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.

Saturday, August 20th: Whitefield (Lincoln County) – Honey Bees and field day at Charlene Donahue’s home.

Coordinator: Charlene Donahue.

If you have ever wondered about what goes on inside a honey bee colony, now is your chance to get up close and see for yourself the amazing life of bees. Beekeeper Brian Mason will open a bee hive, show MES folks what is happening inside and answer questions. There are also unoccupied hives for those who have never seen the “guts” of a hive and all the tools beekeepers use. This will take place from 10:30- 12:00.  If you have a head net, be sure to bring it – one for mosquitoes will work – and a long-sleeved shirt. You can also stand back a way and still hear without getting in the bee flight zone.

 After lunch (bring your own) you are welcome to explore Charlene and Brian’s property. One side of the road has a recently cleared area, wet area and woods, the other side has gardens, woods and trails down to the Sheepscot River.

DO PLEASE contact Charlene Donahue if you're planning to attend: call 485-0960 or by e-mail at donahuecp15@gmail.com. Charlene can give you her address and directions per request and RSVP.

Join us July 9th at 10 a.m. for an exploration of the Coastal Mountains Land Trust in Belfast, ME! This property offers trails through open fields, oldish growth forests (with a fair amount of invasive honeysuckle!), a shallow stream area, and a river. You can read more about the property in this article by Aislinn Sarnacki (BDN).

We will gather at Head of Tide Preserve at 10:00am. Habitats include the Passagassawakeag River where aquatic insects can easily be found clinging to rocks at water’s edge. Trails wind through open fields often teeming with insects in the tall grasses and wildflowers and pine trees of this 92-acre preserve. We have been given permission to collect specimens. We will provide CMLT with a list of species found.

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 insect repellent, water, and a lunch or snacks. Bring collecting gear and/or a camera if you plan to collect specimens or photos. There are no restroom facilities so plan accordingly.

For those interested in further exploration, the Stover Preserve directly across Doak Road offers a mile-long trail winding through 53 acres of forested habitat (where volunteers are making progress hand-removing invasive shrubby honeysuckle).

For more information and trail maps of Head of Tide and Stover Preserves see https://www.coastalmountains.org/get-outside.

Directions:

The preserves are on either side of Doak Road, near its north end, in Belfast, ME. From downtown Belfast, take Main Street west and immediately turn right onto Waldo Avenue. In 1.5 miles, turn right onto Doak Road. Parking area is on the right. The parking lot for Head of Tide Preserve is about 1 mile down Doak Road

Note: This event is co-hosted by MES and Coastal Mountains Land Trust and is organized by Kathy Murray (MES member) and Roger Rittmaster (CMLT Board Member and MES member). Questions?: Kathy Murray ( kdmurray50@gmail.com).

As a courtesy, please let Kathy Murray (kdmurray50@gmail.com) know if you're planning to join us!

Property Map (or print a PDF):

Save the date! More details to come.

Happy Birthday to M.E.S. ~ Saturday, June 4th, 2022 - in Augusta!

Join us in Augusta on Saturday, June 4th, for a celebration of the 25th anniversary of M.E.S.! M.E.S. was founded at what is now the Viles Arboretum in June, 1997, by a group of entomologists and enthusiastic amateur "bug collectors."

The celebration starts at 10:00 a.m. and will be held in the New Education Center at the Arboretum. We'll celebrate M.E.S. accomplishments and history with testimonials, short presentations and a catered lunch from 11:30 - 1:00. Those desiring the catered lunch must pre- register with Anna Court (by phone at 207-474-8691 or email at annaagnesleecourt@gmail.com) so we have an accurate count. There will be many photos of insects, a slide show of past activities, newsletters and insect information pamphlets to take, an M.E.S. webinar to view, and a variety of M.E.S activities to learn about.

If you have photos of past M.E.S. events that you'd like to share in the slideshow, please e-mail them to Mike Parisio (michael.parisio@maine.gov) before June 1st. If you have any insect-related items that you no longer want or need, bring them to raffle them off to raise money for MES. This could be decorations, insect toys, jewelry, paintings, books, collecting equipment, etc.

In the afternoon, weather permitting, we'll photograph, collect and identify insects on the grounds. Viles Arboretum has about 6 miles of trails on 224 acres, including open fields, meadows, and forested areas available for exploring and collecting. Bring your own collection materials, although we will have some equipment to loan.

Children and families are welcome! RSVP to Anna Court, M.E.S. secretary at 207-474-8691 or via e-mail at annaagnesleecourt@gmail.com if you're planning to attend, whether or not you desire the catered lunch. If you have any questions, call Dana Michaud at 207-872-7683, or email him at djmichaud1@gmail.com.
Directions:

From the north: Starting where 201 intersects Route 9 at Cony circle on the eastside of the Kennebec, head south on Route 9 (Hospital Street) for 1.1 miles, and turn left at the light onto Piggery Road. Take an immediate right into the public parking lot. The kiosk at the northwest corner has a trail that goes to the Arboretum.

From the south: Drive up Route 9, which becomes Hospital Street in Augusta. The Arboretum will be on your right, at 153 Hospital Street; go past it for 0.1 miles. Turn right at the light onto Piggery Road, and hang an immediate right into the park-and-ride lot.

Join MES in southern Maine to look for the rare Ringed Boghaunter - Williamsonia lintneri.

If you have not, please watch the Ringed Boghaunter Webinar Archive, and feel free to download and print out this PDF file of a “cheat sheet” for field identification.

Mark Ward will lead us to a known location that has not been surveyed in about 10 years. There will be no collecting of this species, but Mark has a permit and hopefully we can find one to observe.

The location is about a 20-minute woods walk so be prepared with appropriate foot wear, sun protection and fluids. The area will have plenty of other locations to explore from woodland to open bog to the marshes around the slow-flowing Buff Brook.

We will be eating lunch around our vehicles in typical MES style. It is unknown if there are facilities at either of the Barrens parking areas. The closest town, Waterboro, is about 9 miles away and there is a Hannaford another 4 miles up Route 202.

Please contact Peter Darling by text at 207-899-7173 or by email at petedarlingii@yahoo.com if you plan on attending.

Directions:

From the north, going south on Interstate 95, take Exit 32, Biddeford. At the light, turn right onto Route 111 toward Alfred. In Alfred, turn right onto Kennebunk Road, just before the York Superior Court building. This street meets up with Route 202 a short way up, just past the Baptist Church. Turn right on Route 202 (*), and travel a bit more than a half mile, to where Gore Road splits to the left. Take the left onto Gore and travel about a mile and the road splits again with Gore going to the left. Continue left on Gore. At Ross Corner, the road changes to Newfield Road. Continue straight on Newfield for 1.1 miles and a dirt road splits to the right. Take this right on Tyng’s Mill Road and then right in 60 feet onto Round Pond Road. This is also dirt. A short way up on the left is a parking lot for Waterboro Barrens but we are not meeting there. Continue up Round Pond Road for 3⁄4 of a mile until the road splits - go left. This meets up with Buff Brook Road in less than 500 feet. Turn left on Buff Brook and continue for 3⁄4 miles and we will meet at the lot on the left just before the gate. Estimated time from Exit 109 in Augusta to the lot is 1 hour and 40 minutes.

From the south, going north on Interstate 95, take Exit 19. At the light, turn right on Route 109, Sanford Road. In 9 miles, turn right on Route 4 and continue to Alfred where Route 4 merges with Route 202. Continue on 202 through Alfred and follow the directions above beginning at (*).

The GPS coordinates of the meeting place are 43.609654, -70.799755.

This presentation will cover information on the most common ticks in Maine as well as potential new species. We will discuss the ecology of ticks, including their complex relationship with various hosts, host-seeking behavior, off-host activity, and life history. Additionally, we will discuss the Maine Forest Tick Survey- a community science project that was created to understand how land management impacts ticks.

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 river and wetlands across the road. Plus a beeyard.

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. Once you contact Charlene, she can provide you with directions.

The Nature Conservancy, the University of Maine, and the Maine Departments of Environmental Protection and Inland Fisheries and Wildlife initiated the Maine Aquatic Biodiversity Project in 2000 to evaluate current knowledge of Maine's freshwater plants and animals.This project was the first ever attempt to pull together what we know about Maine's freshwater biodiversity.The Maine Aquatic Biodiversity Project focused on aquatic vascular plants, insects and other invertebrates, and fish in Maine's lakes and streams. The final report was issued in 2009. Dave's talk will focus on the Project's findings related to freshwater insects and current data collection and resources that may be of interest to Maine's entomology enthusiasts.