Another Pine Barrens photo. This time it is of the Northern Mole Cricket.
A Fierce Looking Cricket
The Northern Mole Cricket flies on warm evenings from summer to autumn. It feed on the roots of plants and can be found in moist areas. They are attracted to lights. They range from South Dakota south to Texas and east to Vermont and south to Florida.
Photographing Small Insects
This shot was taken in a plastic square Chinese take-out container. I learned this technique from an entomologist. It works extremely well. The container has rounded corners and insects can’t try to hide in the cracks. The white color of the container gives a beautiful background. The container is lightweight, cheap (free) and packs easily. We photographed several insects close to where we found them, and released them back in to their habitat.
Insects are the most incredible creatures on Earth. Humans think we are the most fascinating, I think we are wrong.
Another post from my New Jersey Pinelands field trip.
Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus – Luminous Beauty
also
Natural Places of the Philadelphia Area
Migrating Monarch at Cape May Point State Park (New Jersey)
Hawk Migration at Cape May Point State Park (New Jersey)
Visit the New Jersey Pinelands
Hi Donna, Thanks for reading Beautiful Wildlife Garden and posting the link here! I'm in Philadelphia, too. So nice to *meet* another Philly naturalist!