Officers for 1998 are: Pres.: Michael C. Thomas; Vice Pres.: John Kingsolver; Sect.: G. B. Edwards; Treas.:Avas B. Hamon;
Byrd K. Dozier (1999), G.B. Edwards (1999), J.H. Frank (1999), Robert E. Woodruff (1999), Avas B. Hamon (1998), Mike Thomas (1998), Howard Weems (1998), John M. Kingsolver (1998), Gary Steck (2000), Gene Gerberg (2000), Susan Halbert (2000), Cal Welbourn (2000), Dr. Wayne Dixon ( FDACS-DPI Representative).
Those of you who attended the Annual meeting of the CSE are well aware of the fine symposium that was delivered to nearly a full room. It certainly was the best attended meeting of the CSE since its founding.
The meeting was divided into two parts, the first dealt mainly with cladistics. This included studies on amber, water beetles, mites, population genetics, and pheromones.
The second part concerned collecting permits, regulations for the transportation of biological specimens, and the future of international research.
[See vol. XI, no. 2 for more details about the symposium, including the complete program.]
Because of time constraints the business meeting of the CSE was canceled. However, between the actual symposium talks and the panel discussion on the laws and permits for collecting, a surprise meritorious service award for his work for the Center was given to Ross H. Arnett, Jr., the first such award granted by the organization.
As you know, this meeting was held with the annual meeting of the Florida Entomological Society. We plan to continue to have a symposium and paper session again in 1998.
We may want to send all members special notices. It is for this reason we ask all members who have an e-mail address to let us know the address so we can send special notices by e-mail to save postage costs. Those members who do not have an e-mail address will be sent such notices by USPS mail.
Volume 11, no. 1 was mailed in August. Issue no. 2 (June 1997) is printed and mailed by the printer in Ann Arbor, a new procedure instituted with this issue. This will greatly shorten the time it takes to get an issue to members. We will continue to do this from now on.
Volume 11, no. 3 (September, 1997) is about ready to go to the printer, and work on issue no. 4 is well along. Although we will not be caught up by the end of the year, it will be close.
Manuscripts are on hand for issues of volume 12. It is still our goal to publish papers within 6 months of the receipt of properly edited diskettes. Dr. Lloyd says he is willing to give priority to well prepared manuscripts.
This brings us to a few lines of review of our progress with Insecta Mundi. When we first started the journal in 1986 we were the first to use CRC produced on a computer by the author, and the first of a very few journals to do away with page charges. We asked the authors to have the article peer reviewed, then our editorial board reviewed it before acceptance. In these few years, great progress in publication methods has made possible a world-class publication at a very low cost per page.
Our next step is to produce separates electronically, thus eliminating our need to print extra copies and assemble, staple, and ship these to authors. This is not far off.
In this section we will call attention to various publications that come to our desk that seem to be of general interest.
Microcosmos: The invisible world of insects, by Claude Nuridsany and Marie P.Rennou. New York: Stewart, Tabori & Chang, cloth, 160 pp., 1996.
This is a book of full color photos of insects, spiders, and flowers, with relatively little text. It is a supplement to a widely acclaimed television film. Generally accepted, apparently, by most entomologists, the beautiful pictures of insects makes it a desirable addition to anyones library. Insects are a microcosmos compared to the vast herds of humans, but certainly, they are not "invisible" as the subtitle suggests. A better subtitle might be: "The overlooked world of insects."
Pictures of the quality used in this book cannot be included in most entomology textbooks. Entomology texts sell far too few copies to permit much full color and still have an affordable price. Maybe this is another one of the many books that provide sensual titillations now used to educate the public about insects, but if this book is widely accepted by the general public, entomologists, and/or others specialists, it is certainly a financial success, and it should do much toward becoming an educational success.
Some flaws exist. For instance, of all of the beautiful photos in the book, why select the meaningless photo on page 6 to open the text of the book? Ninety-eight percent of the photo is out of focus, and the tiny insect pictured may be a beetle, but it doesn't really depict its "microcosmos." If one goes to the expense of color, it certainly should show something. Most of the pictures are fabulous! Concentrate on those. A few are a waste of space, as for example, page 81. No layperson could find the swarm; I am not sure I can. These mistakes are few and far between.
The text is carefully and succinctly written to tie together the photos. If users of this book will read the text they will learn much, and better understand the photos.
The book is attractive to me because of the gorgeous jacket photo of a male Oedemera nobilis, representing the family of beetles (Oedemeridae) that I have spent over fifty years of my life studying. Ross H. Arnett, Jr.
INSECT ECOLOGY, 3rd edition, by Peter W. Price. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1997. Xii+874 pp., cloth
When I was in college, the word "ecology" was so new (to us) that we even discussed whether is was a valid science! The only course on campus was generally thought to be a natural history course for football players. The publication of the third edition of this now classic work proves it is a science, it is here to stay, it is much more than insect "natural history," and no entomologist can be without a copy of the book on his desk.
This is a carefully balance text. All aspects of the subject are covered in enough depth to give the undergraduate student a good grasp of each topic without being so detailed as to make it hard to see the interrelationships. The 120 page bibliography leads the graduate student further into the subject if he so desires. R. H. Arnett, Jr.
The Carrion Beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae) of Nebraska., by Brett C. Ratcliffe. Vol. 13, Bull. Univ. Nebraska State Mus., 1996. [iii]+100 pp.
We call this work to your attention because of the remarkable treatment of a small group of organisms in a regional publication. The family in Nebraska contains only 6 genera and 18 species. Each species is fully illustrated in color (when colored), along with photographs and distribution maps. In addition, the introduction contains information on the ecology of Nebraska, a state of very diverse habitats. Study techniques are discussed. This is a pace setting publication. R. H. Arnett, Jr.
WE call your attention to the following:
ACTA ENTOMOLOGICA SERBICA, volume 1, nos. 1-2, 1996.
This new periodical contains systematic papers (written in English), dealing mainly with Middle European insects. More information may be obtained from: The Entomological Society of Serbia, The Faculty of Forestry, Kneza Viseslava 1, YU-11030 Beograd, Serbia.
CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGICAL INSTITUTE, volume 29, nos. 1-4, 1996. [Four separate publications.] Volume 30, no. 1, 1997. Contact: The American Entomological Institute, 3005 SW 56th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32608-5047.
The Ichneumonidae of Costa Rica, 2 by Ian Gauld. MEMOIRS OF THE AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGICAL INSTITUTE, Volume 57, 1997, vii+485 pp., cloth. See above for more information.
IF you are interested in publications on the insects of Central Europe, Russia, and Siberia, both books and papers, including recent publications, monographs, and a wide range of topics, ask for the new "Pensoft, Publishers" catalog. Write to them at: Akad. G. Bon-chev Street, Bl. 6, 1113 Sofia, BULGARIA. E-mail: sevin@glas.apc.org Dr. Sergei I. Golovatch>
You are aware that scientific publication has reached a cross road. Systematists are prevented from using electronic means of publication because of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Even so, journals are going on line [the first is the "Florida Entomologist"]. Others will follow. As of now, these publications appear in both electronic format and "hard copy" printing. Dr. Thomas Walker, University of Florida has developed this system.
The next step is to provide separates via the internet. The CSE has experimented with this procedure. When a person desires a separate from an electronic internet publication, the only thing needed to make the printout as good as the original is the use of a good computer printer and top grade paper.
Some authors and some publications have stopped sending reprints or separates. For example, Prof. Kenneth A. Christiansen, Department of Biology, Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA 50112, has stopped sending out, automatically, reprints. His papers are listed in "Informations Apterygotologiques" and may be requested if desired. This is step one.
The Entomological Society of America is about to provide "electronic" as well as paper reprints to authors of its journal articles. This is step two. Step three (we will have passed the cross road) is to do away with reprints and separates! What happens to those who do not have a computer connected to the internet? What happened to those who didn't have a typewriter? Those individuals will have to seek the help of libraries and laboratories that are modernized. The lack of a microscope is no longer an excuse!
Step four: The NEW International Code of Zoological Nomenclature must write a set of rules for the valid electronic publication of new taxa. These must cover establishment of the date of publication, valid means of publication (e.g., electronic Journals, Monographs, Books, etc.) and forbidden means of publication (e.g., e-mail, others?). It will be a simple matter for the authors of the Code to add the words "Electronic Publication."
The advantages are many:
1. Prompt publication.
2. Colored illustrations at no additional cost.
3. Storage space greatly reduced.
4. Rapid and easy data search.
5. Greatly reduced costs.
And many others.
1998 Officers: Michael C. Thomas OR, W. Cal Welbourn, President; John Kingsolver, Vice President; G. B. Edwards, Secretary; Avas B. Hamon, Treasurer.
1998 Board Members: (Class of 2000): Susan Halbert (2000); Eugene Gerberg (2000); Gary Steck (2000); W. Cal Welbourn (2000) (Class of 1999): Byrd K. Dozier (1999); G. B. Edwards (1999); J. H. Frank (1999); Robert E. Woodruff (1999); (Class of 1998): Avas B. Hamon (1998); Mike Thomas (1998); Howard Weems (1998); John M. Kingsolver (1998).
Dr. Sharon Knight Jasper, Department of Zoology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712-1064. Phone: (512) 471-2371, ext. 2114; FAX: (512) 471-9651; e-mail: sjasper@uts.cc.utexas.edu. Research projects: Aquatic Coleoptera of the Trans-Pecos of Texas; Halplidae of Texas.
Dr. Eugene J. Gerberg, 5819 NW 57th Way, Gainesville Florida 32653. Project: Compiling the 4th edition of the "World Directory of Vector Research & Control Specialists". Medical entomologists and other specialists who wish to be listed in the directory should either copy the form that is in the latest (March 1997) issue of the J. Amer. Mosq. Control Assoc., or send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Dr. E. J. Gerberg, to receive a copy of the required form.
Dr. F. D. Bennett, Crofton, Baldhoon Road, Laxey, Isle of Man IM4 7NA, U. K. Projects: 1. Collect Chalcids of Isle of Man; 2. Still identifying backlog of Chalcids reared from scale insects and mealybugs collected during trips to China, Thailand, Brazil, and other places, during 1986-1992.
Dr. Barry D. Valentine, 2359 Eastcleft Drive, Columbus, OH 43221-1851. Projects: A classification of World Anthribidae. Current emphasis on genera of West Indies and Chile. Will determine (and/or describe) and return paratypes of many new taxa. Future emphasis includes Madagascar, Fiji, New Caledonia, and other places, where study is under way but specimens are rare in collections. Collecting trips: South Africa, Virgin Islands, and Texas in 1996. Other trips planned. Collections: Exchanges with individuals and museums continue. Accurate identifications and extensive distribution data remain high priorities; 76% of the anthribid species have been carefully compared with holotypes. Exotic and local material of many insect groups available for exchange for anthribids; inquiries welcome. Preparation of unmounted insects continues at an accelerated rate with no decline in quality.
Dr. Gayle H. Nelson, 1308 NW Hawk Creek, Blue Springs, MO 64015. Projects: Revision of the subgenus Gyascutus (Gyascutus), Coleoptera: Buprestidae; Catalog of the Buprestidae of North America, north of Mexico; Revision of the genus Tyndaris, Coleoptera: Buprestidae (with C. L. Bellamy).
Dr. Charles L. Bellamy, Coleoptera Department, Transvaal Museum, P. O. Box 413, Pretoria 0001, SOUTH AFRICA. Phone: 012-322-7632; FAX 012-322-7939; e-mail: bellamy@tm.up.ac.za Projects: A revision of the Madagascan fauna of the large tribe Coraebini (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Agrilinae). Currently there are about 27 genera containing approximately 125 species, but from collecting by French entomologists in the last three decades, the Paris Museum now has prepared and labelled specimens representing another 20-30 new genera and 500-600 new species, mostly in series and all collected from the nests of Cerceris wasps. (See web page for more information): http://www.tm.up.ac.za.
Julieta Brambila, T. R. E. C., 18905 SW 280th St., Homestead, FL 33031. Phone: 305-246-7041; FAX 305-246-7003; e-mail: jbc@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu. Project: Presently doing doctoral research under Dr. Baranowski at TREC in Homestead, on Botocudo (Rhyparochromidae, Lygaeoidea).
The third annual compilation of "Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey" is published as "Bishop Museum Occasional Papers" 48 and 49 (February 1997).
The number and diversity of taxa reported in these issues attest to the value of the Records as part of the ongoing effort to inventory the Hawaiian biota.
The discovery of a new noctuid moth from the mountains immediately behind the urban environment of Honolulu demonstrates that much remains to be learned about the native biota. At the same time, the continuing parade of new records of naturalized non-native plants and alien arthropods is alarming.
Highlights of "Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 1996" includes: an update of numbers of species in Hawaii; new records of plants, insects, and other invertebrates resulting from field surveys and continued curation of Hawaiian collections at Bishop Museum and elsewhere. Many of the products of Hawaii Biological Survey, including many of the databases supporting papers published here, are available on their Internet World Wide Web and gopher servers. Products currently available include taxonomic authority files (portions of the insect collection). Staff and publication are listed. Additional reference databases include the list of insect and spider collections of the world (based on Arnett, Samuelson & Nishida, 1993, Insect and spider collections of the world) with links to web pages where known.
Type specimens are listed (for entomology); with detailed information and/or images (the endemic damselfly genus Megalagrion, for example).
The Internet address is: Bishop Museum Entomology Home Page: http://www.bishop.hawaii.org/bishop/ento/
Insect and Spider Collections of the World Home Page http://www.bishop.hawaii.org/bishop/ento/codens-r-us.html Edited from: Entomology Discussion List on behalf of Scott Miller
We have on file a great amount of information in the form of news, announcements, and editorial comments. It is much more than we can print in the hard copy edition that we mail out to our Members, Research Associates of the Florida State Collection of Arthopods, and others who have asked to be placed on the mailing list for News & Views. In fact, we have more than we have time to add to the electronic edition you are now reading. Therefore, we have listed the subject headings of these data. We will publish what we can, as we can. If there are any items you would like to read, please inform the editor by e-mail: oedemeridae@msn.com, in fact, just let us know that you have read "News & Views" and send any comments you think might be helpful and of general interest.
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Editor of News & Views, and Monograph Series: Ross H. Arnett, Jr., 2406 NW 47th Terrace, Gainesville, FL 32606.
Editor of Insecta Mundi: James E. Lloyd, Entomology &
Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
Publisher: Center for Systematic Entomology, Inc.
Address: c/o DPI, P. O. Box 147100, Gainesville, FL 32614-7100
FROM: Center for Systematic Entomology
P. O. Box 147100
Gainesville, FL 32614-7100 USA
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