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Toronto Entomologists’ Association
Toronto, Ontario Canada |
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What we do
Meetings About the T.E.A. Our mission About insects
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About the
T.E.A.
The Toronto Entomologists’ Association (T.E.A.) is a non-profit educational and scientific organization formed to promote interest in insects, to encourage co-operation among amateur and professional entomologists, to educate and inform non-entomologists about insects, entomology and related fields, to aid in the preservation of insects and their habitats and to issue publications in support of these objectives. THE T.E.A. IS A REGISTERED CHARITY (#1069095-21); ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX CREDITABLE. Our history For a personal account of T.E.A. history and conservation efforts, see the article by Alan Hanks. There is also an account of T.EA. activities in the 1970s from the Ontario Naturalist. Presidents of the T.E.A. Editors of the Lepidoptera Seasonal Summaries The T.E.A. began in the 1960s as part of the Michigan Entomological Society under the presidency of Father J.C.E. Riotte of the Royal Ontario Museum. The efforts of Father Riotte (and many others too numerous to mention) led to the formation of an independent association in 1969. To this day, the membership of the T.E.A. maintains a good relationship with the Department of Entomology (R.O.M.). The T.E.A. is also an affiliate organisation of the Federation of Ontario Naturalists. The T.E.A. has more than 150 members from all over the world; however, the majority of members live in southern Ontario. The T.E.A. began publishing in 1970 with the publication of "A Checklist of Ontario Skippers and Butterflies and 1969 Seasonal Summary." Over 25 Occasional Papers have been published since then. One of the major benefits of membership in the T.E.A. is receiving these publications. At least one Occasional Paper is published each year. A sufficient number of copies is printed for the membership as well as for distribution to a number of university libraries, museums, and institutions with entomology departments. The Occasional Papers are registered with the National Library in Ottawa. In 1991, the T.E.A. introduced a major publication on the distribution of Ontario butterflies. The Ontario Butterfly Atlas documents the occurrence and distribution of Ontario butterflies with maps, timetables, habitat and hostplant descriptions and other information about each of the species known to occur in Ontario. This landmark publication provides a baseline from which changes in the distribution and occurrence of Ontario's butterfly fauna can be assessed. In 1995, the T.E.A. instituted a newsjournal called Ontario Insects, which is published three times per year. The publication is intended to provide a forum for communications about the insect fauna of Ontario. It includes both scientific papers and entertaining articles of interest to entomophiles in Ontario as well as providing information on upcoming meetings and field trips, reports on past meetings, book reviews and notices, member's ads, artwork and much more. Ontario Insects is another benefit of membership. In 1999, the T.E.A. introduced the annual Odonate summary, Ontario Odonata, which follows the general pattern of the very successful seasonal summaries of lepidoptera. A specific objective of this publication is to develop a better understanding of the seasonal and geographic occurrence of damselflies and dragonflies in Ontario. It also contributes to monitoring of species, allow changes in overall and local distributions to be detected, and it assists with the protection of vulnerable, threatened and endangered species by providing the accurate information needed for status reports and recovery plans. Ontario Odonata is a forum for people to publish the results of dragonfly projects including regional lists, notable range extensions, and other observations. The T.E.A. has also sponsored the reproduction of a number of out-of-print publications including the 3-volume set “The Odonata of Canada & Alaska by Walker & Corbet, The Cicindelidae of Canada by J.B.Wallis (1961), The North American Dragonflies of the Genus Somatochlora by E.M. Walker (1925) and The North American Dragonflies of the Genus Aeshna by E.M. Walker (1912). These publications are for sale by the T.E.A. History of Our Conservation Efforts One thing that has become apparent to the membership through the T.E.A. summaries is that there are several butterfly species in Ontario that appear to have low numbers of reports. The Association has been particularly involved with three species -- the West Virginia White, the Frosted Elfin and the Karner Blue. In 1970 the only known locality for the
West Virginia White, in the Halton County Forest, was under threat of
quarrying by the Aggregate Producers Association of Ontario. A letter
was sent by Paul Catling to the Dept. of Lands & Forests in Toronto
apprising them of the situation and the potential quarrying operation
was halted. In 1974, another letter was sent to the Ministry of Natural
Resources requesting the butterfly be protected under the Endangered
Species Act and in 1975, a publication was produced on the butterfly
with all relevant data. In 1976, the butterfly was listed as an endangered
species. Then, in 1977, a new Hydro corridor was proposed to pass through
the Halton Co. Forest and letters were sent to the Ontario Hydro Chairman
and the M.N.R. A task force was set up within Ontario Hydro and in 1978,
the proposed corridor was diverted around the area of concern. "Code for Insect Collecting" for the T.E.A., summarized and paraphrased from the "Code for Insect Collecting" issued by the Joint
Committee for the Conservation of British Insects in 1971 and also from the statement of the Committee on Collecting policy of the
Lepidopterists' Society in the USA. Any local laws should be obeyed (see Laws about insects).
Benefits of collecting Lepidoptera and other insects:
1. It is a means of introducing people, particularly children to an awareness and study of an important part of their natural environment.
2. It has an essential role in the elucidation of scientific information, both for its own sake and as a basis from which to develop rational means for protecting the environment and its resources. 3. It is a recreational activity which can be pursued in a manner not detrimental to the environment. Purpose of collecting:
1. To create a reference collection for study, appreciation and education.
2. To document regional diversity, frequency and variability of species and as voucher material for published records. This includes the important matter of monitoring the fluctuation of populations. 3. To document faunal representation in environments threatened with alteration by man or natural forces. 4. To participate in the development of regional checklists and institutional reference collections. The Canadian National Collection and collections in museums and universities have depended to a large extent on the efforts of amateur collectors. 5. To complement a planned research endeavor. Ethics of collecting:
1. A collection of adults should be limited to sampling the population concerned.
2. Insects should be examined while alive, and if not required, released where they were captured. 3. The same species should not be taken in numbers year after year from the same locality. 4. Specimens for exchange should be taken sparingly. 5. Insects should not be collected for commercial purposes; for such purposes, they should be reared or obtained from old collections. 6. Species which are listed as threatened, vulnerable or rare should be collected with the greatest restraint. It is suggested that one pair is sufficient. Likewise, one pair of distinct local forms should also be regarded as sufficient. 7. When collecting where the extent or fragility of the population is unknown, great caution and restraint should be exercised. 8. Previously unknown localities for rare species should be reported, e.g. to the editors of the TEA Seasonal Summary, but the exact locality should not be published, only the township or nearest town or village. 9. Light traps: live traps are preferable and should be visited regularly and the catch should not be killed wholesale for subsequent examination. 10. Always respect restrictions on collecting in national and provincial parks, nature reserves and conservation areas. Cause as little damage to the environment as possible. 11. Rearing from a captive fertilized female, or from pairing in captivity is preferable to taking a series in the field, if for personal collection. 12. Never collect more larvae than can be supported by the available food supply. 13. Insects reared in excess of need should be released in the original locality. 14. Malaise traps probably should not be used by amateurs. In any case, they should be limited to planned studies. Responsibilities for collected material:
1. All specimens should be preserved with full data attached.
2. All material should be protected from physical damage and deterioration. 3. Collections should be available for examination by qualified researchers. 4. Collections, with their full data, should be willed or offered to an appropriate scientific institution, e.g. a museum or university, in case of lack of space, loss of interest, or death. 5. Type specimens, especially holotypes or allotypes, should be deposited in appropriate institutions. Related activities:
1. Collecting should include field notes regarding habitat, weather conditions and other pertinent information.
2. Recording of observations of behaviour and biological interactions should receive as high a priority as collecting; such observations are particularly welcomed for inclusion in TEA Seasonal Summaries or Newsletters. 3. Photographic records are to be encouraged, but it is emphasized that full data for each photograph should be recorded. 4. Education of the public regarding collecting and conservation as reciprocally beneficial activities should be undertaken whenever possible. Top Glenn Richardson:
President. email Chris Darling:
R.O.M. Representative The executive officers of president, vice-president, treasurer and recording secretary are elected every two years. The most recent election occurred in September 2006.
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