Program to delve into the importance of bugs

For many people, all of those creatures with six or eight legs fall into the general category of bugs. Most of us don’t give these organisms too much thought and when we do consider them at all, it is generally in an unfavorable light. It may come as a surprise that the whole ecosystem is actually dependent upon these small animals. In fact, with over a million species, it is the arthropods that make up the vast majority of the named living things on earth.

Next Wednesday the Lynchburg Bird Club will offer you the opportunity to learn more about some of the representatives of this oft-misunderstood group. Dr. Arthur Evans, who is the former director of the insect zoo at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, will present a program on the insects and spiders of Virginia. The author of more than 20 publications, he is an expert in the identification of scarab beetles.

In spite of our somewhat jaundiced view of the insect world, these organisms are among the most successful animals on earth. They can live in virtually every type of habitat, eat almost anything, and some groups are organized into societies far more complex than ours. For their size, many are much stronger than any human, and some of them have weapons that can send most of us scurrying for cover.

Here around my house, I try to coexist peacefully with most of my six- or eight-legged neighbors. I even fight my dreaded enemy, the Japanese beetle, without the use of insecticides. In fact, much of my efforts in the garden are directed toward attracting insects to the area, and I am specifically interested in the butterflies.

Of course, this means that in some instances the larval form (the caterpillars) munch on my plants. However, I take a philosophical attitude toward this, figuring that the ones who survive will soon grace my garden in their adult form and maybe the ones who don’t make it will be a nice snack for the young bluebirds.

Next Wednesday you will have the opportunity to learn more about a small but ferocious predator, the praying mantis, and the dainty but deadly black widow spider. This will be a unique perspective on those creatures that everybody loves to hate. The Lynchburg Bird Club meets at 7 p.m. in Room 315 of Martin Science Hall on the campus of Randolph College. The public is invited.

News and Notes

The Lynchburg Bird Club annual seed sale will take place this Saturday at Aylors Store in Forest from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Your purchase of seed at this event not only benefits the birds in your yard, but proceeds from the sale are used to help support conservation efforts throughout the state.

Dalmas, a naturalist, writes a weekly column for The News & Advance. Readers may e-mail her at jtdalmas@juno.com.