Table Of Content

1*1 Agricultureand Agricultureet Agri-FoodCanada Agroalimentaire Canada ^ \ Canada Canada™'3'" OUawakTXocs^'6""6de CMu'e JUN 7 2 2009 The Canadian National Collection ff*\ J of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes The Research Branch ofAgriculture andAgri-Food Thefirst insectcollection atAAFC dates backto Canada (AAFC) is home to one ofthe world's finest 1886 when the Experimental Farm system was first resources in support of biodiversity research and established.The CNC is one ofthe longestcontinuous conservation.The Canadian National Collection of Insects, programs atAAFC, originating in 1886 when James Arachnids and Nematodes (CNC) is atop-notch working Fletcherdonated his private collection after hewas collection located atthe K.W. Neatby Building ofthe appointed asthefirst Dominion entomologist. Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre (ECORC) His appointmentwasthe resultofan order-in-council in Ottawa.The collection, which contains approximately strongly recommended byWilliam Saunders, the first 16 million specimens, is one ofthe five largest directorofthe Experimental Farm Branch. catalogues in the world. Research Branch scientists routinely use the collection to conserve Canada's The CNC is one ofthe five largestcollections of its biodiversity in a numberofways. For instance, the CNC kind in the world.The CNC contains approximately helpsthem: 16 million specimens of insects, spiders, mites and rapidly identify unknown species and develop control roundworms (nematodes), and is one of the preeminent measures to reduce invasive alien species in Canada; national collections in the world.Though more than % support publication of books such as "Canada and its 75% ofthe collection originates from NorthAmerica, it Insect Fauna", "Butterflies of Canada" and "Insects of contains specimens of species from all overthe Earth. theYukon"; and B identify and answer questions on insects, arachnids The oldest insects in the CNC are about75 million and nematodes. years old. In addition to existing species, the CNC houses a large collection offossil insects in Canadian Cretaceous amberfrom Medicine Hat,Alberta, and Cedar Lake, Manitoba, dating backto the age of the dinosaurs. Fast facts Over60,000species of insects and relatives live in CNC about the Canada, but half ofthem are unknown.Although over 35,000 named species of insects, spiders, mites, and roundworms are known to occur in Canada, The Canadian National Collection of Insects, scientists believe thatthere is aboutthe same number Arachnids and Nematodes was transferred toAAFC of species here that have yetto be catalogued. Research because ofa firethatravagedthe Parliament Branch scientists working with the CNC are tackling the 1 1916. Following the disasterof 1916, taskof differentiating, describing and naming these members of Parliament moved totheVictoria Museum. new species. That made things pretty crowded there, so the museum's ^ insect collection was combined with the one belonging to AgricultureandAqri-FoodCanada/ ^p' the federal Department ofAgriculture in 1917.The AgricultureetAgroalimentaireCanada resulting merger became the Canadian National CanadianAgricultureLibrary Collection (CNC). BibiiothequeCanaoiennedeI'agriculture "%. Ottawa Ontario , : The CNC's curators are world experts in different The identification of pests,their natural enemies, groups of insects a—nd relatives.These scientists are and other beneficial species is keyto primarilytaxonomists they identify, describe and name environmental and agricultural sustainability. newlydiscovered speciesfrom Canadaand aroundthe Partofthe workof Research Branch taxonomists isto world. Specialistsfocuson differentaspects ofthe identify pests that attackour crops and livestock, as well collection, from beetlesto mites and more. CNC as their natural enemies and other beneficial species in taxonomistsoften getrequestsfromall overtheworld to Canada.To know whatspecies are involved isthe first find outwhethera specimen has already been described step towards sustainable management of ecosystems. orisa new, native orintroduced species. Once you knowthe identity, you then have accessto all the known information on thatspecies and can develop Bodyfeatures are one ofthe bestways to classify biologically based management strategies. insects. Insects have developed amazingly elaborate sex organsthat allow mating onlywith members ofthe same The CNC helps keep invasive alien species outof species.These sex organs are often the most useful Canada,thereby helping to protectour agriculture characteristics for distinguishing species. Different and environment.Thousands of insects, arachnids, species have also evolved specific songs and perfumes nematodes, and their relatives are submitted each year thatthe other gendercan detect miles awaywhen looking tothe National Identification Servicefor identification. fora mate. This work is done bythe CNC taxonomists. Many ofthese samples come from plantand animal products-such as Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) can be used to flowers, fruits, packaging wood - broughtfrom overseas identify species ofinsects or relatives.Although and intercepted atour borders.The accurate taxonomists generally use bodycharacteristicsto identification ofthese insects by ourtaxonomists is distinguish species, some species arejust too much alike crucial: ifthe species are deemed a dangerto ourcrops forthis to always work.That's when scientists turn to the orwilderness areas, then steps must be taken to prevent studyof DNAto find the answers. Several CNC them from establishing themselves in Canada. taxonomists regularly use DNAto identify species and solve problems related to crop pests or invasive species. Most insects are beneficial to humans.The majority ofspecimens housed in the CNC are directly or indirectly helpful to humans by keeping crop pests in check, or by keeping ecosystems sustainable through plant pollination, decomposition, nutrientcycling and the provision offood for largeranimals. One ofthe bestways tofight insect pests isto have other insects do itforyou. Mostcrop and livestock pests have been introduced accidentally from other parts oftheworld. Fortunately, these pests havetheirown natural enemies, predators and parasitoidsthatfeed on them. Pest populations can be kept below damaging thresholds by making conditions morefavourablefor native predators and parasitoids or bycarefully introducing biocontrol agentsfrom the area oforigin ofthe pest.This approach helps reduce risks associated with chemical control on human health and the environment. CNCtaxonomistsworkwith biological control specialists in Canadaand around the world to develop biological control strategiesforcrop and animals pests. ©HerMajestytheQueeninRightofCanada,2007 CATA52-80/2-2007E m ® ISBN978-0-662-47070-0 AAFCNo.10329E V„ Aussioffertenfrangaissousletitre LaCollectionrationalecanadienne6'insectes,d'arachnldesetdenematodes