Insect_surveys_SOW.docx

Statement of Work

Survey three barrens special areas on the Hoosier National Forest (Tell City District) for remnant-dependent grassland insect species whose life cycle requirements limit their distribution to barrens plant communities and are rarely found in the surrounding more highly disturbed landscape of south central Indiana. The threes study sites are Boone Creek Barrens, Cloverlick Barrens and Harding Flats Barrens. The goal of this project is to determine if 1) insects species surveyed in these areas from 2002 to 2004 are still present after management activities (prescribed fire and pine removal) performed since, and 2) determine any new remnant dependent species that may be present after re-introduction of fire.

Sampling efforts are to be focused primarily on insects in the orders Homoptera (suborder Auchenorhyncha only), Lepidoptera (all families) and Orthoptera (all families). All insects are to be identified to species. A report of results is required to show changes from current surveys to the 1,205 insect taxa (representing 208 families in 20 orders) reported in 2004 to the current surveys. Focus is to be on the remnant-dependent insects in Table 2 (see attached). Likewise, the report will document any absence of remnant-dependent insects know in the Regional area, but not found at the sites with potential habitat and host plants.

Repetition of past surveys methods (Bess, J. 2004) are required in the 3 areas. Areas targeted were 1) grassland areas and colonies of known food plants for host selective species, 2)wildlife ponds and associated marshes at Cloverlick (wetland species surveys), 3) perennial streams at Boone Creek and Cloverlick (a map of the habitats previously surveyed in each Special area will be supplied to contractor). Methods to be used for sampling include:

· Sweep nets to sample Homoptera, Orthoptera and other vegetation-inhabiting insects.

· Walkthroughs to identify day flying Lepidoptera (butterfly and skippers).

· Ultraviolet light trap surveys for night flying Lepidoptera, Homoptera and other insects.

Sampling Amounts: Sampling periods last 3 days, with UV light traps being run on both of the two nights. 6-12 UV light traps are to be run each night and divided between the three sites, at least once a month from May-November. At least a total of 52 sweep net samples are to be collected and analyzed from the three areas over the survey period. All insect specimens are to be examined and identified. At least 14 butterfly walkthrough surveys are conducted from May through November in each of the three years.

Sampling times: Butterfly surveys and sweepnet sampling shall occur during the day, whenever the weather permits (>60 degrees Fahrenheit, no rain). Sweepnet samples should be taken primarily in May, June and September , to coincide with flowering and seed set in native cool and warm season grasses. Additional samples are to be collected in all months between April and October. Sweep net samples are to be collected late in the day (4:00-6:00pm CST), to coincide with peak activity for many Homoptera. Grasshopper peak activity tends to coincide with the hottest part of the day (noon to 4:00 pm) and thus surveys for these insects should occur in this time frame. Most grasshopper sampling should occur late in the season (August through September), when the majority of species are maturing. However, over wintering and early maturing taxa may be sampled in May and early June.

Final report of all surveys shall be submitted at the end of the sampling period. This shall include:

Background information on barrens remnant-dependent insects and ecosystem management impacts (fire, cutting, etc); Methods section including sampling techniques, times, efforts and sample numbers; Results and Discussion including an overview and discussion of surveys for federally endangered species, potentially forest-sensitive found in the surveys, notable insects, other notable observations (birds, vertebrates, etc), and any obviously missing species or groups known to occur in similar barrens regionally; Recommendations on restoration, management and forest-sensitive insects at each of the 3 barrens; Any other notes, findings or recommendations to report; Maps of surveyed areas; Tables showing results of current surveys and a comparison of species found in current and 2002-2004 surveys; Bibliography.

Literature Citations Bess, James. 2004. A Final Report on Insect Surveys at Three Barrens Special Interest Areas (Hoosier National Forest: Perry County, Indiana) with a Special Emphasis on Forester Sensitive Species.