See a lot by looking: Re: [NatureNS] Queen Bee

From: Angus MacLean <cold_mac@hotmail.com>
To: naturens <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
Date: Thu, 9 Jul 2015 10:13:29 -0200
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&gt; of Insects) "...nor can any comprehension of the i
--_77418aed-19d8-43c4-9644-ae30ef2e1543_
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Re the Guide to Tabanids East of the Rockies=2C there have been problems of=
 late accessing it. At first the Server does not have "adequate bandwidth" =
& now Adobe Acrobat cannot read it (no dict object?).  Has anyone have bett=
er luck?
Angus

> From: srshaw@Dal.Ca
> To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
> Subject: RE: See a lot by looking: Re: [NatureNS] Queen Bee
> Date: Tue=2C 7 Jul 2015 05:07:05 +0000
>=20
> Hi Dave et al=2C
> Dave you are right on this in principle=2C as I think has been discussed =
here somewhat before=2C but practice may be different.  Insect taxonomists=
=2C a rare and non-expanding breed=2C will always want to see the original =
pinned (dead) specimens to view them from different angles=2C in order to p=
ut their names and valued reputations behind an identification.  But it is =
not part of busy taxonomists' job to do this=2C so they may do it as an occ=
asional favour to colleagues with plausible professional needs=2C but good =
luck and likely no chance if you aren't in this category=2C unless it's a v=
ery unusual specimen or location.   On the other hand=2C some specialists d=
o trawl the submissions to BugGuide and will give non-binding but valuable =
opinions on the identity of images=2C without compromising themselves=2C an=
d BugGuide itself has accumulated consultant 'amateurs' with outside jobs w=
ho are just as well informed.  =20
>=20
> So someone trying to popularize an insect=2C the original context here=2C=
 needs to get the bug identified at least to genus and hopefully to species=
 level in order to start talking at all=2C and imho there is almost no chan=
ce to get this done by professionals:  so original specimens are not practi=
cally useful for this but good colour digital images are=2C if submitted to=
 BugGuide.net=2C Diptera.info (flies) and so on.  As you say=2C color in so=
me cases fades in pinned specimens unless it's an interference colour=2C so=
 good colour is an added bonus in images of live insects.  This is a lesser=
 problem for butterflies where identification mostly depends on wing patter=
n and colour=2C and an excellent local resource for this now exists on-line=
 for NS.  I think a good field guide for Maine Odonata exists=2C applicable=
 for NS too.  But these are relatively small=2C easy-ID groups compared to =
flies=2C hymenoptera and beetles.  Randy will know that an excellent guide =
for the 25 or so Deer Fly species east of the rockies is available on-line=
=2C and there's also a good one for hoverflies=2C but for most fly families=
 there's nothing.  I don't know=2C for hymenoptera and beetles.=20
>=20
> The gizmo for temporarily holding pinned specimens to rotate them for ins=
pection is a 2-dimensional goniometer=2C allowing rotation and viewing from=
 almost any angle=2C adjustable about two axes held at right angles.  I onc=
e bought one from BioQuip in California.  Google to BioQuip's on-line catal=
ogue to see images (under Microscopy)  -- they stock two goniometers which =
they call Microscope Stages=2C #6188 at US$32.95 (mine) and #6186=2C $34.95=
.  Both these would be used mainly under a dissecting microscope or with a =
hand magnifying lens.  They are not fancy high-tech and yes you could make =
the 6188 one -- I once did so on a much smaller scale for use under compoun=
d microscopes which mostly have very small working distances=2C for inspect=
ing insect eye optics from different angles at high power.  The Bioquip ver=
sions are much too tall to allow this.
> Steve (Hfx)             =20
> ________________________________________
> From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] on be=
half of David & Alison Webster [dwebster@glinx.com]
> Sent: Monday=2C July 6=2C 2015 7:57 PM
> To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
> Subject: See a lot by looking: Re: [NatureNS] Queen Bee
>=20
> Hi Steve & All=2C                            July 6=2C 2015
>     I didn't intend to limit the concept of suitable magnification=2C so
> something can be seen clearly=2C to images. Images are great for recordin=
g
> color which usually fades in a voucher but=2C to see an insect in detail=
=2C
> there is no subtitute for a mounted voucher so it=2C or select parts=2C c=
an be
> viewed from a number of angles. And when applicable=2C viewed on a number=
 of
> occasions.
>     One can buy a fairly expensive gizmo for holding vouchers at any desi=
red
> angle or make a good one=2C mostly from scrap material=2C for next to not=
hing.
>     To quote Brules & Melander (Preface to the1932 edition of Classificat=
ion
> of Insects) "...nor can any comprehension of the infinite variety of natu=
re
> be acquired except by close observational contact with the things
> themselves."
>=20
> YT=2C Dave Webster=2C Kentville
>=20
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Stephen Shaw" <srshaw@Dal.Ca>
> To: <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
> Sent: Sunday=2C July 05=2C 2015 12:58 PM
> Subject: RE: [NatureNS] Queen Bee
>=20
>=20
> <snip>
> > Good luck with the project=2C and as Dave implies=2C much of insect
> > attractiveness is revealed visually using high power=2C high resolution
> > images. <snip >
>  Steve  (Hfx)
> > --------------------------------------------
> > Dave -
> > Just a typo. Check out http://www.xerces.org/.
> > Peter Payzant
> > ________________________________________
> > From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] on
> > behalf of Mary Macaulay [marymacaulay@hotmail.com]
> > Sent: Saturday=2C July 4=2C 2015 8:06 PM
> > To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
> > Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Queen Bee
> >
> > Thank you David. I completely agree!
> > Yes Xerces is still around. Not big on advocacy using social media but
> > very much so with doing conservation work. Mostly in the USA.
> >
> > With kindest regards=2C
> >
> > Mary (Macaulay)=2C P.Eng.
> > Owner
> > Remember Adventures
> > RememberAdventures.ca<http://RememberAdventures.ca>
> > Now Open for Buggy rentals=2C picnics=2