friday, october 10,2003
the university daily kansan 5A
Beetles threaten laboratory insects
Entomologists apply for grant to protect specimens
By Amber Bylary
abaylary@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The University of Kansas' Snow Hall, located west of Strong Hall, houses 4.5 million insects that contain valuable scientific information. These dead, pinned insects, which range in size from 2 millimeters to 325 millimeters, are threatened every day by living beetles that eat dead things.
Aaron Showafter/Kansan
To protect Snow Hall's research specimens, the entomology department uses naphthalene crystals that can make the building smell like moth balls, but help keep the beetles at bay.
"You can find them on the sidewalk or on the window sill," said Michael Engel, assistant curator of ecology. "The only problem is when they get inside drawers. You find your specimens are chewed up and little piles of dust, and you see immature little beetles running around."
To keep the beetles away the researchers also store specimens in cabinets and drawers specially designed to seal tightly.
The insect specimens are pinned and kept in the drawers, which are then stored in the cabinets. However, the University only has enough special cabinets and drawers to protect about half the collection.
The entomology department in Snow Hall has gradually been incorporating new storage cases and cabinets to hold its extensive collection of preserved insects. The new containers feature lids that seal better to keep out pests that destroy the collections. The collections are currently protected by foul-smelling moth balls (right forearound).
To protect the entire collection the department will need an additional 72 cabinets and 872 drawers. To get the new equipment, the department has applied for a
$370,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.
"With NSF grant proposals it's difficult to predict what will happen," said Steve Ashe, entomology curator in charge. "But I think we have a sound proposal and make a compelling case for why we should be given the money."
The grant application was submitted in June and will be reviewed this fall. Ashe said.
If the department receives the money it will replace drawers and cabinets made in the 1940s and 1950s that do not have seals. Some cabinets have been used for so long that the doors do not close properly, allowing pest beetles to get into collections. Ashe said.
The new cabinets and drawers would not be necessary if the bugs were housed in a specially-designed building and lab space.
"Ideally you would have a collection in the center of the building with no windows, and it would have work space around it," said Zack Falin, entomology collection manager, "so people activity is separate from the collection."
Having sealed windows and doors in the lab is necessary to keep pest insects out of the collection. Snow Hall does not provide these ideal working conditions because it has windows that open and lab doors that must be kept open so students can visit faculty.
Despite the problems of outdated storage equipment and less-than-ideal facilities, it has been years since Snow Hall has had a beetle outbreak.
"The naphthalene has helped over the years," Ashe said. "We're actually very proud of the way
we've been able to control pests under these conditions."
If the department is able to buy new drawers and cabinets it will be able to stop using the naphthalene to protect against beetle invasion.
Though naphthalene does not
pose a health risk, the entomology department would like to use it less.
"We simply don't like having people in collections with so much naphthalene." Ashe said.
—Edited by Andy Marso
Aaron Showalter/Kansan
Students worked out yesterday on some of the treadmills at the new Student Recreation Center. The center has been popular since it opened last month, with most of the equipment occupied in the late afternoon and evening.
CENTER: Offers fitness classes
works for the University's Recreation Services. Once the student center's aerobics room is complete, Karr will teach classes there too. She said attendance at her Parks and Recreation classes would experience a slight decrease.
She said 10 to 15 percent of her students at the parks department were KU students. There are several University professors in Karr's classes as well. She said they expressed interest in the student recreation center's services and its convenience, but they enjoyed working out with their peers.
"The rec center has newer equipment, a great stereo system that is being installed and impact-resistant floors," she said. "At the community center, we are in the basement with a boom box."
Karr said although she liked teaching at the Community Center, 115 W. 11th St., the student center had its advantages.
Ernie Shaw, Recreation & Operations Superintendent for the parks department, said because many students were Lawrence citizens instead of KU students, he "truly doubted" the classes would be affected.
Chappell said she expected numbers at the student recreation center to as much as double when KU Fit programs, intramural indoor sports, racquetball and martial arts begin. She said her FAB concept was making the recreation center the place to be.
Brooke Beatson, Olathe freshman, agreed. She said she used to work out at Prairie Life Center in Olathe. She said she would not have worked out in a gym when she moved to Lawrence if the recreation center was not at the University.
Chappell said the recreation center was beneficial to University students, both physically and emotionally.
Since coming to the University, she has adapted easily to the recreation center because of her familiarity with the equipment.
"The social values increase daily as people begin to have meetings, come to programs and just hang out." Chappell said.
"It is amazing what one can learn as you work out next to someone who has the same goal in mind as you do, getting through a workout, feeling better about one's health and just being part of the KU community, which we so desire to instill in everyone, a spirit of togetherness," she said.
— Edited by Ashley Marriott
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