The gang in the Arcola Creek upland

Ayesha and Ryan retrieving the light trap

The Gang at Arcola Creek

10 September 1997: Last night we arrrived in Geneva just in time for a night of rain. Luckily, Amy, Anne and Ryan set up camp and made dinner before the storm rolled in. While eating supper we watched as Ryan's tent rolled past the PopUp. He chased his tent across the field as we scrambled for tent stakes. We finally secured it with the stakes and coolers. Ryan says next time he will use concrete reinforcements.

Ralph and I set out the traps in Arcola Creek. High rainfall has closed off the mouth of the estuary and the water is quite a bit deeper than it has been in previous years. We were chest deep in water where the trap was set and methane bubbled to the surface with every step we took. The surface of the water was thick with duckweed (Lemna minor) and we were surrounded by cattails (Typha spp.) and arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia).

This morning while retrieving the traps we ran into a couple of local people, Mike and Sophie. Ralph and Mike chatted about the project and our virtual field trip on the Internet. Mike was kind enough to introduce us to his neighbor, Carol, who offered the use of her phone for uploading. We gave her a T-shirt for her hospitality.

Mike and Sophie at Arcola Creek

Day 1 - A Pair of Ducks

Day 8 - Ralph and his radio

Our fearless leader

11 September 1997: Well, our time is up. The 1997 Bug Safari is coming to a close. Over the past 11 days we set 57 traps in Lake Erie coastal wetlands, inland bogs and replacement wetlands. It is now time to take our bugs and go home. The next several months will be spent counting and sorting the bugs we have collected, analyzing our data and presenting our findings at national scientific meetings.

Here is a collection of funny pictures taken over the course of the trip. We hope everyone has enjoyed this virtual safari and returns next year for the 1998 Bug Catching Adventure. Thanks to everyone including Rod and Linda Gray of Unity, NH for the use of their phone card for uploads, Mrs. Alter for the delicious baked goods, Ralph and Judy Garono for their showers, Carol of Geneva, OH for the phone line, the staff at Old Woman Creek, Mary Ann Silagy of Columbus, OH for setting traps at OSU, "Scuba" Joe and Jen for firewood and corn, Annie's Kayaks and all those who have watched and supported us from afar. We would like to send a special thanks all the dedicated individuals who made this trip possible: David Bradsby, Kim Mascarella, Dr. Jackie Adams, Ryan Alter, Robyn Patterson, Valerie Shaeffer, Amy Maher, Anne Arquette and The Koosers.

Day 3 - David and the dishes

Day 4 - Kooser drumming