The focus of the September 14, 2024 annual meeting was to highlight the often overlooked fauna of Iowa, aquatic insects. Professor Dr. Greg Courtney of Iowa State University gave an hour long presentation titled Aquatic Insects of a Midwestern Prairie Pothole: Biodiversity of a “well known” fauna? Dr. Courtney discussed the biology and ecology of lesser known groups of insects found in wetland ecosystems, with a focus on Union Hills Wildlife Management Area in northern Iowa, and their relationships with macrophytes. Macrophytes are large aquatic plants that grow in or close to water and are visible by sight. Prairie potholes provide habitat to springtails, mayflies, true bugs, beetles, dragonflies and damselflies, caddisflies, true flies, and even aquatic Lepidoptera!
After the presentation guests were welcomed to tour the ISU insect lab in the Science II building. Dr. Courtney gave us the historical background of the lab and contributors. The lab is the only major entomological collection in the state of Iowa. It houses over one million pinned specimens, being especially rich in Hemiptera, Lepidoptera, and Diptera. Some specimen dating back to the 1880s! Collections within the lab may be pinned, on slides, or held in vial fluid collections. Touring participants were able to see a variety of collection specimen up close.
Lastly, we ended the day by taking an hour long walk through Richard Pohl Prairie State Preserve near Ames High School. The preserve was rich in fall blooming species such as sky blue aster (Symphyotrichum oolentangiense), silky aster (Symphyotrichum sericeum), stiff goldenrod (Oligoneuron rigidum), field thistle (Cirsium discolor), and the star of the day, downy gentian (Gentiana puberulenta). The golden glow of the warm season grasses was also quite a sight.
Thank you to all who participated in some or all of our annual meeting’s activities!
All photos taken by Sarah Nizzi and Lael Neal.
