Insects at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park

One thing certain about hiking and camping, there will be insects. Sugarloaf Ridge State Park is no exception. Insects, though sometimes annoying, play an important part in the symphony of nature! For instance, a single dragonfly can eat up to 300 mosquitos a day! Beetles turn fallen leaves into rich mulch that allows young trees to grow. Bees and butterflies pollinate flowers to produce fruits and seed pods to provide the forest with new growth. While there are many beneficial insects some are called “pest” because they cause damage to property, like termites or crops, like the earwig or cucumber beetle.

Butterflies steal the show during the late Spring and Summer, but here are a few other photos of insects taken in SRSP.