6/29/2010
BARBOURSVILLE, W.Va. – Naturalists at West Virginia’s state parks make summer vacations and visits more interesting. It’s as simple as attending a walk or one of the many programming activities offered across the state. Beech Fork State Park Summer Naturalist Sarah Miloski is doing things a bit differently because, while leading guests in exploring the outdoors in the guise of summer fun, she is also incorporating Cornell University Entomology Department’s “Lost Ladybug Project” into her interpretative programming.
The activity involves the use of sweep nets to catch ladybugs. Miloski, who has a Master of Science degree from Marshall University, explains that the bugs are identified and “then they’re ready for their close up and we send the pictures to the researchers at Cornell.”
Miloski says the Ladybug program is being well received by campers and cabin guests at Beech Fork. “So far, so good! One little boy on the hunt was really, really excited! He wanted me to send him the photo of the one that he found!”
Research is as important as the play aspects of the interpretive program, according to Miloski. “Ladybugs are disappearing nationwide, which is a concern due to the vital role these insects play in an ecosystem. These round-shaped, brightly colored insects keep pest insect populations in check by feasting on plant-eating aphids, also known as plant lice, and scale insects. The consumption of these pests by ladybugs is beneficial to farm plants and orchard trees. With fewer species of ladybugs to eat these pests, ecosystems are prone to exponentially increasing pest insect populations, which negatively affects plant life.”
Such evident ladybug disappearances inspired the development of Cornell University Entomology Department’s “Lost Ladybug Project.” This project encourages people of all ages to go outside and find ladybugs” Miloski said. “Once found, a ladybug is photographed by its collector and the photograph, along with collection location, environmental and survey data, are submitted via Internet. Participation from across the nation allows Cornell’s researchers to attain distribution data on all ladybug species in North America and get an idea of the current status of those species.”
Beech Fork State Park is participating in this project as a summer activity program because of its scientific importance. “We enthusiastically search for ladybugs, photograph them, return them to the original point of collection, and share the photographs with Cornell’s researchers to contribute to the ongoing effort of finding out where the ladybugs have gone,” said Miloski. “How cool is that to be able to go out looking for bugs and insects and become part of a scientific research project? Sending that child the picture of his ladybug is a gentle reminder of how important it is to share nature with children and their parents.”
About Sarah Miloski
Naturalist Sarah Miloski is originally from Long Island, New York. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Biology from the State University of New York College at Brockport in 2008 and came to West Virginia to attend Marshall University because of the school’s highly regarded graduate program in herpetology. Miloski completed a Master of Science in Biological Sciences in May 2010.
More information about the project and participation is available at www.lostladybug.org. For information about Beech Fork State Park facilities and activities, visit www.beechforksp.com, and click “Events,” or call 304-528-5794 .
Contact Information
Sarah Miloski
304-528-5794
beechfork@wvdnr.gov