MES Webinar Series: Sublethal Pesticide Exposure and Its Effects on Insect Behavior and Respiratory Function by Joe Staples

In this talk, I summarize ongoing research in the Environmental Entomology and Chemical Ecology Laboratory (EECEL) at USM, examining the subtle yet profound impacts of sublethal pesticide exposure on insects. Even at doses far below lethal levels, pesticides and pollutants can quietly disrupt fundamental activities of insects, including foraging, navigation, communication, and reproduction. Our recent findings raise broader questions about how small disruptions in insect function may ripple through ecosystems, gradually diminishing their capacity to provide essential ecosystem services like pollination and pest control. In considering this, we are once again reminded that these minute yet remarkable organisms wield the greatest influence—not only on the web of life we all share but also on the future we must navigate together.

Eagle Hill Institute: Maine’s Natural History Gem
(AKA Summer Camp for Adult Nature Nuts) by Roger Rittmaster with Joerg Lotze

Located in Steuben Maine, Eagle Hill is nationally recognized for excellence in teaching natural history.  However, many nature enthusiasts in Maine are unaware, or only vaguely familiar, with Eagle Hill’s offerings.  In this webinar, Roger Rittmaster will interview Joerg Lotze, the director and founder of Eagle Hill, about the past, present and future of this great institution. 

The webinar, co-sponsored by the Maine Entomological Society (MES), Maine Mycological Association and Josselyn Botanical Society, will take place on Thursday, November 14 from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. 

MES Annual Meeting at Bob Nelson’s home in Clinton. Collecting from 10-12, pot luck lunch, business meeting. Coordinator: Bob Nelson.

MES Field Day: Reynolds Forest, Sidney, ME

Join us for a combined MES-Kennebec Land Trust (KLT) field day in Sidney (central Kennebec County) on Saturday, September 7th (rain day on the 8th). Theresa Kerchner will be there for the KLT, and Dana Michaud is leading for the MES.

The actual site is the Reynolds Forest Wildlife Management Area on West River Road (State Route 104).

We'll meet at 10:00 a.m. in the parking area along Route 104. Major habitats include mixed hardwood-softwood forest, old hayfields, and an active cascading stream with waterfalls and a broad floodplain area, Goff Brook. There is an easy hiking trail that includes a loop to the old 18th-century homestead site.

From I-95, take the Lyons Road exit in Sidney, and go east. Since both off-ramps are 180-degree U-turns, if you've come from the north, this will mean turning right at the end of the off-ramp, whereas those coming from the south will turn left. Lyons Road comes to a "T" and ends at West River Road. Turn right and go about 3.3 miles; the parking area is a modest turnout along the highway - please conserve space in parking. This will be about 0.6 miles south of the Sidney boat landing and recreation area, after the road has bent to the right and gone into a low. It's directly across the road from a driveway, immediately after you've crossed Goff Brook. There's a small KLT sign there. A street address of 2740 West River Road should get you there via GPS.

Bring lunch, drinks, your collecting or photography gear, insect and tick repellant, and your enthusiasm! Watch for poison ivy by the parking area; there are no restroom facilities available on-site.

Do let Dana Michaud know (djmichaud1@gmail.com or by phone at 872-7683) if you're planning to come.

MES Field Day: Gregory Sanborn Wildlife Management Area, Fryeburg

We will meet at Clay Pond near the Eastern Slopes Regional Airport in Fryeburg at 10:00 a.m. and explore the pitch pine/scrub oak habitat in the vicinity. This is an unusual habitat for Maine and offers a chance to find less-common species.

Bring collecting and photography gear, including gear for aquatics collecting if you're interested in that, as there is access to Clay Pond itself. Don't forget tick protection! There is no restroom on the premises, but the town of Fryeburg is only a 5-minute drive away.

Directions: I recommend using GPS to find this destination, especially from the north. (Use "Clay Pond Road, Fryeburg Maine" as your search item, NOT the WMA name, which won't bring up any results.) However, if you can't, see below.

For questions, call Gail Everett at 207-955-6420.

* From the south, take Route 25 north to Standish and then 113 to Brownfield. From Brownfield Country Market go 4.2 miles to turn left onto Lyman Drive (the airport road), then 0.4 miles to Clay Pond Road on the left. Follow the MES markers to the small parking area.

* From the north or east, take exit 63 off the Maine Turnpike, then go south on Route 202 to North Windham. Pick up Route 35 to Sebago Lake, then 114 to a left onto Boundary Road to Steep Falls. In Steep Falls pick up 113 and continue to the site as described above.

*From the west, take Route 302 from Conway, NH, to Fryeburg, where it will join with routes 5 and 113. Turn right at this junction and drive 3.9 miles to a right onto Lyman Road, then 0.4 miles to Clay Pond Road.

MES Field Day: Camden Snow Bowl

Camden Snow Bowl/Hosmer Pond Field Trip - Camden

Sunday, July 21st, 2024 10:00 a.m. – noon (or longer)

Join us July 21st at 10 a.m. for a foray at the Camden Snow Bowl, jointly sponsored by MES and Coastal Mountains Land Trust. This is a repeat of a field trip that we did last year that was immensely popular, both for MES members and the many members of the public who participated. This property offers a mixture of open mountainside fields, mixed forests, a stream, wet meadows and a lake. During a NABA butterfly count at this location and time about 10 years ago, 22 species were recorded, including the spectacular Bronze Copper and several species of hairstreaks. For those interested, there are trails to the top of Ragged Mountain, at over 1200 feet elevation. Participation by novices is encouraged for this educational event.

We will gather at 10:00 a.m. in the parking lot of the Snow Bowl. Be aware that disease-carrying ticks are prevalent in this area. You are advised to wear protective clothing (long pants tucked into socks, long sleeves, hat and repellent). Be sure to pack water and a lunch or snacks. Bring collecting gear and/or a camera if you plan to collect specimens or photos. Close-focusing binoculars will be helpful, as well as rubber boots if you wish to explore the wet meadows with Bob Nelson.

Contact Roger Rittmaster (roger.rittmaster@gmail.com) to confirm your participation and for notification of any last-minute changes.

MES Field Day: Maine Forest & Logging Museum, Bradley

Join us at the Visitors Center of the Maine Forest and Logging Museum in Bradley at 10:00 a.m. on June 1st, at an actual working museum demonstrating forest practices over history. There are opportunities to wade in for water bugs as well as walk in the woods, and explore a babbling brook as well. Lots of edge and shore habitats!

Bring your camera or collecting gear, insect/tick repellant, lunch (and snacks, if wanted) and drinks, and dress for whatever Mother Nature delivers for the weather. Hiking boots are probably appropriate for going into the forest, and waterproof boots if you want to explore the wetlands. There are both picnic tables and outhouses on the grounds.

Contact Victoria Hansen (vhansen@myfairpoint.net) with any questions.

Directions: The Maine Forest and Logging Museum is located at 262 Government Road, off Maine State Route 178 in Bradley, halfway between Milford and Brewer.

From the south, take I-95 north to Exit 182A, which will put you on I-395. Get off at Exit 4 onto State Route 15, and turn right to go toward Bangor/Brewer/Route 9. Take Route 9 from Brewer 4 miles towards Eddington. Turn left onto Route 178 and follow it towards Milford (north) for another 4.5 miles. A large, brown Maine Forest and Logging Museum sign will be on the left, but the entrance and Government Road will be on the right directly across from the sign.

From the north, take I-95 south to Exit 197 and turn left onto Route 43. Follow Route 43 to the intersection with Route 2 in downtown Old Town. Turn left onto Route to Milford, cross the river and then turn right onto State Route 178. Travel south 4.8 miles to Government Road on the left (directly across from the large, brown sign for Maine Forest and Logging Museum on the right). Follow Government Road for about a mile, bearing right at the fork in the road.

Please park in the visitor parking lot.

Our website is: https://www.maineforestandloggingmuseum.org

Map of the grounds: https://www.maineforestandloggingmuseum.org/map

Light Pollution as a Driver of Insect Declines by Avalon Owens

Insect populations around the world appear to be declining rapidly. But why? While habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change all have something to do with it, I assert in this talk that light pollution is another often overlooked bringer of the insect apocalypse. Light pollution interferes with the development, dispersal, foraging, and reproduction of diverse insect taxa, including nocturnal pollinators and charismatic flagship species such as fireflies. Unlike other anthropogenic threats, light pollution can be cheaply, easily, and instantly eliminated — yet recent innovations in lighting technology have only made the problem worse. I conclude by highlighting a few simple things we can all do to help protect the night sky, fireflies, and the foundations of ecosystems worldwide.

Cover image Credit Billy Hickey. See more of his work here: https://billyhickeyphoto.com/

Pinning Workshop/Work Day at the Maine State Museum Collection

Monday, April 15, 2024; 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

MSM Annex, 10 Water St. Hallowell, Maine

DO PLEASE contact Charlene Donahue if you're planning to attend:

call 485-0960, or by e-mail at donahuecp15@gmail.com

Learn how to properly pin and label insect specimens for identification and future study. The Maine State Museum (MSM) has tens of thousands of specimens that need pinning and labelling so that they become valuable bits of the scientific world rather than dead bugs in a jar. Or bring your own material to work on.

If pinning is not your jam, the MSM collection always needs curating. The collection needs sorting out at all levels - from samples that have not been sorted even to order to identified specimens that need to be incorporated into the collection. Lots of labelling - proper labels need to be added to specimens and drawers and cabinets labelled so we can find things. There are specimens that need identifying to any level. There is sure to be a job for you and others to work with on a project that never ends.  AND we provide on the job training!

Come for whatever your schedule allows that day. There is no food or drink allowed in the annex so plan on heading out to a nearby restaurant for lunch. Wear warm clothes as the Annex is cool and dry (to reduce insect and fungal infestations in the collections).

Please let Charlene Donahue know (via e-mail: donahuecp15@gmail.com or 485-0960 if you plan on attending.

Directions: The MSM Annex is in the back part of the Maine Lottery building.

From the North: Take exit 109A from I-95 S heading toward Augusta on Western Avenue. After 0.5 mile, at the light by the Fire Station (before Burger King), turn right onto Armory Street. Merge left onto Capitol Street. In 0.8 mi turn right onto State Street. In another 0.8 mi. turn left into the parking lot of the temporary home of the Maine State Museum staff and warehouse. (If you pass the cemetery, you have gone too far.)

From the South: Go through Hallowell on Route 201. Pass the Hallowell Cemetery, which will be on your right. Take the next driveway into the first parking lot on the right. (If you pass the old Dairy Queen, you have gone too far.)

Enter the building by the wooden steps next to the tractor trailer, where the sign says “ENTRANCE.” The outer door will be locked so call Charlene when you get there and we will come open it.

Aquatic Insects, Lifestyle, Behavior and Fly Tying by Eric Frohmberg

In this presentation I will talk about mayflies, caddisflies, stoneflies and a few other aquatic insects and crustaceans that are fed upon by trout and salmon. I will talk about behavior and lifestyle and how those behaviors are imitated by anglers. Lastly, I'll review the history of fly tying and how anglers have imitated the shape, behavior and lifestyle of aquatic insects using natural and synthetic materials, and how that has turned into an art form of its own.

First Field Day of the Season: Maple Syruping & Insects: Saturday, March 23rd!

**CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER**

DO PLEASE contact Charlene Donahue if you're planning to attend:

call 485-0960, or by e-mail at donahuecp15@gmail.com

Saturday, March 25: Whitefield (Lincoln County) - Maple Syrup and Insect Collecting at Charlene Donahue’s home. Join us from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Maple syrup buckets often contain a fascinating assemblage of insects, plus there are insects on tree boles, in the woodpile and tucked in other nooks and crannies this time of year. There is a seep open all winter down near the Sheepscot River at the foot of the slope, and wetlands across the road. Plus, we have a bee yard.

In years past, we've found thousands of springtails atop the snow, and watched stoneflies pop to the surface of the Sheepscot River. You never know what early fauna will show up!

Come visit a backyard sugar operation, enjoy the company and collect a bug or two or maybe more. Each year yields different surprises. 

Dress for the weather and be sure to wear boots; bring snowshoes if conditions permit, as well as your lunch and drinks. If the sap cooker is running, there are usually people hanging out, and it's a laid-back time (until a batch of syrup is ready to come off!).

DO PLEASE contact Charlene Donahue if you're planning to attend: call 485-0960, or by e-mail at donahuecp15@gmail.com .

Directions are included in the Weekly Forewing, or ask Charlene. Her home address will not be posted on this public website.

Live Free and Pollinate: An Investigation of Native Bees Across New Hampshire Apple Orchards by Shyloh Favreau

As of 2017, New Hampshire’s apple orchards spanned 1,458 acres, hosting a rich assortment of over 50 apple varieties, and ranked as the fifth most cultivated crop by acreage in the state. Since 2006, beekeepers lose an average of 30% of their bees annually, increasing the cost of honeybee rentals for farmers. Consequently, due to these rising costs, there has been a significant shift in focus towards utilizing native bees for their pollination services. This study endeavors to establish a comprehensive statewide census of native bee species within apple orchards during bloom, and investigate whether orchard management practices, surrounding landscapes, and climate serve as predictors for native bee communities across the state. This project involved sampling twenty-two orchards over a span of 17 days in May 2023, ensuring representation from at least two orchards in each of New Hampshire's ten counties.

Browntail Moth Winter Webs - Their Winter Fortress or Achilles Heel? by Ellie Groden

***Please Note: This is webinar is on the FIRST Thursday, due to a scheduling conflict.***

I will talk about collaborative studies with UMaine colleagues and students investigating the structure of browntail moths' silk overwintering webs and our experiments aimed at targeting overwintered larvae in their webs.

Backyard Leafminers by Charley Eiseman

***Please Note: This is a TUESDAY webinar, due to a scheduling conflict.***

Leafminers are insect larvae that spend at least part of their lives feeding between the epidermal layers of leaves. In North America they include over 2000 species of moths, flies, beetles, and sawflies, belonging to over 50 different families. These insects are typically quite host-specific, and the form of the mine varies considerably depending on what insect produces it. As a result, it is often possible to identify the responsible insect using only the host plant and mine characteristics. After a decade of reviewing the relevant literature, traveling throughout the continent, and collecting and rearing thousands of leafminers, Charley has completed a guide to the North American species that includes keys to the mines found on each plant genus. This slideshow presentation will introduce the major groups of leafminers, drawing all of the examples from among the 200+ species he found in his yard in 2020.

Are Insects Declining in Maine? by Frank Drummond

Insect decline is of great concern as they are fundamental in ecosystem function and health. As an introduction this webinar reviews some of the important studies conducted to provide evidence of insect decline across the globe. Insect decline is not an easy phenomenon to prove, it is fraught with difficulties. Some of these difficulties will be described before describing what appears to be the case with insect decline in Maine. Between 2021 and 2022 the speaker received several historical datasets (17) of insects sampled across Maine. A subset of these datasets were assessed for evidence of insect decline. The statistical methods used to investigate the trend of insect community species richness, total abundance, and individual species occurrences over time are discussed. Overall, evidence of arthropod decline was found in Maine across several taxa ranging from moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera) and dragonflies (Odonata) to flower flies (Syrphidae in the order Diptera) and bees and ants in the order Hymenoptera. The taxa showing the least decline were cursorial spiders (class Arachnida) and aquatic benthic macro-invertebrates (several classes of arthropods and annelids). However, the decline in Maine does not appear to be as massive as that recorded by other researchers in Europe, Latin America, and other parts of the U.S.

Dancing in the Dark: Identification of Platygastrid Parasitoids for Use Against the Blueberry Gall Midge Complex by Monique Raymond

In taxonomy "dark taxa" are hyperdiverse clades which have relatively low rates of formal description. In our efforts to identify biocontrol agents of pests, this "dark" status stands in the way of finding biocontrol candidates, or understanding pests themselves. Our exploration of platygastrid (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea) parasitoids of the Blueberry Gall Midge Complex (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) has uncovered heightened levels of complexity in blueberry systems in Maine and New Hampshire, producing many lessons (and many more questions!) along the way.

MES Annual Meeting at Bob Nelson’s home in Clinton. Collecting from 10-12, pot luck lunch, business meeting. Coordinator: Bob Nelson.

Our last field day of the season is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on September 9th at the Good Will - Hinckley campus of Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield (Somerset County).  We'll meet behind the Maine Academy of Natural Sciences administration building.   Turn onto Easler Road from U.S. Route 201, between this building and the L. C. Bates Museum; coordinates for the turn are 44.6626, -69.6259.   This is opposite a big new solar array on the east side of Route 201.   Go up the hill between the buildings, and turn left into the parking lot towards the greenhouses.

Habitats include a small pond, fields, and forest pockets.   Access to more extensive forest and the Kennebec River is available across Route 201, where there's also a very active rail line.   The L. C. Bates Museum will be open from 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., and has restroom facilities. 

Bring all your regular collecting gear, drinks, water, lunch, insect repellant, etc.  There are picnic tables at the site for lunch.  Bob Nelson (BeetleBob2003@gmail.com) is coordinating this for Dana Michaud, who's been called out-of-state.

More information about the L.C. Bates Museum here.

A map of trails on the property is here.

iNaturalist - an engaging app for amateur and professional naturalists

Since its inception in 2008 as a graduate student project, iNaturalist has progressively improved as a site to record and organize nature findings, meet other nature enthusiasts, and learn about the natural world. Not only can it often identify an unknown species in a photograph from anywhere in the world, it can help connect you to individuals with expertise about that species. In this talk, I will provide an introduction to iNaturalist and then explore the myriad ways we can get the most from this amazing app.

A Writing Workshop for Naturalists - Jump-Start your Newsletter Piece

Registration is FREE! $10 donation appreciated.

PRE-REGISTER BY THURSDAY, April 13

For More Information: email Kathy Claerr at kclaerr1@comcast.net 

A writing expert will help us share our entomological or natural history experiences with others. Think about what you might like to write up for a newsletter: an interesting field observation?  A new technique?  Short biography of an underappreciated entomologist?  A photo quiz?  Poem?  Perhaps there’s a topic about which you’re clueless but curious – here’s an opportunity to learn and pass on what you find.

In this half-day workshop we begin by reading and discussing some sample pieces, moving beyond our initial reactions of “I like it” (or “I don’t”) to uncover the authors’ choices about how to frame their subject, reach their intended audience, and structure their writing. 

Using this awareness of the many choices an author makes, we ask participants to work on a piece of their own writing.  Participants should come with a project in *any* stage of development (an idea, an outline, notes, or a draft).  

We’ll do at least one round of “workshopping” everyone’s efforts, at whatever stage they’re at.  This means we’ll share our projects in a small group and give constructive feedback to each other.

Each participant should end the day with a draft naturalist’s project for a newsletter and a network of fellow readers and writers willing to offer support and feedback as they move that project to completion.

We will take a mid-workshop break for lunch.

Please bring:

1. A project or idea you’d like to work on

2. A laptop or wifi-capable device if you have one, even if you plan to write using pencil and paper

3. Bag lunch, and travel mug

Workshop leader:

• Seri Lowell, former Science Writing Specialist at Bates College and Editorial Associate at the Journal of Mammalogy.

Directions to Hallowell Fire Department Coos Lane

From the North

I-95S Exit 109 for U.S. 202/ Western Avenue, at Augusta.

Proceed east on U.S. 202/ Western Avenue about 1.4 miles.

At the round-about, exit for State Street/Rt 201 South

Proceed about 1.5 miles to Winthrop Street in Hallowell

Turn right on Winthrop Street. Proceed up the hill.

Coos Lane is about 0.5 miles on the right. The Fire Department is on the left of Coos Lane.

From the South

I-95 N Exit 102 OR I-295 N Exit 49, near Gardiner

Turn onto Rt 126 East toward Gardiner. Your turn will be Left off of the exit from I-95, or Right off of the exit from I-295.

Proceed a little more than 4 miles (depending upon which exit you have taken) into Gardiner. 

Turn left onto U. S. 201 North.

Proceed 4.3 miles to Winthrop Street in Hallowell

Turn left onto Winthrop Street. Proceed up the hill.

Coos Lane is about 0.5 miles on the right. The Fire Department is on the left of Coos Lane

Insects of Maine's Wild Blueberry

Maine's wild blueberry is a fascinating and iconic Maine crop with a rich history of entomological research. In this talk, we'll go through some history of that research and the current research into managing pests and beneficial insects in this unique agroecosystem.

First Field Day of the Season: Whitefield - Saturday, March 25th!

DO PLEASE contact Charlene Donahue if you're planning to attend:

call 485-0960, or by e-mail at donahuecp15@gmail.com

Saturday, March 25: Whitefield (Lincoln County) - Maple Syrup and Insect Collecting at Charlene Donahue’s home. Join us from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Maple syrup buckets often contain a fascinating assemblage of insects, plus there are insects on tree boles, in the woodpile and tucked in other nooks and crannies this time of year. There is a seep open all winter down near the Sheepscot River at the foot of the slope, and wetlands across the road. Plus, we have a bee yard.

In years past, we've found thousands of springtails atop the snow, and watched stoneflies pop to the surface of the Sheepscot River. You never know what early fauna will show up!

Come visit a backyard sugar operation, enjoy the company and collect a bug or two or maybe more.

Dress for the weather and be sure to wear boots; bring snowshoes if conditions permit, as well as your lunch and drinks. If the sap cooker is running, there are usually people hanging out, and it's a laid-back time (until a batch of syrup is ready to come off!).

DO PLEASE contact Charlene Donahue if you're planning to attend: call 485-0960, or by e-mail at donahuecp15@gmail.com .

Directions are included in the Weekly Forewing, or ask Charlene. Her home address will not be posted on this public website.

The aleocharine beetles (Staphylinidae - rove beetles) of New Hampshire (and Maine) - the promise and challenges for use of these rove beetles in biodiversity studies.

The largest subfamily (Aleocharinae) of the largest beetle family (Staphylinidae) is still poorly known in the United States. The biology, diversity, collecting techniques, and reasons why the subfamily has been so poorly known will be discussed, as well as the promise for expansion of knowledge for the diversity of Maine as is currently being done for New Hampshire and has been down for Canada.

Black swallow-wort (Vincetoxicum nigrum) is an agricultural and ecological invasive pest that has established itself across New England and parts of eastern Canada. Over the course of this summer the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry investigated the effectiveness of using Hypena opulenta as a biological control for Black swallow-wort. This investigation involved going to previous release sites and searching for evidence of established Hypena opulenta populations. The other part of this investigation was a controlled release of Hypena opulenta and recording how effective the release was at controlling Black swallow-wort.

About the 2023 Winter Workshop

Deep Inside Insects

Registration

The registration fee will be $20, or $35 for the registration fee along with a new (or annual renewal) of an M.E.S. membership (a $2 discount from the normal online renewal price of $18!).

Please click on an option below to register* online, or bring cash or a check to the event:

*Registration will not automatically send a confirmation link. This is a manual process which may take up to 3 days to send. Please email the webmaster, Hillary Peterson with any questions.



Registration information at the bottom of the page

In this presentation we will explore the biology, life history, behavior, and ecological importance of some of the common wasps found in Maine.

Once you add the registration to your cart, scroll to the top of the page and click the cart icon to finish your purchase and receive the PDF download!

MES Annual Meeting at Bob Nelson’s home in Clinton. Collecting from 10-12, pot luck lunch, business meeting. Coordinator: Bob Nelson.

And you don’t even need air fare!

Join us at 10:00 a.m. for a funtastic opportunity in several habitat types at Florida Lake Park, Freeport, Maine. Upland mixed deciduous and predominantly deciduous forest, grass, stream, shallow lake and marsh areas, and a hemlock stand. There are no facilities. Bring collecting gear, water, insect repellant, and lunch. A folding chair, hip boots and enthusiasm are optional. Parts of trails can be wet if we have rain—boots might be a good choice. Ten bucks to anyone helping me carry my kayak in! From I-295, take Exit 22, the Freeport-Durham Exit, and get onto Route 125/136 North towards Durham. At the blinking yellow light, turn right onto Route 125 (Wardtown Road). Drive 2.4 miles to a blue Florida Lake sign on the right. Follow the dead-end access road (Frenchs [sic] Run on Google Earth) to the parking area. There is also an entrance off Baker Road, but we will meet at the parking area at the end of Frenchs Run.

Contact Kathy Claerr (kclaerr1@comcast.net or via phone at 207-666-3551) to confirm whether you'll be joining us.