Predicting spruce beetle voltinism and flight time in western Canada using a model developed in the United States

The ability to predict voltinism and key phenological events such as flight time for forest pests can inform management decisions and aid in assessing the effect of climate change on outbreak risk. We assessed the performance of the spruce beetle voltinism model (Hansen et al. 2001b), which was developed using data from whole standing trees in Colorado, Utah, and Alaska, against observations from field sites in British Columbia, Alberta, and Yukon to determine its potential for use in western Canada. Modifications were also made to the model interface in BioSIM, a software tool for running temperature-driven phenological models, which give users the option to adjust model assumptions and predict univoltinism at six different height-aspect combinations on standing trees. Predicted and observed univoltinism were similar and the modifications to the interface facilitate using the model to predict univoltinism in downed trees based on the output for ground level, north aspect on standing trees. For the period 2021-2050, the voltinism model predicts a high probability of univoltinism in downed trees east of the Rocky Mountains and parts of central and southern British Columbia, which could facilitate outbreaks following wind events or other disturbances. Predictions of peak flight time were usually close to those observed, but there were several differences of 3-4 weeks. The spruce beetle voltinism model developed by Hansen et al. can be used to predict peak flight date and univoltinism in standing and downed trees in western Canada with some caveats and local knowledge.  &nbsp

Primary insect type specimens in the University of British Columbia – Beaty Biodiversity Museum – Spencer Entomological Collection

This paper, the first in a series on the insects of the Spencer Entomological Collection at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum – University of British Columbia includes a comprehensive listing of primary types in this collection. A brief history of the University of British Columbia entomology holdings is outlined. Included in this catalog are 94 primary types (including seven nomen nudum specimens) listed with original label data and references to original descriptions. Additionally, high resolution images of the specimens are included

An association between invasive apple clearwing moth, Synanthedon myopaeformis (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) and necrotic cankers on Malus domestica trees in British Columbia

Sudden apple decline (SAD) is complex disease causing rapid mortality in apple trees across North America, typically associated with a necrotic canker near the graft union. To date, causal factors have been diverse and speculative, and infestation with Synanthedon myopaeformis (apple clearwing moth) was identified by producers in British Columbia as a concern related to the disease.  Assessments of declining orchards in 2019 showed an association between incidence of necrotic cankers and infestation of S. myopaeformis. Observations of tree stems 15 cm above the graft union showed that 100% of signs of S. myopaeoformis infestation (pupal casings, exit holes, frass) were in necrotic tissue. There was a positive correlation between necrotic canker size and count of S. myopaeformis signs.  It is unlikely that S. myopaeoformis infestation is the underlying cause of SAD, but this observational field investigation suggests a relationship between infestations and presence of necrotic cankers, which may be an additional stressor contributing to apple tree collapse associated with SAD

Calliphoridae Community Composition in Sunlit and Shaded Areas during Early Colonization in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia

Necrophagous insects, particularly some species of blow fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae), are extremely useful in medico-legal entomology, as they colonize a body very shortly after death, if conditions are appropriate. Their species and development rates can be used to estimate their tenure on the body and so infer minimum time since death. As many blow flies have specific geographic and seasonal ranges, as well as habitat preferences, their presence on a body can also be used to infer whether a body has been moved from the original death scene. This study focused on the preferences for bait in sunlit or shaded areas. Eighteen beef liver-baited traps were deployed weekly at three sites, equally between sunlit and fully shaded areas. Eight species of blow fly were collected with the dominant species being Lucilia illustris (Meigen), L. sericata (Meigen), Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy and Calliphora latifrons (Hough). There was no difference between Calliphora spp. between trap placements, but Lucilia species were collected more frequently at sunlit sites, although statistical differences were only seen with L. illustris. Higher numbers of all insect species were collected in sunlit traps. This study indicates necrophagous insect preference, or lack thereof, for carrion sites and is important in determining which species may indicate a specific habitat

The first observation of the louse, Tricholipeurus lipeuroides (Psocodea: Trichodectidae), infesting mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in the Yukon, Canada

Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) have dispersed into the Yukon relatively recently, within the last hundred years or so; however, ectoparasites of deer in the Yukon have not been well documented. Hides from salvaged and harvested mule deer were examined as part of a survey for the presence of the winter tick, Dermacentor albipictus (Packard). During routine examination of a hide from a mule deer buck in 2020, two females of the biting louse, Tricholipeurus lipeuroides (Mégnin), were detected. The buck had been harvested approximately 25 km north of Whitehorse. These specimens represent the first record of this species infesting mule deer in the Yukon

Chaetoleon pusillus (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Brachynemurini), a new genus and species of antlion for Canada

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Strepsiptera in the Western Washington University Insect Collection and Royal British Columbia Museum

Strepsiptera are parasitic insects that primarily develop in Hymenoptera and Hemiptera. The diversity of species in Canada and the Pacific Northwest of the USA remains poorly documented. I conducted an examination of the potential host specimens and holdings in the Western Washington University Insect Collection and the Royal BC Museum to discover previously unreported records for five species from two families. New records for Halictophagus americanus (Perkins), Halictophagus callosus Bohart, Halictophagus mackayi (Bohart), Xenos peckii Kirby, and Leionotoxenos tigridis (Pierce) are presented for British Columbia, Yukon Territory, and Washington State

Biodiversity and community composition of ground-dwelling invertebrates across three disturbance regimes in a sub-boreal spruce forest

Natural and anthropogenic disturbances are closely tied to changes in biodiversity and ecological communities. Previous research has reported that ground-dwelling invertebrates exhibit a range of responses to different disturbance regimes. To investigate changes to community composition and biodiversity following forest harvest, we used pitfall traps to sample ground-dwelling invertebrates in the Aleza Lake Research Forest in British Columbia’s central interior. We collected and compared pitfall trap catches using family-level identifications in new plantations (11 years post-harvest), stands with a harvest history (>40 years since harvest), and old growth stands (no record of harvest). Community compositions differed among the three disturbance regimes and Bray-Curtis dissimilarity indicated that β-diversity was highest in new plantation stands. A small but non-significant increase in α-diversity was also observed in new plantation stands compared to the other two forest types. These findings are consistent with previous work in the boreal forest, which reported increases in ground-dwelling invertebrate biodiversity following disturbance. Three families (Agriolimacidae, Formicidae, and Lycosidae) were significantly associated with new plantation stands and could potentially be used as indicators of forest disturbance or to monitor stand succession post-harvest. This study provides a foundation for future work on invertebrate biodiversity in sub-boreal spruce forests, which would benefit from using species-level identifications and measuring environmental conditions associated with disturbance regimes