Biology of Insects Camping Trip

C. J. Marshall took his Z-365 class for a 2 day camping trip to the Lost Forest of Central Oregon. Located in the center of the Great Sandy Dessert - the lost forest is an abberant stand of Ponderosa Pine that, unlike its Cascadian neighbors 30 miles to the west, has found a way to survive in this far more arid region.

 

The trip experienced PERFECT weather for bug hunting: with sunny days in the 90's. Students helped pack up the vans on Friday afternoon and hit the road around 2pm - arriving at the Lost Forest 6 hours later; just in time to set up camp and crank up the generator for some mercury vapor light action. Although the season was just beginning, students found plenty of moths, beetles and other insects drawn into the collecting sheet.

The next morning, thanks to fearless cooks and camping experts: Lona Thompson and Lisa Wagner, everyone awoke to a phenomenal breakfast - camp style, repleat with eggs, bacon, sausage, hashbrowns and a lot of coffee!

 

 

 

Insects weren't the only creature seen on the trip. On the last day, while waiting for help to arrive to help inflate a few flat tires (see road pic below), students got a chance to see one of our more charismatic herps: Phrynosoma douglasi). Fortunately ALL the students avoided bumping into rattlesnakes!

 

 

 

Here's a random shot of the road - as you can see, they weren't so great. Fortunately OSU motorpool had outfitted both of our vans with brand new tires!!! - thanks Motorpool!