Insect Collecting Tutorial

A lot of people wonder what that scientist husband of mine is up to. Well, August gave me some chances to work with him and therefore, tell you all about it.

Paul studies caddis flies. They are an aquatic insect (when they are in their larval state they live underwater and build little forts for themselves out of rocks, sticks, etc), they are basically a cooler version of a Hermit Crab at that stage in their life. 

Then when they grow up, they turn into a flying insect, that likes to hang out around the water they grew up in. 

They look at little bit like little brown moths for the most part, but there are lots of different species and they can get to look pretty amazing too - like these spotted white and black ones that Paul (very excitedly) caught in Russia. Usually though, they look like the brown ones that are pinned below that.

Paul also catches other bugs - and I am very excited to have these pretty butterflies hanging in a shadow box in my house someday soon. This is how they are spread and pinned to look very beautiful.

He catches lots of other bugs on his trips - but caddis flies are most important for his research.
You can see the labels below that identify where they were caught and who was there when they were caught. I love ending up on those labels.

You pin the bugs to keep them all organized and nice. It may look like Paul is making me bug earrings, but nope - we will leave that to our favorite Moonrise Kingdom boy.

This is Paul's lab at Rutgers. Simple, but effective.

One night, I invited myself along to come help with some insect collecting. So you get to see the whole process!

Step 1. Put up a rope and try not to get poison ivy even though it is covering every tree in sight.

And enjoy the scenery of course!

Step 2: Hang a sheet over the rope and secure with clothespins

Step 3: Hang black light (connected to car battery) and prop with a stick.

More scenery.

Step 4: Enjoy the greeness of your New Jersey atmosphere while you wait for it to get dark.

Step 5: Party time with the black light!

Step 6: Get to work. The caddisflies have arrived!

Here Paul is aspirating. That little device he has is like a mini vacuum for bugs.

Take a break to skip some rocks.

Step 6: While Paul catches the live bugs for RNA, I use the "kill jar" to get vouchers.

And there you have it! Insect collecting is a fun way to spend time outside in the evenings. You are all invited next time.


In other Frandsen news, Paul installed pink bar tape on my cyclocross bike as another incentive to race this Fall.

Also, my blacky toenail finally fell off. I know you have been dying to see this.

We went to a birthday party with a bunch of couples in our ward and had Finnish desserts for the Finnish birthday girl, who then played violin for us because she just happens to be a professional.
 She literally played any song we could think of.

Then we went insect collecting again! Another new and beautiful New Jersey location.

I forgot to mention the headlamps in my tutorial above.

Oh yes, and turning up your collar and buttoning up all way, as well as tucking in the bottom of your shirt to avoid the annoying insects from getting up in your shirt.

Then we go to WaWa or 7-Eleven for post collecting treats.