Wet collections accession: a workflow based on a large stonefly (Insecta, Plecoptera) donation

Abstract

This study details a workflow used to accession a large stonefly (Plecoptera) collection resulting from several donations. The eastern North American material of Kenneth W. Stewart (deceased, University of North Texas), the entire collection of Stanley W. Szczytko (deceased, University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point), and a small portion of the Barry C. Poulton collection (active, United States Geological Survey, Columbia, Missouri) were donated to the Illinois Natural History Survey in 2013. These 5,767 vials of specimens were processed to help preserve the specimen legacy of these world renowned Plecoptera researchers. The workflow used an industrialized approach to organize the specimens taxonomically, image the specimens and labels, and place the specimens into new storage. Utilizing the images as a verbatim data source, we transcribed labels in iterative steps that yielded more information with each pass. The data were normalized, locations georeferenced, all specimen data formatted to meet Darwin Core Archive format for occurrence data, and a data set created using Pensoft's Integrated Publishing Toolkit. This is the first time that any of the specimen data has been made available electronically. We also provide two important electronic supplements that include the Bill P. Stark (active, Mississippi College) Oklahoma field notebook for 1971 and 1972 detailing locations for many coded stonefly specimens in the Stewart collection, and the coded locations of B. C. Poulton's Arkansas and Missouri study. Again, we have linked coded labels in vials to normalized and georefenced site data. We confirmed 243 stonefly species were contained within the collections, and the potential for many more species exists among the specimens identified to family and genus level. Twenty-one new state, province, and other significant stonefly records are reported herein with all identifications verified by the senior author, often through consultation with other stonefly taxonomists. Researchers are encouraged to utilize the specimen data, form collaborations with the authors, and borrow specimens for research.

Plecoptera (Insecta) Diversity in Indiana: A Watershed-Based Analysis

“…Specimen data (locality labels, determination labels, and catalog numbers) were captured and normalized in a custom database. Most specimens were associated with their database record using a paper catalog number [34]. We georeferenced locations using an online mapping program [35] employing datum WGS-84.…”

“…These include the Lower East Fork White (66 species), the Blue-Sinking (58 species), and the Lower White (51 species), all in the southern third of the state. Other drainages with richness values above 30 species include the Middle Wabash-Little Vermilion (42 species), the Middle Ohio Laughery (37 species), Silver-L. Kentucky (34), Sugar Creek (31 species), and Upper White (31 species). These too occur in the southern half of the state.…”

<strong>Species occurrence and distribution of Trichoptera (caddisflies) in California</strong>

“…In addition, each image from alcohol-filled vials requires more time to set up than pinned material because individuals must be removed from vials for imaging, and labels must be flattened. Improved methods for working with fluid materials (e.g., Mendez et al 2018, DeWalt et al 2018 will allow records to be more easily be used for research questions that require georeferenced coordinates.…”

A new stonefly species (Plecoptera, Perlidae) from the Interior Highlands USA, with morphological and molecular comparison to other congeneric species

“…This area of the central United States was extensively examined for stoneflies by Poulton and Stewart (1991). Surprisingly, a remarkably distinct and undescribed Perlesta species from the Interior Highlands was revealed through recent examination of undetermined Arkansas material donated to the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) Insect Collection by the late Kenneth W. Stewart (DeWalt et al 2018) and from eastern Oklahoma material borrowed from the K. C. Emerson Entomological Museum, Oklahoma State University ( OKSU ) at Stillwater. Using freshly collected and properly prepared specimens, we describe this new species, Perlestasublobata sp.…”