UCR ENTM 10 Summer 2020

Digital Insect Collection

Objective: This project is designed to illustrate the ubiquity of insects and to have you apply knowledge learned in class to collection of specimens through digital photography and use of an online database. The project will include a minimum of 10 insect observations and 1 written assignment.

ONLINE PORTION:
Photograph 10 adult insects representing at least 5 different orders (and a few select suborders) of insects. Other kinds of animals, including non-insect arthropods and immature insects, do not count toward this project. Submit photos to the class project (UCR ENTM 10 Summer 2020) in the online database www.iNaturalist.org. For each observation you submit, identify the insect to Order in iNaturalist. Photos should show enough insect features that each insect is identifiable to Order.

You DO NOT have to identify to the species level. In fact, do not identify insects to species level unless you are VERY confident of the ID. The species suggested by iNaturalist are wrong 60% of the time. Insect species ID from photographs is very difficult.

Each observation for the collection should:

• Include one or more photos of an individual insect. Each observation should show your encounter with one insect (or a group of the same species clustered together).

• Represent a unique insect species. For example, if you record two separate observations of honey bees, one you saw in the botanical garden, and one you saw in the yard at home, only one will count toward your project, since they are both the same species. If you record an observation of a honey bee and an observation of a bumble bee, even though both belong to the Order Hymenoptera, both could count for your project since they are different species.

• Include a record of when and where it was observed (usually recorded automatically by GPS data through your phone. If your phone or digital camera does not record this information, you will need to note it at the time of photography and enter it manually).

• Be identified to Order or selected suborders. See attached list.

All photos must be insects you see in nature, no photos from online sources, books, museums, zoos, insect fairs, pinned specimens, pets, or other insect collections. Plagiarism of insect photos from online, books or any other source will result in a 0 on this assignment. All photos should be taken during this summer session (July 27 – August 28). You may work together to find insects, but each student should submit their own observations and photograph(s) of the insects that you find. You may also photograph dead insects, as long as they remain identifiable.

Take identifiable photos: check on iLearn (Review materials/Identification of insect orders) for key characteristics of each order. Work to fill the frame with your insect, a fuzzy speck that probably has wings or 6 legs will not be identifiable, and will not count toward your collection. It may take some practice to get an in-focus picture of an insect. It is nearly impossible to take a good picture of a flying insect. Look for insects feeding on plants and flowers, or insects on the wall near porch lights in the evening. Check swimming pools and ponds for insects that are stuck on the water surface. If you move an insect for more detailed photography, be sure to take a picture of it where it was when it was found, so you can preserve location information.

Take multiple photos: Many insects, cannot be identified from a single photo. Try photos from different angles (top, bottom, side), and/or photos showing different features of the insect. Wings, head and legs (especially wings, mouthparts, antennae and eyes), are often important for insect identification, Be sure to group multiple photos of the same insect into one observation. If you are turning in stunning insect photos, having multiple angels will also document that it is your work, so you will not be penalized for plagiarism.

WRITTEN PORTION

Choose ONE insect for your online observations. Write a paragraph or two on what you find interesting about that specimen’s biology, behavior, and ecology; in short, why did you like it (or dislike it) enough to collect it for this project? If you don’t like the insect, well, that could be worth writing about too…as long as there is some noteworthy information in your description.

Write a detailed paragraph or two that covers the following.

A description and identification of the Order (and Family if possible).
A description of how you encountered the insect (where were you, how did you do it, etc).
Why you photographed that insect; what was interesting about it?
.
A brief description including some of the insect’s biology. Where does it live, what does it eat, is it a pest (if so how do you control/manage it), etc. Give some details of the species biology, ecology and behavior. This doesn’t need to be long, 1/3 to 1/2 a page is plenty.

EXAMPLE
Joe Collector (Your Name)
JoeLovesBeetles (Your iNaturalist ID)

On October 1, 2012, I found a female rain beetle by following males and then digging her out of her burrow. These beetles are rarely caught by anybody who isn’t a fairly rabid collector.

Rain beetles belong to the order Coleoptera, specifically in the family Pleocomidae. They are very unusual scarabs. The males only fly typically in cold and rainy conditions when few other insects are readily found. The females are flightless and attract males with a pheromone. Collectors of Pleocomidae await the winter rains in California and drive out to collecting sites during or immediately after a good soaking rain.

Pleocomid larvae may take up to 7 years to develop into adults and feed on the roots of various plants. The limited movement ability of females means that populations are very disjointed and usually isolated to a fairly small geographic area. Males are attracted readily to light sources, but the only method of capturing females is to dig them from their burrows (after locating them, of course). As a result, while male Pleocomidae are fairly common in collections, few collectors ever come up with females.

Grading:

WARNING: You must add your observations to the class project, they will not be added automatically by iNaturalist. When you are in edit mode for the observation, look for the “add to projects” tab at the bottom. Only observations added to the class project will be considered for grading.

1.) 5 Insect observations, identified with unique Order – 3 pts each – 15 points total

2.) 5 additional insect observations – 2 pts each – 10 points total
identified to Order, but may repeat a previously recorded order

3.) Written report – 5 pts

TOTAL: 30 Points

Extra Credit. If you missed points or had to miss a lab, here is your opportunity to make up for it. You may add extra observations to the iNaturalist project that document additional insect Orders (beyond the required 5 orders). These will be worth 2 points each.

To receive these points, you must have more than 5 orders, and more than 10 observations.
For example:
10 observations with 7 different orders = 0 extra credit
12 observations with 5 different orders = 0 extra credit
15 observations with 6 different orders = 2 points extra credit
15 observations with 10 different orders = 10 points extra credit

There is no penalty for having extra observations on iNaturalist, but the base-line criteria must be met before you receive extra credit.

You may also receive extra credit for recording an insect Order or Family (verified by the instructors) that was not observed by anyone else, 1 point each.

Maximum extra credit: 15 points. less ↑