Natural Heritage Program Spotlight: Max Ferlauto, Entomologist
Bumblebee. Photo courtesy of USGS-PWRC
The arrival of spring for many wild animals and plants means emerging from a period of quiet and slumber – but that is not true for the small staff of the Natural Heritage Program. These biologists have a big responsibility: protecting and managing the nongame, rare, threatened and endangered species and their unique habitats in Maryland. While field work does increase in the warmer months, the cool season provides time we need to provide important services to Maryland residents. Max Ferlauto, state entomologist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, provides some insights into his work with insects and spiders, which like the creatures themselves is interwoven with (and often dependent upon) the native plants and backyard habitats we encourage in the Wild Acres program.
Do you know what’s in your SWAP? The acronym in this case stands for State Wildlife Action Plan, a document the Natural Heritage Program publishes every ten years with input from all the experts and stakeholders in Maryland, outlining conservation approaches for wildlife and wildlife habitat. All 50 states have SWAPs, mandated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a condition of receiving funding to research and conserve rare and declining species. Coming up with this plan is a task full of complexity; imagine getting everybody who cares about wildlife to agree on one written plan that includes every living thing in Maryland! Ferlauto contributes to this effort by updating rare species lists using the results of surveys our staff completes, as well as contributions from local naturalists and occasionally community science applications (like iNaturalist and the Maryland Biodiversity Project).”This isn’t just counting bugs,” he says. “The more we study insects, the more we can understand their ecological and economic benefits.”
Firefly. Photo by Adrienne van den Beemt
For example, Max is focusing particularly on statewide firefly surveys. Many Marylanders report that they have noticed a large reduction in the number of fireflies they remember from their childhood – and they aren’t wrong. Firefly population numbers have decreased due to a number of reasons, including habitat loss, use of pesticides, and too many outdoor lights. Firefly larvae are beneficial predators, eating garden and agricultural pests like slugs and contributing to overall soil health and aeration. Species of firefly can be tricky to identify, with differences often only limited to the pattern of flashing light they use in their glowing mating displays. Through field surveys, Max and his team aim to produce a truly comprehensive list of what species are here right now, with additional time spent improving our understanding of their life histories so we know the best ways to conserve them. He’s also working with college students to better understand other species and our impacts upon them, like the Baltimore Checkerspot, our state insect. Collaborating closely with communities, Max hopes to eventually produce an easily-accessible online resource for homeowners to find insect and plant information that may help them make conservation-minded decisions. One such homeowner management decision is leaving fallen leaves in garden beds, which host the larvae of fireflies, butterflies, and other species throughout the winter.
Max Farlauto with a waved sphinx moth (left), and a leaf litter study (right).
Speaking of communities, much of Max’s work supports larger projects like pollinator-friendly maintenance of public roads and park land development. He’s currently working with local municipalities to develop roadside mowing plans by identifying road stretches that are important to rare pollinator species, like the rusty-patched bumblebee. Many of these species pollinate agricultural crops, and populations are in steep decline; the rusty-patched bumblebee has declined by 87% of its historic range in recent years. Understanding the reasons for these declines could help us conserve valuable biodiversity before it’s too late. If no other argument for protecting biodiversity speaks to your heart, think of the biomedical implications of permanently losing entire species; the cure for cancer could be buried in a rare insect! In many cases, Natural Heritage Program goals align well with community financial and economic goals as well. Planting native plants, which also benefit local insects, and effectively managing our roadside areas can save taxpayer funds in fuel and mowing costs.
Along with other Natural Heritage Program staff, Max is also engaged in surveying Wills Mountain State Park in Allegany County, which is set to open to the public following a recent land purchase. In the time since Maryland purchased this property, park management and biologists have worked closely together to understand what resources it holds, including rare species and ecological communities. By carefully documenting what’s there, the Department can achieve its goals of allowing public access as soon as possible while also protecting the resource for future generations.
Bugs may seem tiny and insignificant, but the truth is quite the opposite. They often tie together layers of environmental functioning that are pivotal to soil (like decomposition and fertility), plants (like pollinators), other animals (like predators that eat invertebrates), and humans (like pest control, fishing and boating industries). With possible changes at the federal level, state laws and programs that promote endangered species conservation could be the last line of defense for some of our regionally rare species. While our square footage may not be large, Maryland’s lands and waterways hold immense ecological importance. We are fortunate to house some very rare habitats in a crucial watershed like the Chesapeake Bay, often due to unique geological areas and the range overlap between southern and northern species. We also have one of the most wildlife-savvy, educated, and motivated populations in the nation, allowing us to historically enact- and hopefully continue to prioritize- conservation in a way that should truly make us proud.
Want to hear more about Max’s work with leaf-loving insects? Check out this podcast:
In Defense of Plants – Leave the Dang Leaves https://www.indefenseofplants.com/podcast/2024/12/3/ep-505-leave-the-dang-leaves
Check out this new research about leaving the leaves!
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969725004565
For more on beneficial insects, visit: https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/pages/habitat/wabugs.aspx
