This page contains links to the printed materials I have developed for the Biosphere II and other organizations. It is my intention to archive these materials so that they will remain accessible to the pubic as long as people are interested in them. Click on a link below to view the file. You will need a PDF reader to view them.  I use Adobe Reader.

Beginner’s Guide to Porch Light Insects

A guide to the insects you might find at a porch light (or apartment building light or streetlight or…) at night!  This is a simple guide that will help you narrow down the things you see to an insect order.  It’s meant to be a jumping off point for a deeper exploration of porch light insects!

I also have a companion worksheet that will help guide children through porch light insect observations with the help of the Beginner’s Guide.

Dragonfly Identification Guide

This guide focuses on the dragonflies and damselflies that are commonly found near small bodies of still water (i.e. ponds) in the Sonoran Desert region. It is a basic guide and meant to be an introduction to the species that are found in abundance rather than a comprehensive list. It will not be as useful to people outside of the Sonoran Desert region.  The guide was created for the Biosphere 2 as part of an educational display focusing on aquatic insects of the Sonoran Desert.

Aquatic Insect ID Guide

This guide focuses on the aquatic insects typically found in ponds in the Sonoran Desert region of Arizona. It does, however, contain basic information about several common pond insect species that may be of use to people from other regions. Guide created for the Biosphere 2 as part of an educational display focusing on aquatic insects of the Sonoran Desert.

Insect Collection Tutorials

Part of my Collecting Insects series!  Click on a tutorial listed below, then click on the file name on the next page to view, save, or print the PDF version of the tutorial.

— How to Make an Insect Kill Jar
— A Simple Net for Collecting Aquatic Insects
— Preserving Insects in Hand Sanitizer
— Scanning Dragonflies
— Making a Kick Net by Hand

Other Tutorials

— Bee House No. 2  A simple, elegant house to attract native bees in your yard!
— Beaded Dragonflies For my crafty readers out there, I’ve created instructions for a simple beaded dragonfly.  WARNING: The instructions are handwritten/drawn, so this is not a fancy pattern.  :)

Photography information

— Cell Phone Photography 101  I take a lot of photos with my iPhone and have learned a lot about what cell phone cameras are capable of in the process.  I’ve gathered some tips to help others make the most of their phone’s capabilities!  This is a handout for a class I teach periodically at the museum where I work.

INSECT INVESTIGATIONS