Thanks to photos and films featuring clouds of stunning orange and black monarch butterflies flying across North America, many people today are familiar with how monarchs migrate. The migration patterns of other insects, however, remain more mysterious, for both the public and scientists alike. A new paper in Biology Letters describes a dragonfly’s full life cycle for the first time, in compelling detail.

The researchers explain how the common green darner—a large, abundant dragonfly found across North America—takes three generations to complete its annual cycle. One generation migrates north in spring, the second south in fall, and the third is resident in the southern part of the species’ range over winter. These insects have a wingspan of just 7.5 cm (3 inches), but they migrate an average of over 600 km (373 miles), with some individuals covering more than 2,500 km (1,553 miles).

“We know that a lot of insects migrate, but we have full life history and full migration data for only a couple. This is the first dragonfly in the Western Hemisphere for which we know this,” says Colin Studds, assistant professor of geography and environmental systems at UMBC and senior author on the paper. “We’ve solved the first piece of a big mystery.”

The common green darner is indeed very common, and not currently a threatened species. Understanding their life cycle is important, though, because of the global context. “There are massive insect declines going on around the world,” says Peter Marra, director of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and second author on the paper, “so understanding these complex biological phenomena is essential to determine why different populations might be declining.”

Insects are a critical driver of food webs, so figuring out why their populations are falling dramatically is important for the future success of a wide range of species, from rodents to raptors.

The research team used a combination of data sets, including 21 years of citizen science data, more than 800 dragonfly wing specimens from museums going back 140 years, and specimens caught in the wild. Collaborators Kent McFarland and Sara Zahendra of the Vermont Center for Ecostudies spent nearly two years collecting dragonflies from Florida to Ontario, Canada, and working with museums to get permission to analyze their specimens.

The team’s creative analysis included looking at the prevalence of different forms of hydrogen in the dragonflies. The ratio of three forms of hydrogen in the atmosphere shifts with latitude. Dragonflies pick up an imprint of the hydrogen ratio at their birthplace, so a scientist can determine where a dragonfly came from by looking at how much of each hydrogen type is present in a tiny piece of the dragonfly’s wing. That information enabled the team to discern the three-generation migration system.

The citizen science data—information collected by members of the general public—helped the scientists learn what factors cue the dragonflies to migrate or to emerge as flying adults after their aquatic juvenile stage. It turns out temperature plays a big role: the dragonflies both emerge and initiate migration at around 9 degrees Celsius (48 degrees Fahrenheit).

“With climate change we could see dragonflies migrating north earlier and staying later in the fall, which could alter their entire biology and life history,” says Michael Hallworth, postdoctoral fellow at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and first author on the paper. Studds adds, “Climate change is a threat to all kinds of migration systems, and this could be one of them.”

Studds emphasizes that this discovery is the beginning of a long path toward better understanding insect migrations. Revealing the three-generation process, with two migratory generations and one resident, was, itself, “remarkable,” he says. “How it actually happens is a tremendous new mystery that brings together ecology and evolution,” Studds reflects, “and there’s a lot more to understand.”

Image: A common green darner in flight. Photo by Mark Chappell.

The contractor working on the Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building will be performing work outside of the construction fence between the new ILSB and the Physics Building between 12/26/2018 and about 1/14/1019. This work will require closure of vehicular access to the Commons loading dock and relocation of pedestrian paths through the area.

Deliveries to the Commons building should be made at the corner of Center Rd and Poplar Avenue. Signs will be placed directing vehicles to this location. Pedestrians should follow signs to access relocated walkways. Accessible routes will be provided between all buildings in the area. Existing accessible parking most convenient to the Commons building during this time continues to be in the Commons Garage, along Center Road near Susquehanna Hall and in lots 2 & 4.

In addition, the contractor will be accessing manholes near the PAHB, ITE and Engineering buildings between 1/3/2019 and 1/5/2019. Minor adjustments to pedestrian routes will be necessary but accessible routes will be maintained through the area.

Accessibility is part of the design process, and we work in partnership Accessibility and Disability Services which supports faculty, staff, students and visitors with disabilities. If you have a concern about accessibility, or want to inquire about a disability-based accommodation, please do so through their website.

Thank you for your patience as we work to maintain and enhance the UMBC campus.

Facilities Management

As we have communicated over the past year, and more recently during the Open Enrollment Period, the new State Personnel System (SPS) Workday for Benefits Go-Live is January 1, 2019.  In mid-January, 2019 you will receive instructions on how to access the SPS for Benefits site.  At that time, you will be able to view your 2019 benefit elections and your dependent information on-line.  To ensure a smooth transition, the dedicated UMBC SPS Workday for Benefits Support site will be available with:

·         SPS Job Aids and Videos to assist with basic navigation and benefits review

·         Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to help with more specific system questions

·         Quick Reference Guide and Videos to assist with accessing the system and making/changing benefit elections

·         UMBC Technology Support Center resources to assist with SPS password reset

As we receive more information, we will make it available to campus users.  In the meantime, should you have general benefit enrollment questions and/or issues, please contact the HR Benefits Unit at hrbenefits@umbc.edu. 

Organization Description:

Moms and parents who plan on using the Women's Center lactation room throughout the winter term are encouraged to reserve their preferred reservation times. 

All parents who reserve times will be added to the lactation room google calendar and a group email list in order to support communication and best navigate multiple people using the space. 

Reservations are not required but are highly recommend for parents who plan on using the lactation room on a regular basis throughout the January term. Due to the Women's Center being open during limited times throughout January, it is important for parents to communicate with the Women's Center about needing access to the room to ensure entry. 

For questions and concerns, stop by the Women's Center during our hours of operation, give us a ring at 410-455-2714, or send us an email at womenscenter@umbc.edu.  Parents are also encouraged to join the myUMBC Moms + Parents group. 

Moms and parents who plan on using the Women's Center lactation room throughout the winter term are encouraged to reserve their preferred reservation times. 

All parents who reserve times will be added to the lactation room google calendar and a group email list in order to support communication and best navigate multiple people using the space. 

Reservations are not required but are highly recommend for parents who plan on using the lactation room on a regular basis throughout the January term. Due to the Women's Center being open during limited times throughout January, it is important for parents to communicate with the Women's Center about needing access to the room to ensure entry. 

For questions and concerns, stop by the Women's Center during our hours of operation, give us a ring at 410-455-2714, or send us an email at womenscenter@umbc.edu.  Parents are also encouraged to join the myUMBC Moms + Parents group.