This immersive nighttime experience reveals the hidden world of desert arthropods as they emerge after sunset. Participants will set up a light and white sheet system that attracts a wide variety of nocturnal insects. Wildlife ecologist Kurt Leuschner will then guide participants on a short exploratory walk before returning to the illuminated setup to observe the insects there. Participants will learn how insects adapt to extreme desert conditions and the essential roles they play in the ecosystem.

This class takes place at Black Rock Nature Center.
Anyone may attend! No expertise or experience is required. Youth under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
This class does not include any collection of insects.
Entry to Joshua Tree National Park is not needed for this program.
No meals or equipment are provided.
Participants are responsible for their own transportation; carpooling with other participants is encouraged.

This class is leisurely. It requires less than 2 miles of walking, limited shade, uneven terrain, and little elevation gain. Hiking and walking are not required and can be modified to accommodate participants.

Required Items:

Water (1 - 2 liters per person)
Appropriate attire: Layers are recommended for low nighttime temperatures
Food and snacks
Closed-toe athletic shoes
Headlamp or flashlight (red light preferred)
Field notebook (recommended)
White or light-colored sheet (one per group or family)

Discount Policy: Only one discount may be applied per registration. Discounts cannot be combined. Eligible discounts include Friends & Family, Teacher, Veteran, Active Duty Military (and spouses), Park Lover Member, and Student discounts. The highest applicable single discount will be applied at checkout.

Meet Your Instructor: Kurt Leuschner, M.S., Wildlife Ecology, is a professor of Natural Resources at College of the Desert. Leuschner's specialties include ornithology, entomology, and desert ecology. He has led hundreds of field trips both locally and as far afield as Africa. He teaches natural history courses for the Bureau of Land Management, UCR Extension, Desert Institute, Living Desert, California State Parks, Riverside County Parks, and many other conservation organizations.

Photo Credit: NPS/Hannah Schwalbe

Contact the host of Nocturnal Insects 101