Bug Nights are suspended

This has been a difficult decision. We know that Bug Night-ers take seriously their work and will be disappointed. We believe that this decision is the best to protect everyone and to be part of a solution and not a serious public health risk. We will be thinking of you and wishing you, your family, […]

Where have you been all of my life? Bug Night #6

There was a recognition. Each of them felt it immediately. Everyone is special to someone but this was a unique situation. The Bug Night-er and the insect looked at each other through their simple and compound eyes, respectively. “I love your creeping welts,” said the Bug Night-er, “and your prolegs are divine.” “I love that […]

Under the microscope: Bug Night #5

The new volunteer seemed different but then again, the Bug Night crowd was by definition “different.” He didn’t even seem to need a stereomicroscope, which was a good thing since all of the Leicas were taken. That’s what happens when Bug Night-ers arrive too late. Still, he seemed to be calm and methodical; perhaps the […]

Spring is in the air, er, mouthparts: Bug Night #4

The female Bug Night-er was in a quandary about her plans for the evening. She was walking toward St. Paul’s School and weighing her options and considered taking off her usual Wednesday night identification duties. It was warm and the evening breeze brought soft and sweet air that was more like April than February. It […]

Keeping a lot of bugs in the air : Bug Night #3

“What’s up with the male White Coat?” asked the Bug Nigh-er, “He doesn’t seem to be himself.” The White Coat did seem to be a bit sweaty and a little stressed when fielding questions. Come to think of it, the Bug Night-ers mused, where was the female White Coat? “Remember?” one of the leadership Bug […]

Why do you need a ‘scope?: Bug Night #2

“It’s as plain as the compound eyes on my face,” said the sartorial insect as he became aggressive and angry, “Why do you need a ‘scope?” It was a good question but the Bug Night-er was getting older. It was more difficult to see and he wanted to be sure to get this identification correctly. […]

Rapture of the Bug: Bug Night #1 (aka opening night)

“You’re beautiful,” he said, “Don’t ever change.” The Bug Night-ers looking on were startled—some of them were repulsed but most understood. It was not so long ago that a particular bug, worm, shelled creature, or arachnid had captured their hearts, and they were changed by it. They were just a bit surprised that it had […]

Is it really over?: Bug Night #11

“I don’t know what I am going to do,” mourned the Bug Night-er with tears in his eyes. He was bereft at the thought of no macroinvertebrates in his future until 2020. The female White Coat tried to bolster his spirits with the promise of field work in the summer but he was inconsolable. The […]

It’s all a charade: Bug Night #10

The Bug Night-er put one arm over her head, as if she was a cat, grooming her face—except she wasn’t a cat. She was trying to emulate her favorite bug for charades. “Limnophilidae!” shouted another Bug Night-er with inappropriate confidence. The charader was deflated. She attempted to emulate a dorsal hump on her second abdominal […]