The Gloworm

28 June1999
Volume 7: no. 6

June has been full! We started the month with camp, which was a blast. There were 52 campers after the dust all settled, with folks from Florida to Illinois and places in between in attendance. We divided into `bug groups' this year and that was an invitation to get the competition going. Those campers who really wanted to go home with a collection, got one. Luna moths were probably the most sought after prize this year, but there were a number of other `neat' insects available, as well. The daytime collectors had a great selection of dragonflies this year. I don't think I've ever seen as diverse a selection of Odonata as is available at Wall Doxey State Park. The park personnel were great (campers should write them a note of thanks!). After camp I also had a collection of baseball caps - it's really interesting what I get to collect each year besides insects - sorry guys they went in file 13! We're already beginning to formulate plans for Entomology Camp 2000. The majority of campers asked that we consider having it on MSU campus next year, so we are exploring that idea and moving ahead with it. We're open to suggestions about camp, so send them in. If you haven't visited the `bugcamp WWW' check it out at - www2.msstate.edu/~mrwms/bugcamp.

Both 4-H Club Congress, for seniors, and Project Achievement Days, for Juniors, was an entomological success this year. Thanks to all the participants and congratulations to all the winners. 4-H entomology projects strive to make learning fun and I think we are succeeding.

Andrea Patterson of Itawamba county took top honors in the Insect ID, Insect Collection and Entomology Visuals at 4-H Club Congress. She's our first ever triple crown winner in senior contests.

The most hotly contested events in entomology were the Linnaean Games. We had a total of 17 teams of 4 compete. Questions are submitted by each team for the competition 3 weeks prior to the games. Then each team prepares from the 4-H Entomology Manual. Four Companies joined with the Mississippi Entomological Association to `sweeten the pot' with cash prizes to the winners. The Senior team received $100 for each team member and the Junior winners in each district received $25 for each team member. Our sponsors are Bayer, Dow Agroscience, Novartis, and Zeneca. The Games were already growing in popularity, but this should make them take root and boom! Thanks guys and the young folks thank you too!

Oktibbeha County David Willers - 3rd Caleb Layton - 1st Thomas Hannigan Tee Thompson

Covington County Stephen Baker - 2nd Kate Humphrey Trish Clark James Gibson

Attala County Rebecca Oakes Rebecca Armstrong Morgan Burdine Blake MacDavid

Attala County Alex Gregory Steven cullen - 2nd Josh Thrasher Johnathan Massey

Yalobusha County Allen Holland - 1st Audrey Harrison Adam Jefferys Andrew Jefferys

Pike County Nicki Rose - 2nd Justin Nettles - 1st Delorean Hall Dominique Steptoe

Copiah County Zach Cawthorne - 3rd Gregory Holloway Bernard Robinson Samatha McCardle

Forrest County Rachel Bayes Season Johnson - 3rd Rebekah Carson Erica Shafer - 1st

Covington County Alan Humphrey - 2nd Brandi Nicholson Shauna Dickens Brian Nicholson

Lee County David Rhea Stephen Rhea - 3rd Joseph Rhea - 1st Harry Howell

Tishomingo County Beau Nichols Joseph Burns Donovan Cain Dewayne Morgan

Oktibbeha County Katie McFadyen Andrea Hannigan Andrew Beggs Blake Bennett

The American Beekeeping Federation has announced the 2000 Essay. For the turn of the century 2000 essay contest, the essay topic is "Honey Bees and Humans through the Centuries." The Mississippi Contest deadline is December 1, 1999. Mississippi contest winners also receive cash awards for the top 3 essays from Mississippi, compliments of the Mississippi Beekeepers Association. State awards are $100, first place, $75 for second and $50 for third. National awards are $250, $100 and $50. The contest rules are being mailed to 4-H agents, so check with them about the essay or look on the 4-H entomology web page at Mississippi State Extension Service.

We have once more saved a small space to talk about that which brings us - insects! Summer days, early in the morning or late in the afternoon are ideal times to chase the ever elusive dragon flies. They and their cousins the damsel flies are almost always associated with water and can be found around both large and small bodies. There is a neat listing on Odonata on the INTERNET at - http://www.hanslope.demon.co.uk/dragonfly.

Dragonflies are probably the ideal insect to begin with to learn identification skills. They are relatively large and usually brightly and distinctively colored. They can easily be observed with the naked eye or a pair of close focus binoculars on warm summer days. I'm not saying that identification is trivially easy, many of the damselflies need close inspection to be sure of the species, but they are certainly easier to identify than beetles many of which look very similar indeed. Taken from the web page of G. H Mahoney, a British Dragonfly enthusiast!

Collecting dragonflies using Rob Cannings's method:
1) Use a long-handled aerial net at least 18" diameter. Dark net may be preferable to a light one.
2) Watch awhile before swinging at a patrolling dragonfly. This will allow you to position yourself most advantageously. Choose a concealed location if possible. Move deliberately, keeping the net as inconspicuous as possible until the moment of truth.
3) Swing at fast-flying, agile species from behind as they fly by; many will easily dodge a net swung head-on.
4) Place the live specimen in a glassine envelope (3.5" x 2.25" is best), the wings together above the back. Place pairs caught in tandem in the same envelope if possible. If too large to go together in a single envelope, indicate that they were in tandem on both envelopes. Write the collection number cross-referenced to field notes or full collecting information on the envelope in ink which will not dissolve and run in acetone, if they are to be so treated.
B) Preparing:
1) In the field, keep the envelopes containing live dragonflies in as cool a place as possible. Store in a non-crushable box, such as plastic Tupperware or similar fare.
2) Since the color of some species fades soon after capture (e.g. some Aeshna), soak them in acetone as soon as is practical. From Terry Morse - http://www.afn.org/~iori/morse2.html

Happy Bugging!