Category Archives: Uncategorized

Day of Insects: 2015

The 7th annual Day of Insects is being held at Iowa State University’s Reiman Gardens in Ames, Iowa on Saturday, March 28th. Enjoy a day filled with presentations from professionals, academics, advocates, and enthusiasts! This year’s topic’s include a behind-the-scenes look at the Bugguide website, prairie butterfly conservation, and a variety of other topics. See all the details here: http://www.reimangardens.com/collections/insects/day-of-insects/

To attend the Day of Insects, you must register by March 23rd at the website above to reserve your spot. Your registration fee includes admission, lunch and snacks throughout the day.


Interested in learning more about insects? Join the Iowa Insects Mailing List.

WES Newsletter Archive

To go along with the website updates over the past year, one task has been to digitize all of the WES newsletter for archival purposes. Now that this task has been completed, the newsletters have been made freely available to WES members and the public on the Newsletter Archive page which can be found under the “publications” tab in the menu bar.

Happy Reading!

Fall 2014 Meeting Recap

Our 2014 fall meeting was held on Saturday, November 1st on the UW-Madison campus.  Attendance was good and nearly two dozen members and friends of WES showed up to participate.  Highlights of the meeting included a “teaser” presentation by Kyle Johnson regarding his 2-month long collecting trip to Alaska during the summer of 2014 (a full presentation has been promised for spring 2015), a presentation by Susan Borkin on the current status and conservation effort for the Poweshiek Skipperling (Oarisma poweshiek), and our annual photo salon competition.

As always, we had a number of excellent photographs submitted to the annual photo salon competition.  Third place went to Nancy Collins for her photograph of a Forbes’ tree cricket (Oecanthus forbesi) on a flower with a paper wasp (Polistes sp.).  In second place was Kyle Johnson with a photograph of the Fawn Sallow (Psaphida styracis).  Karl and Dorothy Legler submitted the first place photograph of a Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor), which was reared and released into their yard this past summer.

Pipevine Swallowtail released in yard by Karl & Dorothy Legler
Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus styracis) released in yard; Karl & Dorothy Legler; 1st Place
Fawn Sallow (Psaphida styracis) resting on oak leaf; Kyle Johnson; 2nd Place
Fawn Sallow (Psaphida styracis) resting on oak leaf; Kyle Johnson; 2nd Place


Forbes' Tree Cricket (Oecanthus forbesi) flirting with Polistes wasp; Nancy Collins; 3rd Place
Forbes’ Tree Cricket (Oecanthus forbesi) flirting with Polistes wasp; Nancy Collins; 3rd Place

 

 

2015 Beekeeping Classes

Keeping bees can be a fun a rewarding hobby but can be a bit intimidating to get started.  Luckily, beekeeping classes are offered by different organizations to help teach the skills needed to get your hives started.  In early 2015, two different organizations are hosting beekeeping classes in the Madison area.

Jeanne Hansen of the Dane County Beekeepers Association will be hosting several day long ‘Beekeeping Classes’ at the Dane Co. Extension Building this winter and spring.   Beginners Classes will repeat on Jan 31, Feb. 28, March 28, April 11 and May 2, 2015. A more advanced “Second Step Class” will be held on March 21, 2015.  All classes run from 9am – 4pm. The fee of $50 covers coffee, handouts, free sample journals and catalogues, and props galore for you to handle. Individual, hands-on mentoring is also available, $20 for 2 hours in the apiary. To register, contact Jeanne Hansen at 608-244-5094 or jeanniealabeannie@yahoo.com.  Additional information about the sessions can be found here.


In addition, Mad Urban Bees will be hosting several winter beekeeping classes at the Goodman Center in Madison.  Classes are being offered on Jan 18th, Feb. 7th, and Feb. 21st.  All classes run from 10am – 4pm.  The fee of $60 (or $100 for a pair) covers coffee/tea, honey samples, and a wide range of educational topics. Additional information about these classes can be found here.

2014 Fall WES Meeting

An update regarding the upcoming WES meeting has been posted on the Meetings and Events Page.

Late Season Event at Avon Bottoms Wildlife Area

Join us for some late-season collecting this coming Saturday (October 18th) at the Avon Bottoms Wildlife Area in Rock County.  We’ll plan on having both light traps and sugar baits for moths and other insects.  If interested in joining us, please contact either Kyle Johnson (kejohnson4@wisc.edu) or PJ Liesch (pliesch@wisc.edu) to RSVP.

Check the Meetings and Events page as we get closer to the weekend for weather-related updates.

Erickson Wetlands part 2

The details for the WES collecting event at Erickson Wetlands have been finalized!  The event will officially start at 4:00 PM on July 26th.  Directions to the Wetlands property and parking information can be found on the Meetings and Events page.  Everyone is encouraged to join in on the fun!

National Moth Week Event at Erickson Wetlands

We’re happy to announce that the Wisconsin Entomological Society will be holding an official event in celebration of National Moth week.  The event will be held on Saturday July 26th, 2014 at the Erickson wetlands property near Argyle, WI.  The event is being hosted in cooperation with the Driftless Area Land Conservancy.   The newly established Erickson wetlands property borders a portion of the Pecatonica River and is in need of a biotic survey.  By participating, we’ll be able to contribute to the knowledge of the insect fauna on the property.

The event will be starting in the afternoon for some daytime collecting and will continue after dark with baiting and light traps for moths.  Anyone is welcome to stop by and participate.

The final details (parking directions, times) are being worked out and will be posted shortly on the Meetings and Events page of the WES website.

National Moth Week

National Moth Week is being held from July 19-27, 2014.  Keep an eye on the website for any potential WES outings.  Wherever you are this summer, get out and celebrate moths!

WES Digital Library

We’re happy to announce that WES has something big in the works!  Recently, Les Ferge pulled out his WES newsletters from day one and had them digitized.  We’re currently working on a WES Digital Library, where you’ll be able to access these newsletters.  Keep an eye out for updates!