Elizabeth A. McMahan Entomological Research Films and Manuscripts
MC 00359
Special Collections Research Center
4.0 Linear feet
1986-2010
The Elizabeth A. McMahan Entomological Research Films and Manuscripts collection consists of 8mm film documenting McMahan's 1986 entomological research on the assassin bug (
Salyavata variegata) in La Selva, Costa Rica and Panama. These insects use dead termites as bait in order to catch other termites, a technique similar to fishing. The films depict various stages of this process, such as the assassin bug waiting outside a termite hole with his bait, the assassin bug catching termites with the bait, and the assassin bug returning to the hole to catch more termites. The collection also includes illustrated, self-published manuscripts, including a children's book as well as autobiographical writings, a bibliographical journal article on her life, and a Sociobiology Journal, vol. 56, no. 1, 2010 edition to include chapter on Elizabeth Anne McMahan written by Christine A. Nalepa.
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the
Special Collections Research Center Reference Staff.
4 archival boxes, and 1 carton
McMahan, Elizabeth
Restrictions to Access
This collection has restricted access. Please
contact the department for more information.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Films received from Elizabeth A. McMahan, August 2003 (Accession no. 2003-0023). Additional films received 2010 (Accession no. 2010-0214). Manuscripts received from the NCSU Libraries Development Office, April 2007 (Accession nos. 2007-0127 and 2007-0161).
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Elizabeth A. McMahan Entomological Research Films and Manuscripts, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
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Use Restrictions
Use copies required for viewing. Please
contact the department for more information.
Biographical Note
Entomologist
Elizabeth A.
Betty McMahan, best known for her study of
assassin bugs, was born in
Pino, North Carolina. Intending to become a high school science teacher, McMahan attended
Appalachian State University in
Boone, N.C., after leaving Pino. While at Appalachian State, a faculty advisor introduced McMahan to
parapsychology, and she transferred to
Duke University in order to work with
J. B. Rhine. From 1943 to 1954, McMahan completed her B.A. and M.A. in psychology and published nine papers.
In 1954, McMahan decided to pursue a degree in
entomology. She studied
termites at the
University of Hawaii, receiving her Ph.D. in 1960. She completed post-doctoral work at the
University of Chicago and then took a teaching job at the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she taught for 26 years.
McMahan's research took her all over the world, including
Australia,
Venezuela,
Puerto Rico,
Costa Rica,
Egypt,
India,
Panama, and
Ecuador. While in Costa Rica in 1980, McMahan discovered that assassin bugs (
Salyavata variegata) used tools in order to catch food. She published articles about the insects in several scientific journals and videotaped the food-catching process for the
BBC documentary
Alien Empire.
After retiring, McMahan became a professor emerita at UNC. She taught in
Jamaica as a
Peace Corps volunteer and also became a children's book author. A collection of her books is located at the North Carolina Collection at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
In 2003, Dutch taxonomist
Pieter van Doesburg named a newly classified species of the assassin bug after McMahan,
Salyavata MacMahanae. In 2004, McMahan's friend and colleague
Christine Nalepa established the
Elizabeth A. McMahan Endowment at
North Carolina State University. This endowment enhances the libraries' entomological collections.
Scope and Content Note
The Elizabeth A. McMahan Entomological Research Films and Manuscripts collection consists of twenty-two reels of 8mm film documenting McMahan's research on the assassin bug
(
Salyavata variegata) in
La Selva, Costa Rica. These insects use dead termites as bait in order to catch other termites, a technique similar to fishing. The films depict various stages of this process, such as the assassin bug waiting outside a termite hole with his bait, the assassin bug catching termites with the bait, and the assassin bug returning to the hole to catch more termites. Some of the films show unsuccessful baiting attempts. Others show McMahan destroying a nest in order to find the royal chamber.
McMahan indicated Reels #1-2, #2-1, #2-2, #2-3, Assassins of La Selva #2-1200 Reel 1, and Assassins of La Selva #2-1200 Reel 3 are the most important.
The collection also includes illustrated, self-published manuscripts, including a children's book as well as autobiographical writings and a bibliographical journal article on her life. Also included is the Sociobiology Journal, vol. 56, no. 1, 2010 edition to include chapter on Elizabeth Anne McMahan written by Christine A. Nalepa.
Organization of the Collection
The films are stored on 400-foot reels. McMahan stated that these films used to be on 1200-foot reels and have since been divided. Therefore Films #1-2 and #1-3 belong together, Films #2-1, #2-2, and #2-3 belong together,
Assassins of La Selva 400 Reel 1 and Reels 5-12 belong together,
Assassins of La Selva #1-200 Reels 1-3 belong together,
Assassins of La Selva #2-1200 Reels 1 and 3 belong together, and
Assassins of La Selva #3-1200 Reels 1-3 belong together.
The descriptions for the reels listed below are the descriptions McMahan wrote on the reel labels. They have been transcribed as accurately as possible.
McMahan, Elizabeth
Assassin bugs
Entomology
Estación Biológica La Selva (Costa Rica)
Insects--Juvenile literature
Termites
Films
1.5 Linear feet
1986
3 archival boxes
Films
1
1986
Film #1-2
Scope and Contents note
5th instar sits beside hole w/carcass at edge. Uses as baffle & as bait. Catches new W.
Copy 1, Baiting, 5th instar
Film #1-3
1986
Scope and Contents note
5th instar angles for termites; film,
very indistinct but bug catches 2 W's in sequence. La Selva, Costa, Rica, EA McMahan
Copy 1, Baiting, 5th instar
Film #2-1
Scope and Contents note
(from 1200 ft. reel) 3rd instar baiting indistinct. Catches 1 W & feeds. Returns to hole w/carcass & baits. No W's attach.
3rd instar
Salvayata variegata catches termite works at nest repair site. Took it some distance to feed. Termites repairing hole in nest. Returns w/carcass to hole. Soldiers active. Reel ends before baiting successful. E McMahan #1 La Selva, Costa Rica 1986
Copy 1, Baiting, Bug 3rd instar.
Film #2-2
Scope and Contents note
(from 1200 ft. reel) 3rd instar baits out 2 Ws in sequence. Beak insertion shown. Best angling at end.
Bug pulling worker out of hole in termite mound. Inserts beak behind head. Feeding takes several minutes. Draws another worker out of hole. Film ended.
S. variegata. E McMahan/John Stokes, photog. La Selva, Costa Rica. 1986. #2
Copy 1, Baiting, 3rd instar
Film #2-3
Scope and Contents note
3rd instar baits out another W. Best of sequence probably (but indistinct). Third reel of 1200 ft. sequence.
#3
Salyavata variegata 3rd instar. Third reel in baiting sequence. Takes caught worker away from hole to feed. Termite workers at hole take in carcasses at rim of hole. Assassin bug brings carcass back to hole. Jerks. Worker takes hold of carcass. Bug seizes worker. Takes it off for feeding. EA McMahan/John Stokes, photog. La Selva, Costa Rica. 1986.
Copy 1, Baiting, 3rd instar
Assassins of La Selva, 400 Reel 1
May 1986
Scope and Contents note
Two captures (by a 1st & a 4th? instar) but no baiting. Too dark (& out of focus in some cases).
Assassins of La Selva, 400 Reel 5
May 1986
Scope and Contents note
Futile attempts to get bugs to bait. Several were tried. All uncooperative. Fuzzy film. (plus or minus 3 ft. length of film at beginning)
Assassins of La Selva, Reel 6
May 1986
Scope and Contents note
Uncooperative bugs. Camouflage w/whole spots.
Films
2
1986
Assassins of La Selva, 400 Reel 7
May 1986
Scope and Contents note
Adult bug. Wouldn't feed. Several good dorsal views as it sat on nest. Focused & brighter.
Assassins of La Selva, 400 Reel 8
May 1986
Scope and Contents note
Adult bug. Uncooperative re termites but some good (inactive) dorsal shots.
Assassins of La Selva, 400 Reel 9
May 1986
Scope and Contents note
Uncoop. juvenile bug. EMcM shaving off layers of nest to find royal chamber. Roiling masses of termites (incl. Alates).
Assassins of La Selva, 400 Reel 10
May 1986
Scope and Contents note
EMcM demolishing nest. Plastic ground sheet w/termites & carton. Nursery area w/egg clots & larvae. Hard nest carton.
Assassins of La Selva, 400 Reel 11
May 1986
Scope and Contents note
EMcM continues to demolish nest. Bashes w/crow bar & saws with coping saw. Royal chamber found. No reproductives.
Assassins of La Selva, 400 Reel 12
May 1986
Scope and Contents note
Last reel of EMcM demolishing nest down to last crumbs. Used screw driver & Swiss army knife. Alates
Assassins of La Selva, #1-1200 Reel 1
May 1986
Scope and Contents note
Assassin bug stands just below hole; termites repairing. Appears to be trying to catch first prey.
Assassins of La Selva, #1-1200 Reel 2
May 1986
Scope and Contents note
Salyavata variegata. Bug baiting (view from directly above). Side view of bug baiting. Carcass of W on side of nest below.
Films
3
1986
Assassins of La Selva, #1-1200 Reel 3
May 1986
Scope and Contents note
Bug fishing in active termite hole. Workers refuse to try to draw it inside. Reel ends before baiting is successful.
Assassins of La Selva, #2-1200 Reel 1
Scope and Contents note
2. Bug catches termite at repair site. 3. Takes termite back to hole. 1. Hole made in surface. Termites emerge.
Bug (
Salyavata variegata) stands at hole in termite mound. Catches worker & pulls it out. Goes off to side to feed. Turns carcass about in feeding. Takes carcass to hole & shakes it but termite workers won't take it; maybe because fecal droplets have been deposited on it by other workers. A soldier is much interested. (La Selva Costa Rica)
Assassins of La Selva, #2-1200 Reel 3
Scope and Contents note
Bug baits. Pulls out W. Carries it away.
Assassins of La Selva, #3-1200, Reel 1
May 1986
Scope and Contents note
Soldier outpouring. 1 uncoop. bug in last few frames.
Assassins of La Selva, #3-1200, Reel 2
May 1986
Scope and Contents note
Hole repair & uncooperative bugs. Out of focus mostly.
Assassins of La Selva, #3-1200, Reel 3
May 1986
Scope and Contents note
Unsuccessful bugs (uncoop.) S's rushing from new breach. Alates & workers.
Films
5
Assassins of La Selva, #2-1200
May 1986
Assassins of La Selva, 400 Reel 3
May 1986
Assassins of La Selva, 400 Reel 3
May 1986
Assassins of La Selva, 400 Reel 2
May 1986
Assassins of La Selva, 400 Reel 4
May 1986
W1. STRI, Panama City bldgs, Flag, oropendalla nests. 1st instar bug avidly chasing S. Feeds. Good sequenceof nest repair: S, SW, LW. Panama city. Bridge of the Americas. 1st instar Salyavata nymph captures termite soldier. Jumps astride him and inserts beak. Another solider investigages. Bug very still. Soldier wals away. Workers repairing nest. (good sequence) Will Owens, photog.
1985
W2. Adult bug hunts at active hold snatches a W or two. Leans into hole. Leaves S's alone. Rubs fossae together cleans antennaw w/fossae. Good. Salyavata sp. Panama, Photog. Will Owens. Adult bug trying to catch his dinner at hole in a termite nest. Rubs tarsi together (has pads like velcro with which he seizes termite)
1985
W3. S's running over nest surface after initial surface breach. Mostly of blue-lined Petri dish w/1st instar bug (one caught and ate S) and a large no. of termites.
W4. Bug eggs on a stick. Adult bug catchings W's at hole (Waits for vulnerable W; avoids S's) 1st instar bug feeding on W. (its size) Beak visible.
W5. Many mangoes on a tree at Gamboa golf course. Good long sequence of breach repair in termite nest surface. Anal daubing, use of mandibles. LW's and SWs. S's guarding.
W6. Dead alates, W's and S's in Petri dish. Yang Ming ship in canal. Lagoons of Gatun Lake Beetle (huge Dynastid) Bird at hanging nest. EMcM at nest. Nests in situ. EMcM at Gamboa Apt nest.
W7. Juveniles and adult bugs by nest holes. No success in hungting. Barro Colorado visit. View on approach. Leaf cutter ants good.
W8. Barro Colorado: Canopy, monkeys. Boa (good). Adult bug hunts at active hole. Feeding sequence on W is good.
W9. Adult feeding. Chagras in the misty morning (Janana) Nest by boat house. Adult bugs 2 by hole. (One is shot by S, I think)
W10. Adult bug. In situ N. Corniger nests. Azteca ant nests. Gamboa Apts on Ridge Row. Dead LW, SW, S in Petri dish. Bugs insterested in nest breach, Little action. Juvenile bug feeding sequence. Termite types active.
W11. Adult bug snatching and feeding sequence. Uncoop. juvenile bug. Long uninteresting hole repair sequence.
Manuscripts
0.5 Linear feet
1990-2005, undated
1 archival box
Scope and Contents note
This series contains illustrated, self-published manuscripts that Elizabeth McMahan wrote for her nieces and nephews. One is a children's book and the other four are autobiographical writings.
McMahan, Elizabeth A., "Mr. Piccalilly's Fantastic Machine"
4
1
McMahan, Elizabeth A., "Heart and Nerve and Sinew or Aunt Betty's Around-the-World Adventures"
4
2
1990
McMahan, Elizabeth A., "Warming Both Hands Before the Fires of Life," Vol. I
4
3
2005
McMahan, Elizabeth A., "Warming Both Hands Before the Fires of Life," Vol. II
4
4
2005
McMahan, Elizabeth A., "Warming Both Hands Before the Fires of Life," Vol. III
4
5
2005
Sociobiology Journal, vol. 56, no. 1, 2010 edition to include chapter on Elizabeth Anne McMahan written by Christine A. Nalepa
4
6
2010