Interesting topic, Sam!

I was talking with Matthew Shepherd here in the office and we had one thought to add to this discussion.

What do folks think is the potential for these structures to become a population sink in their local landscape as they age and potentially become infested with chalkbrood spores and pollen mites?

I know from my days managing alfalfa leafcutter bees that parasites and diseases build up incredibly fast any time nesting substrates are repeatedly re-used by solitary bees.

On the one hand I think a certain level of pathogens and nest parasitism can be interesting from an educational standpoint, and can really engage people in the complexities of bee life. On the other hand, I have seen old nest blocks that are so contaminated that no new eggs deposited in them survive. Such a scenario seems likely to discourage rather than engage the general public if these types of walls are on formal display.

For large scale leafcutter and mason beekeeping most people have moved to loose-cell management or elaborate nest phase out systems to maintain bee health. With fixed substrates, arranged in these beautiful and artistic configurations, that seems like a challenge.

Anyone have thoughts on this?

Cheers!

-Eric

Melissodes Guide Updates - Mike Arduser send a note (and specimens) that M. tuckeri had been recorded from IL and thus we now include it in the guide.

Female - M. coloradensis, M. tuckeri, M. vernoniae

M. coloradensis - UNIQUE in that the wings are distinctly and unmistakably DARK OR INFUSCATED - The wide depressed rim of T2 is extensively, densely, and unmistakably invaded in the central portion by pitting, at In direct comparison, a  much LARGER bee

M. tuckeri - Wings clear, without any coloration - The wide depressed rim of T2 is extensively, densely, and unmistakably invaded in the central portion by pitting - T4 with a distinct white, latitudinal hair band behind which, or basally, is a band of black hairs that is clearly visible even when T3 overlaps T4 extensively

M. vernoniae - Wings clear, without any coloration - The wide depressed rim of T2 is essentially WITHOUT PITS, at most there are a few obscure, difficult to see pits on the far sides - The central portion of T4 almost entirely covered with white hairs with black hairs present only scattered along the very basal edge and therefore often covered by the rim of T3 and not visible
       

Andrena Guide Updates

Female - A. asteris and A. placata vs A. duplicata

A. asteris and A. placata - Mesepisturnum unpitted - Scopal hairs so dense as to completely hide the tibial integument from view - S2-4 in addition to the long hairs along the rim, with short but clearly visible hairs throughout the segment

A. duplicata - Mesepisturnum with distinct pits - Integument clearly visible beneath the scopal hairs on hind tibia - Hairs on S2-4 almost entirely restricted to scattered long hairs along the rim - In comparison, clypeus somewhat flattened in the center, and unpitted center line of clypeus wider

Megachile Guide Updates

Female - M. melanophaea, M. mucida, M. gemula

M. gemula - The last tooth or what is really just the rearmost portion of the inner edge of the mandible between the corner and the last sinus or gap is broadly truncate or flattened, not toothlike at all, in distance almost as wide as that of the sinus preceding it - Most of T2 with pale hairs, but dark brown hairs usually line the rim - Hairs on the gena or cheek nearest the mandible distinctly pale and there are some pale hairs lining the outside edges of the front coxae - Generally northern and Appalachian in distribution

M. melanophaea - The last or rearmost tooth of the mandible comes to a rounded point, but is definitely not flattened or truncate - T2 hair entirely pale - Hairs on the cheek or gena and on the front coxae entirely dark brown - Unlike the other two species this species almost always has bright orange hairs present on S2-5, but note that in some individuals these hairs are restricted and in others they may be entirely dark like the other species - Northern in distribution.

M. mucida - The last or rearmost tooth of the mandible comes to a rounded point, but is definitely not flattened or truncate - Most of T2 with pale hairs, but dark hairs usually line the rim and usually expand laterally for for wider patches of dark brown hairs - Hairs on the cheek or gena and on the front coxae entirely dark brown - Southern in distribution

Male - M. gemula, M. melanophaea, M. mucida

M. gemula - T7, which is a small segment and only made visible by turning the specimen upside down, has no projecting central spine, but there may be some small bumps present - T6 with small triangular angles projecting from the rim just on either side of the central notch, note that this is the true rim of T6 do not mistake the very prominent flange that sits above it and hides it, you will have to turn the specimen over to see it - Front basitarsi almost entirely dark brown to black, there may be some yellow along the edge - Generally northern and Appalachian in distribution

M. melanophaea - T7, which is a small segment and only made visible by turning the specimen upside down, has a prominent and clearly projecting central spine - T6 with very long, almost spine-like projecting finger like lobes projecting from the rim just on either side of the central notch, note that this is the true rim of T6 do not mistake the very prominent flange that sits above it and hides it, you will have to turn the specimen over to see it - Front basitarsi almost entirely yellow - Northern in distribution

M. mucida - T7, which is a small segment and only made visible by turning the specimen upside down, has a raised broad, blunt, triangular mound projecting from the center - T6 with small triangular angles projecting from the rim just on either side of the central notch, note that this is the true rim of T6 do not mistake the very prominent flange that sits above it and hides it, you will have to turn the specimen over to see it - Front basitarsi largely yellow - Southern in distribution

Note on Andrena duplicata in the Smokies

Adriean Mayor, curator at Great Smokies National Park send in the following regarding some recent collections of the rarely seen A. duplicate:

“An interesting sidebar with regard to the Helianthus angustifolius in Cades
Cove is that this is apparently a relict population of a coastal plain
species. I did notice that LaBerge did have a few additional records for A.
duplicata, and mentions several species of Helianthus as floral sources. It
was collected at the same time as other Fall species; A. accepta, A.
aliciae, and A. simplex. “

sam

As in the past, the event will be based at the park’s Schoodic Education and Research Center and collecting will be focused in the Schoodic section of the park.  Lodging at the Schoodic Education and Research Center will be provided to participants at no charge; however space is limited, and will is available on a first-registered, first-served basis.  Participants will only need to pay a small registration fee and food costs - meals will be provided by Acadia Partners for Science and Learning.

The event will begin with dinner on Friday evening followed by presentations about ongoing research or emerging issues of interest to the entomological community. Saturday morning will feature a workshop on collecting and identifying the Hymenoptera. The official bioBlitz will commence around noon and continue 24 hours till noon on Sunday. The remainder of Sunday and Monday morning will be focused with sorting, pinning, and identifying collected specimens.

Lead taxonomists for the event will be Sam Droege from the US Geological Survey and Eleanor Groden and Frank Drummond from the University of Maine.

To register for the blitz, please complete the attached form. The final date for registration is June 18, 2010. Return registration forms to: June Devisfruto, Acadia National Park,Schoodic Education and Research Center, P.O Box 570, Winter Harbor, ME 04693

Information and the registration form are also posted at the park’s web site: http://www.nps.gov/acad/naturescience/bioblitz.htm

For more information, please contact David Manski at Acadia National Park (david_manski@... or 207/288-8720).

All:

Does anyone have experience shipping insect samples in 70% alcohol? I have
contacted the US postal service for shipping rules and regulations but have
gotten a different answer on how to ship these samples each time.

Does anyone know how insect samples in alcohol should be packaged and shipped?

Thanks
Ashley

Subject: [NHCOLL-L:4576] More dangerous goods updates

Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:32:15 -0500

From: "Bentley, Andrew Charles" <abentley@...>

To: <NHCOLL-L@...>

Reply-To: abentley@...

Sender: owner-nhcoll-l@...

Hi all

It has just come to my attention that DOT has amended their 49 CFR 173.4 regulations in two major ways that have implications for our shipping policies:

1.      They have added section 173.4b "De Minimus Exceptions" (latest e-CFR attached) which now excludes very small quantities of hazardous materials (in our case under 1ml of ethanol) from the regulations.  The implications of this are that if you can keep tissues, for instance, to under 1ml of fluid (and under 100ml total per package) then there are NO dangerous goods requirements for the package.  This has limited application but is something to keep in mind.

2.      They have amended 173.4 to now follow IATA labeling criteria (latest e-CFR attached).  You are now required to use the red hatched label (as per IATA) for DOT (domestic) packages in place of the "This package conforms to 49 CFR 173.4".  However, it appears as if USPS has yet to adopt these changes (may just be that they are yet to update their Publication 52).  I have emailed my contacts at USPS for clarification and will let you know as soon as I hear.  Until then, we should continue to use "This package conforms to 49 CFR 173.4".  However, if you are sending packages domestically using FedEx or UPS then you are required to use the new labeling protocols.

As an aside, I recently received confirmation from my IATA contacts that we have been successful in our bid to have verbiage inserted into the IATA dangerous good manual (Section 2.7) exempting specimen packages from the regulations if packed according to 2.7.  The exact verbiage is yet to be drafted but will be along the lines of:

"Axxx                Museum specimens, such as specimens of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles, fishes, insects and other invertebrates containing small quantities of UN 1170, UN 1987 or UN 1219 are not subject to these Instructions provided the following packing and marking requirements are met:

Specimens are:

1.       Wrapped in paper towel and/or cheesecloth moistened with alcohol or an alcohol solution and then placed in a plastic bag that is heat-sealed. Any free liquid in the bag must not exceed 30 mL; or

2.       Placed in vials or other rigid containers with no more than 30 mL of alcohol or an alcohol solution;

a)      The prepared specimens are then placed in a plastic bag that is then heat-sealed;

b)      The bagged specimens are then placed inside another plastic bag with absorbent material then heat sealed;

c)      The finished bag is then placed in a strong outer packaging with suitable cushioning material;

d)      The completed package is marked "scientific research specimens, not restricted special provision Axxx applies".

The words "not restricted" and the special provision Axxx must be provided on the air waybill when an air waybill is issued.

This will only come into effect in January 2011 but will ensure that, together with the DOT and USPS letters of interpretation that we have already received (attached), all packages, whether domestic or international, will no longer fall into the category of dangerous goods.  It will also allow 30ml of free liquid per RIGID internal package (insects and other fragile specimens can be sent in free liquid) and will also allow 95% ethanol (again, up to 30ml free liquid per RIGID internal package). 

This has far reaching implications - no training necessary (you can self train to pack), previously inaccessible countries will now be accessible, international mailing by USPS to select countries (based on the USPS International Mailing Manual), no labeling requirements, 30ml of free liquid per internal package, 95% ethanol acceptable etc.  It is my hope that this will ease the burden on the small to medium sized museums as well as the larger institutions both within the US and internationally (as most countries follow IATA with some exceptions).  This has been a long and arduous process of negotiation, started with our Dangerous Goods roundtable held in Oklahoma, but the light at the end of the tunnel is now blazing!!!

Any questions please let me know.

Andy Bentley
Ichthyology Collection Manager/Specify Usability Lead
University of Kansas
Natural History Museum & Biodiversity Research Center
Dyche Hall
1345 Jayhawk Boulevard
Lawrence, KS, 66045-7561

USA

Laurence wrote:

>Note that propylene glycol has been found to be not so good for DNA
>sequencing material storage - at least not long term.

Is there a published source for this? The original study was in
Invertebrate Systematics 19: 99-104 (2005), and compared various
preservatives over 6 weeks, with propylene glycol demonstrably
superior to ethanol at temperatures above freezing. This study also
cited a honeybee DNA project (Texas J. Science 55: 159-168, 2003) as
having similarly good results with PG in aerial pitfall traps. Any
contrary experimental data, or data on storage in PG exceeding six
weeks, would certainly be noteworthy. We don't use PG as a storage
medium, and it would be good to know if there is explicit reason NOT
to do so, should the question arise.

Peace,
--

Doug Yanega        Dept. of Entomology         Entomology Research Museum
Univ. of California, Riverside, CA 92521-0314        skype: dyanega
phone: (951) 827-4315 (standard disclaimer: opinions are mine, not UCR's)
               http://cache.ucr.edu/~heraty/yanega.html
    "There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness
          is the true method" - Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chap. 82

All-

Sorry about the quality of these pictures but I think you can get the idea. Here is a bit of background.

In the prior 3 days close to 10 bowl lines of 30 bowls were run [10 blue, 10 white, 10 yellow]. During this time blue bowls exhibited a paucity of catch, almost an order of magnitude less bee specimens.

Now, please view this piece of antadotal evidence [photo link below] with the knowledge that I was trying to set out bee bowls in an environment that in which there would be NO CATCH. Also note, I couldn't find a flower within a kilometer radius [as far as I walked around].

http://picasaweb.google.com/hikerd/Bee_bowls?feat=directlink

Enjoy,
H


HW Ikerd
Hikerd@...
435-227-5711 (Google Voice)
435-797-2425(work)

If you want another spot with nothing in bloom, just try the Bristol
Dry Lake salt pan near Amboy, CA (~ 34 29 30 N, 115 44 43 W) - I
think at some points it can be almost 10 km from plants on one side
of the pan to the other, with a minimum distance of maybe 5 km (i.e.,
you can draw a circle 5 km in diameter and not have a single plant
within that circle). Still, I'm sure you could catch bees in traps
there. Where was your spot, Harold?

Peace,
--

Doug Yanega        Dept. of Entomology         Entomology Research Museum
Univ. of California, Riverside, CA 92521-0314        skype: dyanega
phone: (951) 827-4315 (standard disclaimer: opinions are mine, not UCR's)
               http://cache.ucr.edu/~heraty/yanega.html
    "There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness
          is the true method" - Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chap. 82

 
All:

As part of a large National Park Service Project we will be surveying alpine areas from the Southern Rockies and Sierra's up into Alaska.  Since the bee season varies in alpine systems so greatly among years and localities we are trying to slice out a relatively similar phenological window to do surveys.  We are thinking that it would be useful to use some set of early season flowers as a flag to when surveys should begin.

So are questions are:

1.  Does this make sense?

2.  What set of flowers could be used that would encompass that geographic range and capture about the same window?

3.  Do you have alternative suggestions or see potential problems?

Thank you.

sam

Sam Droege  sdroege@...                     
w 301-497-5840 h 301-390-7759 fax 301-497-5624
USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
BARC-EAST, BLDG 308, RM 124 10300 Balt. Ave., Beltsville, MD  20705
Http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov
  

Sam and Cheryl,

In my experience, conspicuous bee activity begins precisely when the
earliest native willows start blooming. This can happen when there are
still large patches of snow on the ground. In the mountains, it can be
warm enough at midday for bee flight (ca. 55 deg. in the sun) even when
night and average temps are still low. I've found Andrena and other bees
in considerable abundance early in spring at high alpine passes where
willow is in bloom, even though it still appeared "too early" for general
flowering and bee activity at substantially lower elevations.

Thus I recommend starting sampling on the first day with warm enough air
temps for bee flight (ca. 55 deg?) within the blooming season of Salix at
the elevation of interest (ask local botanists). Snow will likely still be
present. If you wait until spring has fully arrived and there is general
flowering you may miss Salix specialists, and in particular protandrous
males of the earliest-emerging Andrena species.

Good luck!

John


> Sam,
>
> Snowpack varies widely among years, so yes, your approach makes sense.
>
> Classic early season alpine and subalpine flowers are the pasqueflowers
> (refers to Passover and Easter, as they bloom about that time of year if
> not
> buried).  I have seen their blooms poking up through snow.  The eastern
> pasqueflower, Pulsatilla patens, occurs in the Rocky mountain chain.  The
> white pasqueflower, Pulsatilla occidentalis, replaces it further west in
> the
> Sierras and north.
>
>
>
> Cheryl Fimbel
>
> The Nature Conservancy
>
> Olympia, WA
>
>
>
> From: beemonitoring@yahoogroups.com [mailto:beemonitoring@yahoogroups.com]
> On Behalf Of Sam Droege
> Sent: Wednesday, April 28, 2010 12:37 PM
> To: beemonitoring@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [beemonitoring] What is the Phenological Start of the Bee Season
> in
> Western Alpine areas?
>
>
>
>
>
>
> All:
>
> As part of a large National Park Service Project we will be surveying
> alpine
> areas from the Southern Rockies and Sierra's up into Alaska.  Since the
> bee
> season varies in alpine systems so greatly among years and localities we
> are
> trying to slice out a relatively similar phenological window to do
> surveys.
> We are thinking that it would be useful to use some set of early season
> flowers as a flag to when surveys should begin.
>
> So are questions are:
>
> 1.  Does this make sense?
> 2.  What set of flowers could be used that would encompass that geographic
> range and capture about the same window?
> 3.  Do you have alternative suggestions or see potential problems?
>
> Thank you.
>
> sam
>
> Sam Droege  sdroege@...
> w 301-497-5840 h 301-390-7759 fax 301-497-5624
> USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
> BARC-EAST, BLDG 308, RM 124 10300 Balt. Ave., Beltsville, MD  20705
>  <Http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/> Http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov
>
>
>
>
> Velocity Meadows
>
> I can say now that nothing was possible
> But leaving the house and standing in front of it, staring
> As long as I could into the valley. I knew that a train,
> Trailing a scarf of smoke, would arrive, that soon it would rain.
> A frieze of clouds lowered a shadow over the town,
> And a driving wind flattened the meadows that swept
> Beyond the olive trees and banks of hollyhock and rose.
> The air smelled sweet, and a girl was waving a stick
> At some crows so far away they seemed like flies.
> Her mother, wearing a cape and shawl, shielded her eyes.
> I wondered from what, since there was no sun. Then someone
> Appeared and said, "Look at those clouds forming a wall, those crows
> Falling out of the sky, those fields, pale green, green-yellow,
> Rolling away, and that girl and her mother, waving goodbye."
> In a moment the sky was stained with a reddish haze,
> And the person beside me was running away. It was dusk,
> The lights of the town were coming on, and I saw, dimly at first,
> Close to the graveyard bound by rows of cypress bending down,
> The girl and her mother, next to each other,
> Smoking, grinding their heels into the ground.
>
>      - Mark Strand
>
>
>
>
>
>
> P Bees are not optional.
>
>
>
>


--
John S. Ascher, Ph.D.
Bee Database Project Manager
Division of Invertebrate Zoology
American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West @ 79th St.
New York, NY 10024-5192
work phone: 212-496-3447
mobile phone: 917-407-0378

On Wed, Apr 28, 2010 at 8:37 PM, John S. Ascher <ascher@...> wrote:

 

Sam and Cheryl,

In my experience, conspicuous bee activity begins precisely when the

earliest native willows start blooming. This can happen when there are

still large patches of snow on the ground. In the mountains, it can be

warm enough at midday for bee flight (ca. 55 deg. in the sun) even when

night and average temps are still low. I've found Andrena and other bees

in considerable abundance early in spring at high alpine passes where

willow is in bloom, even though it still appeared "too early" for general

flowering and bee activity at substantially lower elevations.

Thus I recommend starting sampling on the first day with warm enough air

temps for bee flight (ca. 55 deg?) within the blooming season of Salix at

the elevation of interest (ask local botanists). Snow will likely still be

present. If you wait until spring has fully arrived and there is general

flowering you may miss Salix specialists, and in particular protandrous

males of the earliest-emerging Andrena species.

Good luck!

John

> Sam,

>

> Snowpack varies widely among years, so yes, your approach makes sense.

>

> Classic early season alpine and subalpine flowers are the pasqueflowers

> (refers to Passover and Easter, as they bloom about that time of year if

> not

> buried). I have seen their blooms poking up through snow. The eastern

> pasqueflower, Pulsatilla patens, occurs in the Rocky mountain chain. The

> white pasqueflower, Pulsatilla occidentalis, replaces it further west in

> the

> Sierras and north.

>

>

>

> Cheryl Fimbel

>

> The Nature Conservancy

>

> Olympia, WA

>

>

>

> From: beemonitoring@yahoogroups.com [ mailto:beemonitoring@yahoogroups.com]

> On Behalf Of Sam Droege

> Sent: Wednesday, April 28, 2010 12:37 PM

> To: beemonitoring@yahoogroups.com

> Subject: [beemonitoring] What is the Phenological Start of the Bee Season

> in

> Western Alpine areas?

>

>

>

>

>

>

> All:

>

> As part of a large National Park Service Project we will be surveying

> alpine

> areas from the Southern Rockies and Sierra's up into Alaska. Since the

> bee

> season varies in alpine systems so greatly among years and localities we

> are

> trying to slice out a relatively similar phenological window to do

> surveys.

> We are thinking that it would be useful to use some set of early season

> flowers as a flag to when surveys should begin.

>

> So are questions are:

>

> 1. Does this make sense?

> 2. What set of flowers could be used that would encompass that geographic

> range and capture about the same window?

> 3. Do you have alternative suggestions or see potential problems?

>

> Thank you.

>

> sam

>

> Sam Droege sdroege@...

> w 301-497-5840 h 301-390-7759 fax 301-497-5624

> USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

> BARC-EAST, BLDG 308, RM 124 10300 Balt. Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705

> <Http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/> Http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov

>

>

>

>

> Velocity Meadows

>

> I can say now that nothing was possible

> But leaving the house and standing in front of it, staring

> As long as I could into the valley. I knew that a train,

> Trailing a scarf of smoke, would arrive, that soon it would rain.

> A frieze of clouds lowered a shadow over the town,

> And a driving wind flattened the meadows that swept

> Beyond the olive trees and banks of hollyhock and rose.

> The air smelled sweet, and a girl was waving a stick

> At some crows so far away they seemed like flies.

> Her mother, wearing a cape and shawl, shielded her eyes.

> I wondered from what, since there was no sun. Then someone

> Appeared and said, "Look at those clouds forming a wall, those crows

> Falling out of the sky, those fields, pale green, green-yellow,

> Rolling away, and that girl and her mother, waving goodbye."

> In a moment the sky was stained with a reddish haze,

> And the person beside me was running away. It was dusk,

> The lights of the town were coming on, and I saw, dimly at first,

> Close to the graveyard bound by rows of cypress bending down,

> The girl and her mother, next to each other,

> Smoking, grinding their heels into the ground.

>

> - Mark Strand

>

>

>

>

>

>

> P Bees are not optional.

>

>

>

>

--

John S. Ascher, Ph.D.

Bee Database Project Manager

Division of Invertebrate Zoology

American Museum of Natural History

Central Park West @ 79th St.

New York, NY 10024-5192

work phone: 212-496-3447

mobile phone: 917-407-0378

I will be out of the office starting 05/13/2010 and will not return until 05/18/2010.