Insect kingdom out in full force in summer

Summer can be a fascinating season for anyone who enjoys insects. Their numbers peak during warm weather, and they're easy to find and capture. What kid hasn't caught a handful of fireflies at dusk and made a living lantern in a mayonnaise jar?
Here's a brief review of some of the common insects likely to be encountered over the next eight weeks.
My favorite insects, and among the most confusing to many beginning insect watchers, are hummingbird moths. Though several species may be seen locally, all mimic hummingbirds. They hover at flowers and sip nectar through an unfurled proboscis. All are about half the size of hummingbirds, and two prominent antennae arise on the head. Don't be fooled, but do enjoy these amazing little insects, which can be quite common in flower gardens.
Fireflies or lightning bugs evoke fond memories for anyone raised in the country. At dusk they emerge and light the backyard with their Morse code-like flashes of bioluminescence. The darker the night, the more impressive the show.
Fireflies flash to attract mates. Each species has a unique flash pattern. At dusk, males take flight and begin flashing. When a female of the same species recognizes the appropriate pattern, she flashes back in recognition. Ultimately the male finds the female, and the pair mates.
Easy to test
This communication system is easy to test. Study the flash patterns of the fireflies in your backyard. Mimic the female's pattern (the one in the grass) with a flashlight and see if a male approaches in search of a receptive female.
And by the way, these most familiar insects are neither flies nor bugs; they are actually classified as beetles.
By day, dragonflies and damselflies (members of the order Odonata) patrol the edges of ponds, lakes, marshes, swamps and streams. They are relative large and territorial, so they are easy to observe, especially with binoculars. Many are brightly colored or conspicuously marked. Often they approach and land on boats that enter their territories.
The basic body plan for odonates includes a large head dominated by huge compound eyes, transparent wings and an elongated abdomen. Dragonflies have larger, heavier bodies and, at rest, hold their wings flat and perpendicular to the body. Damselflies are slimmer and more delicate and, at rest, fold their wings together above the body.
Odonates eat other flying insects, including gnats, flies, and mosquitoes and are completely harmless to people. They do not bite or sting.
Unfortunately, some of the summer insects we encounter instill more fear than fascination. Crane flies are near the top of that list. If you've ever encountered what appears to be a mosquito on steroids under a porch light or even above the kitchen sink, you've seen a crane fly. The body can be an inch long, and their long transparent wings are criss-crossed with a network of veins. Crane flies are harmless; they do not bite or sting. Adults of many species do not even eat, and those that do drink nectar.
Image problem
I'll close with another insect that has a real image problem. About a week ago, as I checked my nest boxes, I opened several and found them filled with earwigs. The boxes were unoccupied by birds, but the earwigs found it an ideal home.
Earwigs are peculiar and primitive insects. Thanks to a pair of nasty-looking pincers on the tip of the abdomen, they're easy to recognize. But this structure is not a stinger. It can pinch, but is harmless to people.
Earwigs are scavengers and eat just about any organic matter. They are active at night and spend the daylight hours in dark, damp places. With the recent rains we've had, my nest boxes qualify as an ideal daytime shelter. I've also occasionally found them in our unfinished basement.
Indoors, earwigs can easily be swept up with a vacuum cleaner. Outdoors, remove mulch next to buildings to allow the soil to dry. In gardens, layer pages of newspapers between the rows of flowers and vegetables. Earwigs will gather between the pages during the day. Before dark, just gather and discard the newspapers.
For better or worse, summer belongs to the insects.
Send questions and comments to Dr. Scott Shalaway, RD 5, Cameron, W.Va. 26033 or via e-mail to sshalaway@aol.com