Andrew Schmidt will conduct a beetle survey of the Fertig Tallgrass Prairie for the next four years (summers of 2002-2005) with the intention of having a permanent collection of identified beetles located at the Schuyler Central High School and at the University of Nebraska State Museum in Lincoln. He applied for and won the 2001 Youth Incentive Award given by the Coleopterists Society and will use the $150 that he received for the award to help with the purchase of equipment used for the survey.

The Coleopterists Society - Youth Incentive Award

The Coleopterists Society, an international organization of professionals and hobbyists interested in the study of beetles, has established a program to recognize young people studying beetles. The Society has pledged up to $300 each year for the Youth Incentive Award Program. In addition to monetary grants of up to $150, award recipients will receive a one year subscription to the society journal, The Coleopterists Bulletin.

Application for Award

A 43 acre prairie nearby to where I live, was recently put under the protection of an easement by a Nebraska Audubon Society. This prairie patch has never been plowed or grazed heavily and generally only mowed once a year for hay. This has left the site with a very high diversity of native plant species not found any where else in the area. The local FFA chapter in Schuyler will be studying the prairie plant life as a chapter project and will be starting a herbarium while studying and collecting plant samples from the prairie. Next year I will be a freshmen in high school and will be in the Schuyler FFA chapter. As part of my SAE (supervised agricultural experience), I would like to study the prairie insect life through the different seasons. Since there are so many kinds of insects, I have decided to limit my survey to only beetles. Once I know what species populate the meadow, I can compare the findings with other meadows and pastures from around the area to determine if a small preserve of native vegetation can also work as a preserve for native beetles, which may not be able to live on less biodiverse areas.

Methods/Project Plan:

To catch the beetles, I will set up both baited and unbaited pitfall traps, run UV light traps at night, sweep vegetation with a sweep net, and possibly use a flight-intercept trap. Representative specimens will be pinned and placed in a collection both at the high school and at the University of Nebraska State Museum. These will be identified hopefully to genus with help from the personnel at the museum and by using the new "American Beetles, Volumes 1 and 2". This will form an identification collection to use for continued sampling both at the prairie and in the surrounding fields.

Collection Photos and Commentary

Andrew Schmidt checking an unbaited pitfall trap. Traps are checked every 10 days. The board is placed over the trap to keep out rain and varmints such as raccoons. 6/6/2002

Beetle Checklist and Photo Gallery

Bibliography

The Scarab Beetles of Nebraska. Brett C. Ratcliffe. Bulletin of the University of Nebraska State Museum, Volume 12; 1-333. 1991

The Carrion Beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae) of Nebraska. Bulletin of the University of Nebraska State Museum, 13; 1-100. 1996

Volume 1: American Beetles (Archostemata, Myxophaga, Adephaga, Polyphaga: Staphyliniformia). Ross H. Arnett, Jr. and Michael C. Thomas. CRC Press, New York