This has been a difficult decision. We know that Bug Night-ers take seriously their work and will be disappointed. We believe that this decision is the best to protect everyone and to be part of a solution and not a serious public health risk.
We will be thinking of you and wishing you, your family, and friends good health—and hope to see you soon.
There was a recognition. Each of them felt it immediately. Everyone is special to someone but this was a unique situation. The Bug Night-er and the insect looked at each other through their simple and compound eyes, respectively.
“I love your creeping welts,” said the Bug Night-er, “and your prolegs are divine.”
“I love that you didn’t think that I was an Empididae,” said the divine Athericidae, “So many people don’t take the time to appreciate my strongly segmented body and my lovely, strong colouration.”
“I see all that and more,” purred the Bug Night-er.
“Has anyone ever told you—that although you have only two—your legs are long and athletic?” asked the Athericidae.
“No one has ever taken the time to notice,” said the Bug Night-er with tears welling in his simple eyes. He had found his soul mate.
“What are you doing after Bug Night?” wheedled the Athericidae, “There’s some denatured alcohol left and we can turn the lab lights low…”
Each and
every Bug Night-er has a unique relationship with their invertebrates.
We can’t wait to see you on Wednesday, March 11, 2020 beginning at 6:00
PM sharp.
Please arrive on time. We are now 100% in identification mode and we need all the time that we have each Wednesday.
The new volunteer seemed different but then again, the Bug Night crowd was by definition “different.” He didn’t even seem to need a stereomicroscope, which was a good thing since all of the Leicas were taken. That’s what happens when Bug Night-ers arrive too late. Still, he seemed to be calm and methodical; perhaps the result of careful observation or experience.
“This specimen is not in Macroinvertebrates of the Upper Merrimack,” he said.
The sit-down and stand-up rooms were packed to the gills. The female White Coat answered without even looking up from a quality control/quality assurance check with another Bug Night-er.
“Try the dichotomous key at the back of the book,” she offered.
The new Bug Night-er flipped dutifully to the back of the book. He began at the top of the key.
“Thoracic segment covered dorsally with well-developed plates…” he began. But who could tell with a white shirt and pocket protector obscuring the view of any suspected segments. He used his dissecting needle and forceps to remove the covering.
“Hey!” yelled the bug-eyed specimen, “Stop it—I really liked that shirt!”
“I can’t take your word for it on the thoracic segments,” said the insect, “The White Coats are very proud of their citizen science data and I haven’t even got to the branched gills or humps on the abdomen.”
“This is not what I signed up for when I heard about Bug Nights,” whined the bug-eyed human.
“Turnabout is fair play,” offered the insect.
“I hate that expression,” said the human.
“I empathize,” said the insect.
The insect turned back to the dichotomous key. “Anal prolegs free and well developed…”
Don’t be late. We will see you on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 beginning at 6:00 PM sharp.