Insect Medley Project Details

Nature Alberta is forming an “Insect Committee”. Marty Drut (Nature Alberta Director, Grasslands Naturalists) is Committee Chair. A project guide for the Committee’s projected activities has been prepared and was approved by the Nature Alberta Board of Directors January 20, 2008. Nature Alberta is coordinating this Committee and project as part of its mandate to make nature – in this case, entomology – more accessible to the public, to gather & amalgamate data, and to provide a forum for questions relating to the natural environment.

The Committee itself will decide what they wish to do and what the priorities are; it will also formulate an insect-collecting policy for Nature Alberta. Below is the project guide, entitled “Insect Medley”. Comments and suggestions are welcome.

Insect Medley

A Nature Alberta Insect Education, Evaluation and Management Project

~ approved by the Nature Alberta Board: January 20, 2008

As the public has become more environmentally aware, their interests have expanded beyond the “warm and fuzzy.” Insecta is one Animalia Class that has benefited from the increased interest and curiosity, in particular butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera), the larger beetles (Coleoptera) and bees and ants (Hymenoptera). This is an opportunity for Nature Alberta to broaden its horizons by taking an active part in both professional and public-oriented insect education and conservation. Following is a suggested strategy for the “Insect Medley Project”.

NOTE: It is recognized that some of the suggestions may already have been done, which the coordinating group will likely discover as it progresses.

1. Collecting:

1.1 Collection of live insect specimens (focusing initially on butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera)), has come into focus recently because of public concerns about potential negative impacts from over collecting. Nature Alberta will prompt and coordinate a dialogue and review regarding collecting ethics and possible impacts from collecting (eg., negative public perceptions, localized declines and/or loss of native Alberta insect species).

1.2 Nature Alberta recognizes that collection of insects for legitimate and reasonable purposes should continue within ethical guidelines. Entomologists, collectors, and groups like Nature Alberta would work together to monitor collecting practices to limit adverse effects on species and educate the public on the value of collecting.

1.3 Knowledgeable & respected individuals in the entomological field would be brought into the discussion for their input on collecting, ethical guidelines, and if there is a need for additional regulations to limit or control collecting outside protected areas. 

1.4 Current regulations, if any, in place to manage insect collecting will be determined. The Committee will work with provincial and/or local government to establish, implement, and enforce regulations on insect issues (eg., habitat conservation, collecting) as needed.

(NOTE: a permit is required for collecting in all Parks and Protected Areas. There are no other regulations, except those that may pertain to endangered species.)

1.5 Create a provincial database of professional and serious amateur collectors and why they collect. This list could be used to open and enhance communication among collectors and researchers leading to

• a) information sharing;

• b) prioritizing needs;

• c) identifying gaps in knowledge.

This may potentially reduce duplication of collection effort and allow collectors and researchers to focus on priorities. Direct access to the list would likely not be available to the general public to ensure privacy.

2. Databases:

2.1 Establish, maintain and update databases on insects and in-place collections (initially, focusing on Lepidoptera) to be used to:

• a) Inform collectors of the collections available for their use

• b) Develop regional and provincial checklists

• c) Map distribution and range of species provincially

• d) Track observations

• e) Learn about movements and potential migratory patterns

• f) Learn about habitat use for different parts of specific insect’s life history cycle

• g) Develop educational materials, particularly for use in local programs

2.2 A call for past and future data would go out to those individuals and organizations that may have information. The current collection at the Strickland Museum, University of Alberta would be used as a reference. Any new databases would join others on the Nature Alberta website.

3. Education

3.1 Create an educational program to inform the general public, interested parties, collectors, researchers, etc about insect issues (focus on Lepidoptera to start).

3.2 Develop a brochure on insect collecting for general distribution (why it’s done, potential impacts for species, need for limits, ethics, etc).

3.3 Coordinate the writing of articles for Nature Alberta and other nature publications

3.4 Develop a discussion site on the Nature Alberta website so interested parties can make known their opinions on the different aspects covered by this project.

3.5 Develop a set of Lepidoptera “trading cards” geared toward children that would provide pertinent information about a suite of native species.

3.6 Join with other conservation groups, such as Nature Canada and the North American Butterfly Association, and educational institutions, such as the Royal Alberta Museum and the University of Alberta, to promote awareness about insects and the issues affecting them.

4. Coordination:

Start a new Nature Alberta insect committee (with initial focus on Lepidoptera) to coordinate the Insect Medley Project. Marty Drut, Nature Alberta Director for Grasslands Naturalists, will initially chair the new committee.