Biodiversity Institute Sponsors UW Bug Day Sept. 26

The former Aquatic Bug Day will emerge from the water and also include a look at terrestrial bug species this year.

Wigglers and swimmers will share the stage with creepers, crawlers and fliers during the renamed UW Bug Day from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Sept. 26, at LaPrele Park in Laramie. The University of Wyoming's Biodiversity Institute sponsors the event.

UW Bug Day is a free, family-friendly event created by Audrey Lindsteadt, a UW third-year Ph.D. student in the Program in Ecology and Evolution in the lab of Lusha Tronstad, lead invertebrate zoologist with UW's Wyoming Natural Diversity Database (WYNDD). The event was created due to a Biodiversity Institute research enhancement grant. There is no limit on attendance.

"This year, we also will be looking for terrestrial insects," Lindsteadt says. "Hopefully we can find the adult versions of the aquatic babies we find in Spring Creek. But, if not, my co-workers are sure to find some cool pollinators, too."

"UW Bug Day will be a little different this year. We are going to do aquatic and terrestrial insects," Tronstad concurs.

True flies, mayflies, caddisflies, snails and true bugs are aquatic invertebrates that live in Spring Creek and are all food for fish, Tronstad says. Additionally, a lot of different terrestrial insects -- including bees, butterflies, beetles and true flies -- live in LaPrele Park.

Nina Crawford, a third-year Ph.D. student from Glen Ellyn, Ill., in the Program in Ecology and Evolution, will lead the search for terrestrial insects.

"I am contributing a bee and butterfly display with a microscope that will allow the kiddos to look at important pollinators up close," Crawford says. "We also will be handing out 'junior entomologist' booklets that I created with the help of Michelle Weschler and Tresize Tronstad. These booklets have fun puzzles that allow kids to learn about insect diversity, physiology and ecology. Upon completion of the booklet, participants will receive a fun 'I became a junior entomologist at Bug Day' sticker."

Kids are advised to wear clothes and shoes -- preferably rain boots -- that can get wet. All other gear, including various types of nets, Surber samplers, sieves, white trays, ice cube trays, hand magnifying glasses, forceps and pipettes, will be provided, Lindsteadt says.

"Don't be afraid of bugs, and don't be afraid to get muddy," says Lindsteadt, who is from St. Joseph, Mo., but now lives in Laramie. "But, more seriously, I wanted to teach our community about the vastly underrepresented group of aquatic insects. Many people love dragonflies, but they may not know that most of a dragonfly's life is spent under water, and they look very different from their adult form.

"I also wanted to teach kids how easy it is to find these critters. We use fancy survey equipment on Bug Day, but I make sure the kids know they can find the same things by simply picking up a rock in the stream," Lindsteadt continues. "This is why I wanted to have Bug Day in a relatively residential area in town. Bug Day is disguised as a fun summer day spent splashing around in a stream, but it ultimately teaches everyone -- not just kids -- to appreciate the diverse wildlife that lives in their own backyard."

"Insects are often feared in our society, and we hope to teach children that they are not scary. In fact, insects do some incredible things and support our daily lives as humans," Tronstad adds. "We feel that information can often disarm fear."

For more information, go to the event's Facebook page.

About the University of Wyoming Biodiversity Institute

The UW Biodiversity Institute fosters conservation of biodiversity through scientific discovery, creative dissemination, education and public engagement. In this setting, scientists, citizens, students and educators come together to share a wealth of perspectives on the study and appreciation of biodiversity -- from microbes to poetry and ecosystems to economics. For more information, go to www.wyomingbiodiversity.org.