Bug Guide Gathering 2009 - Northwest by Starlight

I feel sad that I have yet to go to a BugGuide Gathering. They have been too far away, and I can't go alone since I'm too young. And I also don't really have the money either. It looks like so much fun! When is the next location decided? Come to NH and I might be able to go!!!

Lynette and Karl posted that they were done. Is anyone else finished posting their bugs? Can everybody try to get their bugs posted by Sep 15? That would give you a little more than 3 weeks still.

Also, can folks take a peek through the Gathering shots and make some extra efforts to ID stuff. If you haven't browsed our pics yet, do yourself a favor and do so. We got some really nice shots, folks.

....I just had a beetle ID'd today. Apparently it's new to the guide!

I think I'm also done posting bugs from the gathering. I do have a few more people shots to post, though.

Ive posted all of the images that I took while at the gathering.

Thank you so much for all your hard work getting this organized. I had a wonderful time! Finally meeting many of the people I've chatted with for years, being in the woods for three days straight with people that are such kindred spirits, having every meal prepared by someone other than myself, and getting some great tips on photography make it about the best mini-vacation ever. Even Linda said that Pack Forest was a kid's paradise. She's already planning our next trip.

(I'm WAY behind on everything at home :) It took me this long just to read the forum pages, and I still have a bunch of stuff to post. I'm sure quite a few other people are in the same boat, and we'll be seeing images for weeks to come.)

So, Eric, you said there wouldn't be much diversity up in them NW forests!! Ha! and Double HA! :)

We hiked the trails by day, and manned the lights at night, and you're going to see all sorts of critters! All joking aside, wish you could have joined us. Actually, wish a whole bunch of folks on the Guide could have joined us. Eric LaGasa said he probably got over 500 species of moths in his traps just on the one night!

Anyway, I just had to stand up a little for the ol' Northwest here!

You know I'm just kidding you. Right, Eric? Ummm...Eric?? Oops. :)

Kevin

I had a wonderful time photographing insects, meeting and talking to other contributors and generally enjoying my time.

Thank you very much Kevin and Lynette for organizing the weekend and being so helpful to everyone!

Thanks Kevin and Lynette and everyone that helped put this event on...It was great. Also thank all that help in one way or another with IDing the specimens. This is such a great effort. It will go a long way in helping my students. And the more I stay on it the better I'll get!

OOps one more thing...got home on Monday...went in backyard and took pictures of 3 different leaf hoppers and one BIG spider....

my website that I am creating for my students is
Mr. Matthews' Backyard Invertebrates

Getting more than I ever thought!

My family and I have had a great time. It's been fun to have kids here this year. They got almost as excited at the bug lights as the adults.

Thanks for Kevin for running this!

John Davis (one of our resident moth experts - the sheer number of Latin names in that man's head is truly scary) by far had the lion's share of quotable wisdom for the weekend, although everyone had some gems at one point or another. Below are a few of John's beauties and one from Joyce Gross.

John: "That can't be a Mayfly, it's July."

Someone else (asking about a moth): "John, do you know what this one is?"
John: "Yep. That's a pretty cool lookin' moth."

Joyce: "Why do I have this beetle in my pocket? Have I taken a picture of it yet?"

Someone else (trying to take a picture of an uncooperative moth): "Stop movin', bug!"
John: "Stomp on it. That'll slow 'im down!"

John (referring to one of the squashed bugs near the sheet where we did a lot of photographing at night): "That one there is in the 'flat-winged moth family'"

First off, if you've never been to a BugGuide gathering, and one comes to within a few states of you (or even further), my advice to you is...GO!! :) You already know from dealing with these folks online that they're the greatest. When you meet them in person, you find out they're even cooler!