Klein-Edwards Professional Services
PO Box 16809
San Diego, CA 92176-6809
copyright 2014 KEPS
All Rights Reserved

 
Insect Field Identification Program
Purpose:
The purpose of this program is to provide identification of insects within the general habitats in the San Diego Region.
Examples of Habitats we will visit:
Each Session will be focused on one habitat.
Coastal Sage Scrub
Chaparral - coastal
Chaparral - Montane
Coniferous
Upper Desert Transition
Desert
Oak Riparian
Willow and/or Sycamore Riparian
Coastal Dunes
Grassland
Who Should Attend:
Anyone who loves nature
Regional Field Biologists
Local Entomologists desiring specialized education of insect Ecology and behavior
Land Managers
Jurisdictional Land Planners
Public Utility Biologists
Anyone who wishes to understand insect roles in nature
Time Frame:
Minimum Four 4-hour Sessions monthly from 10am - 2pm.  We could go up to 6 or 8 Sessions if we do not complete a 4-hour session.
Cost:
$800 for all sessions.  You will get 16 hours of field Identification time!
Why Offer this Program?
With nearly 18 years of Professional Field Biology and over 50 years of pursuing my childhood passion of butterflies it is clear that identification skills of insects as well as other invertebrates is lacking and at best limited within Southern California.


There are many very good colleges and Universities in California that offer some level of degree programs with the major of Entomology.  Some emphasize systematics, some work on ecology, some even look at the paleo-entomology. But none of them look at general insect identification and their relationship to the habitats they live in and their role within the ecosystems.

Over the years, it was apparent that when Field Biologists conducted surveys they are required to generate inventories of the flora and fauna.  Regularly species lists for plant, birds, and herps were overall fairly details.  Mammal lists were comprehensive for large mammals but the invertebrate list was non-existent until recently with the Federal listing of 2 butterflies.  Then the invertebrate list contained a butterfly list and nothing more.

I have been encouraged over the past couple of years where field biologists see something, photograph it and send them to me or another entomologist.  The encouraging part is that they recognized a value of insects and other invertebrates in the field.  However, they depend on people like me to ID them for them.  We may not always be around. Therefore it is time to teach them how to ID insects in the field and where to go for assist them in their ability to ID the insect.

Years ago, I posed a simple question to some of the Region’s top ornithologists, “What do California gnatcatchers eat and feed their young?  What do Bells vireo’s and Willow Flycatchers eat and feed their young?”  We all knew these federally protected bird were insectivores and the response was the same, “They are general feeders.”  My response was a follow-up question, “So hatchlings can eat Jerusalem crickets, or darner dragonflies?”  The response was, “No.”  I again asked, “ What do they eat?”  Finally the answer was what I anticipated, We don’t know.  I then would ask, “Do you think this is an important variable for managing these species?” and again they would agree that more research is needed.

The point in this is we assume too much instead of getting quantifiable research done to help answer these questions which may eventually assist in managing the species.

Also, this ties directly to Field Biologist.  There are so many out their conducting surveys, observing, photographing, that they contain many times if not most of the time data that could be valuable for a particular sensitive species. Therefore, we need to teach them how to write detail field notes and put ALL their observations on paper.  These could then be used for Colleges and Universities to build a research project.  It is a shame that scientists do not take advantage of the Regional Field Biologist.

This Program will elevate the knowledge of identification of insects therefore creating a more balanced and detail inventory as well as what their observation was.

Another example is in 2010 while conducting Hermes Copper presence / absence surveys I observed on one day 7 different species totaling hundreds of Robber Flies.  When I shared my observation with 2 other very good entomologists, they shared they observed the same thing in their survey areas.  We agreed this may a very important observation for future years’ flight seasons for the Copper.  So far, 2 years after that observation, Copper number are the lowest ever within the area.  Were the Robber flies critical with the Copper declines?  It is unknown at this point in time. However, it is likely a variable for their low numbers. If others knew this we may have a more comprehensive comparison.

One of the key reasons for doing this is that surveys need to documented in detail.  The Field Biologists needs to recount what happened each day the surveys and it is much more difficult to remember as to what was done during the surveys but also report weather changes, and other pertinent information so that an accurate report can be produced.
What You Will Learn During Each Session

1. During the 4 Session Program we will visit a different habitat on each visit
2. We will discuss what makes each habitat unique or what the plants within the habitat make it
what it is.  Example: If we are in sage Scrub we will discuss what makes in that type of habitat
3. We will identify what other animals would normally be found within that habitat and why.
4. We will then begin searching that habitat and find insects and other invertebrates. Mr. Klein will
share what he know about them the group will them tie in plants and animals found within that
habitat type and have the group determine why these insects and other invertebrates would be
found in this habitat and try to tie in the plants and animals and see if we can see an ecological
reason for them found here.  Example: We find a Behr’s Metalmark Butterfly in Sage scrub. 
Buckwheat is a component of Sage scrub and the butterfly’s larval host plant is buckwheat.
5. You will be required to take notes and observed behavior of what insects or other invertebrates
observed.
6. Photographs should be taken for the participants records.
      7.   If the insect is not found within the Field Guide then the photo is important and the homework             
            will be for the participant to identify it from websites they will be given.   The following week
            they will share with the group what they found.
Requirements for Attending the Program

Waiver Form
Do You Know Who I am?
How about ME?
OK Let's Try ME?
Alright, Let's Make it an easy one. Who am I?
If you had Problems Identifying these. You really should take this Program!
Insects of the LA Basin
Klein-Edwards Professional Services