Meetings 2012-13

We meet on the fourth Saturday every month, from September to November and from January to April. One of the meetings is the Quimby F. Hess Annual Lecture -- read more here. For a map of the meeting locations and a description of subway access and parking facilities, click here.

Saturday, September 22, 2012. 1:15 pm Room 206 Victoria College
MEMBERS' MEETING

Bring your images from the summer!

Saturday, October 20, 2012 1:15 pm Room 206 Victoria College (note special date to avoid conflict with Curator's Corner with Chris Darling and Antonia Guidotti at the ROM on Oct. 27).
THE PIPEVINE SWALLOWTAIL: LIFE CYCLE AND ECOLOGY
Xi Wang

The Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) is normally a rare species in Ontario, with at most only a few individuals seen every year. However, in 2012 there was one of the largest migrations into southern Ontario on record. As a result, I had my first opportunity to raise ova and larvae to adulthood.

This introduction to B. philenor will begin with a review of its taxonomy, geographical distribution and foodplants. I then describe in detail all life cycle stages of this species from ova to adult, with photographic accompaniment wherever possible. Some of my observations are likely new to the literature, particularly the description of the processes surrounding pupation and emergence. My own life history observations are supplemented with information on the biology, ecology, and behaviour of this species from several dozen works from the scientific literature. Much about this butterfly species remains unknown, and I hope to generate new questions for future research.

Saturday, November 17, 2012 1:30 p.m. Second Annual Quimby F. Hess Lecture. Royal Ontario Museum Theatre. Enter through the group entrance, off of Queen's Park, at the south end of the museum.
MONARCH CONSERVATION: THE CHALLENGES AHEAD
Orley ("Chip") Taylor

- please click here to register for this event -- This is a popular speaker, and the ROM wants to keep track of how many are coming, to be sure this is room

The Hess Lecture 2012 speaker is Dr. Orley ‘Chip’ Taylor, director and founder of Monarch Watch. Monarch Watch is a cooperative network of students, teachers, volunteers and researchers dedicated to the study of the Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus).

The numbers of monarchs seen each year in the eastern United States and Canada are determined by the amount of habitat available and the month to month temperature and moisture conditions the monarchs encounter through the breeding season (March-October). The monarch population is declining coincident with the rapid loss of habitat due to the adoption of herbicide tolerant crops, the push for the production of corn and soy based biofuels and development. Extreme weather events, which threaten to become more common, have also had a negative impact on the population. In addition, rapid changes in climate are on the near horizon. Sustaining the monarch migration will be a challenge and will require the support and cooperation of Canada, the United States and Mexico.

This lecture is made possible by the generous support of Quimby Hess’s children, Robert Hess and Jane Hess. Quimby was a member of the TEA for over 40 years. The public are invited. A member of Quimby Hess' family will say a few words about his life. After the talk, there will be a reception for the lecturer, TEA members and their guests, and the Hess family.

Saturday, January 26, 2013 1:15 pm Room 206 Victoria College.
EXPLORING ARCTIC ICHNEUMONID COMMUNITIES WITH THE NORTHERN BIODIVERSITY PROGRAM
Laura Timms

Ichneumonid parasitoids are a diverse and important group of organisms in northern climates. They play essential roles in ecosystem function, including regulation of their herbivorous insect hosts as well as pollination and provision of food for vertebrate wildlife. I will present highlights of my research with the Northern Biodiversity Program, including an assessment of change in ichneumonid communities on Ellesmere Island, NU, over five decades as well as an investigation of abiotic and biotic determinants of ichneumonid diversity in Kugluktuk, NU.

Laura is a postdoctoral researcher at the Lyman Entomological Museum, McGill University.

Saturday, February 23, 2013 1:15 pm Room 206 Victoria College.
LEAF-MINING INSECTS
William D. McIlveen (a TEA member)

Insects have devised a number of specific strategies that take advantage of particular ecological niches to obtain food, shelter and other life amenities. In particular, some insects live in their larval stage in leaf tissues--typically tunnelling in the tissues between the upper and lower surfaces of the host plant leaf. The presentation will examine four different orders of insects cts that have adopted this life strategy. Examples of the species that we can find easily in our own area will be discussed.

March 23, 2013 (Student Symposium). Room 432, Ramsay Wright Building, University of Toronto (25 Harbord Street). 1:00 p.m. (note early time)

Click here for the list of talks and posters, including abstracts for each.

April 27th, 2013. 1pm, Toronto Zoo Atrium, 361A Old Finch Avenue
SYMPOSIUM ON REARING INSECTS AND SPIDERS
This meeting of the TEA will be slightly different than other meetings. The format will be similar to our student symposium. There will be a series of speakers; each speaking for up to 15 minutes on their experience rearing arthropod(s). If you require a ride to this meeting or can provide a ride, please contact Alan Macnaughton at info@ontarioinsects.org. In addition, TEA members that are not giving a talk are welcome to bring their favourite live species to share/display. Organizer: Joel Egan. Speakers:

- Don Davis - Rearing Monarchs
- Daniel Pirvulescu – Rearing mantids and beetles
- Scott McIvor – Collecting and rearing cavity-nesting bees and wasps in Toronto
- Joel Egan – The challenges of rearing leaf cutter ants and Tarantulas make great pets!
- Glenn Richardson – Searching for caterpillars
- Lydia Attard - "King of the Demons" Maintaining the Amblypigid Damon diadema at the Toronto Zoo. This presentation will discuss the biology of the Whip Spiders, focusing on the Damon sp. kept at the Toronto Zoo. It will review their husbandry as well as discuss some of the challenges and insights experienced while trying to propagate these animals in captivity.
- Alan Macnaughton – Cecropia moths

Meetings of past years

2011-12

Saturday, September 24, 2011
MEMBERS' MEETING

Saturday, October 29, 2011
BEYOND Mantis religiosa: AN OVERVIEW OF THE PRAYING MANTIDS (INSECTA: MANTODEA)
Julio Rivera

Saturday, November 19, 2011
SENTINELS ON THE WING ( First Annual Quimby F. Hess Lecture)
Peter Hall

Saturday, January 28, 2012
MONITORING BUTTERFLIES ALONG AN URBAN GRADIENT IN THE REGION OF WATERLOO
Jessica Linton

Saturday, February 25, 2012
FILM "COLLECTING TASKER" / PANEL ABOUT COLLECTING led by Chris Darling

Saturday, March 24, 2012
STUDENT SYMPOSIUM (click here for the list of talks and posters)

Saturday, April 28, 2012
PEST ALERT: INVASIVE SPECIES AND ONTARIO AGRICULTURE
Hannah Fraser

2010-11

Saturday, September 25, 2010
MEMBERS' MEETING

Saturday, October 23, 2010
UNCOVERING SPRING MIGRATION PATTERNS OF THE MONARCH
Nathan Miller

Saturday, November 27, 2010
INSECT LIFE CYCLES AND HOW INSECTS COPE WITH WINTER
James Kamstra

Saturday, January 22, 2011
WHAT’S THAT BUG? THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY OF DOMESTIC ARTHROPODS
Antonia Guidotti

Saturday February 26, 2011
CANADIAN JOURNAL of ARTHROPOD IDENTIFICATION - A CATALYST FOR BIODIVERSITY SCIENCE
Dave Cheung

Saturday, March 26, 2011
STUDENT SYMPOSIUM

Saturday, April 16, 2011
POLLINATORS AND POLLINATION: CANADIAN, CONTINENTAL, AND GLOBAL PROBLEMS
Peter Kevan

2009-10

Saturday, September 26, 2009
MEMBERS' MEETING

Saturday, October 24, 2009
BEFRIENDING A NATIVE BEETLE-HUNTING WASP FOR
FUN & PROFIT
Philip Careless

Saturday, November 28, 2009
SPIDERS OF ONTARIO: A GUIDE TO THE COMMON
SPECIES
Tom Mason

Saturday, January 23, 2010
THE EVOLUTIONARY DRAMA IN YOUR BACKYARD – GOLDENROD AND GALLS
Art Weis

Saturday, February 27, 2010
COMPLEX SIGNALS: WHAT DO SPIDERS HAVE TO SAY
Andrew Mason

Saturday, March 27, 2010
STUDENT SYMPOSIUM

Saturday, April 24, 2010
IMPERILED BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION
Adrienne Brewster

2008-09

Saturday September 27, 2008
MEMBERS' MEETING

Saturday, October 25, 2008
MOTHS AT LARGE
Jim des Rivieres

Saturday, November 22, 2008
MUD AND MONARCHS
W.D. McIlveen and Don Davis

Saturday, January 24, 2009
POLLINATOR WATCH
Heather Andrachuk

Saturday February 28, 2009
DRAGONFLIES and DAMSELFLIES of ONTARIO
Colin Jones

Saturday March 28, 2009
STUDENT SYMPOSIUM

Saturday, April 25, 2009
INSECTS OF SE ONTARIO: A PARK NATURALIST’S PERSPECTIVE
David Bree

2007-08

Saturday, September 22, 2007
MEMBERS' MEETING

Saturday, October 25, 2007
JOURNEY INTO THE JUNGLES OF MONTEVERDE, COSTA RICA
Jessica Grealey

Saturday, November 24, 2007
FUNGUS DISEASES OF INSECTS
W.D. McIlveen

Saturday, January 26, 2008
PHOTOGRAPHING INSECTS: TECHNIQUES, TIPS AND SECRETS
Kerry Jarvis

Saturday, February 23, 2008
COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER (CCD) IN HONEYBEES
Ernesto Guzman

Saturday, March 29, 2008
STUDENT SYMPOSIUM

Saturday April 26, 2008
THE DEMISE OF THE GREEN DRAKE MAYFLY: WHAT IT TELLS US ABOUT THE HEALTH OF S. ONTARIO TROUT STREAMS
Henry Frania

2006-07

Saturday, September 23, 2006
MEMBERS' MEETING

Saturday, October 21, 2006
EXTINCTION OF INSECTS
W.D. McIlveen

Saturday, November 25, 2006
VIGNETTES OF INSECTNATURAL HISTORY
Chris Darling

Saturday, January 27, 2007
A LIFELONG INTEREST IN INSECTS
Alan Hanks

Saturday February 24, 2007
THE QUEST FOR SPECIES IDENTIFICATION
Paul Hebert

Saturday, March 24, 2007
STUDENT SYMPOSIUM

Saturday, April 28, 2007
BRINGING INSECTS TO THE PUBLIC
Margaret Pickles

2005-06

Saturday, September 24, 2005 1 PM
MEMBERS' MEETING

Saturday, October 22, 2005 
INSECTS in URBAN ENVIRONMENTS ( we attended the annual meeting of the Entomological Society of Ontario in lieu of having our own meeting)

Saturday, November 26, 2005 
WINGS OF PARADISE BUTTERFLY CONSERVATORY: a behind the scenes look at exhibit curating and butterfly research
Adrienne Kistner-Brewster

Saturday, January 28, 2006 
IT.S GOOD TO BE QUEEN: SOCIAL BEE-HAVIOUR AND THE MYTH OF THE HAPPY SLAVE
Miriam Richards

Saturday, February 25, 2006
THE LONG REACH OF THE GENE: INSECT/ PLANT INTERACTIONS
Marc Johnson

Saturday, March 25, 2006
STUDENT SYMPOSIUM

Saturday, April 22, 2006
PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE: A BIOLOGICAL CONTROL SUCCESS STORY
Jim Corrigan

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