin Entomological Society is published two to four times yearly at irregular intervals. Please send all news, notes, contributions, and other items for the NEWSLETTER to the Editor, Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706. NOTICES (cont.) project, as many species of their favorite group, the tortoise beetles, are associated with Convolvulus . Other WES members interested in helping in the survey should contact John or Carolyn. For sale. Fine insect and spider photographs, mounted and ready to frame. Represent- atives from most of your favorite orders, all in natural settings, feeding, mating, etc. Black and white, $15.00 to $40.00. Ask about specific fam- ilies, genera, species. Charles Behnke, Rt. 2 Box 152, Dodgeville, WI 53533 Wanted. Collecting data (identification, locality, date) for specimens of sphinx moths collected in Wisconsin. Information to be used in a soon to be com- pleted publication on the"Sphingidae of Wisconsin". Send to Bill Sleker, 2633 Stevens St., Madison, WI 53705. Wanted . Collecting data and/or specimens of tortoise beetles (Chrysomelidae: Cassid- inae) , especially those taken in Wisconsin. Trading material is available. Contact John or Carolyn Baker, Ins^ctarium, Dept, of Entomology, Univ. of Wis., Madison, WI 53706. Wanted . Records for all Wisconsin Aegerildae (clear-winged moths) with information on county, host plant, etc., if possible. Will accept any specimens you don't want, ar have some lesser peach tree borers (male and female), Syn - anthedon pictipes , for trade. Clyde Gorsuch, Dept, of Entomology, Univ. of Wis., Madison, WI 53706. For sale. Very large selection of foreign exotic insects, especially butterflies, moths, and beetles. Many large showy species. Inquiries and correspondence welcome. I will also consider trades for certain species. Please contact Dan Capps, 231 Powers Ave., Madison, WI 53714 (tel. 249-7271, evenings). NEWS OF MEMBERS (Please submit items of interest about yourself or other members for this column.) Walter Scott has been accumulating information on large oak trees growing in Dane County, Wisconsin, and sent along some information with his membership renewal. An article entitled "Our oldest oaks - a living heritage" appeared last August 11 in the Madison Capitol Times , and presented information from Mr. Scott on oak trees located within 8 mile 8 of the State capitol that are at least 10 feet in circumference (at 4%' above the ground) for bur and white oaks, and 11* circumference for the red-black- pin group. Two addenda have appeared since, and data is now recorded for some 500 large old oaks. To date the largest tree reported is a red oak measured at 16' -1". Prof. John Medler sends greetings from Jakarta with his Patron Membership renewal. The Medlers are enjoying the warm-weather environment, but are so busy that they don't expect to have much time to collect insects. Prof. Medler will be responsible for dis- bursing a total of $10.5 million through two projects for MUCIA over the next five years. New WES member Dr. Stan Flashlnski is a former student of Prof. Lichtenstein at UW - Madison. Stan is now a Research Biologist for Johnson Wax in Racine. He is in- terested in insect physiology, extension work, and pest control. Another new member, Arthur Hageman, is also a biologist at Johnson Wax. He is interested in pest control, and specifically in the Culicidae. NEWS OF MEMBERS (cont.) Ted Kowalski Is a student working part-time in the Insectarium at UW - Madison. He is interested in pest control, life history, biology and behavior. Lorrie Otto appeared in a recent (February -March, 1977) issue of the National Wildlife magazine in an article about modifying state and local anti-weed ordinances to allow people to naturally landscape their properties. Alan Hart is a new member from Lincoln, Nebraska. He is a high school student who has been collecting insects for about five years. Alan is a winner of the Nebraska 4-H insect identification contest, and has won the insect display contest at the Nebras- ka State Fair two years in a row. He is primarily interested in Coleoptera with a spe- cial emphasis on scarab taxonomy. Jim Mertins has accepted an invitation to join the staff of the Department of Ento- mology at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. He began on May 1, 1977, as Assistant Professor, and is responsible for teaching courses in Biological Control of Insects, Insect Pathology, and occasional undergraduate courses in entomology, in addition to research on biological control of insect pests of corn, soybeans, and forage crops. Dr. B. Jane Harrington is another new member, and recent addition to the faculty of the UW Entomology Department. As Assistant Professor of Entomology she will be teaching taxonomy courses and directing the Insectarium. Her main interests are in collecting, taxonomy, biology, and life history of the Hemiptera-Lygaeidae, and she is willing to help members identify their Wisconsin specimens in this group. Donald Carlson sent along his membership renewal and says that he is interested in collecting, life history and biology of aquatic insects, especially Chironomidae . Mike Wagner, a student in the UW Entomology Department, recently received the 1977 Graduate Student Award of the Entomological Society of America-North Central Branch for outstanding Master of Science research. Presented at the group's annual meeting in Far- go, ND, the award winning research revealed that the feeding of the notorius defoliator of tamarack, the larch sawfly, can be interrupted by chemicals present in needles on the new shoots upon which the larvae do not feed. Control of this forest insect may be pos- sible when the identity of these chemicals is finally demonstrated. Jon Smith is a student at the UW - Madison, and is training for a career in sci- entific illustration. He is interested in aquatic insects, 4-H, and collecting and tax- onomy of Lepidoptera. Jon is willing to help members identify their Wisconsin Lepidop- tera specimens. He is also working part-time in the UW Insectarium. New Members Stan Flashinski Biology Research Center, Johnson Wax Corp., Racine, WI 53402 Arthur Hageman 3411 Ivy Lane, Racine, WI 53402 B. Jane Harrington Dept, of Entomology, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison Alan Hart 8217 S. Cherrywood Drive, Lincoln, NB 68506 Theodore Kowalski 294 Mallard Lane, Madison, WI 53704 325 S. Harmony, Janesville, WI 53545 Jon Smith HEWS OF MEMBERS (cont.) Changes of Address Mary Krause 4X66 N. 45 St., Milwaukee, WI 53216 John T. Medler MUCIA Jakarta Office, Tromolpos 3285/JKT, Jakarta, Indonesia Tea Rocheleau 1X2 Gilman House, Kronsage Hall, Univ. of Wisconsin 53706 Jones W. Mertins Dept, of Entomology, Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA 50011 HISTORY OF Wisconsin BKTOMOLOGY - XII Beside the additions to departmental staff during the 1950's, a number of other events contributed to the development of entomology at the University in Madison. Among these were changes made by the University in the curriculum listings of ent- omology courses. Prior to 1950 such courses were offered in two separate schools; the Department of Zoology taught courses relating to the requirements of the College of Letters and Science labelled as "entomology courses"; the Department of Economic Ento- mology in the College of Agriculture offered courses listed as "economic entomology 10 which were generally considered more applied or practical in content. A student major in entomology therefore had to take prerequisite courses and fulfill requirements in the two respective schools. Dr. Allen was instrumental in getting approval to change the name of the Department of ^Economic Entomology" to "Entomology" ; and then in gaining approval by representatives of both Colleges to list all entomology courses in the Entomology Department, College of Agriculture, with some courses listed jointly. A number of other events exerted a positive inf luence during this period. A full- time civil service employee was hired for the first time as a departmental handyman, and was housed in an old USDA vegetable structure. Close cooperation was maintained with the new WARF pesticide testing laboratory. A North Central States Regional project on soil residues of insecticides provided funds for the appointment on staff of Professor Lichtenstein. The fruit crops field lab at Sturgeon Bay was improved, and a new vege- table crops lab was planned and constructed at Kenosha in cooperation with the Depart- ment of Plant Pathology. A cacao insects research project in Central America provided cm opportunity for entomology graduate students to expand their interests, and for the department to venture into a Latin American student exchange program. Other cooperative relationships with the State Forestry Department and the Wisconsin timber industry in connection with joint efforts by other College of Agriculture departments led to the allocation of a substantial budget which added four full-time faculty members special- ising in forest insect survey and taxonomy, silviculture, biological and chemical pest suppression, and forest insect-disease transmission studies. By I960, King Hall had been entirely remodded and fully occupied by the rapidly growing staff and student enrolment, including space previously devoted to an elevator shaft and even the sub-basement. Apiculture expanded into metal buildings on campus, close-proximity farms, and finally a new USDA bee culture lab was constructed. The old Poultry Building on University Avenue housed certain forest Insect research. An old WAUF building was used for pesticide-soil research and storage facilities were at the Arlington experimental farm. This dispersion of entomology facilities actually boded well for the department because it meant, first, that the sundry available vacant spaces had arisen through the provision of new facilities for their former occupants who had higher priority in the building program; secondly, the objectionable isolation and frag- mentation of departmental activities were made more recognizable for the University planning committee. HISTORY OF WISCONSIN ENTOMOLOGY - XI (cont.) In 1952, the comnittee had initially listed entomology as a department in need of new building space, and requested submission of a tentative structural plan. This was prepared by Prof. Shenefelt, Chairman of the departmental Building Committee. In 1953, entomology came up third on the list for urgently needed building space, and the Uni- versity committee reccommended to the State legislature an expenditure of $1.5 million for a new 65,000 sq. ft. structure. In 1954, upon the death of Dean H. L. Russell, who had created the Departments of Economic Entomology and Plant Pathology in 1909, the College of Agriculture wished to establish a permanent campus memorial to his distin- guished contributions to the University. Terefore, it was logical to dedicate the building to his name. Construction of Russell Laboratories was begun in November, 1962, and was completed in 1964 on the site formerly occupied by the old dairy building. Entomology was assigned to 26,000 sq. ft. of the new structure. Though Prof. Shenefelt worked on the early building plans with Dr. Allen, they were later completed and ex- panded in great detail under the direction of department Chairman Robert Dicke. WISCONSIN INSECT NOTES London, England (March, 1977). Rare and exotic foreign beauties were the downfall of bank clerk, John Proctor. He stole them. Proctor was convicted in magistrate's court of removing 182 rare butterflies worth $51,000 from London's Natural History Museum. The prosecution said Proctor, 36, sneaked the butterflies out of their cases while pretending to study them. Big Flutter, Little Issue: State Insects by Carolyn Baker Congratulations! Now you've done it — A state election, and you've won it. Mosquitoes, beetles, moths and flies, All insects of the world, arise! Assert with pride and equanimity That you're all through with anonymity. Continue swarm- ins, send out flyers -- Proclaim your needs and your desires . Demand your rights, your just deserts; Be sure you get 'em where it hurts. With able leaders, it is rational -- Your next achievement may be national. Rosemarie Williamson in Jan. /Feb. 1976 Insect World Digest Twelve states have officially designated state insects, and a few legislators and citizens think it is about time Wisconsin emerged from its cocoon and did likewise. It is a curious fact that out of the thousands of interesting species of U.S. in- sects to choose from, five states (Arkansas, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Utah) have selected the honey bee. Apis mellifera , which is not even a native of this country. Massachusetts, Ohio, and (in March, 1977) New Hampshire, have chosen species of ladybug. Pennsylvania has selected the romantic firefly, and California, Maryland, and Illinois have selected various Lepidoptera: the California dogface butterfly, the Baltimore checkerspot, and the monarch, respectively. Rhode Island is considering the preying mantis. WISCONSIN INSECT MOTES (cont.) As one might ©xpecfc with such a variety from which to choose, and so much insect folklore, there ha© been a lot of busz and flutter involved in making the selections. It seems as if the opinions of professional entomologists don]t count for much. As in many other political issues, money talks. The entomologists from the University of Nebraska, Department of Entomology unanimously recommended the migratory grasshopper, Malanoplus sanguinipes, because early Nebraska settlers had been beset by it en masse. Many of the weak-hearted people left the State, but the hardy stock remained, overcame adversity, and adopted a government with a constitution known as "the Grasshopper Con- stitution." The insect can still be found throughout the State, but Nebraskans now are able to control it when its numbers become too great. In spite of all this, Ne- braska State Legislators selected the honey bee because of the million dollar honey industry in the State. In 1975, and for the first few months of 1976, the Wisconsin legislature attempted to select an official state insect to add to the official roll of Wisconsin symbols tcludes: the dairy cow, the badger, the white-tailed deer, the robin, the wood the mineral galena, the rock red granite, the morning dove, sugar maple, mus- , a state flag, motto, seal, license plate legend, and song. At the suggestion of .a Beloit sixth grader, Wisconsin Assemblyman Delmar DeLong (R-CUnton) introduced Bill A-813 to designate the monarch butterfly as the state in- sect, because "the monarch is beautiful, commonly seen in Wisconsin, and doesn t dam- age crops." Representative Harvey Dueholm $)-Luck) disagreed, "I've got nothing against the monarch butterfly, but I know a lot of women who have gardens that are." Dueholm claimed that the larvae chew up tomato and cabbage plants, and generally are a nuisance to gardeners. Representative Gervase Hephner (D-Chilton) offered an amendment favoring the honey bee, because it adds millions of dollars to Wisconsin agriculture in terms of honey production and pollination of crops. - "But the honey bee is foreign to this country," said Representative Cloyd Porter. Un-American! Un-Wisconsin! The honey bee fell, 57-36. Representative Lewis Mittness (D° Janesville) offered an amendment to the monarch proposal, suggesting that the mosquito be given the title of official state insect. Mittness was supported in this by the Capitol Times newspaper, which stated in an ed- itorial on July 23, 1975, that, we can't possibly consider another state insect than tho eosquito because "we'll get eaten alive if we slight it...." The mosquito amendment didn't even get off the ground, and an amendment offered by Representative Midge Miller (D -Mad is on) introducing the ladybug was quickly swatted down by an 86-7 vote. Miller said the ladybug shares the attributes of cleanliness, oa^oty, bGauty, ecological practices, and cardinal red color .with the State. Others objected because "the ladybug' s bite is painful and causes swelling", and because the noae implies some kind of chauvinism. "Personbug" would have to be its designation under State laws which require elimination of any nouns showing sexual distinction. Failing to revive his honey bee, Representative Hephner suggested that his fellow legislators let school children decide. That amendment went the way of the honey bee, 65 —28 Representative Lloyd Kincaid (R-Crandon) quickly brought the debate to a close by QQtimating that it cost the State $1000 to debate the bill for an hour. The monarch Bill A-813 was then passed by the State Assembly as introduced, and fluttered on to . the Senate on February 18, 1976. (to March 31, 1976, the State Legislature adjourned for six weeks without being able to work the monarch bill into the Senate schedule for a vote. In February, 1977, Eepreoentot ive DeLong stated that the bill was being rewritten and that there were piano to resubmit it. Wisconsin still has no official state insect. PUBLICATIONS OF INTEREST This time we'll start out with several new children's books worthy of consider- ation for the younger entomologist; then some for the rest of us too. Hoberman, Mary Ann. 1976. Bugs. Viking Press. $5.95. A delightful little book of poetry for children (and maybe adults too) - all about insects and such. Daly, Kathleen N. 1977. A child's book of insects. Doubleday. $4.95. Petle, Haris. 1977. A big book of bugs. Prentice-Hall. $6.95. Taylor, Ronald, and Barbara Carter. 1977. Entertaining with insects: the original guide to insect cookery. Woodbridge Press. $3.95 (paper). I should think the title is self-explanatory. Griffen, Elizabeth, and Peter Parnall. 1967. A dog's book of bugs. Atheneum. $1.25 (paper). Gojmerac, Walter L. 1977. All about bees, beekeeping and honey. Drake Publish- ers Inc. $4.95 (paper). Written by a most knowledgeable WES member, this book is ’’de- signed to enlighten anyone who is interested in nature's most useful and misunderstood creature, the indispensable honeybee.” Though not meant to answer every question about bees, the book does summarize much of the latest scientific information and technical principles of beekeeping for the apiarist, and will serve to introduce a fascinating subject to non-beekeepers. 136 pp. Sandved, Kjell B., and Michael G. Emsley. 1976. Butterfly magic. Penguin Books. $4.95 (paper). 128 pp. A worldwide selection of species pictured in natural settings. A special feature is the macroscopic photography of the wings and scales of Lepidoptera. The accompanying text covers many facets of the development and behavior of butterflies. Gosling, D.C.L. , and N. M. Gosling. 1977. An annotated list of the Cerambycidae of Michigan (Coleoptera) .Part II, the subfamilies Lepturinae and Lamlinae. Great Lakes Entomol. 10(1): 1-37, Southwood, T.R.E. 1977. Entomology and mankind. Amer. Scientist 65:30-39. A thoroughly enjoyable and Informative article reviewing the sundry ways in which insects interact with human culture, welfare, and biology. Uvarov, Boris. 1977. Grasshoppers and locusts. Vol. 2. Centre for Overseas Pest Research. $40.00. This second and final volume completes the set, the first vol- ume of which was published in 1966, and covered structure, physiology, and provided an introduction to classification. This volume deals with behavior and ecology, and has major sections on migration and population dynamics of the main locust species, with over 1700 references. Question: What do you find at the foot of a mesquite tree? Answer: Mesquit - toes. Question: What do you get when you cross a praying mantis with a giant termite? Answer: An insect that says grace before it eats your house. ' 7 t p. »i A CD (D r» o *1 a o rt H* o 3 ft> C fD CD ft A Q* Wisconsin Entomological Society Department of Entomology University of Wisconsin Madison, WI 53706 WISCONSIN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Please print: Last Name Address: Street First Name City State Zip Organization represented (if any) Title or Occupation Phone: (include area code) Individual membership ($2.00 per year) Organization membership ($10.00 per year) Sustaining membership ($5.00 per year) Patron membership ($25.00 or more per year) General Interest Area Aquatic Insects 4-H or Scout Member _____ Extension Worker Life History, Biology, & Behavior Other Specify Specific Interests (Order, Family, Genus)_ Collecting and/or Taxonomy Insect Photography Physiology Apiculture Pest Control If you are an authority for certain insect taxa, would you be willing to identify Wisconsin specimens for members? Yes No *************** Make checks payable to Wisconsin Entomological Society and mail to the Treasurer, Vis. Entomol. Soc., Dept, of Entomology, 237 Russell Labs., U. Wise. Madison, Wise. 53706 .