Collecting at Kickapoo State Park (26 Apr. 2014)

With the weather on Saturday being gorgeous, it was high time to go on another collecting trip. This was a small outing (only three of us went exclusively to collect), but it was still a great time. What was really nice was that even in areas where there weren’t many things to collect, the scenery was still beautiful and there were still plenty of inverts running/flying around to make for some good pictures.

Such as this beautiful six-spotted tiger beetle (Cicindela sexguttata)

We came across loads of C. sexguttata as we wandered through the woods. Some of them were very cooperative when it came to taking pictures. Others decided we were too large and scary and would flee whenever we got close. As the day wore on and we moved to a nice, sandy area next to a creek, we found a different tiger beetle species that was much more skittish.

Bronzed tiger beetle pair (Cicindela repanda repanda)

The handful of C. r. repanda were super skittish, flying off before we could get close. It took me about 15 minutes to get the shot above, but it was a lot of fun (even though the family fishing in the creek kept looking at me like I was crazy). This sandy area yielded many more interesting creatures, with gelastocorids (toad bugs), many different carabids (ground beetles) and a ton of frogs.

And we can’t forget this lovely beach wolf spider (Arctos littoralis)

After lunch, we worked our way back into the woods again to resume collecting and break up a few logs to see what treasures they contained. The first big log we cracked into was full of termites at one end, so we shifted down a little and kept breaking. After a bit more breaking, I came across a stag beetle (Family Lucanidae)! I hadn’t come across this species before, so this was a treat! Luckily one of the other collectors had his camera ready and got some good shots.

Ceruchus piceus (Image courtesy of Horace Zeng)

And luckily he was ready for the surprise we found about a foot away after breaking off another piece…

Bald faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata) (Image courtesy of Horace Zeng)

All-in-all, it was a great collecting trip, with several interesting specimens being captured physically or pictorially. The trip was very enjoyable and the weather couldn’t have been better. Hopefully there will be more trips like this to come!

To see more of Horace’s photos, click here.