

hh, 



Steve Ashe (left) and Bob Timm ready for the day's collecting. 

 Photo by Barbara L. Clauson. 



gressive and vocal displays which are directed toward 

 intruders — us! 



Our studies in the Monteverde area are designed to 

 elucidate the poorly understood and complex rela- 

 tionships between a group of staphylinid beetles thought 

 to be parasitic on cloud forest rodents, their host, and 

 the effect of elevation, forest type, and moisture gra- 

 dients on distribution, abundance, and host rela- 

 tionships. The results, to date, have greatly exceeded 

 our expectations and certainly represent the finest and 

 most complete data set that has ever been collected 

 about these interactions. We are anxiously looking for- 

 ward to analyzing our results upon our return to Chicago. 



In a few days we will return to San Jose to prepare 

 for the last phase of our studies. This will involve travel 

 to the region of the highest mountain in Costa Rica, 

 Cerro de la Muerte, whose peak rises to over 10,000 feet. 

 Here we will study a much more complex association of 

 rodents and their beetle parasites, at elevations which 

 are not available in the Monteverde area. The name 

 Cerro de la Muerte literally means "the mountain of 

 death," and originates from the early days when coffee, 

 the main export crop of Costa Rica, was carried by ox- 

 cart over a nearby mountain pass, during which time 

 many of the people who transported the coffee beans 

 died from cold and exposure. The primary coffee- 

 producing region is the Central Valley around San Jose. 

 To get the crop to the main port along the Pacific coast, 

 Puntarenas, oxcarts were used to haul the beans over the 

 rough roads and rugged mountain passes. We expect 

 cold, wet conditions; but, with our modern equipment, 

 we anticipate no serious problems while working at this 

 elevation. 



This will complete our studies on this expedition to 

 Costa Rica, and, after more than two months of field- 

 work, we look forward to returning to Chicago. We 

 would like to thank you again for your interest and sup- 

 port which has made it possible for us to undertake this 

 exciting and very productive expedition. 



All of us are healthy, in great physical condition 

 from all the fresh air and exercise, and delighted with 

 how well our research is going. 



We send you our best wishes and regards, and look 

 forward to sharing our adventures and experiences with 

 you in more detail when we return to Chicago. 



Sincerely yours, 



Steve Ashe 

 Bob Timm 



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