Page 10 - 2001 DT 4 issues

Fire Bugs during a fire. Xenomelanophila miranda ○ • Projects to be initiated include fenc-
has no infrared sensors, yet it too has an ○ ○ ing of the campground entrance road and
ome researchers follow forest fires interest in fire. And some insects seem ○ ○ the restoration of the Lost Creek area.
to learn how to better control to be camp followers, such as a species ○ ○ • Aquarius Stone Company will donate
Sthem, others to analyze the of a robber fly that preys on the ○ ○ the tiles for the first 50 foot section of
aftermath—how nature uses fire to re- Melanophila beetles. ○ ○ the Dedication Walkway which will be
generate the landscape. But consider the ○ ○ Scientists speculate that fires might ○ ○ installed this month.
legions of international scientists who ○ be a great way for widely dispersed bugs ○ ○ • The 2001-2002 budget planning
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rush to fires to study fire-loving, or ○ to meet a mate. A typical sircid wasp ○ ○ process will begin in June and will be
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pyrophilic, insects that rush into the ○ lays perhaps 100 eggs in a single tree. ○ published in the Desert Trumpet in July.
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smoke in a red-hot hurry. ○ ○ The young emerge ○ All committee chairs are requested to
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The goal is to find more ○ ○ en masse several ○ submit their estimates as soon as pos-
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species of the fire-bug club ○ ○ years later in need of ○ sible to Chuck Williams.
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and their infrared-sensing or- ○ mates. A great way ○ • Regina Zeitlin has accepted the chair
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gans which are so unusual ○ to find some that ○ of the Natural Resources committee.
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that the U.S. Air Force is try- ○ aren’t siblings is to ○
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ing to mimic them. Some ○ follow the smoke. ○
○ ○ May General Meeting
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twenty species have been ○ Another advantage
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identified in the Pacific ○ to pyrophilia could ○
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Northwest that seem espe- ○ be access to fire-sale ○ he spring membership meeting
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cially attracted to fires. ○ bargains that provide ○ was held on Saturday, May 19,
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But how and why do in- ○ resources for the ○ Tat the Tenaya Creek Restaurant
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sects flock to fire zones in the first place? ○ family. Fast action to colonize vulnerable ○ ○ and Brewery at 12:30 p.m. Appetizers
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According to Science News, several an- ○ wood is a priority for these wasps be- ○ ○ and soft beverages were provided by
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swers are coming to light. ○ cause sircid-wasp larvae can’t digest ○ ○ Friends. The restaurant donated some
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Bean-sized Melanophila beetles ○ wood fiber. The mother must inject a ○ ○ edible door prizes as well as the private
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converge on fires from miles away us- ○ fiber-digesting fungus into the wood of ○ ○ room. There were 22 members in atten-
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ing a pair of highly sensitive infrared ○ a weak tree when laying eggs. ○ ○ dance.
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sensors in little pits on each side of the ○ Contrary to veteran firefighters’ ad- ○ • President Chuck Williams presented
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beetle’s thorax. They also carry fine ○ monitions (with the wink of an eye) to ○ ○ a business update as follows: May 1,
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smoke detectors on their antennae. The ○ impressionable young rookies, sircid ○ ○ bank balance $146,500; year-to-date
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hefty black Australian beetle, Merimna ○ wasps do not sting nor do they lay eggs ○ ○ ordinary income $77,291; expense total
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atrata sport a different kind of infrared ○ in human legs. Snipe hunt anyone? ○ $42,218; net income $30,165.
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sensor. Two small, sensitive spots on ○ ○ ○ • $1,000 was received from Bechtel
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each of two abdominal sections are also ○ May Board Notes ○ ○ Corporation for the Lost Creek Project
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triggered by temperature change, but the ○ ○ ○ for which Friends has allocated $36,000;
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sensing nerves are different from the ○ video of scenes from Red Rock ○ • Proposed changes to the bylaws and
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Melanophila beetles, leading research- ○ Days, created by Gus and Dawn ○ standing rules were presented and
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ers to believe that the two species ○ AVargas, will begin showing at ○ discussed regarding board terms, board
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derived from different evolutionary ○ the Visitor Center. The video was highly ○ quorum, recall terms and raising mem-
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paths. In both cases, the beetles swarm ○ acclaimed by BLM State and Washing- ○ bership dues. All members will receive
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to fires at dawn and dusk where the in- ○ ton offices. ○ a mailing concerning the above in early
sects mate and females tuck the next ○ ○ • Several pending projects were com- ○ ○ July. Voting on these proposals will take
generation under the bark of seared trees. ○ ○ pleted in April: installation of new trail ○ place at the August 18, General Meet-
However infrared sensors may not ○ ○ head signs donated by the Howard ing.
be the mechanism the insects use to ac- ○ ○ Hughes Corporation; parking lot fenc- • Board elections will take place at the
tually find the fire. These wood-boring ○ ○ ing at Ice Box Canyon; two additional August 18, General Meeting. A volun-
beetles focus on stressed plants which ○ ○ vending machines and a change machine teer is needed to chair the Hospitality
release a chemical signature into the air ○ ○ installed at the Visitor Center; committee for the coming year. Please
Page 2 FORRC/June, 2001