Newsletter \'ft * ; fj»j' Si March 2004 O n a warm July day a man Is out for a walk in the woods. As he is walking, someone grabs him from behind and stabs him in the back four times. He is left for dead. This is just one scenario where forensic ento- mologists are called in to help with an investigation. By using ento- mological clues, crimes like this and others can be solved. Aside from being decom- posers, insects found at crime scenes (especially violent ones) can give us clues to when, where, and how a person died. Insects are attracted to odors released by a decaying corpse. Carrion beetles visit corpses late in the decomposition process, while flies are the first responders. Flies want to lay their eggs in moist areas like in the If Flies Could Talk by Megan Hyslop bodies’ natural openings (the nose, mouth, and ears). If someone has died in a violent manner, and the cause of death is not as obvious because of advanced decomposition, larval masses concentrated in specific areas, like the back, show the victim died a violent and non- accidental death. The life cycle of flies takes a specific amount of time to occur. Knowing this, it is possible to determine an accurate time of death. Not long ago, formal studies began about human decomposition. Dr. Bill Bass of the University of Tennessee’s Anthropology Depart- ment, was the founder of “The Body Farm." This campus facility studies various ways that bodies decompose to further the knowledge of forensic science. Many of his students pioneered the information used by investigators, like insects and their relationships with cadavers. Though forensic entomology is exact enough to warrant a con- viction, there are many variables that can change important dates. The entomologist must look back in time at weather conditions during the moments the body was exposed to the elements. Hot and cold temperatures and rain are all things that can change the duration of an insect’s life cycle. This may seem like a macabre subject but if you look past In Udts issue... If Flies Could Talk Page 1 Message from our President Membership Renewal Mystery Insect Answer Page 2 2003 Photo Salon Winners Page 3 Preserving the Endangered Hlne’s Emerald Dragonfly The Migration of the Ducktail Moth Page 4 Lady Bug! Lady Bug! Page 5 Day-Flying Moths Page 6 2003 Lepidoptera Summary Pages 7, 8, 9 2003 NABA Butterfly Count Page 9 German Yellowjackets Page 10 the disturbing aspects, it’s easy to see why this is so Important. Cases have convicted and freed criminals with help from entomological evidence. Victim’s families have been given closure because of the Body Farm’s perseverance. Giving insects the opportunity to tell their stories of what unfolded after a crime gives a voice to the dead who never got a chance to speak. ^ For more information about the body farm visit: http://web.utk.edu/~anthrop/index.htm Or read Death's Acre, by: Dr. Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson For more information on forensic entomology visit: http://www.forensicentomology.com/index.html http ://www.missouri.edu/~agwww/entomology/ The Wisconsin Entomological Society Newsletter 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, and research requests to the editor: Janice Stiefel, 2125 Grove Road, Bailey’s Harbor, WI 54202, (920) 839-9796, e-mail: Jstiefel@itol.com NOTE: Please report any address changes to Les Ferge, 7119 Hubbard Ave., Middleton, WI 53562. e-mail: ferge@chorus.net Wisconsin Entomological Societu Newsletter — March 2004 A Message From O m* President... I’m so happy to be the new president of the Wisconsin Entomological Society. Since many of you don’t know me, I will take this opportunity to introduce myself. I am a third year undergraduate majoring in Entomology. The professors I've had have been excellent; all willing to go the extra mile for their students. My interests in entomology span across the board. I was first introduced by way of butterflies, which will always be my first love. After taking several courses though, I developed other interests, as well. Right now I find agriculture very stimulating, especially in a biological control sense. 1 am also intrigued by forensics and have developed an interest in going into forensic science with an emphasis in entomology. Aside from insects, I am also a very active gardener, planting mostly Wisconsin natives. I am especially fond of prairie plants because they are the best at attracting droves of insects. On campus I am the co- president of the Undergraduate Entomology Club and a member of Insect Ambassadors. During the summer I help teach a summer school class about insects and plants and volunteer at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison. I was Just granted control of the WES website so it should be under construction shortly. Rather than updating it, I am going to start from scratch. Please e-mail me if there is anything you would like to contribute. The database of insect photos and information has been put on hold. If there is anything you think would be great to have on the site, please let me know! In past summers some of you have organized field trips. This has been difficult because the weather is quite volatile here. If you plan on going on a collecting, baiting, photographing, or anything else trip and you wouldn’t mind people tagging along, please e-mail me. I will compile a list of people willing to go on impromptu field trips and post it on our website. As always, I encourage you to submit articles (or anything related to Insects) to the newsletter editor. Its circulation is only possible with your help. Please, don’t be shy! Once again, I am very excited to be WES president. I hope to see many of you at our next meeting. “Reintroducing natural landscape elements Into urban and suburban neighborhoods may be one of the greatest contributions to ecosystem conservation that we can make. Butterflies and native plant species depend on one another to survive. While butterflies pollinate the flowers, the plants provide butterflies with food, housing, and sometimes chemical protection. Eggs are laid on specific host plants, whose leaves provide ample food for the larvae. Judiciously selected nectar plants provide fuel for adults in their quest to find mates and reproduce.” — Newsletter of the National Wildflower Research Center (1992) MYSTERY INSECT from November 2003 Newsletter ANSWER: Clematis Clearwing Moth ( Alcathoe caudata ) Family: Sesiidae Clear-Winged Moths There were no correct answers, but the following four people identified to the Sesiidae Family. Ron Huber, Bloomington, MN Kathryn Kirk, Madison, WI Jim Mason, North Wichita, KS Carroll Rudy, Chilton, WI Page 2 Wisconsin Entomologies! Society Dues for 2004 (Due on Jan 1, 2004) Individual Membership $5.00 per year Family Membership $10.00 per year Sustaining Membership $15.00 per year Patron Membership $25.00 per year Please make checks payable to: Wisconsin Entomological Society Send to: Les Ferge 7119 Hubbard Ave. Middleton, WI 53562-3231 Wisconsin Entomological Society Officers President: Megan Hvslop 1635 Haas St. Madison, WI 53704 608-244-2570 or 608-264-1021 mjhyslop@wisc.edu Vice President: Phil Pellitteri Dept, of Entomology 1630 Linden Dr. Madison, WI 53706 pellitte@entomology.wisc.edu Secretary-Treasurer: Les Ferge 7119 Hubbard Ave. Middleton, WI 53562-3231 fer ge@ chorus . n et Newsletter Editor: Janice Stiefel 2125 Grove Rd. Bailey’s Harbor, WI 54202 920-839-9796 Wisconsin Entomological Societu Newsletter — March 2004 Page 3 2003 PHOTO SILOS VOTERS Peck’s Skippers ( Polttes peckius) — mating FIRST PLACE Photo by Janice Stiefel, Bailey’s Harbor, WI Taken during the 2003 Door County WES Field Trip Deer Fly Eye ( Chrysops pikei)— magnified SECOND PLACE Photo by Roy Lukes, Egg Harbor, WI Mottled Darner (Aeshna clepsydra) THIRD PLACE Photo by Karl Legler, Sauk City, WI RARE SPECIAL CONCERN Banded Arglope Spider [Arglope trifasciata) FOURTH PLACE Photo by Roy Lukes, Egg Harbor, WI Phantom Craneflles — mating (Bittacomorpha clavtpes ) FIFTH PLACE Photo by Dorothy Legler, Sauk City, WI T he Wisconsin Entomological Society’s Annual Meeting and Photo Salon was held on Nov. 8, 2003 In Madison at Russell Labs on the UW-Madison campus. It was attended by about 24 people. A brief business meeting was called to order by Vice-President, Phil Pellitteri. Election of officers was held, with the slate of candidates consisting of Megan Hyslop, President; Phil Pellitteri, Vice-President; and Les Ferge, Secretary/Treasurer. They were unanimously elected. Megan presented her goals for the club and Its website and Phil gave a visual summary of the year’s insect activities. Members brought insect photos and specimens for ID and a great time was had comparing notes, observations and discussing the summer’s experiences. Wisconsin Entomological Societu Newsletter — March 2004 Page 4 D ragonflies are relicts of our ancient Earth, surviv- ing 300 million years of environmental change. Today there are over 450 dragonfly species in North America alone. But one species native to the Great Lakes region Is nearly extinct: the Hine's Emerald Dragonfly ( Somatochlora htneana). The Hine’s Emerald Dragonfly is identified by its bright green eyes and golden stripes on its thorax. It is the only dragonfly in the U.S. protected by the Federal Endangered Species Act, and was first listed as en- dangered in 1995. The primary threat to the dragonfly is the destruction of its habitat. The species is wetland-dependant and one of its last population strongholds is being / \ PRESERVING the Endangered Hine’s Emerald Dragonfly by Brent Plater [ V rapidly developed by urban sprawl. Conservationists in the Great Lakes region have known for years that as the dragonfly goes, so goes our quality of life. By protecting the habitat for the dragonfly, we also protect our water quality and prevent our communities from becoming barren landscapes of parking lots and highways. But the Bush Adminis- tration inexplicably preempted habitat protection for the Hine’s Emerald Dragonfly, announcing without any reasoning that habitat protection for the dragonfly was being “withdrawn.” Strangely, the Fish and Wildlife Service hadn’t even proposed to protect the habitat of the dragonfly in the first place. In fact, the regional Fish and Wildlife Service has completely abdicated its responsi- bility to protect habitat for en- dangered species. Of the 68 species listed as threatened or endangered within the region, only four have critical habitat designated; two of those designations occurred in the early 70s and the other two were forced by citizen petitions and/or lawsuits. It is apparent that the region has taken the position for nearly a quarter century that It will not designate critical habitat for endangered species... absent some sort of administrative or legal filing that compels them to do so. If critical habitat were desig- nated for the Hine’s Emerald Dragon- fly, the protections for the species would be greatly enhanced. Under the ESA. the listing of a species is designed to insure that the species does not suffer further harm. The protection of the species’ habitat, on the other hand, must be designed to insure that the species recovers from the brink of extinction. As such, species with critical habitat desig- nated have been shown to be twice as likely to be recovering as species without these habitat areas protected. The Center for Biological Diversity, joined by environmental organizations from Wisconsin, Michigan, and Missouri has, there- fore, initiated legal proceedings against the Bush Administration to protect the Hine’s Emerald Dragon- fly’s habitat. It defies both the law and common sense for the Bush Administration to try and withdraw habitat protections for the dragonfly when its primary threat is habitat destruction. By protecting the dragonfly’s habitat, we can insure that this incredible species recovers and protect the quality of life for millions of Americans. Brent is a Michigan native and a Staff Attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity. He can be reached at: bplater@biologfcaldiversity.org or 510-663-0616 Ducktail Moth ( Urania Julgens) http://www.mbarnes.force9.co.uk/ belizemoths/lmages2/uraful.htm THE MIGRATION OF THE DUCKTAIL MOTH From Cos to Rica., .The Tico Times September 26, 2003 by Jamie McEvoy "To see one of the world's most amazing insect migrations, you don’t have to bike miles into a national park or scramble atop a canopy skywalk. Simply stand outside anywhere in the Central Valley for ten minutes, and you are likely to see hundreds of Ducktail Moths flying overhead. A migration of this magnitude happens only once every six years, according to Costa Rica butterfly expert. Jorge Corrales. The migration began in early August and is expected to continue through the end of September. The best time to see the migration is in the morning between 7 and 8 A.M., he said. Unfortunately, the best place to see a Ducktail Moth up close and personal is along the side of a road, Corrales said. The greatest danger for the migrating moths is not the distance of the migration or the strong winds that they encounter; the greatest danger is getting hit by a car. This species of moth flies less than 10 meters above the ground, making them more vulnerable to head-on collisions with windshields. A moth migration may not sound as exotic or majestic as a butterfly migration, but the Ducktail Moth is not your ordinary, gray closet moth. Its Latin name, Urania Julgens, comes from its magnlflcant green color that resembles the planet Uranus and its Julgens, which in Latin means “brilliance” or “resplendence.” The Ducktail Moth, also commonly called the Green Page Moth in English or Coltpato in Spanish, averages eight centimeters in width. The solid black background of its wings provides a splendid contrast for the metallic green bands of color that run lengthwise down its wings. It has long hindwings that add to its grandeur. The moth migrates when food sources for the larvae become inedible. The Omphalea plant, which provides moths with sustenance in swampy mangroves, responds to continued moth prey by increasing the level of toxins in its leaves, forcing the moths to fly to the Caribbean Coast to find plants that are not as toxic to raise the next generation of larvae. After the plants on the Pacific side are given several months to recover from the feeding frenzy, toxicity levels decrease and the moths can return to eat again on the Pacific coast. One of the most interesting details of this migration is that it occurs simultaneously throughout Latin America, from Mexico to Ecuador. When the moths in Costa Rica begin to move from the Peninsula de Osa toward the Caribbean coast of Limon, a similar local migration is occurring in Mexico from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico.” — Submitted by Carole Maronek, Ellison Bay, Wisconsin Wisconsin Entomological Societu Newsletter — March 2004 Page 5 Multicolored Asian Larva Pupa Lady Beetle Adult (black and orange) (black and orange) lady bug, LADY BUG! by Carroll Rudy Ladybug , ladybug. Fly away home. Your house is on Jlre, Your children will burn. hen I started in the first grade at a one-room country school in the Pennsylvania hills, I learned this little rhyme. We children recited it whenever we found a ladybug in the schoolyard. Ladybugs weren’t as common as they are now, so each and every one fascinated us. We loved their pretty colors. We’d put the ladybug on our hand, repeat the rhyme and throw the insect into the wind. In my schoolyard, little kids had learned their games from older kids for generations, but somewhere along the line, the rhyme got revised. The Old World versions were: Ladybug, ladybug. Fly away home. Your house is on fire, Your children will roam. Except little Nan, Who sits in a pan, Weaving gold laces As fast as she can. or Ladybug! Ladybug! Fly away home; Your house is on Jlre, Your children all gone; All but one, And her name is Ann, And she crept under The pudding pan. This distressing children’s verse started in England a long time ago. After the crops were harvested, the fields were set afire to clear away dead vines and stubble. Ladybugs were warned to fly away so they wouldn’t burn, but the larvae and pupae (the ladybugs’ children) were incinerated. As for the pudding pan, food was cooked over an open fire in those days, so an unfortunate insect hiding under one didn’t fare any better than the ones in the field. Since beetle larvae don’t spin cocoons, I’m not sure what the gold laces are about. More than 4,000 species of ladybugs are found in the world and nearly 400 of those are native to North America. The pesty one is Harmonia axyridis (the Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle) which is not native, but was imported from Asia to control Pecan Aphids in the south. In medieval Europe, farmers whose crops were besieged by aphids, prayed to the Virgin Mary for help. Ladybugs came, ate the pests and saved the crops! Believing the insects were heaven-sent, farmers started calling them “The Beetles of Our Lady," which was eventually shortened to “Lady Bugs.” The red wings represented the Virgin’s cloak and the black spots represented her Joys and sorrows. People were very fond of Ladybugs so the little beetles inspired many superstitions. Seeing a ladybug brings good luck, killing one brings misfortune. If you catch a ladybug in your house, count the number of spots on the beetle’s back and you’ll get as many dollars as there are dots. If a man and a woman together notice a ladybug, they will fall in love. In France, ladybugs foretold fine weather. If you were sick and a ladybug landed on you, the sickness would fly away with the beetle. Swarms of ladybugs foretold a good harvest— possibly true since they ate so many pesky aphids. In some parts of Germany, babies were brought by the ladybug instead of the stork. People also counted the spots on ladybugs to forecast the future: The less spots there were the better your luck would be. More than seven spots brought bad news — or a famine. For early American pioneers, finding ladybugs hibernating in their log cabins during the winter brought good luck. Some people believed that the number of spots on a ladybug indicated how many children you would have. This past fall there were phenomenal numbers of ladybugs. Thousands flew around the house on sunny days, and hundreds came inside to hibernate. I must be going to have very good luck indeed! But which one should I count the spots on to predict the future? Asian Multicolored Ladybugs can have from zero to a dozen spots. Each one is different. They also vary in color from dull yellow to scarlet orange. Rather than predicting future weather, their vast numbers indi- cated past weather. Last summer's long dry spell provided a bountiful feast of aphids because the aphids were not washed off the trees by rain. But when fall comes the aphids freeze, the leaves fall off the trees, and the ladybugs are homeless. Also, they are searching for safe, warm places to hibernate. Human homes look very inviting. Asian Ladybugs aren’t as popular as our native ladybugs used to be, inasmuch as when their food is gone they chew on us instead. Adding insult to injury, when you brush one off, its defense against predators kicks in: a vile-smelling fluid leaks out of the leg Joints. Most unappetizing! Nothing wants to eat one. Just try to remember that people used to pray for them to come, and in more recent times they spent good money buying them by the quart to protect their crops. You can have all you want for free. Isn’t that good luck? 4$ Carroll is a WES member, former biology teacher and currently editor of Calumet Nature Studies Newsletter, published by Ledge View Nature Center, Chilton. Wisconsin. Wisconsin Entomological Societu Newsletter — March 2004 Page 6 VT" ot only butterflies fly during 111 daylight hours, some moths do, as well. This page is an introduction to what you might see flying when you are hiking in Wisconsin fields and woodlands this summer. I hope this entices you to go beyond butterflies and discover the often unnoticed and under- appreciated moths, too. Confused Haploa Moth (Haploa confusa ) Family: Arctiidae Checklist #8112; wingspan 1 Vi in. Forewing design variable, black and white; head is orange. White-Striped Black Moth (Trichodezia albovittata) Family: Geometridae Checklist #7430; wlngpsan l /i in. Wings are black and white. Very small! White-Banded Black Moth (Rheumaptera subhastata ) Family: Geometridae Checklist #7294; wingspan: 1 x h in. Wings are black and white. DAY-FLYING MOTHS Text and Photos by Janice Stiejel Cranberry Spanworm Moth (Ematurga amitaria) Family: Geometridae Checklist #6436; wingspan 1 Vi in. Wings powdery orange/rusty brown; Found during WES Field Trip 2002. Snowberry Clearwing Moth (Hemaris difflnis ) Family: Sphingidae Checklist #7855; wingspan l 3 A in. Transparent wings with blackish-brown scales; spindle-shaped body is blackish- brown and yellow. Scallop Moth [Cepphis armataria) Family: Geometridae Checklist #6835; wingspan l l A in. Wings are light brown with purplish brown lines. Hummingbird Clearwing Moth (Hemaris thysbe ) Family: Sphingidae Checklist #7853; wingspan : 1 7 /b in . Wings transparent with brown scales; spindle-shaped body is olive green with reddish bands across abdomen and rear tufts. Com Earworm Moth (Hellcoverpa zea) Family: Noctuidae Checklist #1 1068; wingspan 1 Vi in. Forewing yellowish-tan with variable reddish brown, olive green or gray markings. White-Lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata ) Family: Sphingidae Checklist #7894; wingspan 3 l A in. Forewing is dark olive brown with an even, pale tan stripe extending from base to apex; white streaks cover veins. Hindwing is black with a pink median band. Wisconsin Entomological Societu Newsletter — March 2004 Page 7 New county records are indicated by county names appearing in CAPITAL letters. Abbreviations used in the data include: CF = County Forest NWR = National Wildlife Refuge SF = State Forest SNA = State Natural Area SWA = State Wildlife Area. \ ✓ 2003 WISCONSIN LEPIDOPTERA SEASON SUMMARY Coordinator: Leslie A. Ferge Contributors Cited: James A. Ebner ( JAE) James C. Parkinson ( JCP) Carol B. Ferge (CBF) Janice J. Stiefel ( JJS) Leslie A. Ferge (LAF) Ann & Scott Swengel (SAS) Waldemar E. Kmentt (WEK) fter another relatively mild winter with less than average snowfall, cool spring conditions tended to delay the emergence of many species. Temperature and rainfall fluctuated greatly in spring and early summer, but most areas of the state were very dry through most of the season. Late season conditions were fairly mild. Numbers of many butterfly species were down significantly, particularly the usually common Erynnis and Collas species. Moth numbers seemed down as well, particularly the early spring and late summer and fall species. Even the late season MONA NO. COUNTY BUTTERFLIES Hesperiidae 3954 Erynnis martialis 3977 Pholisora catullus 4006 Oarisma powesheik 4013 Hylephila phyleus 4020 Hesperia comma laurentina 4022 Hesperia ottoe 4022 Hesperia ottoe 4023 Hesperia leonardus leonardus 4023 Hesperia leonardus leonardus 4023 Hesperia leonardus leonardus 4023 Hesperia leonardus leonardus 4027 Hesperia metea 4027 Hesperia metea 4033 Hesperia sassacus 4080 Atrytonopsis hianna 4080 Atrytonopsis hianna 4080 Atrytonopsis hianna Papilionidae 4170 Papilio cresphontes Pieridae 4 1 95 Pieris oleracea 4202 Euchloe olympia 4202 Euchloe olympia 4237 Eurema lisa 4237 Eurema lisa 4237 Eurema lisa Lycaenidae 4325 Incisalia irus 4325 Incisalia irus 4326 Incisalia henrici 4326 Incisalia henrici 4328 Incisalia niphon dark! 4374 Lycaeides Idas nabokovi 4375 Lycaeides melissa samuelis 4375 Lycaeides melissa samuelis Riodinidae 439 1 Calephelis muticum armyworm and cutworm moths usually abundant at bait and light were noticeably reduced. Migratory butterfly species were down for the second year in a row, with fewer species reported and generally low numbers seen. Vanessa cardui was a notable exception, appearing in abundance in the southern counties from late August into mid-October, but also seen in fair numbers in far northwestern Wisconsin. The records are arranged systematically by checklist number, following the Checklist of the Lepidoptera of America North of Mexico (Hodges et al., LOCALITY DATE CONTR. Burnett Crex Meadows & Burnett CF 17 May & 26 Jul 2003 SAS Waukesha Kettle Moraine SF 31 Jul & 26 Sep 2003 JAE Waukesha Kettle Moraine SF 17 Jul 2003 JAE Crawford Prairie du Chien 9 Sep 2003 JCP Marinette Marinette County Forest 9 Aug 2003 SAS Crawford Hogback Prairie 13 Jul 2003 SAS Grant Nelson Dewey State Park 20 Jul 2003 SAS Burnett Crex Meadows & Burnett CF 17 Aug 2003 SAS Douglas Douglas County WA 15 Aug 2003 SAS Jackson Jackson County Forest 10-22 Aug 2003 SAS Sauk Mirror Lake State Park 26-27 Aug 2003 SAS Jackson Jackson County Forest 16 May 2003 SAS Marinette Dunbar Barrens 14 Jun 2003 SAS Burnett Kohler-Peet Barrens 31 May 2003 JCP Dane Mazomanie Wildlife Area 5 Jun 2003 LAF Jackson Jackson County Forest 16 May- 13 Jim 2003 SAS Sauk Mirror Lake SP 28 May-4 Jim 2003 SAS Waukesha Kettle Moraine SF 25 May & 26 Aug 2003 JAE Walworth Lulu Lake 13 May 2003 JAE Dane Mazomanie Wildlife Area 9 May 2003 LAF Iowa Arena 9 May 2003 LAF Burnett Crex Meadows 26 Jul 2003 SAS Crawford Prairie du Chien 9 Sep 2003 JCP Jackson Black River SF 1 Aug 2003 SAS Jackson Jackson County Forest 16-30 May 2003 SAS Wood Wood County Forest 18-21 May 2003 SAS Burnett Burnett County Forest 17 May 2003 SAS Jackson Jackson County Forest 18 May 2003 SAS DOOR Toft Point SNA 23 May 2003 LAF Marinette Shrine Rd. 3 Jul 2003 9 Aug 2003 SAS Jackson Jackson County Forest 26 May- 25 Jun 2003 SAS Wood Hwy X & Sandhill WA 18 Jul-22 Aug 2003 SAS Fond du Lac Northern Kettle Moraine SF 2 Aug 2003 SAS Wisconsin Entomoloaical Societu Newsletter — March 2004 Page 8 Nymphalidae 4435 Vanessa cardui Ashland Ashland 21 Sep 2003 SAS 4435 Vanessa cardui Bayfield Bark Bay, Meyer Beach 19-26 Sep 2003 SAS 4435 Vanessa cardui Douglas Pattison SP 20 Sep 2003 SAS 4435 Vanessa cardui Waukesha Okauchee 21 Aug- 19 Oct 2003 JAE 4440 Junonia coenia Grant Eagle Point Road 28 Jun 2003 JCP 4447 Euptoieta claudla Jackson Jackson CF, Dike 17 18 May. 22 Aug 2003 SAS 4447 Euptoieta claudla Portage Buena Vista 29 Jun- 18 Jul 2003 SAS 4463 Bolorla eunomia dawsonl Ashland Glidden 15 Jun 2003 SAS 4464 Boloria selene myrlna Waukesha Kettle Moraine SF (Ottawa Lake) 1 Jul 2003 JAE 4465 Bolorla bellona Waukesha Kettle Moraine SF (Ottawa Lake) 1-6 Jul 2003 JAE 4466 Boloria frlgga saga Ashland Glidden 15 Jun 2003 SAS 4466 Bolorla frlgga saga Douglas Milchesky Road 25 May 2003 SAS 4471 Bolorla freija Douglas Lyman Lake Bog 17-25 May 2003 SAS 4557 Asterocampa celtis Grant Jamestown Twp. 28 Jim 2003 JCP 4562.1 Asterocampa clyton Grant Jamestown Twp. 28 Jun 2003 JCP 4614 Danaus plexippus Door Bailey's Harbor 4 Oct 2003 JAE 4614 Danaus plexippus Waukesha Okauchee 1 1 Jun-1 1 Oct 2003 JAE MOTHS Geometrldae 6261 Heliomata cycladata Rock Turtle Twp. 20-24 Jun 2003 WEK 6436 Ematurga amltarla Oneida Cedar Falls Road 1 Jim 2003 CBF 6665 Erannis till aria DOOR Bailey’s Harbor 27 Oct 2003 JJS 7197 Eullthls graclllneata DOOR Bailey's Harbor 18 Aug 2003 JJS 7199 Eullthls propulsata DOOR Bailey's Harbor 19 Jul 2003 JJS 7208 Eullthls serrataria DOOR Bailey's Harbor 3 Aug 2003 JJS 7433 Eplrrlta autumnata hens ha wi Door Bailey's Harbor 13 Sep-9 Oct 2003 JJS 7433 Epirrita autumnata henshawi OZAUKEE Cedarburg Bog 10 Oct 2003 LAF Lasiocampidae 7673 Tolype laricis OZAUKEE Cedarburg Bog 7 Aug 2003 LAF 7685 Heteropacha rileyana Ozaukee Cedarburg Bog 2 Jul 2003 LAF Satumildae 7730 Hemlleuca mala complex COLUMBIA Portage 8 Oct 2003 LAF Sphingtdae 7776 Manduca qulnquemaculata Richland Knapp Creek 9 Sep 2003 JCP 7802 Sphinx chersis Marathon Wausau 20 Jun 2003 JCP 7807 Sphinx canadensis Langlade Bogus Swamp 21 Jun 2003 JCP 7809 Sphinx kalmlae Door Bailey's Harbor 17 Jul 2003 JJS 7810 Sphinx gordius OZAUKEE Cedarburg Bog 2 Jul 2003 LAF 7812 Sphinx druplferarum Door Bailey's Harbor 4 Jul 2003 JJS 7871 Deidamla Inscripta OZAUKEE Cedarburg Bog 29 May 2003 LAF 7873 Amphion florldensls Marathon Mosinee 28 May 2003 JCP 7886 Darapsa pholus DOOR Bailey’s Harbor 16 Jul 2003 JJS Notodontidae 7934 Gluphlsla lintneri Door Bailey’s Harbor 5 May 2003 JJS 8006 Schizura badia Ozaukee Cedarburg Bog 2 Jul 2003 LAF Arctiidae 8052 Crambidla pura IOWA Arena 14 Jun 2003 LAF 8146 Ecpantheria scrlbonla Rock Turtle Twp. 2-4 Jul 2003 WEK 8195 Grammia oithona IOWA Arena 14 Jun 2003 LAF Lymantriidae 8308 Orgyia anti qua nova DOOR Bailey's Harbor 9 Oct 2003 JJS Noctuldae 8323.1 Idia sp. [concisa of authors) MARATHON Norrle Bog 7 Jul 2003 LAF 8349 Zanclognatha protumnusalls DOOR Bailey's Harbor 22 Jul 2003 JJS 8361 Macrochllo louisiana DOOR Bailey’s Harbor 30 Jul 2003 JJS 8361 Macrochllo louisiana MARATHON Norrle Bog 7 Jul 2003 LAF 8361 Macrochllo louisiana OZAUKEE Cedarburg Bog 2 Jul 2003 LAF 8445 Bomolocha abalienalis DOOR Bailey's Harbor 2 Jul 2003 JJS 8491 Ledaea perdltalls IOWA Arena 14 Jun 2003 LAF 8500 Metalectra quadrlsignata DOOR Bailey's Harbor 16 Aug 2003 JJS 8592 Cissusa spadix OZAUKEE Cedarburg Bog 27 Apr 2003 LAF 8618 Drasterla graphics atlantica IOWA Arena 18 May 2003 LAF 8699 Zale obliqua Oneida Minocqua Twp. 24 May 2003 LAF 8731 Euclldla cuspidea DOOR Bailey's Harbor 1 Jul 2003 JJS 8798 Catocala neogama Richland Knapp Creek 9 Sep 2003 JCP 8806 Catocala parta Richland Knapp Creek 9 Sep 2003 JCP 8817 Catocala brlseis Door Bailey's Harbor 5 Aug 2003 JJS Wisconsin Entomological Society Newsletter — March 2004 Page 9 8821 Catocala semirelicta Door Bailey's Harbor 29 Aug 2003 JJS 8832 Catocala cara Richland Knapp Creek 9 Sep 2003 JCP 8834 Catocala amatrix Richland Knapp Creek 9 Sep 2003 JCP 8864 Catocala grynea Door Bailey's Harbor 17 Aug 2003 JJS 8865 Catocala praeclara Ozaukee Cedarburg Bog 7 Aug 2003 LAF 8880 Abrostola ovalis IOWA Arena 18 May 2003 LAF 8904 Chrysanympha formosa OZAUKEE Cedarburg Bog 2 Jul 2003 LAF 8950 Plusia putnami Ozaukee Cedarburg Bog 2 Jul 2003 LAF 8952 Plusia contexta Ozaukee Cedarburg Bog 2 Jul 2003 LAF 8957 Paectes oculatrix OZAUKEE Cedarburg Bog 2 Jul 2003 LAF 8957 Paectes oculatrix Rock Turtle Twp. 4 Jul 2003 WEK 8970 Baileya ophthalmica DOOR Bailey's Harbor 2 Jul 2003 JJS 9199 Acronicta rubricoma IOWA Arena 18 May 2003 LAF 9208 Acronicta betulae IOWA Arena 18 May 2003 LAF 9309 Psychomorpha epimenis Grant Millville Twp. (Baxter Lane) 3 May 2003 LAF 9406 Oligia fractilinea DOOR Bailey's Harbor 30 Jul 2003 JJS 9427 Meropleon diversicolor OZAUKEE Cedarburg Bog 3 Sep 2003 LAF 9428 Meropleon ambifuscum OZAUKEE Cedarburg Bog 3 Sep 2003 LAF 9429 Lemmeria digital! OZAUKEE Cedarburg Bog 10 Oct 2003 LAF 9464 Papaipema cerina Richland Knapp Creek Sep 2003 JCP 9466 Papaipema cataphracta Dane Middleton 8 Oct 2003 LAF 9479 Papaipema lysimachiae DOOR Bailey's Harbor 17 Sep 2003 JJS 9479 Papaipema lysimachiae OZAUKEE Cedarburg Bog 3 Sep 2003 LAF 9483 Papaipema inquaesita OZAUKEE Cedarburg Bog 10 Oct 2003 LAF 9490 Papaipema nephelepten OZAUKEE Cedarburg Bog 3 Sep 2003 LAF 9493 Papaipema appassionata Ozaukee Cedarburg Bog 3 Sep 2003 LAF 9501 Papaipema eupatorii OZAUKEE Cedarburg Bog 10 Oct 2003 LAF 9516 Hydraecia stramentosa Richland Knapp Creek 9 Sep 2003 JCP 9524 Bellura brehmei OZAUKEE Cedarburg Bog 2 Jul 2003 LAF 9696 Condica vecors DOOR Bailey’s Harbor 22 Jul 2003 JJS 9887 Lithophane bethunei OZAUKEE Cedarburg Bog 27 Apr 2003 LAF 9887 Lithophane bethunei WALWORTH Richmond Twp. 16 Mar 2003 LAF 9891 Lithophane amanda Marathon Mosinee 1 1 May 2003 JCP 9939 Eupsilia devia Marquette Comstock Bog 13 Apr 2003 LAF 9939 Eupsilia devia Richland Gotham 15 Mar 2003 LAF 9947 Eplglaea apiata OZAUKEE Cedarburg Bog 10 Oct 2003 LAF 10007 Feralla major Marathon Mosinee 1 1 May 2003 JCP 10008 Feralia comstocki Marathon Mosinee 1 1 May 2003 JCP 10008 Feralla comstock OZAUKEE Cedarburg Bog 27 Apr 2003 LAF 10177 Calophasia lunula Door Bailey's Harbor 6 Aug 2003 JJS 10307 Trichordestra lilacina DOOR Bailey's Harbor 6 Jul 2003 JJS 10988 Coenophila opacifrons Ozaukee Cedarburg Bog 3 Sep 2003 LAF 11012.1 Noctua pronuba Rock Turtle Twp. 3 Sep-7 Oct 2003 WEK 11095 Schinia Indiana Jackson Jackson County Forest 30 May 2003 SAS 11128 Schinia arcigera Door Bailey’s Harbor 24 Aug 2003 LAF 11174 Schinia lucens Iowa Deer Valley Golf Course 20 Jul 2003 SAS THE 29°* ANNUAL NABA BUTTERFLY COUNT, 2003 by Ann Swengel T he 29th annual NABA Butterfly Count was held in summer 2003, sponsored by the North American Butterfly Association (NABA). Participants in the count conducted a one-day census of all butterflies observed at sites within their count area, a 15-mile diameter circle. In 2003. 471 butterfly counts were held. This was a small re- duction in number counts compared to 2002 (503) and 2001 (481) but still well above the number in 2000 (425) and all years before that. The 424 counts in the U.S. in 2003 (417 in 2002, 401 in 2001) occurred in 44 states (counting DC as a state). From 1996 until 2000, the number of states with counts had consistently hovered at 44-45. In 2001, the number of states peaked at 48, with only Hawaii, Nevada, and Rhode Island missing. In 2002, additional missing states were Alabama and Alaska; in 2003, New Hampshire and Utah. All of these states have had at least one count in the past. Perhaps 2004 is the year when all these states will rejoin the program! The state with the most counts was Texas (43 in 2003, 48 in 2002), followed by Florida (40 in 2003, 32 In 2002). The 56 Canadian counts in 2003 (84 in 2002, 79 in 2001, 66 in 1999-2000) occurred in 5 provinces (the same as 2001 and 2002). The province with the most counts was Ontario (25 in 2003, 25 in 2002). Mexico had only 2 counts In one state (Nuevo Leon) in 2002 and 2001, down from the record 7 in 3 states in 2000. But the Mexican counts more than made up for this by reporting their usual dazzling butterfly species totals, with 114 species at Monterrey and 1 18 at Rancho Picachos. To Order the 2003 Report: Please send your report order (specifying year of count results desired) by check or money order payable to NABA (or "North American Butterfly Association") in US dollars only for $10 (NABA members) or $15 (non-members) each (price includes postage) to: NABA - Butterfly Count, 4 Delaware Road Morristown, NJ 07960. For more information, see NABA's website: www.naba.org Wisconsin Entomological Society Janice Stiefel, Editor 2125 Grove Rd. Bailey's Harbor, WI 54202 Wisconsin Entomological Societu Newsletter — March 2004 Page 10 German Yellowjackets by Carroll Rudy German Yellowjacket female queen Photo: Courtesy of http :/Avvav. inra.fr/Internet/Prodiilts/HYPP Z/RAVAGEUR/6 vesger.htm T he German Yellowjacket (Vespula germanica ) was introduced Into North America from Europe. The site, manner and date of Introduction are not known but it was first noticed in New York State in the 1960s. When I was a child, there were no annoying yellow) ackets bothering anyone at picnics. We dined in peace out-of-doors on hot summer even- ings and picnicked without worrying about being pestered by anything bigger than a housefly. My first encounter with German Yellow) ackets happened at a summer camp where I was working as a naturalist in New York State in 1 960. I found a nest of them after they had stung both me and the children In unprovoked attacks. The next year, I found a nest in my yard in Pennsylvania after being attacked by a mass of them. They seemed to be much more vicious than the ones I see today. While living in Ohio in the 60s I never saw or heard of any. However they crossed the country quickly, reaching Wisconsin in the 70s, but I never saw any until I moved to Calumet County from Northern Wisconsin. By the 80s they had become major pests. In the 90s they reached the west coast of California, having crossed the continent in 30 years. Now they nest in my yard and house foundations, are a constant annoyance at outdoor picnics and destroy the fruit we raise. Fall raspberries are now almost impossible to harvest, and they eat large holes in all my home-grown peaches and strawberries. When I raised honeybees, the hives were sometimes raided by yellow) ackets, who stole some of the honey. Thus you may see yellowjackets entering a beehive, but they are raiders, not residents, and killing the honeybees to get rid of the yellowjackets is stupid, needless, and cruel. It simply destroys the innocent honeybees and leaves all the honey for yellowjackets to steal, attracting them in huge numbers to the undefended hive. ^