Nature and Gardening: In Pursuit of Bugs

It was a perfect summer day when Entomologist and County Extension Agent Dan Nortman led master naturalists on an insect survey in Powhatan. Finding the most insects, and the most diverse insects, requires two things -- sunlight and native plants, Nortman explained. Participants learned several methods for collecting insects. Gently beating a low oak branch over a white sheet produced several specimens for the group to examine. Insects captured were temporarily placed in plastic containers for a closer examination after the walk.

Participants used sweep nets to collect insects from a sunny meadow. This effort produced mayflies, ladybugs, bee mimics, leaf beetles, a few native bees, katydids, a bronze borer, soldier beetles and immature praying mantids. Nortman uncovered a small froghopper nymph beneath its frothy spittlebug juice.

Along one trail Nortman pointed out traces of leaf miner insects. A larval insect crawls between the top and bottom layers of a leaf. As the insect grows the trail on the leaf grows bigger. It pupates inside the leaf and exits as a mature insect. The plant may appear unsightly, but the insect doesn’t cause any harm. Leaf miners may be moths, sawflies, flies or wasps.

We stopped at a creek and several members of the group collected macro invertebrates from the water. Besides stirring up a few salamanders and crayfish, we were able to capture and examine stonefly and dragonfly larvae.

Other interesting specimens were collected during the day. One daring participant captured a wolf spider carrying dozens of its young on its back. Tiger beetles were spotted but evaded capture. Rotted logs provided another source of insects for collection. All of the captured insects were released after examination.

For those who interested in insect identification, Nortman recommended Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America.