About SMIRC

 

Mission, Personnel, Collection Highlights

MISSION

The Severin-McDaniel Insect Research Collection (SMIRC) serves the citizens of South Dakota by investigating and resolving insect-related issues. It is the largest insect collection in the northern Great Plains. Information gained from research through the Insect Research Collection is published as scientific studies, or compiled and distributed to those in need either directly or through the South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service. The Insect Research Collection is funded through grants, contracts, and the Agricultural Experiment Station through the Department of Plant Science.
The SMIRC exists to provide taxonomic and systematics support to research, teaching, extension, and outreach needs. A primary function of the SMIRC is documentation of the arthropod fauna of South Dakota and the northern Great Plains through the South Dakota Natural History Collections and Biological Survey (NHCBS). Specimens acquired by the SMIRC are used in on-campus research involving insect taxonomy and systematics, community analysis, and biodiversity projects in grasslands, wetlands, and forests. Consequently, SMIRC collections are experiencing considerable growth and increased importance to various user groups.
The SMIRC is the primary repository in South Dakota for research and biodiversity voucher specimens from surveys and other studies in the departments of Plant Science and Biology & Microbiology, and the U.S.D.A.-A.R.S. Northern Grain Insects Research Laboratory. As a repository of voucher specimens documenting the regional fauna the SMIRC is a permanent resource for documenting arthropod taxonomic and ecological diversity. Consequently, the SMIRC is in a position to provide the baseline data for evaluations of dynamic changes to biodiversity from environmental perturbations, urban growth, agricultural landuse, wildlife enhancement, and wetland or native prairie creation and recovery efforts.

 

PERSONNEL

 

Faculty -

 

Dr. Paul J. Johnson, Ph.D.,
Associate Professor, Curator of Severin-McDaniel Insect Research Collection, Coordinator of the South Dakota Natural History Collections and Biological Survey


Ph.D., 1992, University of Wisconsin, Madison;
M.S., 1987, University of Idaho, Moscow;
B.S., 1982, Oregon State University, Corvallis;
Research: Insect Natural History (Systematics, Biogeography & Ecology of Elateridae, Throscidae, and Byrrhidae [Coleoptera]).
 

Grad Students -

 

Ms. Nicomas Dollar

M.S. candidate, Department of Plant Science;
B.S., 1999, University of Hawaii-Hilo;
Research: Fauna and Ecology of Native Ground Nesting Bees in South Dakota (Hymenoptera)

Mr. Chris Noble

M.S. candidate, Department of Plant Science;
B.S., 1999, South Dakota State University;
Research: Effects of No-Till Cultivation on Soil Arthropods in North-Central South Dakota
 

Former Grad Students -

 

Ms. Xinjie Lin

M.S., Entomology, 1997, South Dakota State University, Department of Plant Science;
B.S., 1994, Beijing Agricultural University;
Research: Taxonomy of North American Aeolus Eschscholtz (Elateridae).
Elateridae;
 

Ms. Courtenay Harris

M.S., 1996, South Dakota State University, Department of Plant Science;
B.S., 1994, University of Delaware;
Research: Terrestrial Arthropods of Anthropogenic Grasslands.

 

Mrs. K. Dawn Roush

M.S., Wildlife, 1997, Department of Wildlife & Fisheries;
B.S., 1995, Ball State University;
Research: Biodiversity of Created and Natural Prairie Pothole Wetlands.
Wetlands


 

Affiliated Researchers -

Mr. Gary Marrone


Department of Game, Fish & Parks, Pierre, SD 57501;
B.S., 1964, South Dakota State University;
Research & Interests: Natural history of Lepidoptera. Currently compiling a handbook on the butterflies of South Dakota.
gmarrone@aol.com

Mr. Doug Backlund


Department of Game, Fish & Parks, Pierre, SD 57501;
B.S., 1991, Black Hills State University;
Research & Interests: Inventory and conservation; South Dakota Natural Heritage Database manager.
backlundd@gfp.state.sd.us

 

Current Student Employees -

 

Ms. Chinatsu Kojima

Majors: Biology and Environmental Science, South Dakota State University;
Responsibilies: Sorting malaise and pan trap samples from native prairie.
 

Mr. Emil Gilmanov

Major: Art and Computer Science, South Dakota State University;
Responsibilies: Webpage design and editing.

 

COLLECTION HIGHLIGHTS

 
The Collection currently contains ca. 1.2 million specimens of insects and related arthropods. The bulk of the collections in the SMIRC represent the insect fauna of South Dakota. Collections of exceptional note are those of grasshoppers and crickets from throughout the world, leafhoppers from Alaska and the Yukon Territory, and plant parasitic wasps from Great Plains legumes and grasses. These collections are of special importance because of their relative completeness with regard to their representation of the South Dakota and Northern Plains fauna. Special collections include the Truman Collection representing the New World butterfly fauna, and the Trautman Collection of insects from the Russell Islands, Solomon Islands.
Research topics currently addressed by SMIRC faculty, students, and affiliates include:
 

 

Collection History

(Adapted and Partially Revised From
"History of Entomology-Zoology at South Dakota State University 1884-1976"
by E.U. Balsbaugh, Jr.)
The establishment of a museum was an early priority with the founders of this institution. The Second Annual Catalog (1886-1887) included the first report on the museum, which was housed in "...one of the largest, most commodious and beautiful rooms of the Territory." The museum contained minerals, shells, fossils, and zoological specimens, and plans had been laid to enlarge the collections as rapidly as possible in other areas, including entomology. I. H. Orcutt, M.D., Ph.D., was the first Curator of the Museum.
In 1888 John M. Aldrich joined the staff of the Department of Entomology. More than likely Mr. Aldrich contributed enthusiastically to the Insect Collection during his employment at Dakota Agriculture College (1882-1892) for he later attained considerable renown as a specialist of flies.
In 1892 entomology was associated with botany and the entomology collection was separated from the Museum, which had been situated on the third floor of the Main Building. The Insect Collection was transferred to the second floor of the old dormitory building and was curated by Professor Thomas Albert Williams in the Botanical and Entomological Laboratories. The Tenth Annual Catalogue and Calendar of the South Dakota Agricultural College for 1893-1894 reported that "...the insect collection is a representative one, and is particularly rich in beneficial and noxious species found in the state..."
De Alton Saunders, A.M., was named in 1895 to replace Prof. Williams. Saunders served through 1903. From 1903-1906, the Insect Collection was in the charge of William Archie Wheeler, M.S., Professor of Botany and Entomology. In 1906, Robert Matheson, B.S.A., was named Instructor in Entomology, taking over from Prof. Wheeler.
Separation of the insect specimens from the Museum proper in 1892 proved to have been of little lasting benefit for the permanence of either collection. The Museum's collection of mammals and birds became neglected and severely deteriorated, especially after having been moved to what is now the Old Extension Building. The fumes from a soils laboratory ruined most of the birds and mammals.
The insect collection faired little better. When H.C. Severin came to South Dakota State College in 1909, he reported that there was no collection of insects in the college worthy of the name. The few hundred specimens that were in the Department were "moth" eaten and in such a state that it was necessary to destroy them. Severin was named Professor of Entomology and Nature Study and became head of the Entomology-Zoology Department in 1918, serving as such until 1954. The majority of specimens in the present collection were collected and curated by him. George I. Gilbertson, also a staff member in Entomology-Zoology Department, from 1917-1943, accompanied Severin on many of the annual field trips, which were made especially to survey for Orthoptera.
Chiefly through Severin's efforts, the Insect Collection grew by leaps and bounds. It was housed in the old Horticulture Building until 1935 when it was transferred to the "Entomology Annex" of the Extension Building, a structure then used for music practice.
The Collection of Philetus C. Truman was purchased for $2000 in 1911. This collection, consisting of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera entirely, contained specimens principally from the United States, Canada, Mexico, South and Central America and the British Isles. The exotics are chiefly Lepidoptera but include some Coleoptera from Great Britain. This collection has been incorporated into the general collection. A native of New York, Truman homesteaded in Lake Sinai Township, Brookings County, S.D., in 1881. Even though his name does not appear n his specimen labels, his material is recognizable by the style of his labels. Many of his specimens are labeled simply "Volga" (his later residence), or "S.D.", in India ink and bold, broad hand printing. Some of his "Volga" specimen labels had been machine printed, but these are discernable in that the type is of a large point. Many of the early literature references to South Dakota records were obtained from Truman's specimens. Labeling errors have been detected among some of Truman's specimens and some caution is urged in treating the Truman material.
In 1930, the first report on the status of the S.D.S.C. Insect Collection was made to the Entomological Society of America. This indicated strength in the holdings of Orthoptera, much of which was studied by Morgan Hebard. A second report to the Society indicated that during 1933 considerable progress was made in identification of Coleoptera. Meloidae were collected in abundance in the state during the year as a part of the work on an experiment station project. In 1937, Prof. Severin made the final report on the status of the Insect Collection to the E.S.A. Ten thousand specimens, other than Orthoptera, were added to the Collection during the previous year and special surveys of the Meloidae had continued.
Since 1953, the S.D.S.U. Insect Collection has been housed in room 308 of Agricultural Hall, whose every nook and cranny is filled. In 1956 Severin estimated that the collection surpassed the 1 million mark for total number of specimens.
Edward U. Balsbaugh, Jr. joined the staff in 1965. Under his direction major rearrangement of the collection was achieved and the collection began its transfer into metal cabinets with modern drawers and unit trays. The collection has continued to grow, but in restricted areas. Dr. Balsbaugh's major interests were the Coleoptera, especially the Chrysomelidae. Dr. Emmet Easton contributed large numbers of biting flies to the collection.
In a 1930 report to the E.S.A., Severin indicated his intent to present type specimens in the S.D.S.C. collection to the U. S. National Museum. However, a check of the records in 1970 by the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution showed that only a single hymenopteran type was received from Prof. Severin. Evidently the bulk of the types was never sent. It was the policy of the S.D.S.U. Entomology-Zoology Department to keep any type material it acquired, but this policy is now reversed and all primary type specimens will be sent to the Smithsonian to prevent loss.
Burruss McDaniel, Ph.D., joined the staff in 1966 and replaced Dr. Balsbaugh as curator in 1976. Dr. McDaniel's specialties involved mites and mealybugs. The collection was renamed the Severin-McDaniel Insect Collection upon his retirement in 1990. McDaniel's large slide collection was donated to Texas A&M University at that time.
Paul J. Johnson, Ph.D., assumed the collection curatorship when he came to S.D.S.U. in 1993. His specialty is beetles, especially the click beetles, byrrhid beetles and their allies. Since Dr. Johnson's arrival the collection has seen space remodeling, new cabinetry and numerous new materials from the Black Hills and other areas, computerized database development, and new research projects.
beetle@ur.sdstate.edu
 
Copyright ©, 1997, by Paul J. Johnson, Friday, March 28, 1997
Most recent revision Friday, April 28, 1997