This past Saturday was the 18th annual Day of Insects at Reiman Gardens in Ames, an event where dozens of insect enthusiasts gather to appreciate these amazing arthropods and hear from both experts and amateurs about what they've been working. It's a magnificent way to leave winter behind and anticipate a bug-filled spring and summer!
This year's sessions included such varied topics as butterfly diversity in Manu, Peru; veterinary medicine for tarantulas; insectariums and conservation; and Iowa's decapods. Decapods? Decapods! Not insects but crustaceans, decapods include lobsters, crabs, and crayfish (it is the latter which are found in Iowa, with eight species...as well as a shrimp!).
Another session on fireflies noted a species called Photuris asacoa, documented only in a single northeast Iowa location. Its common name is Leopold's firefly, after Aldo Leopold, and the species name asacoa is derived from Leopold's magnum opus A Sand County Almanac.
It's a tantalizing smorgasbord for those who love, or simply appreciate, our six(+)-legged neighbors, presented by folks whose enthusiasm for their subject is a refreshing reminder of what a little curiosity and wonder about the world can spark.
Visitors to Reiman Gardens can also visit the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing, stocked with hundreds of colorful live butterflies; watch butterflies emerge from pupae, and observe critters on display like this fantastic Giant Leaf Insect:
Though it's wondrous seeing fantastic and exotic insects from far-off places and warmer climes, it has made me all the more impatient for our local six-legged friends to emerge from their wherever they overwintered, be it as eggs underground, pupae in leaf litter, or adults returning from Mexico. Soon! Seeing a fancy captive butterfly from distant lands is neat, but can't compare to the excitement of finding an American Snout perched on my bicycle after a visit to the Greenway.
Added bonus: there's a podcast too! The Six-Legged Narrative. It's short, and packed with news about insects. Best of all? It's six days a week! Be sure to tune in:
And another amazing resource, peopled with many of the same presenters and attendees found at Day of Insects, is the Iowa Native Plant and Insect discussion group. You can ask questions, or just read the submissions from others and learn a lot about the natural goings-on in our state.
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