ISU Professor of Entomology, Donald Lewis presented a program titled “All About Bugs” at the Thursday weekly Ames Golden K Kiwanis meeting, which continues to be held remotely via ZOOM on October 1, 2020.

Professor Lewis  described in detail, and often humorously, several types and species of bugs common and not so common in Iowa.  He included the several species of Milkweed bugs, Japanese Beetles, Grubs, Termites, Silverfish, Lightning Bugs/Firefly’s, Stink bugs, and Box Elder bugs.

Professor Lewis cited the decline of the very beneficial Milkweed bugs due to loss of breeding habitat caused by intensified farming and pesticides–as there has been an 81% loss of agricultural Milkweed in the U.S. over the past 20 years.

He also described the very destructive effects of the Japanese Beetle, who arrived in the Eastern USA in 1916 and have moved into Iowa during the past decade, feeding on everything in their path, especially Linden trees. Spraying is only partially effective so it may be best to tolerate the damage. Lewis also noted that Termites do exist in Story County but are not as numerous as in other Iowa locations.

At the conclusion of his presentation, Lewis replied to many questions from Golden K members in his always entertaining manner.