Night Bugs! - Fox Ridge State Park

The rain ended in time to squeeze in a Night Bugs! event at Fox Ridge, and the cooler temperatures were a welcome relief. The bugs didn’t seem to be too bothered by the change in weather - we were able to capture and take close looks at a large number of really cool creatures. Highlights included a stag beetle, a hog sphinx, and a carrion beetle covered with mites.

Thanks to Fox Ridge State Park and Summer Intern Fabian Sienkowski for help with the arrangements and the advertising.  Thanks also to Dr. Terry Harrison (University of Illinois) for setting up the lights and Dr. Harrison and Dr. Michael Goodrich (Eastern Illinois University) for helping to identify the night bugs we found.

To see detailed captions on the photos, click on any photo and scroll through them. To see a slide show with partial captions (i.e. some may be clipped), click on the slideshow button, which will open up a new window.  If you have comments or corrections on any of the identifications, please send us an e-mail.

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