Source: UNIV OF MINNESOTA submitted to
INSECT MUSEUM SUPPORT AND ENTOMOLOGICAL SYSTEMATICS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0218657
Grant No.
(N/A)
Project No.
MIN-17-029
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Oct 1, 2012
Project End Date
Sep 30, 2017
Grant Year
(N/A)
Project Director
Holzenthal, R.
Recipient Organization
UNIV OF MINNESOTA
(N/A)
ST PAUL,MN 55108
Performing Department
Entomology
Non Technical Summary
As the most diverse group of organisms on earth, insects are vitally important in maintaining ecosystem structure and function. As a consequence, they are pests of agricultural crops, vectors of human diseases, and providers of essential services such as pollination and biological control. Specimens housed in the University of Minnesota Insect Collection serve as a basis for research on the taxonomy, diversity, and distribution of harmful and beneficial insects in Minnesota, the US, and the World.
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
100%
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1363110113050%
1363120113050%
Knowledge Area
136 - Conservation of Biological Diversity;

Subject Of Investigation
3120 - Spiders, mites, ticks, and other arthropods; 3110 - Insects;

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology;
Goals / Objectives
1. Continue the perpetual conservation of the University of Minnesota Insect Collection. Rationale: Specimens in the collection support research and graduate education in entomology. Graduate students in the Department of Entomology use the collection extensively and the department requires that students deposit voucher specimens from their research. Additionally the collections staff collaborates with researchers in other departments. The collection is also used for public outreach as a reference to identify beneficial and harmful insects in agricultural, urban, and natural areas: specimens are essential for educating the public on the value of natures biodiversity and of the interconnectedness of organisms. 2. Acquire additional specimens of importance to document the fauna of Minnesota and the region though collecting, gifts, and purchase. Rationale: The Insect Collection is a major national resource in entomology. There is no comparable collection regionally and few of equal size and curatorial quality nationally. The collections 3,772,928 specimens represent 50,272 species and include 2,100 primary types. The collection grew by 207,728 specimens over the last 5 years through research focused collecting and donations. These specimens provide the permanent physical record of the identity, diversity, and distribution of the insect fauna of Minnesota, much of the U.S., and many parts of the World. These specimens serve as the physical record of insect distribution in space and time. The recent acquisitions of the Cedar Creek insect collection (ca. 150,000 specimens), the National Water Quality Assessment collection from the US Geological Survey, and the MN Department of Agriculture have added significant regional and national material to the collection. The NAWQA collections 2.2 million fully curated, identified, and databased specimens (and associated storage cabinets) represent voucher material from across the nation that helped establish national water quality monitoring protocols and legislation. 3. Make specimens and data available to the scientific community. Rationale: The collection maintains a computerized inventory with an automated specimen and loan management system, including a specimen level bar-code based collection/taxonomic database. The collections website informs the community of the collections history, holdings, personnel, and policies. The specimens are essential to research conducted in taxonomy at the University and to researchers at other institutions around the world. Specimens are used by personnel within the Department of Entomology, the Extension Service, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the Bell Museum of Natural History, and the MN Department of Natural Resources, among other agencies and institutions. The collection also hosts tours of its facilities and specimens to University classes and organizations, local school groups, and visits from the general public. 4. Continue in-house research and publication in systematic entomology. Research projects have broad taxonomic and geographic scope on both aquatic and terrestrial insects and include taxonomic, phylogenetic, and applied questions.
Project Methods
1-3. Material collected or otherwise acquired by staff members and students must be pinned, mounted on glass slides, or preserved in vials of alcohol. These specimens must be labeled and identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible (but at least to family) and placed in drawers and cabinets in the collection. After being entered on the museums computerized inventory management systems, they are available to qualified persons for examination. The dried specimens must be protected from damage by other insects by use of repellents or insecticides and the material in alcohol must be prevented from drying out. The material must be curated based on the most up-to-date taxonomic catalogs to ensure accuracy of names and ease of specimen retrieval. Upon addition to the collection, the storage container (drawer, vial, glass slide, envelope) is imaged using the high-resolution gigapixel process, resulting in a pixel-dense image that can be "zoomed" in an interactive user interface, to examine detail and attributes of the label data and the specimen(s). From this imaging process, label data are acquired in batch processes - computer algorithms and human-interactive, and added in "batches" to the database. Supplies required for curation of material and digitization (pins, label paper, unit trays, storage drawers and cabinets, fumigant, vials for storage of alcohol preserved specimens, vial rack, computers, printers, digital cameras, Gigapan "robots"and software, etc.) are purchased annually to support these activities. 4. It is difficult to outline the procedures for a taxonomic study as these vary with the group being studied and the questions addressed. However, the examination of preserved specimens in a comparative morphological context forms the underlying scientific approach to taxonomy. Comparative study of morphological characters across many specimens to access intra- and interspecific variation is usually aided by examining specimens using a stereomicrosope. Specimens and characters are compared with published descriptions and illustrations. New characters are illustrated, now with the aid of digital drawing programs, and species descriptions are written. Applications such as DELTA and Lucid are used to automate species descriptions and construct computer-generated interactive keys. Database applications are used to organize specimen taxonomic, collecting, and locality information, access images and literature, and serve this information over the WWW. Phylogenetic studies are usually based on morphological characters to take full advantage of the specimens housed in the collection; however, molecular studies are also employed when applicable. Character matrices (taxon x character state) are constructed with computer applications such as MacClade or Mesquite. Genus-group or higher level phylogenetic analyses rely on the observation of exemplar species. Phylogenetic analyses of morphological and molecular data are conducted on independent and combined datasets, and are performed via both parsimony and maximum likelihood using PAUP*, TNT, GARLI, and Bayesian analyses using MrBayes.

Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:Students, staff, and and faculty at the University of Minnesota, citizens of the State of Minnesota, students and professionals from region, US, and around the world. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The collection is currently under the full-time care of curator Dr. Robin Thomson and is under the administrative responsibility of the faculty director, Dr. Ralph Holzenthal. In addition, an Assistant Curator, James Walker, and a Research Associate, Mara Greenebaum, are supported by National Science Foundation grants to curate and database large portions of the collection. Several graduate students, including 4 PhD students (Robin Thomson, Lucas Camargos, Luis Rázuri, and Petra Kranzfelder) and 3 MS students (Heather Cummins, Joel Gardner, Correy Hildebrand) have received training and support from the project. Two Research Associates, Dr. John Luhman and Dr. Roger Blahnik, have also contributed substantially to curatorial work in the collection. A third Research Associate, Crystal Boyd, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, contributed to the curation and databasing of the entire collection of Minnesota bees. Beginning in 2013, the curator initiated a volunteer program and policy that has helped greatly with additional curatorial and databasing needs. In total, about 30 volunteers have assisted. She also participated in a formal internship program with Macalester College and has mentored 6 interns under this program. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?About 900 visitors either toured the collection or were presented educational programs about the collection during the period. Almost 100 research scientists also visited the collection to examine specimens. Several students and researches from outside of the US spent research internships, research visits, or sabbaticals with the collection, including those from Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, and Peru. Institutional partners or those provided research or educational opportunities by the collection included the Department of Entomology, Bell Museum of Natural History, Bell Museum Artists in Residence Program, Bell Museum Summer Camps, College of Biological Sciences, Minnesota Dragonfly Society, University of Minnesota Duluth Entomology Club, Frenatae Entomology Graduate Student Organization, National Eagle Center, Lowry Nature Center, Science Museum of Minnesota, U of M Summer Youth Program, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Macalester College, Monarchs in the Classroom, Lac Oreilles Ojibwe School, University of Minnesota Women's Club, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Continuing Education and Extension "LearningLife", Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (MMCD), and the Minnesota College of Art and Design. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Over the course of its near 140 year history, research and specimen management associated with the University of Minnesota Insect Collection (UMSP) has helped to document a sample of Earth's remarkable diversity of insects and to educate students at the University, citizens of the State, and researchers from around the region, US, and world. The collection ensures the safe storage and care of more than 3.9 million specimens, serves as a basis for research in basic and applied entomology at the University of Minnesota, and is the primary resource for graduate training in systematic entomology at the University of Minnesota. Accessions during the reporting period (2012-2017) totaled 255,208 specimens, representing 52,284 species. The collection's total holdings now number 3,945,744 specimens, making it the 7th largest university affiliated insect collection in North America. During that same period, 120 loans of specimens were issued to researchers from around the world. Several major collections were acquired during the reporting period, the most significant being that from the USGS National Water Quality Assessment program (NAWQA). The collection totals in excess of 1 million specimens in some 225,000 vials. All material is identified at least to the genus level, with a large portion of the material identified to species. The collection represents sampling efforts from 1993. In addition, the UMSP acquired the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, insect reference and research collection. This collection represents voucher and other specimens related to ecosystem level research projects at the Reserve spanning decades. To date, a total of about 75,000 specimens have been accessioned into the UMSP from this collection. Dr. William Scharf donated a large collection of fleas and lice (ca. 2600 slides) associated with his work on birds and mammals in the Great Lakes Region. A donation of approximately 20,000 microscope slides of Chironomidae was received from the estate of Dr. James Sublette, Tucson, Arizona. The donation also included a substantial collection of scientific literature. The late Dr. William Miller's collection of micro moths was also received by the collection and have been fully accessioned. Speicmens of aphids, midges, and mites of agricultural importance were received from the MN Department of Agriculture and have been curated into the collection as were a collectiono of voucher specimens from the MMCD. The collection received a donation of 55 drawers of many families of Diptera from around the world from alumnus Dan Hanson. The DNR also deposited a voucher collection of specimens from Weaver Dunes, which included many species new for the collection. The curator and faculty director were awarded 2 NSF grants to enhance the collection, one for $475,000 to curate and database the large donation of material from the US Geological Survey's National Water Quality Assessment program (NAWQA). This grant was used used to hire a full-time Curatorial Assistant to manage the curation and databasing of the 220,000 vials and ca. 1 million specimens from the NAWQA collection. This grant is also supporting a new graduate student. A second NSF grant of $97,000 for the LepNet project, a consortium of collections across the country. This grant is supporting a Research Technician to database North American butterflies and moths. The collection continued its active processing of digitized images in association with a prior InvertNet NSF grant. Under this grant all UMSP specimens have been digitally imaged and/or computerized, including glass microscope slides (621,011 specimens), insect drawers (5,943 drawers) and glass vials (label data and card catalog scanned only). Digitized images are being uploaded to InvertNet (http://invertnet.org/). Several important infrastructure improvements occurred during the project. The Department of Entomology invested in remodeling rooms 470 and 485 Hodson Hall to accommodate storage of the NAWQA collection and invested in 60 flammable storage cabinets to house the material. Material for more than 3000 vial racks was purchased and racks were assembled to contain vials of alcohol preserved NAWQA and existing specimens. About 10 25-drawer insect storage cabinets were purchased for pinned specimens as well as about 200 insect drawers and associated unit trays. The collection received ca. $20,000 in support from the MNDNR for these items. Drawers and cabinets were also purchased by Drs. Dan Cariveau, Elaine Evans, and Coleen Satysur to house bee specimens from their research projects. Eight custom designed tables were built to facilitate curation and digitization of specimens and several new computers and printers were purchased to databasing and imaging of specimens. The later task was also aided by purchase of a robotic camera system with funds from the InvertNet project. The collection also initiated a transition to a new specimen database, Specify, and contracted a database technician to establish the database from NSF funds. Finally, the collection's website was completely redesigned by the curator and move to the Drupal content management system (insectcollection.umn.ed). The collection also established a U of M Foundation Gift Account to support ongoing curatorial, educational, and research activities. Taxa recurated during the period supported by the project were many and varied, including specimens across almost all orders and more than 300 families. Approximately, 350,000 specimens were either newly added or recurated under the project. In addition, research trips were taken to Russia, Ecuador, Chile, Peru, and the USA (Wyoming, Texas, Minnesota), which resulted in many specimens, including new species to science, for the collection. Research projects and publications focused largely on the caddisflies, or Trichoptera.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Holzenthal RW, R�os-Touma B, and R�zuri-Gonzales E. 2017. New species of the endemic Neotropical caddisfly genus Contulma from the Andes of Ecuador (Trichoptera: Anomalopsychidae). PeerJ 5:e3967. 10.7717/peerj.3967
  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Morse JC, Holzenthal RW, and Yadamsuren O. 2017. Trichoptera. Chapter 4. In: Morse JC, McCafferty WP, Stark BP, and Jacobus LM, eds. Larvae of the Southeastern USA mayfly, stonefly, and caddisflies species (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera). Clemson, South Carolina: Clemson University Public Service Publishing, 248-442.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Quinteiro FB, and Holzenthal RW. 2017. Fourteen new species of Oecetis McLachlan, 1877 (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae) from the Neotropical region. PeerJ 5:e3753. 10.7717/peerj.3753
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: R�zuri-Gonzales E, Holzenthal RW, and R�os-Touma B. 2017. Two new species of the rare Neotropical caddisfly genus Amphoropsyche Holzenthal (Trichoptera, Leptoceridae). ZooKeys 707:63-72.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Holzenthal, R.W., A.R. Calor, and R.J. Blahnik. 2016. Three new species of Helicopsyche from Brazil (Trichoptera: Helicopsychidae). Zootaxa 4078: 344-353.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Kjer K.M., J.A. Thomas, X. Zhou, P.B. Frandsen, E. Scott, R.W. Holzenthal. 2016 Progress on the phylogeny of caddisflies (Trichoptera). Pages 216-224. In: T. Vshivkova, J.C. Morse (Eds), Proceedings of the 14th International Symposium on Trichoptera). Magnolia Press, Aukland, New Zealand.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: R�zuri-Gonzales E, Holzenthal RW 2016 New synonyms in the highly diverse caddisfly genus Smicridea (Trichoptera, Hydropsychidae). ZooKeys 637: 2131.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Zhou, X., P. B. Frandsen, R. W. Holzenthal, C. R. Beet, K. R. Bennett, R. J. Blahnik, N. Bonada, D. Cartwright, S. Chuluunbat, G. V. Cocks, G. E. Collins, J. deWaard, J. Dean, O. S. Flint, A. Hausmann, L. Hendrich, M. Hess, I. D. Hogg, B. C. Kondratieff, H. Malicky, M. A. Milton, J. Moriniere, J. C. Morse, F. N. Mwangi, S. U. Pauls, M. R. Gonzalez, A. Rinne, J. L. Robinson, J. Salokannel, M. Shackleton, B. Smith, A. Stamatakis, R. StClair, J. A. Thomas, C. Zamora-Munoz, T. Ziesmann and K. M. Kjer. 2016 The Trichoptera barcode initiative: a strategy for generating a species-level Tree of Life. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences 371(1702): 1-11.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Camargos LM, R�os-Touma B, and Holzenthal RW. 2017. New Cernotina caddisflies from the Ecuadorian Amazon (Trichoptera: Polycentropodidae). PeerJ 5:e3960. 10.7717/peerj.3960
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Holzenthal RW, and Calor AR. 2017. Catalog of the Neotropical Trichoptera (Caddisflies). ZooKeys 654:1-566. 10.3897/zookeys.654.9516
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: R�os-Touma B, Holzenthal RW, Huisman J, Thomson R, and R�zuri-Gonzales E. 2017. Diversity and distribution of the Caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera) of Ecuador. PeerJ 5:e2851. 10.7717/peerj.2851
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Robertson, D.R. & R.W. Holzenthal. 2013. Revision and phylogeny of the caddisfly subfamily Protoptilinae (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae) inferred from adult morphology and mitochondrial DNA. Zootaxa 3723 (1):1-99.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Tinerella, P.P. 2013. Taxonomic revision and systematics of continental Australian pygmy water boatmen (Heteroptera: Corixoidea: Micronectidae). Zootaxa 3623 (1): 1-121.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Blahnik RJ, Holzenthal RW (2014) Review and redescription of species in the Oecetis avara group, with the description of 15 new species (Trichoptera, Leptoceridae). ZooKeys 376: 1-83.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Kjer KM, Zhou X, Frandsen PB, Thomas JA, Blahnik RJ (2014) Moving towards species-level phylogeny using ribosomal DNA and COI barcodes: an example from the diverse caddisfly genus Chimarra (Trichoptera: Philopotamidae). Arthropod Systematics and Phylogeny 72: 345-354.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Armitage, B.J., S.C. Harris, and R.W. Holzenthal. 2015. The Trichoptera of Panama I. New records for caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera) from the Republic of Panama. Insecta Mundi 0435: 1-10.
  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Holzenthal, R.W., R.E. Thomson, and B. R�os-Touma. 2015. Order Trichoptera. Pages 965-1002. In: Thorp, J., Rogers, D.C. (Eds.), Ecology and General Biology: Thorp and Covichs Freshwater Invertebrates, Academic Press.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Mu�oz-Quesada, F.J., and R.W. Holzenthal. 2015. Revision of the Neotropical species of the caddisfly genus Wormaldia (Trichoptera Philopotamidae). Zootaxa 3998: 1-138.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Thomson, R.E., and R.W. Holzenthal. 2015. A revision of the Neotropical caddisfly genus Leucotrichia (Hydroptilidae, Leucotrichiinae). ZooKeys 499: 1-100.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Armitage, B.J., S.C. Harris, R.J. Blahnik, and R.E. Thomson. 2016. The Trichopteran of Panama IV. new records for caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera) from the Republic of Panama. Insect Mundi 0511: 1-13.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Calor, A.R., R.W. Holzenthal, and C.G. Froehlich. 2016 Revision of the genus Grumichella (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae). Zoological Journal of the Linnaean Society 176: 137-169.


Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 14.0px} p.p3 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000} p.p4 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 14.0px} p.p5 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 28.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 12.0px Arial; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000} span.s1 {font-kerning: none} span.s2 {font-kerning: none; background-color: #000000} span.s3 {font: 12.0px Arial; font-kerning: none} Over the course of its history, research and specimen management associated with the University of Minnesota Insect Collection (UMSP) has helped to document a sample of Earth's remarkable diversity of insects. The collection ensures the safe storage and care of more than 3.9 million specimens, serves as a basis for research in basic and applied entomology at the University of Minnesota, and is the primary resource for graduate training in systematic entomology at the University of Minnesota. New accessions for 2016 totaled 69,015 specimens. The collection's total holdings now number 3,945,744 specimens, representing 52,066 species, a net gain of 827 species from 2015. The collection is now the 7th largest university affiliated insect collection in North America. In addition, 14 new loans were issued during 2015 to researchers around the world. The curator, Dr. Robin Thomson, with the help of volunteers and interns (Ruth Hamilton, Les Rogers, Correy Hildebrand, Bade Turgut, Madeline Olson), began several new recuration projects, including complete recuration and taxonomic upgrade of the pinned mosquitoes (Diptera), praying mantids (Mantodea), a donation of slide mounted midges (Chironomidae) and fleas (Siphonaptera), various Lepidoptera, Minnesota bees, jumping spiders and walking sticks (Phasmatodea). In addition, Research Associate Dr. John Luhman identified, organized, and recurated all holdings of anthomyiid flies, flower flies (Syrphidae), snipe flies (Rhagionidae), horse and deer flies (Tabanidae), robber flies Asilidae), skipper butterflies (Hesperiidae) and noctuid moths. Research Associates Joel Gardner and Crystal Boyd (MN DNR) continued to identify undetermined Minnesota bees and to database all Minnesota bee records in the collection in concert with the MN DNR's pollinator survey and conservation project. The latter effort also used the help of volunteers. The curator and faculty director were awarded 2 NSF grants to enhance the collection, one for $475,000 to curate and database the large donation of material from the US Geological Survey's National Water Quality Assessment program (NAWQA). This grant will be used to hire a full-time Curatorial Assistant to manage the curation and databasing of the 220,000 vials and ca. 1.1 millions specimens from the NAWQA collection. This grant will also support a new graduate student. A second NSF grant of $97,000 was received to database the Lepidoptera.a third NSF grant was submitted to database selected groups of beetles. The latter two proposals are in collaboration with other institutions. The collection continued its active processing of digitized images in association with its current InvertNet NSF grant. Under this grant all UMSP specimens have been digitally imaged and/or computerized, including glass microscope slides (621,011 specimens), insect drawers (5,943 drawers) and glass vials (label data and card catalog scanned only). Digitized images are being uploaded to InvertNet (http://invertnet.org/). Four new 25-drawer Lane specimen cabinets were purchased, and 75 new Cornell drawers. The Minnesota DNR invested about $14,000 over the last several years to purchase cabinets, drawers, and unit trays to house bee specimens from state-wide surveys. Likewise, Dr. Dan Cariveau purchased cabinets and drawers for the collection for bees collected during his research.The DNR also deposited a voucher collection of specimens from Weaver Dunes, which included many species new for the collection. Collection personnel participated in a research trips to southern Texas in July, which added many species not previously represented in the collection. In 2016 the collection hosted 175 visitors, including students from classes on campus, Macalester College, Minnesota College of Art and Design, Bell Museum Summer Camp, U of M Summer Youth Program, and several home-schooled groups. The curator and collection personnel also displayed specimens at a general information booth at the National Eagle Center's "SOAR with the Eagles" festival and at the Minnesota State Fair. The collection supported the research of 3 graduate students (L.M. de Camargos, PhD, L.E. Rázuri Gonzales, PhD, Correy Hildebrand, MS). It also supported the work of 4 Research Associates (Dr. J.C. Luhman, Dr. R.J. Blahnik, Joel Gardner, Crystal Boyd), the Curator (Dr. Robin Thomson), and the faculty director (Dr. Ralph Holzenthal). Publications Armitage, B.J., S.C. Harris, R.J. Blahnik, and R.E. Thomson. (2016). The Trichopteran of Panama IV. new records for caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera) from the Republic of Panama. Insect Mundi 0511: 1-13. Calor, A.R., R.W. Holzenthal, and C.G. Froehlich. (2016) Revision of the genus Grumichella (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae). Zoological Journal of the Linnaean Society 176: 137-169. Holzenthal, R.W., A.R. Calor, and R.J. Blahnik. (2016). Three new species of Helicopsyche from Brazil (Trichoptera: Helicopsychidae). Zootaxa 4078: 344-353. Kjer K.M., J.A. Thomas, X. Zhou, P.B. Frandsen, E. Scott, R.W. Holzenthal. (2016) Progress on the phylogeny of caddisflies (Trichoptera). Pages 216-224. In: T. Vshivkova, J.C. Morse (Eds), Proceedings of the 14th International Symposium on Trichoptera). Magnolia Press, Aukland, New Zealand. Rázuri-Gonzales E, Holzenthal RW (2016) New synonyms in the highly diverse caddisfly genus Smicridea (Trichoptera, Hydropsychidae). ZooKeys 637: 21-31. Zhou, X., P. B. Frandsen, R. W. Holzenthal, C. R. Beet, K. R. Bennett, R. J. Blahnik, N. Bonada, D. Cartwright, S. Chuluunbat, G. V. Cocks, G. E. Collins, J. deWaard, J. Dean, O. S. Flint, A. Hausmann, L. Hendrich, M. Hess, I. D. Hogg, B. C. Kondratieff, H. Malicky, M. A. Milton, J. Moriniere, J. C. Morse, F. N. Mwangi, S. U. Pauls, M. R. Gonzalez, A. Rinne, J. L. Robinson, J. Salokannel, M. Shackleton, B. Smith, A. Stamatakis, R. StClair, J. A. Thomas, C. Zamora-Munoz, T. Ziesmann and K. M. Kjer. (2016) The Trichoptera barcode initiative: a strategy for generating a species-level Tree of Life. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences 371(1702): 1-11.

Publications


    Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

    Outputs
    Target Audience:Citizens of the State of Minnesota, students, faculty, and staff at the University of Minnesota, reseachers from around the world. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The curator, faculty director, and students attended the 15th International Symposium on Trichoptera in Rutgers, New Jersey, in June and delivered a total of 6 presentations. The faculty director also attended the 3rd Brazilian Congress on Aquatic Entomology in March and gave a presentation. In 2015 the collection hosted 150 visitors, including a visiting researcher from Cuba, 17 research scientists attending the Entomological Society of America meeting, visiting artists from the Bell Museum's Artist in Residence program, as well as students from classes on campus, Macalester College, Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School, and the Minnesota College of Art and Design, among others. The curator and collection personnel also displayed specimens at a general information booth at the National Eagle Center's "SOAR with the Eagles" festival and at the Minnesota State Fair. The collection also established at Foundation Gift Fund new for 2015. The collection supported the research of 2 graduate students (L.M. de Camargos, PhD, L.E. Rázuri Gonzales, MS). It also supported the work of 4 Research Associates (Dr. J.C. Luhman, Dr. R.J. Blahnik, Joel Gardner, Crystal Boyd), the Curator (Dr. Robin Thomson), and the faculty director (Dr. Ralph Holzenthal). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? The curator, Dr. Robin Thomson, with the help of volunteers, began several new recuration projects, including complete recuration and taxonomic upgrade of the pinned mosquitoes (Diptera), identification and sorting of unidentified butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera), and identification and accession of miscellaneous general Insecta. Long term curatorial tasks included continued accession of the NAWQA collection, also with the help of volunteers. In addition, Research Associate Dr. John Luhman identified, organized, and recurated all holdings of hover flies (Syrphidae), scarab beetles (Scarabeidae), and potter wasps (Vespidae). Visiting researchers recurated all holdings of Neuroptera, Rhaphidioptera, and Megaloptera, and identified undetermined material in Reduviidae, Endomychidae, Curculionidae, Scarabaeidae, Asilidae, and Mydidae. Research Associates Joel Gardner and Crystal Boyd (MN DNR) continued to identify undetermined Minnesota bees and to database all Minnesota bee records in the collection in concert with the MN DNR's pollinator survey and conservation project. The latter effort also used the help of volunteers. The collection's website was completely redesigned in the content management system Drupal and was re-launched in October (www.insectcollection.umn.edu). The curator and faculty director submitted 3 NSF grants to enhance the collection, one to curate and database the NAWQA material, one to database the Lepidoptera, and one to database selected groups of beetles. The latter two proposals are in collaboration with other institutions. The collection continued its active processing of digitized images in association with its current NSF grant. Under this grant all UMSP specimens have been digitally imaged and/or computerized, including glass microscope slides (621,011 specimens), insect drawers (5,943 drawers) and glass vials (label data and card catalog scanned only). Digitized images are being uploaded to InvertNet (http://invertnet.org/). No new equipment was purchased, but two additional drawer layout tables were constructed for recuration activities. The collection received a donation of 55 drawers of many families of Diptera from around the world from alumnus Dan Hanson. The DNR also deposited a voucher collection of specimens from Weaver Dunes, which included many species new for the collection. Collection personnel participated in 3 research trips to Ecuador and Peru in January, July-August, and November, respectively. This research resulted in much new material for the collection.

    Publications

    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Armitage, B.J., S.C. Harris, and R.W. Holzenthal. 2015. The Trichoptera of Panama I. New records for caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera) from the Republic of Panama. Insecta Mundi 0435: 1-10.
    • Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Holzenthal, R.W., R.E. Thomson, and B. R�os-Touma. 2015. Order Trichoptera. Pages 965-1002. In: Thorp, J., Rogers, D.C. (Eds.), Ecology and General Biology: Thorp and Covichs Freshwater Invertebrates, Academic Press.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Mu�oz-Quesada, F.J., and R.W. Holzenthal. 2015. Revision of the Neotropical species of the caddisfly genus Wormaldia (Trichoptera Philopotamidae). Zootaxa 3998: 1-138.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Thomson, R.E., and R.W. Holzenthal. 2015. A revision of the Neotropical caddisfly genus Leucotrichia (Hydroptilidae, Leucotrichiinae). ZooKeys 499: 1-100.


    Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14

    Outputs
    Target Audience: Citizens of the state of Minnesota, state and federal agencies, other museums and universities, as well as researchers and students from around the world. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The collection supported the research of 2 new graduate students (L.M. de Camargos, PhD, L.E. Rázuri Gonzales, MS). Two MS students (J. Gardner, H. Hendrickson) and 1 PhD student (R.E. Thomson) graduated in 2014. The collection hosted 2 visiting students from Brazil (F.B. Quinteiro, A. Costa) and one visiting professor from Brazil (A.R. Calor). It also supported the work of 4 Research Associates (Dr. J.C. Luhman, Dr. R.J. Blahnik, Joel Gardner, Crystal Boyd). Other students and researchers from the Department of Entomology, Bell Museum of Natural History, College of Biological Sciences, MN Department of Natural Resources, Macalester College, University of Minnesota, Duluth, Indiana University, MN Dragonfly Survey, MN Department of Agriculture, and US Forest Service accessed the collection at various times. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? Over the course of its history, research and specimen management associated with the University of Minnesota Insect Collection (UMSP) has helped to document a sample of Earth's remarkable diversity of insects. The collection ensures the safe storage and care of more than 3.8 million specimens, serves as a basis for research in basic and applied entomology at the University of Minnesota, and is the primary resource for graduate training in systematic entomology at the University of Minnesota. New accessions for 2014 totaled 13,502 specimens. The collection’s total holdings now number 3,863,368 specimens, representing 50,975 species, a net gain of 240 species from 2013. These totals do not include the NAWQA collection that awaits final unpacking and curation. In addition, 16 new loans were issued during 2014 to researchers around the world and 15 old loans were completely or partially returned. New voucher material was obtained from graduate student research (aphids, midges, mites) and from the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (new mosquito records). Accessions included material from Minnesota and Wyoming especially in the Trichoptera. The Curator attended the Entomological Collections Network annual meeting in Portland, OR, and received 16 hours of special training in the content management system Drupal in anticipation of the restructuring of the collection’s website. The curator also provided outreach for the Minnesota State Fair, the Science Museum of Minnesota, the Bell Museum of Natural History summer camp, the University of Minnesota Duluth Entomology Club, the U of M Entomology Department general entomology class, the Monarchs in the Classroom program, Macalester College, and continued to maintain the collection’s “Insect Zoo.”

    Publications

    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Blahnik RJ, Holzenthal RW (2014) Review and redescription of species in the Oecetis avara group, with the description of 15 new species (Trichoptera, Leptoceridae). ZooKeys 376: 1-83.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Kjer KM, Zhou X, Frandsen PB, Thomas JA, Blahnik RJ (2014) Moving towards species-level phylogeny using ribosomal DNA and COI barcodes: an example from the diverse caddisfly genus Chimarra (Trichoptera: Philopotamidae). Arthropod Systematics and Phylogeny 72: 345-354.
    • Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Holzenthal RW, Thomson RE, R�os-Touma B (2015) Order Trichoptera. In: Thorp J, Rogers DC (Eds) Ecology and General Biology: Thorp and Covich's Freshwater Invertebrates. Academic Press, 9651002.


    Progress 01/01/13 to 09/30/13

    Outputs
    Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems: The former curator, Dr. Paul Tinerella, left the university and his position in August. A new associate curator was hired on September 1st, 2013, to take over curatorial responsibilities. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The collection supported the research of 2 MS students (J. Gardner, H. Hendrickson),1 PhD student (R.E. Thomson) and 2 Research Associates (Dr. J.C. Luhman, Dr. R.J. Blahnik). Dr. Blanca Rios-Touma from Ecuador visited the collection as well as a contingent of forest entomologists from China. Other students and researchers from the Bell Museum of Natural History, College of Biological Sciences, MN Department of Natural Resources, MN Department of Agriculture, and US Forest Service accessed the collection at various times. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Through publication, public outreach, and the collection's websites - www.insectcollection.org and invertnet.org What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Continue current efforts to accession newly acquired and existing material into the collection, train students, provide specimens through loans to researcher around the world, maintain the safe keeping of the collection, and engage in public outreach.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? Over the course of its more than 130 year existence, research and specimen management associated with the University of Minnesota Insect Collection (UMSP) has helped to document a sample of Earth's remarkable diversity of insects. The collection ensures the safe storage and care of more than 3.8 million specimens, serves as a basis for research in basic and applied entomology at the University of Minnesota, and is the primary resource for graduate training in systematic entomology at the University of Minnesota. New accessions for 2013 totaled 68,894 specimens. The collection’s total holdings now number 3,849,866 specimens, representing 50,735 species, a net gain of 361 species from 2012. These totals do not include the NAWQA collection that awaits final unpacking and curation. In addition, 15 new loans were issued during 2013 to researchers around the world and 13 old loans were completely or partially returned. The parasitic wasp family Pteromalidae was completely recurated and much unidentified material was determined to species. The Trichoptera collection was physically expanded to include 2 additional cabinets and 50 drawers. New voucher material was obtained from graduate student research (aphids, midges, mites) and from the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (new mosquito records). Accessions included material from Minnesota, Russia, Ecuador, and Chile, especially in the Trichoptera. These included the addition of 4 new families not represented previously. The Associate Curator attended an InvertNet digitization workshop at the University of Illinois. She provided outreach at the Minnesota State Fair, the general entomology class, the Monarchs in the Classroom program, the Lowry Nature Center, and re-established the collections “Insect Zoo.” The collections accession inventory and loan database was moved to a new platform and backlogged accessions were compiled.

    Publications

    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Robertson, D.R. & R.W. Holzenthal. 2013. Revision and phylogeny of the caddisfly subfamily Protoptilinae (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae) inferred from adult morphology and mitochondrial DNA. Zootaxa 3723 (1):1-99.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Tinerella, P.P. 2013. Taxonomic revision and systematics of continental Australian pygmy water boatmen (Heteroptera: Corixoidea: Micronectidae). Zootaxa 3623 (1): 1-121.


    Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12

    Outputs
    OUTPUTS: 2012 was a very productive year for the University of Minnesota Insect Collection (UMSP). In early 2012, arrangements were made with the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) in Denver, CO, to acquire the National Water Quality Laboratory (NAWQA) aquatic macroinvertebrate collection - for curation and permanent retention at UMSP. The collection totals in excess of 2.5 million specimens and consists of 5,451 racks of material, including some 225,000 vials. All material is identified at least to the genus level, with a significant portion of the material identified to species. The collection represents sampling efforts from 1993 to present within the USGS National Water Quality Assessment Program. Packing, transport, accession, and curation was supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF DBI-1132188 to Curator P.P. Tinerella), and the College of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resource Sciences. In addition, the UMSP acquired the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve,, insect reference and research collection. This collection, represents voucher and other specimens related to ecosystem level research projects at the Reserve spanning decades. To date, a total of 51,863 specimens have been accessioned into the UMSP from this collection. To date, all UMSP Insect Collection specimens are digitized and/or computerized (databasing in progress). Glass microscope slides scanned include 621,011 specimens, insect drawers imaged (5,943 drawers) total 1,460,613 pinned specimens (Odonata, dragonflies and damselflies- preserved in envelopes are included in this total), and glass vials (label data and card catalog scanned only), include data for 1,699,348 specimens. Collection total holdings now number 3,780,972 specimens. This total does not include the NAWQA collection that awaits unpacking and curation. A total of 12 software apps are now operational and accessible worldwide, each constructed for image processing and data acquisition, for each type of collection preservation object in UMSP. The new UMSP Insect Collection database: DeCOR: - Digital entomology Collections Object Repository is operational. The interface is accessible worldwide at: http://www.insectcollection.umn.edu. All UMSP specimens are now available in "zooming" format - and will be added to the UMSP public website: www.insectcollection.org after processing is complete in the DeCOR. The new UMSP Insect Collection website can be accessed at: www.insectcollection.org and the "News" page (http://www.insectcollection.org/tours_outreach_news/news/). Digitization and computerization of the UMSP Insect Collection is supported by the National Science Foundation through 2015. PARTICIPANTS: Paul P. Tinerella, Ralph W. Holzenthal, Dr. William Scharf, retired biology professor at Northwestern Michigan College and alumnus of the Department of Entomology, U of MN, donated a large collection of fleas and lice (ca. 2600 slides) associated with his work on birds and mammals in the Great Lakes Region. TARGET AUDIENCES: Department of Entomology MN Department of Agriculture MN DNR PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

    Impacts
    Over the course of its more than 130 year existence, research and specimen management associated with the University of Minnesota Insect Collection (UMSP) has helped to document a sample of Earth's remarkable diversity of insects. The collection ensures the safe storage and care of more than 3.8 million specimens, serves as a basis for research in basic and applied entomology at the University of Minnesota, and is the primary resource for graduate training in systematic entomology at the University of Minnesota. New accessions for 2012 totaled 60,602 specimens. The collection's 3,841,574 specimens represent 50,374 species, a net gain of 141 species from 2011. In addition, 18 new loans were issued during 2012 to researchers around the world. The holdings of alcohol preserved material for Hemiptera, minor insect orders, and non-insect Arthropod orders, totaling 722,877 specimens, were completely recurated (new vials, stoppers, alcohol) and revised to reflect new taxonomic changes. Much undetermined and unaccessioned material from Minnesota Department of Agriculture survey projects were accessioned into the collection, especially among families of Diptera (true flies) and Hemiptera (hoppers, bugs). 1 new family, not previously represented in the collection were added. Project personnel participated in research trips to Russia, Colorado, and Minnesota, resulting in new material for the collection. One PhD student joined the collection's research team. The collection now supports the research of 2 Ph.D. students, 2 M.S. students, and 2 research associates. Numerous local, national, and international researchers visited the collection, including those from Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, as well as the Department of Entomology, Bell Museum of Natural History, College of Biological Sciences, MN Department of Natural Resources, MN Department of Agriculture, and US Forest Service.

    Publications

    • Tinerella, P.P. 2012. Taxonomic revision and systematics of continental Australian pygmy water boatmen (Heteroptera: Corixoidea: Micronectidae). Zootaxa (in press)


    Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11

    Outputs
    OUTPUTS: The past year was very productive for the University of Minnesota Insect Collection (UMSP). Two major NSF grants were obtained by collection personnel. These grants, a combined $700,000, are being used to capture high resolution digital images of slide mounted, alcohol preserved, and pinned material. In 2011, the slide collection (ca. 500,000 slides) was completely digitized; work is now under way to capture specimen-level label data. Also, an antiquated index card catalog of the collection of alcohol preserved specimens (ca. 26,000 cards) was digitized; likewise, specimen-level data are being entered into the relational database associated with the project. Efforts began in late 2011 to digitize the pinned material (ca. 6000 insect drawers). About 15 undergraduate temporary student employees were hired and trained to carry out the digitization project. Three Gigapan robots and associated Canon digital SLR cameras were purchased to capture digital images of museum drawers. These were integrated with 3 new iMac computers, 2 PowerMac computers, and several backup storage devices to process and archive digital images and associated data. One Ph.D. graduate student enrolled in the entomology program under the digitization project. In addition, a contract was established with the MN DNR to process and identify insect specimens from Minnesota prairies; a temporary employee was hired to process this material. A grant was transferred from the National Park Service to study aquatic insect biodiversity in the Big Ticket National Preserve in Texas. Material to be deposited in UMSP was collected in the area in June 2011. Twelve tours were conducted for university groups and the public and 43 visitors accessed the collection's specimens for research and other purposes. Three public presentations were held on the museum and its current digitization project. 2011 saw strong growth in holdings of specimens and species represented. In total, the collection now holds 3,772,949 specimens of which 22,580 were new accessions last year. These specimens represent 50,233 species, a net gain of 142 species. In addition, 11 new loans were issued during the period. In total, 792 specimens were sent out on loan and 242 were returned. The holdings of alcohol preserved Odonata (dragonflies) were completely recurated (new vials, stoppers, alcohol) and revised to reflect new taxonomic changes. Much undetermined and unaccessioned material from Minnesota Department of Agriculture survey projects were accessioned into the collection, especially among families of Diptera (true flies). Two new families (Pseudoneureclipsidae, Helotrephidae), not previously represented in the collection were added. Project personnel participated in research trips to Ecuador, Russia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee, Colorado, and Texas, resulting in new material for the collection. The collection supported the research of two Ph.D. students, two M.S. students, and two research associates. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Paul Tinerella, Dr. Ralph Holzenthal, Dr. John Luhman, Dr. Roger Blahnik, Robin Thomson, David Martin, and Heather Cummins. TARGET AUDIENCES: University of Minnesota Department of Entomology Minnesota Department of Agriculture Minnesota Department of Natural Resources PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

    Impacts
    Over the course of its more than 130 year existence, research and specimen management associated with the University of Minnesota Insect Collection (UMSP) has helped to document a sample of Earth's remarkable diversity of insects. The collection ensures the safe storage and care of more than 3.77 million specimens, serves as a basis for research in basic and applied entomology at the University of Minnesota, and is the primary resource for graduate training in systematic entomology at the University of Minnesota.

    Publications

    • No publications reported this period


    Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10

    Outputs
    OUTPUTS: The year 2010 saw additional growth in holdings of specimens and species represented. In total, the collection now holds 3,750,369 specimens of which 17,331 were new accessions last year. These specimens represent 50,091 species, a net gain of 176 species. In addition, 8 new loans were issued during the period. In total, 288 specimens were sent out on loan and 468 were returned. Two new 25-drawer Lane cabinets were purchased last year to hold new accessions and reorganized specimens. One research paper based on museum data was published. One grant proposal (pending) was submitted to the National Science Foundation for support of digitization of specimen data. Project personnel participated in 1 research trip to Venezuela to collect material new for the collection. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Phil Clausen; Dr. Paul Tinerella TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

    Impacts
    Over the course of its more than 130 year existence, research and specimen management associated with the University of Minnesota Insect Collection (UMSP) has helped to document a sample of Earth's remarkable diversity of insects. The collection ensures the safe storage and care of more than 3.75 million specimens, serves as a basis for research in basic and applied entomology at the University of Minnesota, and is the primary resource for graduate training in systematic entomology at the University of Minnesota.

    Publications

    • Houghton, D.C., and R.W. Holzenthal. 2010. Historical and contemporary biological diversity of Minnesota caddisflies: a case study of landscape-level species loss and trophic composition shift. Journal of the North American Benthological Society, 29(2): 480-495.