I’m back on San Juan Island for round 2! The past week has been spent preparing for my return (yesterday) or preparing for our engagement photos (midweek).

After traveling up, my coworker got me reoriented and we went to a few field sites. We saw a skipper (similar to a butterfly, a group of Lepidopterans that are an intermediate between butterflies and moths.) In addition, a very big tiger beetle and an OTTER. Also some Island marble butterflies, the butterfly in question, of course!

The PNW has less biodiversity density than other places I’ve lived, but it still has a lot to offer and I was reminded of this yesterday.

It’s been my experience that once you start looking, you’ll start finding. Speaking of cryptids - once you start believing and looking for Bigfoot, there he is. In my case, when I first started getting really interested in bugs, I started seeing them everywhere: Slugs mating in Forest Park. Skippers and Buckeyes behind the Insectarium at Saint Louis Zoo. A giant walkingstick camping near De Soto. Knowledge and excitement threw me into a magical world of a vast group of animals. And once people know you’re into bugs in particular, they will send you photos (amazing) and they will deliver to you dead bugs (double amazing). Both of these things happened to me this past week, actually. And it was delightful.

I’d love to know about something that you started looking for and it opened up the world to you. Reply to this email and I’ll get it!