Dragonflies, moths are among program topics

From dragonflies to moths and bats, there is a program for almost everyone sponsored by the Friends of the Cedarburg Bog in August.

“Dragonflies of the Bog” will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, July 19.

Jamie Schiesel, an ecological education manager at the Mequon Nature Preserve and board member of the Wisconsin Dragonfly Society, will provide a short indoor program followed by a field trip through the bog looking for dragonflies and damselflies.

Those attending will learn about the anatomy and life cycle of these insects and see them up close in the field.

Bug nets will be provided,

Children are welcome but the program will focus on adult education and comprehension in identification.

“Mothing in the Moonlight” will be held from 8:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1.

Naturalist Brooke Gilley will lead a group through the bog using specialized mothing equipment, a “secret recipe” to attract moths and blacklight flashlights for a caterpillar hunt.

Wisconsin Indian ethnobotany will be discussed from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 15.

Lee Olsen, who has been teaching ethnobotany of the Western Great Lakes for more than 30 years, will lead a walk into the bog and its wooded islands. He will show a wide variety of plants used for food, medicine and technology and demonstrate some native plant use skills.

“Bats of Southeastern Wisconsin” will be held from 6:30 top 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29.

Wisconsin is home to eight bat species, half of which hibernate in caves during the winter. Unfortunately, these bats are at risk due to white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that has led to some bat species becoming threatened and endangered.

Helen Holtz of the Waukesha County Land Conservancy and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources bat ambassador, will present a program on the importance of bats and their hibernation habits.

For more information or to register for the programs, visit https://bogfriends.org/event-registration/.