Insects demand fair treatment

The grasshopper pictured here, who asked not to be identified, was found waiting at your editor’s front door early last Friday evening, and he had a few complaints.

It seems that a great many local insects are upset over the amount of media coverage given here exclusively to moths, and the other bugs feel they are not getting their fair share of the public’s attention nor a fair respect for their own contributions to the ecology. Many, they say, are treated as no more than so-called “pests,” and they are sick of it.

Your editor thought nothing of it at the time, assuming it was only the sort of sour grapes we hear occasionally from fans of one or another local high school team when they feel the newspaper has given more attention to other teams than to their own.

However, today we realize that the insects have apparently taken their complaint to federal authorities and have managed to obtain some action on the matter.

Just this afternoon, Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge Manager Stuart Marcus, who has himself driven much of the local moth-related media coverage, issued the following press release:

Insect Photography Night at Trinity River Refuge

Trinity River Refuge will host a night of photographing moths and other insects attracted to black lights. The event will start at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5, at the Refuge headquarters. Anyone who has an interest in viewing or photographing insects (including an occasional mosquito) is welcome to attend. Flashlights might be handy.

Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters is at 601 FM 1011 Liberty. It is directly across the street from the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center. Call the Refuge office at 936-336-9786 for more information. 

The quick and decisive response to the insects’ complaint might have been expected. It should come as no surprise what “an occasional mosquito” can motivate a person to do.