A geometrid (inchworm) moth perches on the black light that attracted it to the site.


Field Trip Report: Night Bugs! event
Fox Ridge State Park
  July 25, 2009

The storm the previous night left us with great weather for our Night Bugs! event this year.  We had a good turnout and all those who came were treated with some really interesting visitors.  Highlights included two species of burying beetle, an impressive stag beetle, and many beautiful moths.  Many thanks to Terry Harrison for the lights and expertise in identifying our captures and Sarah Gillespie and Fox Ridge for organizing, advertising, and helping it run so smoothly.
*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



Horse fly


Multicolored Asian ladybird beetle
Multicolored Asian ladybird beetles are the introduced beetles that annoy everyone by overwintering in houses.  Even though the multicolored Asian ladybird beetle is highly variable - having zero to many spots and ranging in color from orange to red - you can tell the difference between this species and the native species by looking at the white "shield" right behind the head.  The multicolored Asian ladybird beetles have a black "M" on that shield which the native species lack.

Red-lined carrion beetle
Necrodes surinamensis

  Ground beetle

Stag beetle
These impressive insects can inflict a pretty good pinch if you're not careful!  The males use their enlarged mandibles when battling for females.
  Tree cricket

Geometrid moth
Geometrid moth

Faint-spotted palthis
Palthis asopialis
The combination of the plumes on its forelegs, folded wings, and raised abdomen give this moth an interesting profile.  The larva of this moth can feed on plants in a wide variety of families, from Fabaceae (beans) to Caprifoliaceae (coralberry) to Fagaceae (oak) to Asteraceae (Spanish needles).
Caloptilia blandella
This moth was about the size of a grain of rice, and it holds this interesting stance by using its forelegs.  Its larva feeds on black walnut, initially as a leaf-miner and then as a leaf-folder.

Rosy maple moth
Painted lichen moth

Plume moth
Gray scoopwing
Its larva feeds on plants in the honeysuckle family.  There is a lot of Viburnum dentatum around the White Pines pavilion, which was possibly the larval host for this moth.

Hickory tussock moth
Common Gluphisia
Gluphisia septentrionis
The larva of this noctuid moth feeds on willow and cottonwood.


A moth is back lit by the black light on the other side of the sheet.


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