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InsectNet.com Forum
IvanTortuga
Member since Jun-2-08
137 posts |
Nov-08-08, 05:48 PM (PST) |
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"Going out west and need Help"
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Hey everyone, I'll be going out west this up coming summer and need some hints/advice. I live in Michigan and will be going south into northern Mississippi west into southern California then back north into the upper peninsula of Michigan. I have three subjects I'd like to know about. 1) What are the best kind of traps for out west? I'd like to stick away from LARGE tarp like light traps. Seeing as I don't know where I'd do it anyways. But besides that I'm up for anything. 2) How common are scorpions/tarantulas/tarantula hawks? Are there any other awesome finds?? I collect all families. 3) If I were to catch larger things such as the tarantula/scorpion/blister beetle how would I preserve it? Alcohol? I've never done any large collecting trips, any other hints you would give? ~ Cody Hough "...nothing to help you but your hands
and your own head..." - Primo Levi |
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evra
Member since Jul-31-06
154 posts |
Nov-10-08, 00:13 AM (PST) |
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3. "RE: Going out west and need Help"
In response to message #2
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I would think June would be better. It can still regularly snow in the higher elevation areas of Colorado and New Mexico in May. June is really the first month with predictably warmer weather, so many insects don't emerge until June. There's some good saturniid collecting in Colorado and New Mexico in June if you do bring a large light trap. But if you don't want to drag all of that around, you should definitely at least bring a low powered, hand held uv light to look for scorpions. All species are nocturnal and fluoresce bright green under uv light, so that's how most people find them. They also hide out under rocks in the day, so you can try flipping rocks over as well. I would think any of the sagebrush habitat in northern Arizona would be ok for scorpions. The lower deserts of central and southern Arizona would almost certainly be better for them though. Tarantula hawks are pretty common from late May to November in central Arizona. They seem to be more common in stream beds, especially those with flowing water. They like nectar, so I would check blooming mesquite and seep willow at that time of the year. I see Megetra most commonly around the four corners area. I'll admit that I don't go up there much, but they aren't rare in my experience, and stick out like a sore thumb on the sagebrush and grasses. You do have to preserve them in alcohol though, or their abdomens shrivel up like raisins. I can't give you much advice when it comes to tarantulas, other than they are nocturnal and shy away from lights. It's quite rare to see one wandering around in the day. Maybe you could get some with pitfall traps, I'm not really sure. |
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Bandrow
Charter Member
384 posts |
Nov-10-08, 06:22 AM (PST) |
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4. "RE: Going out west and need Help"
In response to message #3
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Greetings, If you intend to collect the "big" stuff in the Southwest, you are better to hit the area from early July to mid-August and hope for rain. Most of the spectacular stuff comes out after the onset of the summer monsoon rains, which can vary from year to year, but usually hit by mid-July. For a first time trip into southern Arizona I would suggest from 15 July through 10 August as a predictable window. At this time everything is out - beetles, leps, wasps, arachnids - the works! At that time you should have decent collecting in most of the other areas you mention as well, although the northern areas might be drying out by then. I would guess that the Dakotas would be good a bit earlier, but that is a guess. The Roswell area could be really good from May on into summer, and again in the fall - I was just there in October as well and got some nice stuff out at Mescalero Sands and Bottomless Lake State Park (need permits). I've collected the Roswell area in mid-July as well and got great things. I just collected a short series of Megetra on the 3rd of October near Salt Flat, Texas, south of Dell City. Can't miss them - they look like little eggplants hanging on the saltbush. Cheers!
Bandrow
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Bandrow
Charter Member
384 posts |
Nov-11-08, 10:01 AM (PST) |
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10. "RE: Going out west and need Help"
In response to message #9
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LAST EDITED ON Nov-11-08 AT 10:02 AM (PST)
Greetings,If you are restricted in the time frame, but not in itinerary - consider hitting western Texas in the latter part of June and early July. From the Hill Country west of San Antonio all the way out to the Davis Mountains are really good at that time. You can get Pepsis and Chrysina woodi in the Davis's at that time, as well as a lot of other things. Down into the Big Bend region is good as well, especially if they've had rain. Just a thought (probably to confuse you further  )... Cheers!
Bandrow |
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