Insect Extravaganza!

Junior Conservationists & Young Naturalists

August 12th —Insect Extravaganza!

Fairbanks Property, Oil Springs

1pm — 3pm

In this outing we have the special opportunity to catch and identify insects at one of the most culturally significant areas in Lambton County, the Fairbanks Oil Property. In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s this area would have been booming with the opportunity to strike black gold…oil. Out of this area came the world’s first commercial oil well, the first refinery, the first petroleum company, the first oil gusher and many others. Oil has been in Lambton County’s blood ever since.  But the wells stopped gushing decades ago and little further development here has occurred. The oil pumping continues but now it’s called “slow oil” and the surrounding native landscape has had the chance to regenerate. Don’t miss out on this mix of nature and history!

In our quest to see how DIVERSE the insects are we will use some DIY insect equipment to survey for as many types of insects as we can. To aid us, we will utilize pitfall traps, sweeping, sucking insects through a tube, beat sheets, and other equipment and techniques. Along the way, we will learn about their amazing abilities! Like catching Pokémon but in real life!

What to bring:

• bring own insect catching equipment (plastic containers, nets) (optional)
• magnifying glass (optional)
• sunblock
• mosquito spray (wash hands after application for the sake of our friendly insects)
• pen/pencil & notepad
• Pokéball (optional)

Where to meet: 

see below