Author Archives: Matt Bowser

Defoliation of spruce by aphids around Kachemak Bay

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Green spruce aphids from the Homer Bench, 12.June.2015.

Aphids from spruce at the Homer Bench, 12.June.2015.  Photo courtesy of Karin Sonnen (USDA NRCS, Homer).

Mitch Michaud (USDA NRCS, Kenai), phoned me regarding substantial defoliation of spruce at Halibut Cove and the Homer bench. At Halibut Cove, spruces had been dropping many needles.

Aphids were the culprit, but the identity of the aphids has not yet been established.

Spruce defoliation due to aphids

Browning spruce needles due to aphid infestation, 9.June.2015.

Browning of spruce needles.

Browning of spruce needles.

Spruce trees damaged by aphids, 9.June.2015.

Spruce trees damaged by aphids, 9.June.2015.

Alder (Alnus incana tenuifolia) mortality agent complex effects on riparian zone habitat

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Distribution of alder dieback mapped during 2011 Aerial Detection Survey.

Distribution of alder dieback mapped during 2011 Aerial Detection Survey.

The report including this chapter was published in May 2015.

Citation:
Kruse J.J., L. Winton, N. Lisuzzo, G. Adams, K. Zogas, and S. Swenson. 2015. Alder (Alnus incana tenuifolia) mortality agent complex effects on riparian zone habitat. pp. 187-195 in Potter, K. M. and B.L. Conkling, eds. Forest health monitoring: national status, trends, and analysis 2013. General Technical Report SRS-207. U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Asheville North Carolina. http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/48361

First New World Record of Paradelphacodes paludosus (Flor 1861) (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea : Delphacidae) in Alaska

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UAM:Ento:164292, lateral view

UAM:Ento:164292, lateral view. Media details: http://arctos.database.museum/media/10430146

The article appeared in this month’s issue of Entomological News, available at the URI below.

http://dx.doi.org/10.3157/021.124.0511

Citation:
Charles R. Bartlett, Stephen W. Wilson, Derek S. Sikes. 2015. First New World Record of Paradelphacodes paludosus (Flor 1861) (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea : Delphacidae) in Alaska. Entomological News 124(5):370-372.

Specimen record:
http://arctos.database.museum/guid/UAM:Ento:164292

2015 AKES Newsletter posted

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The March 2015 Newsletter of the Alaska Entomological Society is now available at the URI below.

http://www.akentsoc.org/doc/AKES_newsletter_2015_I.pdf

Cover of AKES Newsletter 2015, issue IIn this issue:

  • First record of a cluster fly (Calliphoridae: Pollenia) in Alaska
  • What is a specimen? What should we count and report when managing an entomology collection?
  • Moths land on Murkowski’s desk—Senate Resolution 70
  • Two new Lepidoptera host plant relationships
  • The DNA barcoding UAMU Project: Testing the insect identification power of DNA barcoding technology
  • Review of the eighth annual meeting

Presentations and poster from the 8th annual meeting

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Presentations from the 8th annual meeting are available via the links below.

We’re getting there: a first look at (cheap!) next-generation barcoding of bulked arthropod samples
Matt Bowser, USFWS Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.

Evaluation of Lure and Trap Design to Survey for Longhorned Beetles in Southeast Alaska
Elizabeth Graham and AM Ray, USDA Forest Service.

Patterns of terrestrial insect diversity on the Seward Peninsula and notes on an Elenchus sp. (Strepsiptera: Elenchidae) host interaction
Molly McDermott, UAF, IAB.

Alaska Lepidoptera Club
Kathryn Daly, UAM.

A preliminary phylogeny of the rove beetle genus Phlaeopterus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Omaliinae)
Logan Mullen, UAF, UAM.

Hymenoptera assemblages in aspen-dominated and black spruce-dominated post-fire successional trajectories in boreal black spruce forest of interior Alaska
Alexandria Wennigner, UAF, UAM.

Analysis Challenges in Citizen Science Data
Greg Breed UAF, IAB.

Nicrophorus vespilloides (Coleoptera: Silphidae): One species or two?
Derek Sikes, UAF, UAM.

Microarthropod abundance and community structure across a boreal forest riparian chronosequence in Interior Alaska
Robin Andrews and Roger Ruess, UAF, IAB.