Vol. 8 (1988), No. 5

VOLUME VIII

NUMBER 5

M JUNE MmrIm

Friday, JUNE 10, 1988 7:00 PM Roan 335, Borlaug Hall St.. Paul Canpus, University of Minnesota.

NOI'E DATE!

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NarEDATEl

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NOI'E DATE!

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NarE DATE!

The M.R.S. meeting dates have been changed frem the first Friday of the rronth to the second Friday for June and July. Please not_e this on your calendar so you don I t arrive at the meeting a week early.

The topic title for June IS rreeting is "Recovery in Red 18 - research and protection of the endangered Plynouth Redbellied Turtle by Dr. Terry Grahilln, Worcester State College, Worcester, Mass.

The Plyrrouth REdbellied Turt.le is a Massachusetts endemic subspecies of the Southern. Redbellied Turtle. Their current distribution is restricted to a fev.r ponds south of Boston. The turtle 8 S Federal status is in part due to Dr. Graham I s research. Dr. Graham has been conducting L esearch on the Redbellied turtle and Blanding I s turtle for the last ten years" Re:' s the National Expert on the Redbellied turtle. At the June meeting, Dr. Graham will highlight his research which has included headstarting of hatchlings 8 rrortali ty studies, and habitat needs.

In case you haven it guessed, our "critter" of the rronth will be turtles, t.ortoises, and terrapins of North America. Be sure to bring a container to sh<:Jvv them.

M.R. S. NEEDS SNAKE BAGS Please bring any surplus snake bags you nay find around the house to the M.R.S. meetings.

Old pillow cases work fine also if you have them. The Adoption Commi ttee would use them for their adoption animals.

SNAKEBITE EMERGENCY Minnesota Poison Control System 221-2113 (outstate) 1-800-222-1222 Hennepin Regional Poison Center (612) 347-3141

BELL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 10 CHURCH STREET S.E. â&#x20AC;˘ MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA 55455-0104

MAY SPEAf<ER OF THE MONTH

b짜 Kate Anderson Thanks to Don Perschau and a slide prepared by the IONa. Herpet.ological Society, we learned at our May meeting that there I s certainly rrore to IONa than cornfields and pigs. Slides of sand dunes, marshy wetlands, short grass prairies, woodlands, and the unique loess hills illustrated just hOlN diverse are the habitats in Iowa that support 68 species of reptiles and amphibians. The presentation was very well done and the I.R.S. can be proud of their work. Thanks for sharing it with us.

REFRESHMENTS

May's break refreshments were codkies supplied by Marilyn Brooks & Greg Kvanbek.

Thanks for the treats! Anyone wishing to bring refreshments should sign-up at the meeting.

As of this writting, no one has signed for any rronth past June. Looks like Ruth (Refreshment Carmittee) could use your help!

M.R.S. COMMITTEES ADOPl'ICN C'OMMlrrTEE - Fred Bosnan: LIBRARY C'OMMlrrTEE - Nancy Haigi REFRESHMENr COMMITTEE - Ruth Meltzer; RODENT COMMITTEE - Bruce Dellesi DISPLAY COMMITTEE Aaron Hanpton If you have any questions regarding these cx:::>mmittees, or if you wish to help out on any of them, please contact the Chairperson listed. We can always use your help!

HELP A HAPLESS HERP

May was another successful month for t.he Adoption Committee. Four Box Turtles (three 3-toed, one Eastern), one Boa, one Python, and two Re.-dbellied Newts found caring homes.

At this wri tting 6 it is possible we will have two more Boas up for adoption.

TURTLE CROSSI:NG SIGN RAFFLE M.BoS. is raffling a full size turtle crossing sign, as recently seen in the Ste Paul, Minneapolis, and Rochester newspapers.

This is a one of a kind sign Proceeds from this special raffle will be donated to the DNR to help in BlandingUs turtle protection.

TiCket prices are the same as the regular rronthly raffle $0.25/ea.

G

TiCkets were sold at the May meeting and collect.ed $35. 50. Don I t miss your last chance to get in on this raffle. Tickets \Nill be sold and the winner will be drawn at the June meeting.

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Copyright Stat. of M'nn •• ota, Department of Nllltufllli R•• ource. 1818. from III ctrlllwing bV Vefa Mln& Won&-

Sightings should be verified by Identifying characteristics either a) shown in a close-up photograph, or b) detailed in a written description.

Please include specific information on the following: 1) Location - to the nearest 1/4 1/4 section or the measured distance from the nearest town or other conspicuous landmark.

2) Date of the observation 3) Observer's name, address, and phone number 4) As many details of the sighting as possible, particularly about the surrounding habitat.

Send sighting

report~

to:

Nongame Wildlife Program Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Box 7, 500 Lafayette Road St. Paul, Minnesot~ 55155

or: Park Naturalist Whitewater State Park Route 1, Box 256 Altura, Minnesota 55910

SCMETHING TO RECONSIDER

With all the articles on spring herping, and t.he nice days and weekends we've had to do just that, an article resurfaced fram a 1985 M.R.S. newsletter that seems quite timely.

For any ne.w rrerobE;:>..rs (and for us that haven It read it lately) take time to read and heed.. The title is SOME CONCERNS ABOUT COLLECrING, by John Moriarty: Collecting ones own reptiles or anphibians is fun and educational. It. gives a person a chance to see the animal in its natural habitat, so that. when the specimen is added to a collection, the keeper can a.dapt the cage to fit the habitat. It is also an inexpensive way to get started keeping herps. lfuen collecting, one should take only animals that are needed and can be cared for properly; there is no good reason to collect an animal that you know you don It have roam for. When collecting, the natural habitats should be disturbed as Ii ttle as possible. ~Vhen you flip a rock or board, make sure to leave it the way it was found. There are rrany anirrals besides herps that are dependent on that habitat.

The are.a.s where collecting should not take place are those areas set aside to preserve habitats. In Minnesota, these areas include: State Parks, Scientific and Natural Areas, Na.ture Conservancy Preserves and various other research areas.

If one doesn I t know what the rules are for their collecting site, they should find out. Some good collect.ing sites are \Ji.ldlife Management areas and rrost count:ry parks.

When collecting, one should make sure they knOW' what species are being taken; several species are listed as rare in Minnesota.. These species may be listed due to a limited range or declines in population. If one is uncertain of an animal' s status, donlt collect it. l

There are rreny states that restxict the t.aking of some species and the collecting in particular areas.

There are laws and fines that accompany these off-limit species and areas. So when collecting, make sure you know where you are and what you are looking for.

If not, the laws will probably be made stricter due to carelessness or down right lID.lawful and unethical practices by us, the collect.ors.

brings the Internat.ional Herp Symposium and SSAR/HL meetings. June 5 is also Grand Avenue Days in St. Paul where hopefully we I11 see some M.R. S. t-shirts in the streets ••. YOU DCN''lI·HAVE AN M.B.S. T-SHIRl'!!? Oh, you mean you out grew it t.his winter.

Well, you can still buy one. at the next neeting, and there is plenty of time and places to wear it this sUlIner. Take July; a good hot nonth to wear your M.R.S. t-shirt in and take your pictures for the M.R.S. Phbto contest and do your illustrations for the Illustration contest. August brings our M.R.S. picnic great day to wear the t.-shirt! August into· Septe.nber also is State Fair time your t-shirt is a nrust there. October hopefully will bring the Midwestern Rerp.

Seminar - can It be seen without your MeR.S. t-shirt there! Novenber is Photo Contest and Illustration Contest submittal nonth, and December is presentation rronth for the winners of the Photo Contest and Illustration Contest (think they III accept in their M.H. S. t-shirt?). This part of the nelilTsletter was paid for in part b¥ the sale of M.R.S. T-shirts.

JUNE

4

A LETTER FROM M.Z.G. ZOOLAB James H. Streater, with Minnesota Zoological Garden - Zoolab, sent M.B.S. a letter aga.in requesting the help of M.B.S. Zcolab is t.be anima.l contact room at M.Z.G. Sta.rting May 16 they have expanded their open hours t~o the public. To ensure the heal th of their contact animals, and help educa.t.e the public, they are doubling their animal collection to allON for nore animal rotation. Zoolab is in need of 2 to 3 boas (about 3 I long or nore) and one glass lizard. They must be fairly easy to handle. Any member interested in donating or selling M.Z.G. Zoolab one of these animals should contact Jim Streater at Zoolab (612) 431-9239.

FOOTLOCKER REPAIRED

Kate Anderson again applied her carpentry skills.

This time to the M.B.S. footlocker, repairing the casters which were in sorry need of replacement. This is the storage box used for our M.B.S. t-shirts, badges, raffle stuff, etc. M.B.S. thanks Kate for a job well done! Ilm sure the U. of M. thanks her too.

RAFFLE

The raffle for May brought in $38.75. Thanks to our President, and the winners, we have a rrore accurate list of names and it.ems won. Jim Adams won a woodworking boOk; Joe Fishbein won a turtle stic.ker; Susan King t.ocik home a book on tortoises and snake hide boxes i Steve Lawrence picked a book on Snakes: Ann Porwoll won a Sea Turtle print; David Wiener got the aquarium and a "walking" sponge lizard: one of the Yank boys won a bird book. Thanks to everyone who pa.rticipated. Don It forget your quarters for next rronth.

M.H.S. OFFICERS PRESIDENT VICE-PP~SIDmT

SECREI'ARY TREASURER NEWSLEITER EDI'lOR MEMBER-AT-LARGE MEMBFR-AT-lARGE MEMBER-AT-U\RGE MEMBER-AT-lARGE

Ann Porwoll John Moriarty Kate Anderson Del Jones Tom Schmitz Bruce Delles Bruce Ha.ig Aaron Hanpton John Meltzer

(612) (612) (612) (612) (612) (612) (612) (715) (612)

489-7853 647-1334 222-3500 938-8555 488-7619 374-5422 789-4637 425-7565 780-8561

SPRINGING INI'O AcrION try Deny.i s Desrrond

For many people, herping is virtually a year round activity separated only by those occasional cool spells.

For the rest of us poor souls, however, herping is strictly a seasonal activity limited by fairly well defined temperature variations.

Happy to say, for those of us in the Southeast, herping has begun in earnest! wife and I took our first herping trip rather casually, loading up three cocker spaniels, 'btJO snake bags, and a thennos of coffee e Our target:: a mere four miles away in the training areas of Ft. Campbell, Kentucky.. As a soldier in the HlJlst Airborne Division I I have the opportunity to visit a great nunber of outdoor locations (much to my dismay) This time, however fI I was going out because I wanted to and without any of that silly green stuff on my face.

My

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My wife and I decided to cruise the roads sticking mainly to the hard

surface and gravel areas; those I thought rrost likely to retain the day's heat.. The air temperature was a mere 63 degrees (F) and there was a cool breeze blowing, nonetheless, we were determined to find sanething ..

We were soon rewarded with several American (Bufo americanus) and Fowler' s (Bufo 'WOOdehousei fowleri) toads sitting on the road waiting for a passing meal..

These were at first counted and later ignored due to the large numbers.. This was indeed a sign that herping had begun in earnest.

Although amphibians would normally have brought great joy and happiness to our otherwise dull and dreary lives, in fact, we had been hearing the cheerful chirping of Chorus frogs (Pseudacris triseriata), Northern Cricket frogs (Aeris crepi tans ) and the infamous Spring Peeper (Hyla crucifer) for the last several weeks. So it was no surprise tha.t we would find anphibians in abundance on our first trip ..

Our next find was a small Ringneck snake (Diadophis punctatus) craWling

through a roadside ditch.

To give you an idea of our exhilaration in finding a snake, any snake, we picked up the little guy after much screaming cmd hOllering. Anyone out for a casual spring drive 'WOuld no doubt think there was a violent attack going on somewhere in the wilderness - we were thankful there were no such travelers about.

I examined the snake after much fanfare and decided it was the typical subspecific crossbreed so com:non here.. On we went.

Aside fran rrore frogs, several dozen white tailed deer, and a rather innocuous Saw Whet owl staring at us from a mere five feet away, we didn' t encounter much rrore ..

We did, however, have lithe fever II " So, we decided to rrake another trip the next night ..

Easter rrorning was bright, be..autiful, and rrost irrportantly II a perfect prelude to an evening of herping" After an enjoyable brunch and a Sunday at the movies, \*le headed hane from Nashville to prepare for the evening I s festi vities.. We again loaded up the dog' s, snake bags and flashlights and hea.ded for the same area we had dri ven through the previous night.. Again we were inundated with toads and a few frogs i namely, the aforementioned harbingers of spring ..

After trudging through a recently drained swamp and later through same southern pines, we decided to head for another series of roads hitherto untranpled by budding hepetologists (we hoped).. After playing dodge the toad (Ills it a Fowler' s or an American? - Without looking this路 time! 01 ) II my copilot spied a suspicious looking stick at the edge of the gravel road in the evening twilight.

"It's a snakel And a big one! II Now, big can mean a lot of things. Having risked life and limb to capture a three inch Ringneck the night before, I decided anything over garter snake size would suffice..

I scranbled around the still rroving car and grabbed the dark shiny snake that lay sprawled before me ..

SPRINGING INIO ACl'ICN, (cont.)

I held in my hands, while he held my shirt with his nouth, a dark phase Prairie kingsnake (Lampropeltis calligaster). It measured about three feet and was later found to be battle scarred from unknown conflicts of times past. Granted, Prairie kings are fairly comron here; but, I still get excited when I hold a newly discovered specimen. As with all wild snakes I find, I photographed him and returned him to his hunting ground; hopefully to fight nore battles in the future.

We called it an evening after the kingsnake, not wanting to tempt fate. We even wai ted alrrost 20 hours before we went out again - this time to a. wildlife area 30 miles distant. The highlight of the evening was leaping from my vehicle to pick up what I at. first inagined an exceptionally oran.ge Corn snake, only to discover it was an exceptionally orange Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix). My wife and I looked him over for quite a while, stUdying his key identification features, 8.S he looked us over probably trying to decide if we were worth his time. I rnarvellea. at his bright orange eyes and perfectly shaped head. \ve watched with admiration and a little bit of trepidat.ion as he nonchalantly slithered into the darkness of the forest. \'V'e continUed on, our hearts still pounding with excitement seeing nothing more than a few more arrphibians. As we headed homeward we talked of the evening I s activities content with our first finds.

In closing, the first few trips to the woods were very enjoyable and exciting.

It rekindles in me a childlike wonder at all the things that are out. there that are arove my understanding" I nervel at the beauty and the conplexity of life, and rejoice at the feelings of beginning again as each spring day passes. vJe III be leaving this area for Arizona in a oouple of rronths; a new duty station, new people, and of course, new herps. The feelings, hOVlever, will remain the same.

The Prairie Kingsnake (Lampropeltis calligaster) comes in a light patterned phase and a dark un-patterned phase like this one.

The Fowler s Toad (Bufo woodhousei fOVlleri) is a cormon site on roadways in spring.

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7

The Como Zoo docents have set the following dates for M.H.S. appearances. Please check your calendar so you will known which days you can sign-up for at the next rronthly meetings.

The Hands-on Committee can use your help. Remember, you don It have to stay for the entire day I and you don I t even have to bring an animal..

Your time and help in answering questions of zoo visitors will be greatly appreciated.

JUNE 18 & 19 AUG 13 & 14

JULy 9 & 10 SEPr 10 & 11

Set-up time is at 9:30 am, and tear-down will be a.t. approxima.tely 4:00 pn. For rrore information contact Aaron Hampton (715) 425-7565, or see me at. the rronthly meetings. Sign-up sheets are at each meeting.

PHABULOUS PHENOLOGICAL PlUIDS

Ernest Plutko 5/1/88 - Bunker Lake Blvd., Andover Township.

Bullsnake, Pituophis melanoleucus sayi - 4 feet plus, D.O.R. CRITI'ER OF THE IDNTH

May's critter of the month, Midwestern herps, brought us a surprise and some nice representatives. Deborah Carlson brought a camrron basilisk; Aaron Hampton showed off his Prarie Kingsnakes (L. calligaster) i Madeleine Linck showed her Blandingls turtle (En1Ys blandingii) i John Meltzer showed Great Plains Toads (Bufo cognatus) i and the Yanks brought a Western Hognose (Heterodon nasicus). Thanks for the nice display!

ARGENTINE BOA 00 APPENDIX I

The Argentine boa constrictor Boa constrictor occidentalis was recently added to Appendix I of the International Endangered Species List.. The reptile was placed in that. category, which contains those animals considered severely reduced in wild p:>pulations and thus totally protected, due to concern over extensive pressure brought to bear on it by the leather trade and habitat alterat.ion" In this case, collection for the pet trade was not considered a cause for the boas decline. This article was taken from TROPICAL FISH HOBBYIsr May 1988 issue, page 94.

BASIC HERP HUSBANDRY

by John C. Meltzer, Herp husba.ndry is one of the rrost controversial and disagreed upon aspects of keeping reptiles and amphibians. Many of the choices are highly variable and as long as the basic requirements are met, it's a matter of personal preference. I'd like to cover some various options and then state nw persona.l preference.

These topics will be covered in this paper: cages, temperature control, substrat.es, cage accessories and rraintenance.

Cage choices range from plastic shoe and storage boxes to aquariums to wood.en 1:oxes or uni ts. I •ve ut.ilized all of them and each has its benefits and drawbacks. The various plastic 1:oxes are cheap and easy to heat. and sterilize. They work out well set up on a rack wi t.h heat tape along the back. And as the herps grow, they can be rroved to progressively larger boxes. All my baby snakes are raised in plastic shoe boxes and nany of my adul t.S are maintained in the larger storage boxes. Aquariums are excellent for viewing, but in my opinion, lack in security and tenperature control.

Wooden cages with a glass front offer shyer herps more security and hold heat better. My standard reptile cages are front opening units 2' X I' X 1'. They are wired for a socket and bulbs are used for viewing. These cages are sealed with polyurethane paint which nEkes cleaning them easy. I prefer front opening cages so they can be stacked, but top opening is an option - especially for "hot ll herps.

Cages can be heated by heating the whole room, light bulbs, heat tape, sub-surface heaters or hot rocks. I prefer to heat cages individually, since not all herps temperature require.ments are the sarre. Light bulbs work well for heating the air, but don't always create a surface temperature. I find that many people keep their herps too cool by measuring air temperature and not surface tenperature. Bulbs also can break or possibly burn an animal. Heat tape, when it can be utilized, works great. By running it t.hrough a dinmer switch, you can precisely control and vary the tenperat.ure. I stay away from hot rocks as I 've seen some severe burns caused by them.

When considering what substrate to use, you have to decide whether you're striving for a natural type set-up or one that's relatively sterile and easy to maintain.

The choices are endless and this choice seems to be a point. of contention. For a nat.ural look, sand, dirt., and gravel are often used. When I use these substrates, I prefer to throw them a\va.y when they're soiled, rather than try t.O re-use them ..

Ingestion of these substxates can often lend to blockage just as in pine and aspen shavings.

Astro-turf is attractive and easily cleaned.

My preference is ne\Vspaper..

It is safe, cheap and easy.. With newspaper, you can readily see when the cage is dirty and clean it. I carefully rronitor the stools for signs of disease and wi th newspaper this is easy.. I I ve also seen blank canputer paper and brown paper bags used in place of newspaper.

My cages are relatively bare.

The accessories include an appropriately sized water dish, rocks or driftwood to aid in shedding, and a hide box for security • Hide boxes can be empty cardboard boxes, wooden boxes, plastic boxes, broken flower pots, or caves crea.ted with rocks andlor driftwood.• My cage naintenance consists of doing this rout.ine each week: Cages are checked periodically throughout the week for un-eaten food, fouled water dishes, spilled water and obnoxious defeca.tion. Every weekend the substrate is replaced, the cages cleaned with betadine and the water dishes are scrubbed an sterilized. Aft.er these chores are done, the animals are. fed.

There's so many rrore details involved in husbandry. I feel as if scratched the surface. Each of these topics are a. paper in itself. cause some discussion in this area and rray"be give someone a new idea. new ways of doing things. I hope that by presenting this paper, others out on what works for them.

I've barely I hope to I'm open to will speak

WAXIDRM CULTURE

by Ernest Plutko

Waxworms can be fairly easily cultured at home in any quantity needed and make an excellent live food for small to medium size lizards and arrphibians They do not have the Chitinous exoskeletons found on criCkets and mealworms whiCh cause digestive tract impactions in your animals. o

Waxworms are the larvae of the greater wax noth, Galleria mellonella, whose approximately 60 day life cycle consists of the egg, eight larva instar, pupa, and adul t or noth stages. In nature, the wax noth is a pest Ii ving in honey bee colonies eating the beeswax and bee larvae shed skins.

Wax worms purChased at a bai tshop or petshop have been exposed to an elevated tellJ?erature to stop the waxworms from spinning webs and to keep them sluggish.

These waxworms are usually kept and sold in woodshavings to inhibit pupation. The woodshavings are not food for the larvae.

I use gallon glass jars with metal screw caps for t.he culture containers.

I t is important to use containers that can be tightly closed because the newly hatched larvae are very small (less than 1 mn long and 0.1 nm in diaweter) â&#x20AC;˘ Having a strong wandering dri ve and being very active, they will escape in large numbers from minute openings. If some do escape, do not be upset because they will not infest your house.

I experienced 3 or 4 mass escapes while experimenting with cuI ture housing and the larvae just disappeared. Apparently, the near microscopic size larvae need to be surrounded by the right food after hatChing to survive. Cut nest of the top of the metal cap out leaving the screw rim with a support_ing edge.

Cut two circles to fit the jar top from copper window screen or preferably finer screen if you can find some, and a circle of laboratory filter paper. SandwiCh the filter paper disc between the screen discs, put the sandwiCh on the jar lip, and tightly screw on the rim. This is (hopefully) an escape-proof ventilated culture container that can be easily cleaned. If you have trouble obtaining laboratory filter paper, try coffee filter paper. Note that the newly hatched larvae can penetrate through cotton plugs. You nay have to experiment to find satisfactory materials for the ventilated lid.

I have had good results culturing waxworms on a mixture of breakfast corn flakes, honey, yeast, and beeswax. Not long ago I kept bees, so I have a large anount of beeswax to use, but beeswax is too expensive to buy and the larvae preferentially consume it at an alarming rate. I switched to a mixture of 400 g vit~n-enriched breakfast cereal, 120 g wheat germ, 150 g sugar, 220 g glycerine, and 150 g water also with good results. Dissolve the sugar and glycerine in the water and slowly pour the solution onto the dry material while stirring. Fill the culture jar one fourth to one third full of the diet and put in about five dozen waxwonns. Screw the ventilated lid on tightly and place the jar in a dark place at about 85 degrees F. If you don It have a huge incubator or live in a constant 85 degree climate, use styrofoam board and glue to make an open-topped insulating box for each jar.

The metabolic heat given off by the waxwonns will keep the culture warm. I keep my cultures on a high shelf to use the heat layer near the ceiling and have had satisfact.ory larvae growth without using artificial heat. In a few days the larvae will begin to pupate. They have been danaged by their heat treatment. so they will not spin a silken cocoon around their pupa case as they ordinarily do. In about 2 weeks the wax noths will begin t.o. errerge.

10

WAXWORM CULTURE (cont,,) Some of the pupae nay die because of their heat treatment and some of the moths may die while emerging 6 but enough should emerge to give your cuI ture a strong start" If all of the pupae or emerging moths die, buy nore waxwonns at another shop because they may have been kept too long or they may have "been exposed to too high of temperatures.

The noths (Which do not eat) will mate in a fE!W hours after emergence and each ferrale will lay an average of 700 eggs in a few da.ys" The moths will die in about a week. The eggs are snaIl pearly white spheres laid in batches and are readily seen wi th a magnifying glass" Keep accordian-folded strips of wax paper on top of the diet and many eggs will be deposited on them. Take out. some of the strips to start new cultures.

The eggs will hatch in 9 to 10 days and you will need a nagnifying glass to see the newly hatched larvae which nove surprisingly quick.

The voracious larvae grCM quickly, will spin webs in the diet, and will congregate in a seething mass which will be 10 to 15 degrees F. higher than the surrounding diet. Put your hand on the glass near the mass of larvae and you will be surprised at the hot spot you feel. The diet and the inside walls of tile culture jar will soon be coated with a dusty layer from the rroth wing scales" I t is irrportant not to breathe this dust because the protein in the scales can cause severe allergic reactions in humans.

You can harvest the waxwonns at any size you need" 'Wearing a dust nask, take the culture outside and scoop the diet into a plastic dishpan. The diet. will be held t.ogether by the webs.

Pull the diet apart and pick out. the waxwonns. Your cuI tured waX\Voms will be much more active and agile than the torpid waX\Vorms bought in bai tshops" They remind me of snaIl white leeches by their rnoveroents.

Put the diet and rerreining larvae back into the culture jar and return to the raising area ..

You can raise a number of generations in an individual diet which should be discarded when the culture weakens and the diet becomes c~letely riddled with webs and excrement..

The larvae eat a surprisingly large amount of food and you will have to add additional amounts of diet mixture if you want to keep a culture going over several generations. Keep a number of culture jars at different stages and you will always have nore waX\Voms at lew cost than you thought possible" ~TOrlCE:

Be warned that without precautions, the newly hatched larvae really do escape very readily.

If you do not have hordes of larvae, carefully examine the filter paper with a strong rragnifying glass to see if they are chewing their way out.

The moths flatten out and can slip through very sma.ll cracks. It is irritating to have moths flying around your house, so keep your cultures escapeproof.

My first

culture container was a plastic shoe box with holes in the sides for ventilation and the top held on with rubber bands" Needless to say that escapes of larvae and rroths occurred continuously.

3 Cm _ _

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WATCH FOR BlANDING B S TURI'LES

In the July-August 1987 issue of the VOll.JNr.EER (the official pUblication of the rv'ri_nnesota DNR) the DNR Nongame Wildlife Program asked its readers to report sightings of the rare Blandingls turtle in 10 central-Minnesota counties. From this appeal, the nongame office in Brainerd received more than 100 reports..

The sightings enabled biologist.s to upgrade their knowledge of the turt.le, to rrake an estimate of their numbers and dist.ribution, and to locate habitat for protection.

For 1988, t.he nongame staff plans to expand the survey.

Although the turtle's known range is primarily east-central and southeastern Minnesota, biologists are asking VOLUNTEER readers to reFQrt sightings of Blanding's turtles throughout. the state.

Surest way to recognize the turtle is by its bright yellow throat and high, domed shell. It prefers shallow ponds and sloughs. May, June, and July are the best months for sightingso To reFQrt a sighting - and for a free turtle poster to help identification contact the following nongame specialists: '!Win Cities metro area and southern Minnesota: Joan Galli, DNR 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4007. (612) 297-2277.

Nongame

Wildlife,

Central and northern Minnesota: Pam Perry, DNR Nongame Wildlife, 1601 Minnesota Drive, Brainerd, MN 56401. (218) 828-2228 .

Southwest Minnesota: John Schadweiler, D1j'R Nongcnoe Wildlife, Box 756, Nsv 56073. (507) 354-2196.

DIm,

MN

This article was taken from the May-June 1988 issue of the Minnesota DNR VOLUNTEF.R pUblica.tion.

CA'{e Su.ch 60,\'~eOu5

~V\\'f4\~\~ \

1

A REPLY FROM M.Z.G .. 'IO MeR.S. The following letter was recei ved from the ~lfinnesota Zoological Garden in resIX>nse to a letter sent from the President of ~1.H . S . regarding their recent removal of venomous snakes from display. If you have any questions you feel are still unanswered, please write the Minnesota Zoological Garden for their answers.

Minnesota Zoological Garden Apple Valley, MN 55124

612/432路9010 Cable:

MZoo

March 14, 1988 Ann Porwell, President Minnesota Herpetological Society Bell Museum of Natural History 10 Church Street S.E. Minneapolis, MN 55455-0104 Dear Ms.

Porwoll:

Thank you for your recent letter regarding reptiles at the Minnesota Zoo. As you mow, we recently removed venomous snakes from our exhibits.

The primary reason leading to this decision was a simple one -- safety. Staff and public safety is a critical factor in the management of all species at the Minnesota Zoo.

We also mow that education plays a central and vital roles in our institution. The public does need the opportunity to learn about venomous snakes. You may not mow that we are currently renovating a Minnesota Trail exhibit to accommodate the safe housing and management of timber rattlesnakes. We.tentatively hope to have this species back on exhibit by early May. Part of our commitment to education is evident in the way we display our animals. We have chosen to exhibit our collection of both plants and animals as part of an ecosystem. This allows us to focus on their unique adaptations and positions in an ecosystem rather than in taxonomic presentation. Using this integrative approach, we hope to convey a feeling for the habitat and environment of species.

We do appreciate your concern regarding reptile programs at the Minnesota Zoo. I hope this letter reassures you that your concerns have been adequately addressed.

s~ 2w KathrynR~S GeneraIDi~~~t

KRR/gb cc:

Ron Tilson

Ned Dayton Michael DonCarlos

13

CIASSIFIEDS EDlTOR·S~:

Please send all newsletter articles and classified ads to: Tam Schmitz, 850 W. Minnehaha, St. Paul, MN. 55104, Attn: MRS Editor.

Do not send articles or ads to the MRS address. The deB-dline for all Newsletter i terns is the 15th of the nonth 1 All Classified ads are run in the r-1HS Newsletter as a free service to the menibership. No pai.d ads are accepteO from non-Il1e'.nibers. No ads will be run for venonous species. While MHS will not run ads for known sick or illegal animals, we accept no responsibility for the health or legali ty of any animal advertised here. Please LIMIT SIZE of ad to approx. four (4) lines.

Business cards make acceptable a.ds.

KIS DELI

~DNDAY

Reneniber: order frozen rats and rat pups no later than 7: 00pn the neeting. Call Bruce or Connie at 593-0298 to place your order.

before the

FRESH FROZEN RATS - JUMBO SIZE - $2.00 EArn FRESH FROZEN RAT PUPS - $5.00 PER OOZEN 3 OOZEN PUPS or 6 AIDL'I' RATS LIMIT!

CAPTIVE BREEDERS • IMPORTS • WHOLESALE & RETAIL

TWIN CITIES REPTILES Hundreds of Cages of Reptiles to Choose From

OWNERS: JOHN & RUTH MELTZER

3221 93RD DR. BLAINE, MN 55434

(612) 780-8561

SNAKES" LIZARDS • TURTLES .. TORTOISES FROGS • TOADS • NEWTS SALAMANDERS. TARANTULAS tIIJ

MUCH MUCH MORE! , ..... "'.....

BOOKS • CAGES ACCESSORIES. FOODS: RATS, MICE, CRICKETS GOLDFISH, MEALWOAMS. WAXWORMS

+

10 AM-7 PM MON-FRI 12 PM NOON-S PM SAT .. SUN N

II1II

:E

:E Z

CIII

...m

%

-<

LECTURES FIND OUT WHA T YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT REPTILES

HWY 55

%

:E

RODENTS

-<

z

~

D.J.'S REPTilES

HWY12

8_

4109 TOLEDO AVENUE

DON L JOHNSON

922-1214

ST.lOUIS PARK. MN 6641.

WANTED: Persons interested in sharing expenses on 1-4 day long herp collecting photography trips. Non-corrmercial only. Contact Ernie at. 296-1561 days.

and

FOR SALE: 1.0 Xtra nice Gold Marine Toad & 1.1 adult Marine Toads $55 for all; 0.0.1 2' Savannah Monitor, $40. Call Dave (612) 444-9775 FOR SALE: Adult rats, $2/ea.• and adult mice, evenings at (612) 825-8035.

$5/doz.

Cont.act

Vence

or

Nanette

SHORr CN CAGE SPACE? : Now taking orders for herp cages. ~.ade from quality materials. Three sizes to choose fran. Call Aaron Hampton for prices & info. at (715) 425-7565.

14

CLASSIFIEDS

Herpetoculturist Robert (Bob) Applegate 1762 Pepper Villa El C;yon, CA 92021 (619) 448-5746

REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS

(302) 655-FROG

1988 PRICE LIST NOW AVAILABLE 20 plus species: tricolors, albinos Hatchlings Send S.A.S.E. if not already on my mailing list.

Find out why my animals are considered the best.

INC.

209 W. 4th Street Wilmington, De 19801

John & Susan LaMedica Owners

FOR SALE/TRADE: 1988 Captive bred snakes, 18 to 20 varieties. Send SeA.S.E. for 1988 List. Dr. Scott J. Michaels, 403 E. California Ave .. , Urbana, IL..

61801.

(217) 328-0290.

FOR SAlE: 'IWo great books available from Minn .. Documents Division.. IANDSCAPING FOR WILDLIFE for $6.95, and WOO~RKING FOR WILDLIFE for $3.95.. Both books cover ways to attract and help wildlife around your home. Contact MN" Documents Div. at (612) 297-3000 or 1-800-652-9747 (Minn.tollfree) for ordering info.

FOR SALE: Hatchling Northern Pine Snakes 11 Black on White New Jersey stock" 'IVJo unrelated litters. Also, 1.3 Okatte Corn Snakes, 2 1/2 to 4 ft .. , $25 - $50, Proven Breeders. Call Glenn Lewis at (612) 933-2118 ..

FOR SALE: Captive bred juvenile snakes. Burmese Pythons, not intergrades Retic Pythons, captive 'born specimens rarely available, 3-7 ft. - $50-$80.

Rats, from legal adults - $35" Everglades Rats - $30. Gary Casper, P.O. Box Milwaukee, WI 53201. (414) 672-4632

$65.

Rosy

878,

FOR SALE: 1988 Updated Herp Publications .. Reptile-Arrphlbian Finders Guide, $5~ ~ Societies of World, $5~ Wholesale Animal Suppliers Guide, $5~ Fauna Classifieds, $12/yr 12 issues.

Write: FAUNA ClASSIFIEDS, 1035 Middlefield Ave, Stockton, CA 95204 or call (209) 943-5212 after 5PMe FOR SALE: 1 .. 1 Adult Emerald Swifts: known breeders/live bearers; eat pinkies & crickets, $20/ea.

0.0 .. 4 187 cob .. juvenile errerald swifts, $10/00. Contact Craig Allman (612) 780-3134 ..

AVAILABLE: Several rehabilitated animals at cos''c to good homes: Intergrade

Python, Constrictor, Box Turtles, Snapping Turtle, Mud turtles, Sliders - inquire.

Contact Gary Caspero The Cullen Vivarium, P.o. Box 878 0 Milwaukee g 'lin: 53201e (414) 672-4632.

Boa

SALE/TRADE: Surplus breeders 1 0 band albino Cal. Kingsnake ~ (0.1 hetero band Cal. Kingsnake g $175/pair ff.-atchling due to ha路t.ch in Jlme.

Contact Aaron at (715) 425-7565.

FOR

0

MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY

m.L. MU.mlM Of NAlUML. ~y JO CHUl.CH maT So£ • ~ WNMiSOTA 55455-1014

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