Bugfinding tips for beginners

When I go on nature walks with people, they often seem impressed by how often I spot small or camouflaged insects. Maybe some of these tips will be helpful for others looking to go bugwatching... bugging? I don't know if this activity has a real name lol. Advice is based on my experience in the eastern U.S. but I think most of it should be generally applicable.

The easiest place to consistently find bugs is at their food source.
> Flowers: nectarivores including bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, flower flies, flower beetles; and things that feed or parasitize nectarivores including spiders, assassin bugs, etc. This is my favorite place to look, it's super low-effort and there's a great diversity of insects.
> Stems: sap feeders such as leafhoppers, spittlebugs, leaf-footed bugs, various other true bugs, aphids, certain beetles, and their predators and parasites (chalcidoid wasps, ladybugs, etc.). Also katydids, grasshoppers, cicadas like to hang out on plant stems.
> Leaves: leaf beetles, caterpillars, also once you start looking you'll see leafmines everywhere.
> Near water: pretty much anything with aquatic larvae; dragonflies and damselflies are the most common, have the longest season, and are easiest to spot, but also caddisflies, mayflies, Megaloptera (alderflies/fishflies/dobsonflies), lacewings, water striders. And don't forget the mosquitoes </3
> Mushrooms: certain beetles and millipedes for the most part.
> Rotting logs: detritivores including beetles, millipedes, centipedes, wood roaches, LOTS of isopods, also slugs. Do note that if you flip logs or rocks looking for insects you should put them back the same side down, and seriously limit the amount of bark you peel back. A lot of stuff lives under the bark layer so it's a great place to look, but once you peel it off that bit of habitat is destroyed. I usually only take one small piece per log.
> Carrion attracts some pretty specific feeders - carrion beetles and carrion flies. Do your best not to start talking about forensic entomology if you're on a hike with normal people.
> On you and your dog after looking for everything else: ticks <//3
> Literally everywhere you go, there is no escape: muscoid flies and ants

Other misc. good places to look: at lights at night for moths, sides and eaves of buildings for bagworms and social wasp nests, very shallow water for bees and butterflies drinking, large areas of uncovered dirt for digger bees (often on or near trails), literally just in your house - you know the culprits...

When I'm on a walk I basically just keep my eyes peeled, especially when there's a group of plants that look like they might be attractive. Your eye will automatically jump to any movement or anything out-of-place suggesting an insect. Get up close and let your eyes linger a little if you feel like a location is really promising.

Some extra tips for hunting bugs in flowers...
> A lot of the same flower all in one place is best for bees and wasps. Flowering bushes and trees are great; so are fields of wildflowers.
> Right when the flowers open is usually best. For a lot of plants, all the flowers bloom at once and then the nectar's gone. For some plants though, they bloom repeatedly and you'll get a steady stream of pollinators. Firebush (Hamelia patens) is great for this if it's in your area.
> Native plants are usually more attractive to native insects. Showy imported garden flowers are usually duds; the girls go insane for milkweed.
> Check back at attractive plants at various stages of the flowering cycle - you may find sap feeders before the buds open, and seed feeders when it's gone to seed.

And some general tips:
> PLEASE don't pick up a bug if you don't know what it is... most of them won't deal you any permanent damage but some of the innocent-looking ones have nasty bites, irritating hairs, or chemical defenses.
> That being said, most bugs won't get aggressive if you don't touch them or approach their nest. No need to panic if a hornet comes to nectar - just respect their space. They are much less defensive than when defending their nest. I have never been stung - biting flies are a way bigger concern than wasps imo...
> When dealing with skittish bugs: approach slowly and with soft, smooth steps; avoid casting a shadow; and start taking pictures early (blurry photo > no photo because it ran). Dragonflies, spiders, and butterflies are the most nervous in my experience.
> You get the most diversity when the sun is out and it's warm but not scorching. That goes for location too - the plant that's in the sun right now will probably have more pollinators on it. That doesn't mean you can't find cool stuff at night or in the shade though - you can find bugs you wouldn't see in the day, but they might be a little harder to find. When it's raining I haven't had much luck at all though, everything hides.

Have fun and happy hunting!

Posted on 22 de maio de 2023, 02:04 PM by alloyant