So this is what I’ve been up to this past week:
- Cataloging and re-organizing the Beatty Collection.
Most specimens are housed in Kraft boxes (proper housing for envelopes and triangles), but many are housed in cigar boxes and various other containers (i.e. butter containers, plastic cases, film boxes). The specimens in these assorted containers are stored horizontally, which can cause damage to them. I have been working to catalog the contents of these containers and to reorganize them so that they are stored vertically.
I have also been cataloging the contents of the Kraft boxes. So far, we are up to 752 different Odonata species for the collection!
- Working on creating an expedition for the Atlas of Living Australia website. More on this next week.
- Meeting with Hal White.
When Hal was just a young man, he helped George Beatty revamp an old school bus that they could take on collecting trips. Then, he accompanied the Beattys on on their fourth collecting expedition to Mexico. In addition to this, he has been collecting in State College, specifically Ten Acre Pond, for decades. Needless to say, he is a wealth of information on both the Beattys and Ode collecting, especially around State College.
Well, Hal paid us a visit on Monday. He and I talked about what I’ve been doing with the collection and then we looked at the collection a bit, including some Archaeogomphid specimens that had been caught on the expedition that he went on with the Beattys. What was exciting about these specimens, in particular, is that these species had not been documented in Mexico prior to Hal catching one (George subsequently caught some additional specimens).
Afterward, we met him at Ten Acre Pond, where we spent the afternoon collecting. I didn’t spend as much time with him as I should have, because he went right into the water and I wasn’t wearing waders, but I should have just sucked it up and gotten my pants wet (What is this? A fashion show?). When I did talk to him, though, he was full of useful tips in regards to where I could find different species. It added great variety to my haul for the day.
It was truly a pleasure to meet this kind, knowledgeable man. I’m so glad I got to spend the time with him that I did!
- Return to Ten Acre Pond!
I must say that I have improved quite a bit since our first trip to Ten Acre Pond. I collected a total of 11 specimens (10 dragonflies and 1 damselfly), and thanks to tips from Hal, I collected a decent variety, including 2 Aeshnid species, 5 Libellulid species, and one Coenagrionid.