Eciton burchellii: Polymorphism of Submajor Caste and Foraging Efficiency
Samantha Alger, University of Rhode Island

Due to the link between efficiency and fitness, there should be selective pressure for morphology and behavior that promotes foraging efficiency. Among social insects, selective pressures act on individuals, shaping the physical castes of a colony. The highly polymorphic army ant, Eciton burchellii, has castes with morphological adaptations to allow task specialization. This study investigates what selective pressures are acting to shape the polymorphism of the submajor caste in E. burchellii. Ants were collected to find a relationship between ant caste and the prey’s biomass, width, and length. Results show that prey width is the greatest pressure effecting transportation efficiency, and in turn, shaping the evolution of the specialized porter caste (i.e., submajor). Results also indicate that of all the castes, submajors are found to be the most morphologically different and they carry the most different sized prey. Possible explanations to Eciton’s physically exaggerated submajor caste include their outstanding need of transport efficiency and unique prey preferences.

The Use of Acetogenins as Chemical Defense by the Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly,
Eurytides marcellus
Stephen R. Madigosky, Widener University

The North American paw paw tree, Asimina triloba, is known to have few insect predators that feed upon its leaves. One notable exception is the zebra swallowtail butterfly, Eurytidies marcellus. Larvae of this species exclusively feed upon the leaves of paw paw and in doing so sequester toxic annonaceous acetogenins, potent pesticidal agents that are known to possess emetic activity in vertebrates. This study documents the transport and detection of acetogenins throughout various stages of larval development in zebra swallowtails. I also report the role of these substances as a chemical defense against birds that may feed upon adult butterflies.

Rhode Island School of Design Nature Lab to Whet the Appetites of Fans of Biomimicry with the Creation of a New “Wet Collection”
Katy Dika, The Edna Lawrence Nature Lab- Rhode Island School of Design

With a hands-on policy and over 80,000 Natural History specimens, The RISD Nature Lab provides an unparalleled interactive environment. Since 1937 The Lab’s focus has morphed from supplying specimen muses for drawing and painting to incorporating advanced methods of observation with 25 dissecting microscopes. The Lab’s most recent addition, The Wet Collection, will consist of insects and other invertebrates—each in its own vial—to be made available for students’ hands-on exploration underneath the lens of a microscope. This collection will inspire students studying Industrial Design, Furniture and other design fields to look closer at the wonderful world of invertebrates.

Illustrating Choices at a Pollinators Buffet; High-speed Photography of the Night Flying Moth Manduca sexta
Chip Hedgcock, University of Arizona Department of Neuroscience

The night flying moth, Manduca sexta, must choose from among a variety of possible nectar sources as they wing the desert environs in which they live. These important pollinators may shift between food sources based on their abundance and the innate odor preferences of the insect. To illustrate this concept of behavioral flexibility and floral preference, high-speed photographs were made in the laboratory. The presentation will show examples, discuss the studio set-up and cover the techniques and specialized equipment used.

Combining Visual Thinking Strategies and Invertebrates to Increase Conservation Knowledge and Attitudes
Jacqueline Genovesi, The Academy of Natural Sciences

Learn about a new method of using live invertebrates (and other animals) to increase conservation knowledge and attitudes. This paper will discuss a case study of this new methodology and how museum visitors reacted to the new "live animal presentation". Based on a technique for viewing art known as VTS, educators developed a new method for using live animals to discuss endangered species and adaptations. This paper will describe the new method and talk about the results of the study.

From an Army to a Swarm: An Overview of the Day of Insects
Nathan Brockman, Reiman Gardens, Iowa State University

Reiman Gardens Day of Insects started as a small, unstructured meeting discussing Iowa butterfly issues. This event rapidly morphed into a large gathering of professionals, academics and insect enthusiast alike. The unexpected success of the event was attributed to the public’s overwhelming interest and desire to learn about invertebrates. Using the model of the Day of Insects, any institution may be able to host and replicate the success of the Day of Insects and lead the general public to become more active with invertebrate issues in their own communities.

Establishing Invertebrate Colonies in Response to the Global Amphibian Crisis; Partnerships in Conservation
Lou Perrotti, Roger Williams Park Zoo

Responding to a drastic decline in amphibians in 2006, AZA institutions and conservation organizations are actively sending staff and volunteers to Panama to set up in country ex-situ amphibian breeding programs. A fatal fungal disease is wiping out entire populations of frogs. As the numbers of rescued amphibians grow, biologist are spending much of their time capturing hundreds of insects needed to feed the growing numbers of amphibians. With little or no knowledge in invertebrate husbandry, this paper will detail the three year effort to establish captive insect colonies using local insect species as a food source.

What's the Buzz Part Two: The Saint Louis Zoo's Native Pollinator Conservation Initiative Two years On
Edward Spevak, Saint Louis Zoo

In 2008 the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute began its Native Pollinator Conservation Initiative. It originally began with a few ideas and a desire to make people aware of the importance and plight of pollinators, esp. bees. Beyond its additional in house education efforts including a very popular Pollinator Dinner, it has quickly expanded its efforts outside the Saint Louis Zoo. Conservation and research efforts now include expanded bee survey efforts with the Missouri Botanical Garden and Sophia Sachs Butterfly House and development of an IUCN North American Bumble Bee Species Conservation Workshop and establishing the IUCN/Species Survival Commission Bumble Bee Red List Authority.

An Evaluation of Philippine Lepidoptera
Lawrence E. Reeves, McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity

The Philippines have been classified as both a global hotspot for biodiversity and a megadiverse country. The archipelago has been heavily deforested and has a high rate of deforestation. This, combined with its great diversity and high level of endemic species, makes Philippine biodiversity exceptionally valuable and critically imperiled. For much of the country’s fauna, the information important to determining conservation needs is poorly known. This is especially true of the invertebrates. In conjunction with San Carlos University in Cebu City, Philippines, we are initiating a survey of Philippine Lepidoptera in an effort to determine status and conservation needs.

Butterfly Roadkill: Mortality on Florida's Roadways
Geoff Gallice, University of Florida

Extensive road systems have a wide range of both direct and indirect effects on a variety of wildlife. While direct effects such as mortality have been investigated in a number of vertebrate species, little is known about these effects on invertebrates. Here we document butterfly mortality rates in Florida, home to a number of threatened and migratory butterfly species. The potential role of roadways in butterfly conservation is also discussed.

The Imperiled Butterfly Conservation and Management Program
Sue Andersen and Lorre Myers, Woodland Park Zoo

The Imperiled Butterfly Conservation and Management (IBCM) program is a series of educational workshops primarily sponsored by the Florida Museum's McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity. These seminars are proving to be great sources of information, resources, and networking opportunities for professionals involved in the wide range of approaches to butterfly conservation. The authors received full scholarships to join with other participants from museums, zoos, wildlife agencies and botanical gardens to learn from experts in the fields of butterfly ecology and conservation program management. This paper will describe the overall program as well as details of the workshops.

Butterfly Containment: What Works and What Doesn't
Sarah Moore, Pacific Science Center

Following the report of an escaped butterfly, Pacific Science Center reviewed its containment policies and procedures, kept notes on every near-escape, and examined what does and doesn't work in keeping butterflies on the right side of the exit door. This paper looks at staff and guest behavior, primary and secondary containment structures, landscape choices, species selection and seasonal variables, to help understand when and why escapes occur and take effective steps to prevent them. Whenever possible, feedback from other sources is also included.

I Monitored Butterflies for 23 Years and All I Got Was This Lousy Data Set
Doug Taron, Chicago Academy of Sciences

The Illinois Butterfly Monitoring Network uses citizen scientists to census butterflies on natural areas in Illinois. Since 1987, over 9,000 Pollard walks have been conducted. From this large data set, various trends including range expansions and population fluctuations can be documented. Analysis of annual population fluctuations has revealed regional synchrony is several species that have adapted to the continuous human-altered landscape that characterizes modern Illinois. In contrast, those species that require isolated fragments of native vegetation do not show regional synchronization of population size. These analyses further underscore the value of quantitative data collected by citizen scientists.

Butterfly Monitoring at Oranim College
Yoram Yerushalmi, Oranim College

This project is a new initiative of butterfly monitoring on Oranim campus, comparing two habitats, undisturbed native vegetation at the Botanical garden and along the urban gardening of the campus main boulevard. The project major goal is to document differences, estimate the effect of human intervention on butterfly diversity and success to withstand or adapt to changes. The information gathered will help us to plan seasonal walking pathways in the Botanical Garden following the 'wing flaps' of butterflies, building a butterfly greenhouse, for educational enrichment, and long term campus gardening management, taking into consideration the butterfly angle as well.

Butterflies In Space!
Mary Ann Hamilton, Butterfly Pavilion

As classroom science becomes more theory than practice, educators have to look out of the “atmosphere” to find opportunities. We asked, “Can butterflies successfully go through their metamorphosis in space”? Painted lady, Vanessa cardui, butterflies were sent to the International Space Station to determine if metamorphosis is possible in microgravity. Over 500 classes had control habitats, used to observe and compare with the space flight habitat. Through satellite links, photos were taken throughout the experiment to allow for near real time science to happen in the classroom. The results showed that Vanessa cardui metamorphosis is possible and can be successful in microgravity.

Gentle Giants : Husbandry and Rearing of the Giant Long-Legged Katydid, Macrolyristes corporalis
Erin Mills, Cockrell Butterfly Center - Houston Museum Natural Science

Katydids have never ceased to fascinate me with their seemingly endless array of sizes, shapes, colors, and dramatic displays of camouflage. However, nothing was to prepare me for the Giant Long-Legged Katydid. They are reputed to be the largest species in the world. This, along with their long lifespan makes them spectacular display animals. They also posses such a calm and gentle demeanor, that they are wonderful candidates for outreach programs. Caring for and rearing these gentle giants has proved to be challenging, but extremely rewarding. I'm excited to share my experiences and spread the word about this awesome insect ambassador!

Captive Rearing and Diplaying of the Wheel Bug, Arilus Cristatus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) at the Saint Louis Zoo
Glennon Frei, St. Louis Zoo

Fascinating and bizarre looking, Wheel Bugs are the largest of the native assassin bugs and provide the opportunity to display an insect that the public readily comes across. This paper will detail the life history of the species as well as the husbandry, collection and exhibition techniques that have made this insect a regular at our institution.

Honeydo: A Nutritionally Complete Liquid Diet for Honey Ants, Myrmecocystus spp.
Randy C. Morgan, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

We successfully reared honey ants (Mrymecocystus spp.) since mid-1980. Several years ago colonies began to decline and fail from poor brood development, and an environmental or disease problem was suspected. We continued feeding our standard liquid ant diet (sugar water with vitamins and minerals, and insect prey) unaware this was a nutritional issue. After formulating an apparently complete liquid diet (whey protein, honey carbohydrates, increased vitamins and minerals), brood production quickly normalized and colonies thrived. We call this diet "honeydo" (word-playing on homopteran honeydew naturally harvested by these ants).

Beyond Pins and Plaques – Rewarding and Motivating Your Volunteers
Melanie Nelson, The Phoenix Zoo

Now more than ever, the face of volunteerism is changing. The motives, incentives and perceptions of volunteers are changing with it. Institutions who wish to utilize volunteers to their full potential need to adapt their reward methodology to meet the needs of a more diverse volunteer group. This presentation will summarize what motivates most individuals and how your organization can create a more individualized reward system to complement those motivations.

Arachnids at the Shedd Aquarium
Alexandra Rose, John G. Shedd Aquarium

The John G. Shedd Aquarium has been open since 1929 and houses one of the world’s largest collections of fish. While they’re definitely known for their extensive variety of aquatic vertebrates,
I felt the arachnids were sorely underrepresented in an institution with such great facilities available. I will be working with the Animal Programs and Fabrication departments to utilize spiders in an already-existing daily public presentation series called “Animal Encounters,” that will expose people to the wonders of arachnids through the use of tarantulas (Brazilian Blacks and Rose Hairs) and orb weavers (Nephila and Argiope sp.).

William Hamilton Gibson's Insects
Faith B. Kuehn, Delaware Department of Agriculture

Even those familiar with Thoreau and other great nature writers might have overlooked William Hamilton Gibson, one of the first naturalist-writers. A prolific writer and lecturer who lived during the Victorian era, Gibson published numerous books and magazine articles on natural history. His passion and favorite subject was insects, and the plants that sustain them.

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