Meetings 2019-20

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 28, 2019. 1:15 pm. Room 206 Victoria College
MEMBERS' MEETING

At this meeting, members are invited to bring specimens, prints, or images that they have taken over the year. Please limit your presentation to 5-10 minutes since there are many members that like to share their pics. Members are also welcome to share any unusual sightings. Also at this meeting, we renew our membership for the year: $30 for individuals, $35 for families, students are free. Please let Antonia know if you will be bringing images to share (antoniag@rom.on.ca).

Saturday, October 26, 2019. 1:15 pm. Room 206 Victoria College
TORONTO'S TALE OF TWO BEETLES: AN ODYSSEY IN URBAN FOREST INVASION
Sandy Smith, University of Toronto

Toronto is unique in the history of urban forestry in having been recently invaded by two major wood-boring forest insects. Both species arrived during the 2000s as a result of increased globalization and trade, specifically with the importation of unregulated wood-packaging products from Asia. The first species to be detected by the CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) in Toronto was the Asian Long-horned Beetle (ALHB), Anoplophora glabripennis (Cerambycidae) in 2004; the second was the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis (Buprestidae), discovered in 2007, four years after entering Canada in Windsor, Ontario. While both CFIA-regulated species infest freshly killed or dead wood and share many entomological characteristics, their impact and our response to the control of each has differed significantly. One is more charismatic and was discovered early; one is more cryptic and continues to spread rapidly across the country. One we knew a lot about its biology and host preferences; the other essentially nothing. The focus of my talk will be on unfolding these two unique, yet parallel stories in Toronto from the perspective of beetle biology, host tree attack, rate of adult and larval spread, tree and forest impact, vertebrate and invertebrate natural enemies, and CFIA regulation.

Saturday, November 23, 2019. 1:30 pm - 2:45 pm. Ninth Annual Quimby F. Hess Lecture. Royal Ontario Museum Theatre.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES IN A CHANGING WORLD
Nicholas Ogden, Public Health Agency of Canada

This event is free but you must pre-register on the ROM website. Under "Buy Tickets," choose "Public (RSVP Only): Free” (unless you have a ROM membership). A reception for TEA members and the Hess family will follow the lecture. Enter through the President's Choice School Entrance (group entrance), which is at the back of the ROM along Queen's Park. Please note that registering for this lecture does not grant you entry into museum galleries.

Discover the world of ticks with entomologist Nicholas Ogden, as he discusses their importance as blood-sucking parasites. Explore how environmental changes may affect the global distributions of these enigmatic creatures and the diseases they spread, and what this means for public health in Canada.

Dr. Nick Ogden is a UK-trained veterinarian (University of Liverpool, 1983). After 10 years of mixed clinical practice, he then completed a doctorate in Lyme disease ecology at the Department of Zoology, University of Oxford in 1996. During the six years he spent as a lecturer at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, he continued his research of tick-borne diseases of public health importance in Europe and those of importance to livestock production in Africa. In 2002 Dr. Ogden moved to Canada, where he continues his research on Lyme disease at the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Quimby F. Hess was a TEA president and a member of the TEA for over 40 years. This lecture is sponsored in his memory by his children Jane and Robert Hess and their respective spouses Laura and John. The public are invited.

Saturday, January 25, 2020. 1:15 pm. Room 206 Victoria College
WHY DO BEES LIVE IN GROUPS?
Miriam Richards, Brock University

For many people, one of the most surprising aspects of bee behaviour is that most species are solitary, with only a minority living in social groups or colonies. In solitary bees, as in most insects, females construct their own nests and raise their offspring alone, without any help from any other individuals. In social bees, females share nests and may raise brood cooperatively. The extent of cooperation among females in a group varies greatly, from minimal nest-sharing in egalitarian societies, to strongly hierarchical societies in which despotic queens force workers to care for their offspring. The bees of southern Ontario include multiple types of social organization that illustrate the ecological pressures that favour social or solitary nesting in different circumstances.

Saturday, February 29, 2020. 1:15 pm. Room 206 Victoria College
FABULOUS FLOWER FLIES
Michelle Locke and Jeff Skevington, Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada -- Ottawa

Flower flies, also known as hover flies, are a diverse group of pollinators that are common in all of our yards. Three hundred and thirteen species of flower flies have been recorded from Ontario and over 525 occur in Canada. They are thus similar in diversity to birds and many are just as easy to learn to recognize. A large proportion of our species mimic bees and wasps and thus are overlooked and underappreciated by most. Their role in pollination of our crops is enormous (more important than native bees) and their role as pollinators in native ecosystems is significant but has never been quantified. In addition to the important job that adults serve, flower fly larvae fill almost every imaginable role. From predators of pests to decomposers to plant feeders and even parasitoids, they do it all. Only one other family of flies has such a diversity of larval morphology and life histories.

Jeff and Michelle recently co-authored a book entitled, “Field Guide to the Flower Flies of Northeastern North America” (with Andrew Young, Kevin Moran, Bill Crins and Steve Marshall). The co-authors worked together for 10 years to assemble this book: the first comprehensive field guide to any group of flies for a large area in North America. The book was recently the winner of the National Outdoor Book Awards, Nature Guidebook category. They will have a limited number of books to sell.

The Student Symposium, which was scheduled for Saturday, March 28, 2020, has been cancelled. Email the TEA if there are questions.

Saturday, April 25, 2020. 1:00 pm, Atrium of the Toronto Zoo Administration Building (separate from the zoo itself), 361A Old Finch Avenue, Toronto
TEA BUG-REARING DAY

Please note that there is no cost for parking at this location and that this event does not give you access to the Zoo proper. People who have reared insects or arachnids for research, for display, for conservation or just out of interest, will be sharing their experiences. Please contact Antonia at antoniag@rom.on.ca if you are interested in presenting. Live specimens, PowerPoint presentations, displays of rearing equipment, or mounted specimens are welcome.

Meetings of past years

2018-2019

Saturday, September 22, 2018
MEMBERS' MEETING

Saturday, October 27, 2018
BEES OF THE WORLD'S DRIEST DESERT
Laurence Packer, York University

Saturday, December 1, 2018
ARACHNOPHOBES TO ARACHNOPHILES: FRIENDLY SPIDERS IN YOUR HOUSE, GARDENS AND PARKS (Eighth Annual Quimby F. Hess Lecture)
Christopher Buddle, McGill University

Saturday, January 26, 2019
THE URBAN MOSAIC: IMPACTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR BEE CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH
Charlotte de Keyzer, University of Toronto

Saturday, February 23, 2019
TERMITES IN TORONTO: THE SOCIAL BIOLOGY OF AN INVASIVE, HOME-WRECKING INSECT
Graham Thompson, Western University

Saturday, March 23, 2019
STUDENT SYMPOSIUM

Saturday, April 13, 2019
TEA BUG-REARING DAY

2017-2018

Saturday, September 23, 2017
MEMBERS' MEETING

Saturday, October 28, 2017
TORONTO'S SYMPHONY ORTHOPTERA
Steve Paiero, University of Guelph

Saturday, November 25, 2017
INSECTS AT THE TORONTO ZOO

Saturday, December 2, 2017
MAKING INSECTS: A GUIDE TO RESTORING THE LITTLE THINGS THAT RUN THE WORLD (Seventh Annual Quimby F. Hess Lecture)
Douglas Tallamy

Saturday, January 27, 2018
PROTECTING AND RECOVERING BUTTERFLY SPECIES AT RISK IN ONTARIO
Jessica Linton

Saturday, February 24, 2018
EVOLUTION OF BLOOD-FEEDING BEHAVIOUR IN BLACK FLIES
Mateus Pepinelli

Saturday, March 24, 2018
STUDENT SYMPOSIUM

Sunday, April 21, 2018
TEA BUG-REARING DAY

2016-2017

Saturday, September 24, 2016
MEMBERS' MEETING

Saturday, October 22, 2016
THE FOSSILS OF AQUATIC INSECTS TELL US LOTS OF THINGS
Roberto Quinlan, York University

Saturday, November 19, 2016
HOW IT TAKES HONEY TO MAKE A HONEY BEE (Sixth Annual Quimby F. Hess Lecture)
May Berenbaum, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Saturday, January 21, 2017
MY ADVENTURES TRAPPING INSECTS: Stomoxys calcitrans (Diptera: Muscidae) in south central Ontario
David Beresford, Trent University

Saturday, February 25, 2017
BIENNIAL BUTTERFLIES: DO 2-YEAR LIFECYCLES AFFECT GENETIC DIFFERENCE
Gard Otis, University of Guelph

Saturday, March 25, 2017
STUDENT SYMPOSIUM

Sunday, April 23, 2017
TEA BUG-REARING DAY

2015-2016

Saturday, September 24, 2016
MEMBERS' MEETING

Saturday, October 24, 2015
LOOKING FOR INSECTS IN ALL THE COLD PLACES
Brent Sinclair, Department of Biology, Western University

Saturday, November 21, 2015
RAP BATTLES AND POP: DISCOVERING THE SECRET SOUNDS OF INSECTS (Fifth Annual Quimby F. Hess Lecture)
Jayne Yack

Saturday, January 23, 2016
A Review of Some Biological Control Programs Against Invasive Plants in Canada and Ontario
William D. McIlveen

Saturday, February 27, 2016
The bird that kicked the wasps' nest: Red-throated Caracaras, social wasps and research in tropical America
Sean McCann, Simon Fraser University

Saturday, March 19, 2016
STUDENT SYMPOSIUM

Saturday, April 16, 2016
TEA BUG-REARING DAY

2014-15

Saturday, September 27, 2014
MEMBERS' MEETING

Saturday, October 25, 2014
THE NEW ROM BUTTERFLY FIELD GUIDE: THE BACKGROUND STORY
Antonia Guidotti and Brad Hubley

Saturday, November 22, 2014
THE IMPORTANCE OF INSECT CONSERVATION (Fourth Annual Quimby F. Hess Lecture)
Georges Brossard

Saturday, January 24, 2015
BLOOD-SUCKING BEASTIES IN A CHANGING CLIMATE
Fiona Hunter

Saturday, February 28, 2015
THE ART OF BUMBLEBEE WATCHING
Sheila Colla

Saturday, March 28, 2015
STUDENT SYMPOSIUM

Saturday, April 25, 2015
TEA BUG-REARING DAY

2013-14

Saturday, September 28, 2013
MEMBERS' MEETING

Saturday, October 19, 2013
DRAGONS AND DAMSELS ON THE FLY: PREDATORS IN THE AIR AND WATER
Beverley Edwards

Saturday, November 16, 2013
MY INORDINATE FONDNESS FOR BEETLES (Third Annual Quimby F. Hess Lecture)
Arthur Evans

Saturday, January 18, 2014
BEDBUGS: POLITICS AND SCIENCE OF THEIR RESURGENCE
Sam Bryks

Saturday, February 22, 2014
MACROPHOTOGRAPHY OF INSECTS
Max Skwarna

Saturday, March 22, 2014
STUDENT SYMPOSIUM

Saturday, April 26, 2014
TEA BUG-REARING DAY

2012-13

Saturday, September 22, 2012
MEMBER'S MEETING

Saturday, October 20, 2012
THE PIPEVINE SWALLOWTAIL: LIFE CYCLE AND ECOLOGY
Xi Wang

Saturday, November 17, 2012
MONARCH CONSERVATION: THE CHALLENGES AHEAD (Second Annual Quimby F. Hess Lecture)
Orley ("Chip") Taylor

Saturday, January 26, 2013
EXPLORING ARCTIC ICHNEUMONID COMMUNITIES WITH THE NORTHERN BIODIVERSITY PROGRAM
Laura Timms

Saturday, February 23, 2013
LEAF-MINING INSECTS
William D. McIlveen

Saturday, March 23, 2013
STUDENT SYMPOSIUM

Saturday, April 27, 2013
SYMPOSIUM ON REARING INSECTS AND SPIDERS
Don Davis, Daniel Pirvulescu, Scott McIvor, Joel Egan, Glenn Richardson, Lydia Attard and Alan Macnaughton

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

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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