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Hart Prairie Preserve Bug Night

At nighttime, four people stand in front of a brightly lit sheet surrounded by tall trees.
Bug Night High school students explore the bugs found at Davis Mountain Preserve with a black light. © Ian Shive
Event Overview

Join us for a special educational event on Wednesday, July 16th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Hart Prairie Preserve. Dr. Gary Alpert and Zane Holditch, entomologists from Northern Arizona University, will first discuss the work they've been doing at the preserve and then will lead a live trapping using blacklights and nets. 

Event participants will conduct catch-and-release field collections to study and photograph the insects with high-definition equipment. The event is free and open to the public, but space is limited.

About Dr. Gary Alpert: Dr. Alpert is an environmental biologist and Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology Associate specializing in ants. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard in 1981 and has been conducting field studies on the ants of New England since 1990. He is now in the entomology department at Northern Arizona University.

About Zane Holditch: Zane has a Master's degree in Entomology and is currently a research assistant at Northern Arizona University, working closely with Dr. Alpert. He has done significant collection work at Hart Prairie Preserve.

During monsoon season, in late July through August, be prepared for rain and bring the necessary equipment for inclement weather. When navigating, follow the Google Maps directions to "Hart Prairie Preserve" (there is no street address) and look for the front gate with a TNC logo on it.

For more information, email Anthony at anthony.chesney@tnc.org.

Things to consider during your visit

In consideration of our sensitive wildlife habitats, we ask all visitors and guests to observe the following regulations:

  • All visitors must remain on established trails. Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the property.
  • Dogs, horses and other domestic animals are not permitted, except service animals.
  • Firearms, radios, tape players or electronic calling devices, bicycles, motorized vehicles, drones or other unmanned aerial vehicles and alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
  • No hunting, fishing, picnicking, camping or creating a fire.
  • Do not feed or disturb wildlife or damage or remove any plants, animals, wood, minerals or artifacts; collecting of any kind is prohibited.

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