​Is there a fee to join?

There is no fee to join the survey and everyone involved is a volunteer.​​

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Do you accept beginners?

​Absolutely! All you need is a love of nature and a sense of adventure (think: treasure hunt). We will teach you what you need to know. Of course, we also welcome those with a naturalist background.

 

How many species of caterpillars have you found so far?

The list is constantly expanding. To see the current total, go to the home page and scroll down to the species counter.

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​​​​Besides caterpillars, do you find anything else?

Oh yes, lots of other things, including snails, slugs, millipedes, spiders, beetles, true bugs, cicadas, praying mantises, fungi, lichens, mosses, and various parts of plants (leaves, flowers, fruits, etc.).

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Do I need any specialized equipment?

Ultraviolet (UV) flashlights are provided for use. We will also loan you a pair of UV safety glasses for your first two sessions. After that, you need to purchase your own. You can get a pair for $10-20. (Those who wear prescription eyeglasses already have UV protection, so don't require safety glasses).​​​

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Why do the sessions take place at night?​​​​​​

The fluorescent light produced when UV light is shined on caterpillars is weak and can only be seen when it's dark, so sessions need to take place after sunset. The good news is that once August rolls around, sunset times start getting earlier, allowing us to start and end the sessions earlier.

 

Is the park safe after dark?

We have held over 160 sessions so far and never had any problems.​​​​​