Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada (Terrestrial Arthropods)

Material Requested

Areas of Interest

Collecting Methods, Notes

Name of Requester

**

1

Acari (free living and parasitic terrestrial and aquatic mites)

Anywhere, but especially subarctic and arctic Canada, Canadian grasslands

Berlese-Tullgren funnel extraction from subaquatic substrates, from grasses and sedges, and from bird and mammal nests, would be especially fruitful (preserve in 75% ethanol +5% glycerine)

V.M. Behan-Pelleier; E.E. Lindquist; I.M. Smith

1

2

Adelgidae (confier wooly aphids)

Anywhere

Preserve insects and bark, needes or galls in 70% ethanol. Specimen records and host plant records.

R. Foottit

1

3

Aleyrodidae (whiteflies)

North America

Preserve insects and host plant material in 70% ethanol. Adults may be dried. Specimen records and host plant records (Canadian National Collection deficient in all species, including pest species).

1

4

Anthomyzidae

New World

Adults from any habitat, but often associated with graminoids. Preservation in 70% ethanol preferred. Maliase and especially pan trap residues are acceptable and valuable. General description of herbaceous cover and soil moisture advantageous.

K.N. Barber

2

5

Aphididae(aphids)

Anywhere

Preserve in 70% ethanol. Specimen records and host plant records

R. Foottit

1

6

Asilidae(robber flies)

North America

Pinned adults.

R.A. Cannings

3

7

Braconidae

Anywhere

Pointed or in ethanol.

M. Sharkey

4

8

Bumble bees

Anywhere in Canada

Include floral host if any. Collect and preserve dry (but specimens that have already been put into ethanol are acceptable).

R.C. Plowright

5

9

Ceratopogonidae

Anywhere in Canada

Send in fully topped-up vials of 70% ethanol. Reared material is especially valuable; provide type of substrate or habitat if material is reared

A. Borkent

6

10

Cercopidae(froghoppers, spittlebugs)

Canada and Alaska

Specimens (preferably not in ethanol if possible), records and host records.

KG.A Hamilton

1

11

Chalcidoids,especially Eupelmidae

Holarctic

Incl. sweep-net samples (see also 42) (collect into ethanol). Reared material is especially useful.

G.A.P. Gibson

1

12

Chironomidae: Larsia (Tanypodinae)

Nearctic and palearctic fresh waters

Reared material preferred but will accept all stages in ethanol or on slides

Bohdan Bilyj

7

13

Chironomidae: Eukiefferiella, Tvetenia (Orthocladiinae)

All areas, especially Ontario

Mounted or unmounted and preserved in acetic alcohol (70 ethanol: 25 water: 5 parts glacial acetic acid). Include accurate (species level) host plant information.

W.B. Morton

8

14

Chrysomelidae(leaf beetles)

Anywhere, but espcially in Canada

Mounted or unmounted and preserved in acetic alcohol (70 ethanol: 25 water: 5 parts glacial acetic acid). Include accurate (species level) host plant information.

L. LeSage

1

15

Cicadellidae (leafhoppers)

Canada and Alaska

Specimens (preferably not in ethanol), records and host records

KG.A Hamilton

1

16

Coccoidea(scale insects)

North America

Preserve insect and host plant material in 70% ethanol. Specimen records and host plant records

R. Foottit

1

17

Coleoptera (adults or immatures)

Canada

For teaching. Material from mass collections accepted. (Kill larvae in boiling water removed from the heating element, let cool and transfer to 70% ethanol.)

Y.H. Prévost

9

18

Coleoptera(identified

Northern Canada

Will collect S. Ont. in exchange; has N.W.T. duplicates to exchange for identification.

A. Morgan

10

19

Collembola (literature)

Nova Scotia

Taxonomic literature required in the study of Collembola in N.S

B. Wright

11

20

Curculionidae (weevils

Anywhere, but especially northern Canada

Adults can be pinned, pointed, or preserved in ethanol. Record host plant information if possible.

D.E. Bright

1

21

Cynipidae: insect galls from domestic and wild roses

Anywhere

Maturing to mature galls. Remove galls from plants and place in plastic bags. Try to segregate galls of different species. Preserve any emergents in 70% ethanol.

J.D. Shorthouse

12

22

Dermaptera: Forficula auricularia (perce-oreille européen / European earwig)

Amérique du Nord et autres régions si possible

A sec ou dans l’alcool.

J.C. Tourneur

13

23

Diprionidae (diprionid sawflies)

North America

Living diprionid sawflies of any species, identified or unidentified. Record foodplant. Contact in advance about shipping.

L Packer

14

24

Dytiscidae(predaceous diving beetles)

Canada, Alaska and northern USA

Adults and larvae; adults should be pinned or if in ethanol preliminarily sorted.

D.J. Larson

15

25

Eupelmidae: Anastatus

North America

Reared materials with associated sexes are particularly important, regardless how few in number.

G.A.P. Gibson

1

26

Formicidae (ants)

Anywhere

Record type of habitat and nest site. Include brood if possible (preserve in ethanol).

A. Francoeur

16

27

Fungal pathogens of insects (esp. deuteromycetes and ascomycetes)

Anywhere

Place any fungus-infected specimens in a vial. (Identification of the fungus available on request.)

D. Strongman

17

28

Halictidae (sweat bees) brown and black spp. only

North America

Particularly from blueberries. Pinned or preserved. Include flower record if available.

L. Packer

14

29

Hemiptera: Heteroptera (bugs)

Anywhere

Aquatic and semi-aquatic Heteroptera from acid waters (an indication of pH would be useful). Terrestrial Heteroptera from bogs. Preserve in ethanol.

G.G.E. Scudder

18

30

Hydracarina: Sperchon (Unionicolidae)

J.C. Conroy

19

31

Insects on snow

Especially western mountains

Chionea (Tipulidae), Boreus (Mecoptera), Capniidae (Plecoptera): preserve in 70% ethanol.

S. Cannings

20

32

Isoptera (termites)

N. America incl. Mexico

Preserve in 75% ethanol; try to collect as many soldiers as possible.

T.G. Myles

21

33

Leiodidae (=Leptodiridae)

Northern forest and tundra areas; prairies and grassland

Most easily collected by window traps or flight intercept traps; and car nets (Can. Ent. 124: 745, 1992) (collect into ethanol).

S.B. Peck

22

34

Lepidoptera

Arctic

For revisionary work on the holarctic fauna.

J.D. Lafontaine

1

35

Lepidoptera

Manitoulin Island and surrounding islands

Records for use in monograph of the region. Information on old records from collections would be particularly welcome.

J.K. Morton

23

36

Lygaeidae

Anywhere

Material can be collected in ethanol.

G.G.E. Scudder

18

37

Mallophaga

Anywhere

Preserve specimens in 70% ethanol; host species is extremely important.

T.D. Galloway

24

38

Microlepidoptera (excluding Pyralidae and Tortricidae)

North America, esp. west in dry/arid habitats and prairies (CNC deficient in all western species

Include collecting method and time of day collected. Kill with ammonia fumes. Field-pin; instruction leaflet and field kit available on request

J.F. Landry

1

39

Milichiidae

Anywhere

Malaise traps are particularly productive; also any found in association with ant nests extremely appreciated. Preserve in 70% ethanol.

J. Swann

25

40

Odonata (dragonflies)

North America

Include 2-3 word habitat description. Adults preferably in envelopes or papered, prepared by immersing in acetone for 24 hours, then dried; larvae in 70% ethanol.

R.A. Cannings

3

41

Opiliones (harvestmen)

Canada and adjacent states

Preserve in 75% ethanol, especially adults with notes on habitats.

R. Holmberg

26

42

Parasitic Hymenoptera

Anywhere

Including selected unsorted Malaise, suction, pan or pitfall trap collections (pan trap kits and instructions supplied free on request).

L. Masner

1

43

Phoridae

Anywhere; especially boreal

Collect into 70% ethanol: especially interested in Malaise trap samples from boreal forest.

B.V. Brown

27

44

Pipunculidae (big-headed flies)

Anywhere in North America

Adults can be pinned, pointed or preserved in ethanol.

E. Georgeson

28

45

Psyllidae

North America

Preferably preserve in glycerine or dried. Specimen records and host plant records.

R. Foottit

1

46

Pteromalidae: Pachyneuron

North America

Reared materials with associated sexes are particularly important, regardless how few in number.

G.A.P. Gibson

1

47

Scelionid egg parasites of Orthoptera

Anywhere

Especially from Grylloidea; preserve in ethanol.

L. Masner

1

48

Simuliidae (black flies)

North America, esp. western and northern species

Preserve larvae in Carnoy’s solution (1 glacial acetic acid: 3 absolute ethanol). Reared adults with associated pupal exuviae preferred. Instructions available on request.

D.C. Currie

25

49

Siphonaptera (fleas)

Anywhere

Preserve specimens in 70% ethanol; host species is extremely important

T.D. Galloway

24

50

Solpugida (sun spiders)

Canada

Preserve in 75% ethanol, especially adults with notes on habitat.

R. Holmberg

26

51

Sphaeroceridae

Anywhere, esp. arctic or high elevations

Collect into ethanol. Acalyptrate fraction of trap samples welcomed.

S.A. Marshall

29

52

Symphyta (sawflies)

Boreal and arctic Canada

Larvae and adults collected by Malaise trap, sweeping, etc. (collect into 70% ethanol). Identify larval food plant as far as possible.

H. Goulet

1

53

Thysanoptera (thrips)

North America

Preserve in 70% ethanol). Specimen records, habitat, host plant records where applicable.

R. Foottit

1

54

Trichoptera (caddisflies)

Anywhere

Larvae, pupae and adults, especially collections that might lead to species identification of larva through association with adult. Preserve adults dry or in 80% ethanol, larvae and pupae in Kahle’s fluid or 80% ethanol.

G.B. Wiggins

25

55

[Identifications]

British Columbia

Material from B.C. will be exchanged for identification: B.C. species of Hymenoptera-Apoidea; Diptera-Sciaridae, Trichoceridae, Syrphidae, Heleomyzidae, Platypezidae, Tachinidae, other anthophilous and fungicolous taxa; Coleoptera-Nitidulidae, Cerambycidae, Malachiidae, Dasytidae, Buprestidae, Mordellidae.

H. Nadel

3