Spotted Pelidnota (Pelidnota punctata)
A few of these large scarab beetles came in to our lights and were a "crowd pleaser".


Field Trip Report: Night Bugs! at Fox Ridge State Park
  July 19, 2008

Over 60 people participated in our Night Bugs! event this year at Fox Ridge State Park.  We had a warm, muggy evening which made for good night bugging.  Lots of different insects came into our lights, with highlights including some large stag beetles, longhorn beetles, and many beautiful moths.  Looking at these insects under microscopes allowed us to see their interesting characteristics up close and properly appreciate their gorgeousness. 

Thanks to Mike Goodrich and Terry Harrison for helping identify the insects (and for much of the info given in the photo captions below).  Thanks also to the staff at Fox Ridge (especially Fox Ridge summer intern Lydia Bjornbak) for their assistance in making this event a success!
*If anyone wants to provide more complete information or corrections for any of the below items, feel free to contact the club by email*

All photos copyright Paul V. Switzer. Please do not use without permission



Longhorn beetle (Orthoma sp.)
This large beetle (~ 2 inches long) has some very sharp and strong mandibles.  Our resident beetle expert Michael Goodrich found this out first hand when he tried to stop it from escaping from its dish and it drew blood from his thumb!

Click beetle

Brentid beetle (Arrhenodes minutus)

This individual is a female; the males lack the snout and have large mandibles instead.

  False June beetle
(Cyclocephala sp.)

Green stinkbug
  Mayfly

Nemoria sp. (Geometridae)
Eulithis prunata (Geometridae)

Beautiful Wood Nymph
(Eudryas grata; Noctuidae)

Torticidia flexuosa (Limacodidae)

Prolimacodes badia (Tortricidia)
Virginia Creeper Sphinx
Sphinx moths (a.k.a. hawkmoths) are large, impressive, quick-flying moths.  Their larvae are called "hornworms" (e.g. the tomato hornworm caterpillar of the 5-spotted hawkmoth).  A great website on hawkmoths can be found here:  Hawkmoth Website.
The virginia creeper sphinx was the largest moth we caught at our Night Bugs! event.

Acrolophus popeanella
This interesting moth has mouthparts (palps) that extend back over its head like some kind of funky haircut.  Only the males of the species have these long palps.  They are related to the clothes moths but their caterpillars feed on the roots of grasses.
Eulithis diversilineata (Geometridae)

Zeller's Ethmia moth
(Ethmia zelleriella)
Caterpillars of this species feed on leaves of Phacelia and Hydrophyllum (in the waterleaf family, Hydrophyllaceae)
Elegant Crambus moth
(Microcrambus elegans)
Larva is a "sod webworm" feeding on grass roots


A painted lichen moth is really striking when viewed up close.


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