El Bosque Nuevo - A Sustainable Enterprise

Stephen R. Madigosky, Widener University

The current loss of species worldwide rivals anything documented in the history of Earth. Most of this has been in equatorial zones where forests are being eliminated by unsustainable agriculture and timber harvests. This has driven some organizations to acquire and protect land of unique biological value. It is in this spirit that the El Bosque Nuevo Reserve was established in northern Costa Rica. El Bosque incorporates aspects of creative farming to produce sustainable products. Profits from this venture are then used to purchase biologically diverse forests. The focus of this session will review these practices.

Biodiversity Conservation in Action

Stephanie J. Sanchez and Jaret C. Daniels, University of Florida/ BFCI

Due to their tremendous popularity, butterflies engender public support that can successfully leverage attention to a larger conservation message. This flagship model is inherent to the overall missions of the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity and the Butterfly Conservation Initiative (BFCI). Through research, interpretation, and education comes environmental engagement, stewardship and ultimately long-term conservation.

Conservation of the Endangered Miami Blue Butterfly in Florida

Jaret C. Daniels, University of Florida

The Miami blue (Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri) (Lycaenidae) is one of the most imperiled insects in North America. As part of a large-scale, model cooperative recovery program led by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, the National Park Service, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the Miami Blue Working Group, efforts are underway to conserve the butterfly through captive propagation, organism reintroduction, public education, and research on the biology, population ecology, genetic diversity, and non-target impact of mosquito control adulticides.

More Bees, Please. Farming for Native Bee Conservation

Faith B. Kuehn, Delaware Department of Agriculture

Managed and feral European honeybee (Apis mellifera) populations have declined significantly in the United States, due to mites and diseases. As many fruit and vegetable crops depend upon insect pollination, there is interest in fostering populations of native pollinators, especially native bees. The spatial arrangement of agricultural areas, especially preserved farmlands, and management of field borders and set aside areas present good opportunities to develop native bee conservation programs. This paper will outline the native bee survey, conservation and education programs currently being developed in Delaware.

Techniques for the field capture and captive rearing of North American Jerusalem crickets (Orthoptera: Stenopelmatidae)

David B. Weissman, California Academy of Sciences and David Lightfoot, Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico

North American Jerusalem crickets (Stenopelmatus and Ammopelmatus) are charismatic arthropods and have great potential for live public display. The taxonomy of the Jerusalem crickets is poorly known, but currently under intensive investigation by us. We have developed techniques for the successful field capture and captive rearing of Jerusalem crickets, which have limited laboratory tolerances to variation in environmental factors including temperature, humidity, food quality, feeding schedules, and possibly photoperiod. We hope that the field collection and rearing methods that we have developed and will present, will prove useful to others wishing to collect, rear, and display Jerusalem crickets.

Jumping Spiders: Colorful and Fascinating Organisms for Demonstrations of Behavior, Ecology and Systematics

David B. Richman, New Mexico State University

The spider family Salticidae is the largest spider family known, with over 5000 species as of 2006. They are visual hunters of other arthropods, with complex prey capture strategies, and often have ornate color patterns in the males, which are used in courtship. Males also often have complex agonistic displays. Easily collected and maintained, they can be used in classroom, lab and in field presentations to demonstrate a number of different behaviors, ecological relationships and taxonomic and evolutionary problems.

The Little Giant: The Natural History and Captive rearing of the Florida Pink Millipede. (Narcus americanus)

John Matuszek, Brookfield Zoo

There are little giants that live in the woods of the Eastern United States. Growing up to four inches long and three-eights thick, the millipede, Narceus americanus is not the largest of the world’s millipedes but is a giant among its regional relatives. They are easy to display and are exceptionally useful as an educational animal. Their natural history is familiar but Narceus americanus holds that special attribute which is that it can be found in many people’s back yard.

Social Responsibility and the Butterfly Farmer

Zane B. Greathouse, Greathouse Butterfly Farm, Inc.

Social responsibility and sustainability practices are certainly hot topics in our industry. Typically they are discussed in the context of butterfly production in an underdeveloped tropical country. This is a report of one North American butterfly farm’s plan, practices and results as they work towards their goals of social responsibility and sustainability.

Butterfly House Carrying Capacity and Making the Most of Your Pupae Budget

Michael Weissmann, Kallima Consultants, Inc.

How many butterfly pupae should and exhibitor purchase each week to have a good display? This seemingly simple question has only one real answer – it depends! Building design features, plant selection, species varieties, climate control, personal preferences, and many other factors play into the decision. This paper will address the variables that need to be considered when deciding how many butterflies your exhibit can support. It will also explore simple changes you can make that could help you get more “butterfly for your buck”.

Mosquito Control and Butterfly Populations: Myths and Realities

Michael Weissmann, Kallima Consultants, Inc.

Butterfly populations appear to be decreasing around urban and suburban regions of the United States. While the reason for this is likely complex and multifaceted, many misconceptions exist regarding the role that mosquito control programs may play in this population reduction. This presentation will detail current mosquito control practices and speculate on the real effect, if any, that these efforts may have on local butterfly numbers.

Integrated Pest Management Before the Pests Arrive

Mark R Hardin, HCPSS and R. Trevor Lubbert, NIH

The focus of this presentation is methods for pest exclusion, pest proofing, and reduction of pest introduction into exhibit areas. Exhibits of all types from wall aquarium displays to full open arboreta are used to display invertebrates and the number one way to manage pest problems in these areas is through non-chemical Integrated Pest Management principles. Both urban, structural pests such as rodents and unwanted roach species and horticultural pests such as aphids and scale insects will be discussed. Specifically we will present examples from NIH animal care facilities, the National Zoological park, and the Smithsonian Institution's temporary butterfly exhibit, "Nature's Jewels" where we worked as IPM practitioners and consultants that demonstrate exclusion, inspection, and treatment methods for pest management that can be applied to both new and old invertebrate exhibits.

How Visitors React to the Addition of Arthropod Displays in the Tropics Building at John Ball Zoo

Daniel Hemmann, John Ball Zoo

In 2006, the John Ball Zool renovated its Herpitarium/Nocturnal building into the "Treasures of the Tropics" building. As part of this renovation, a bare wall was changed to house three arthropod exhibits. In the spring of 2007, a survey was taken to determine how visitors respond to the new exhibits. In addition, observations were made to determine the length of time visitors spent at these exhibits in comparison to the length of time spent with comparable vertebrate exhibits in the same building. Results will be presented along with how these results may shape plans for future invertebrate displays.

The Future is Here! Welcome to the New Cockrell Butterfly Center!

Erin Mills, Cockrell Butterfly Center

Since opening in 1994, the Cockrell Butterfly Center has been an immensely popular attraction in Houston. Guests have been amazed and awed by the beautiful and strange creatures that greet them inside. However, after 13 years of operation, the exhibits in the insect zoo were starting to age, and the Entomology hall, which housed a large portion of the museum’s prized collection, was all but ignored. A makeover was long overdue. The lobby, Insect Zoo, and Entomology Hall were completely overhauled to create a space where children and adults of all ages could explore and learn in an interactive environment.

“No One Speaks English And Everything’s Broken…”

Bob Merz, Saint Louis Zoo

The challenges were daunting. The project was to create a sustainable, outdoor, invertebrate-themed exhibit at a small, rural zoo in Madagascar. The barebones zoo had no electricity or running water, but it did have an immensely imaginative staff with more than enough enthusiasm to see the project through. Collection of invertebrates was limited to what could be found on zoo property. The paper will explore, in detail, what worked and what didn’t work in this five-week process, as well as the current status and reception of the exhibit by the zoo’s visitors.

Social Living: Social Insect Colonies

Sule Oygur, The Newark Museum

This exhibit examines social living through observation of three live social insect colonies: the leaf cutter ants (Atta cephalotes) , the honey bees (Apis mellifera) and the giant damp-wood termites (Zootermopsis angusticollis). The presenter will explain how this exhibit was designed to illustrate nest building, food gathering and food storage, and the communication among the members of each colony. She will relate her personal observations, positive and negative experiences, suggestions, and reactions from the visitors.

Buggering About in El Salvador

Martin Feather, San Antonio Zoo and Wayne Wehling, USDA

In May of 2006 we visited El Salvador as guests of Francisco Serrano, owner of Bioproductores De El Salvador. This presentation chronicles our journey from San Salvador to Francisco's butterfly farm, on to El Impossible National Park and finally up into the mountains bordering Honduras and Guatemala for 4 nights of night collecting in the cloud forest.

How Many Maggots?

Sven P. Strnad, Millstone River School

During a three week summer program, middle school students experienced forensic entomology “up-close and personal” as they monitored daily the sequence of insects colonizing small deer killed by automobiles. Along the way, the young investigators were exposed to general insect biology and taxonomy, insect ecology, insect collecting, pinning and rearing techniques and skeleton preparation. A “teachable moment” occurred when one young researcher asked, “Wow, how many maggots are there on that deer?”. To answer this real-world question, they unexpectedly had to apply basic math problem solving skills. The program excited the students, their families, friends, school staff and administrators alike.

Invertebrates and Inquiry Based Education

Jacqueline Genovesi, The Academy of Natural Sciences

Almost every institution has Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches, which means almost every institution can teach a great inquiry based scientific methods class. This talk discusses the Academy’s new class for 3-6 graders using these versatile invertebrates. It discusses how others in the field are using live animals and makes suggestions for moving the field forward from show and tell to visitor-centered hands-on interaction.

Teaching Forensic Entomology: Let The Flies Tell the Story

David Faulkner, Forensic Entomology Services

Presenting a topic dealing with death and decay has its challenges. When insects are thrown into the mix, it can sometimes be impossible to separate the methods from the invertebrate messangers. That is why the insects are allowed to carry the story. This topic will include approaches to teaching this subject to groups of various ages, backgrounds, and time limitations.

Can Computer Interactives Compete in a Butterfly Exhibit?

Jacqueline Genovesi, The Academy of Natural Sciences

The Academy of Natural Sciences, the institution that brought you butterflies in the dark (well, we have artificial light), now brings you computers vs. butterflies. Can computer interactives compete with live butterflies and do they increase visitor learning in the exhibit? The Academy of Natural Sciences opened its third installment of Butterflies in November 2006 with interactive computer stations. Learn what evaluations say about visitor interaction with the stations.

Computer Games and the Return to Nature

Nathan Brockman, Reiman Gardens - Iowa State University

In recent years computer games and other related forms of electronic entertainment have taken people away from nature. Now, what if it was possible to create computer games that might educate and enchant the end user to take a more active role in the environment around them? Learn some of the steps involved in creating an educational computer game and hear how these games with educational components may inspire some to go offline and experience the natural world around them.