Sandy Hook, NJ - Insects, butterflies, spiders, monarchs, plume moth, painted lady, mantis, mayflies, migration, dragonflies - Brookdale College Ocean Institute, Dave Grant

Sandy Hook's Insects - and other "bugs"

	Insects are abundant at the shore for several reasons: varied habitats including wetlands, fields and forests; and a variety of plants to feed on (Over 250 species). Many are residents here, some are blown here by offshore breezes (stable flies), and a few are migrants (Bee flies, butterflies and dragonflies). The Buckeye is one of the prettiest butterflies that gets blown to the beach from inland areas. It also migrates like the many birds passing through Sandy Hook.
Milkweed bugs gathering for hibernation. lady bugs also hibernate here. See more about them in our Camps and Fort Hancock sections.	Dragonflies are migrants in the spring and fall and may be seen in astounding numbers in early June and late August. (Image courtesy of Sandy Grande - Ocean Institute staff photographer.)
The Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) is a fast flying migrant we see in the spring and fall. To read about it and other insect migrants along the coast, click here.
Mayflies are not common at the shore but are usually abundant in clean freshwater streams. Click here to take a stream walk.	The tiny moth fly (Psychoda) can be found near puddles, sewer plants and port-a-potties. It is only 1/8" long.
Robber flies are fairly common in the late summer and suck the insides out of their prey. Looking large and scary, they are actually beneficial to beach-goers since they eat biting flies.	The Bee-fly is a true fly that has developed a bee-like shape to fool predators (and people). Note the large fly eyes. On warm days in early May, carried by West winds, thousands may pass along the coast
Skipper	Hairstreak
Perched on Dave's thumbnail, this tiny "sweat bee" is a native bee that pollinates flowers. They live underground for much of their life cycle.	Carpenter bees are disturbing because they circle around wooden tables and chairs where they dig nesting burrows, but they rarely sting humans. For tips on how to avoid them, go to FAQ's.
Migration along the coast The map on the right shows *Inland* and *Coastal* migration paths and concentration points for monarchs and other butterflies and insects like dragonflies carried by West winds in the Fall . (Adapted from: Wings in the Meadow - Jo Brewer)
Sandy Hook is a major resting area for Monarchs crossing the water from Long Island and New England on the fall migration. They often concentrate late in the day in the oceanside dunes and on certain cedar trees on the bayside near the Visitor Center and Fort Hancock. Click here for a map and virtual tour of Sandy Hook	"High-flying butterfly, Monarch on the wing; Spend your winter where it's warm, Then fly back in Spring." by Sallie Luther
In the late fall, the only evidence of the Monarch's passing is an empty chrysalis.	As late as mid-November, cold-stunned butterflies can be found in the dunes in the morning until they warm up and continue their flights to the south.
Katydids are unsusal here and are carried to the beach by west winds in the fall; but this doesn't explain why students insist on posing for pictures with them on their faces.	The Mourning Cloak survives the winter in a hollow tree or other shelter like the batteries.Mourning cloak
	The preying mantis survives the cold by laying its eggs in protective cases. Other insects "hibernate" in the cave-like gun batteries.
Walking stick	The first skipper of the year. A mid-summer, fast flying butterfly.
Milkweed bugs at work.
Grasshoppers are more common in late summer.	Red Spotted Purple (Lemenitis arthemis) is an uncommon visitor.
White-faced hornet, blown out to sea, makes a rare visit.	Wasps are a rare nuisance in the fall that are usually encountered around trash cans. This angry one is entangled in a spider web. Speaking of spiders...see below.
The jumping spider doesn't need to build a web, but can still capture much larger prey like this moth. (Right)
This wolf spider towing an egg mass, is another hunting arachnid that doesn't build a web.	Centipedes and spiders are common around the gun batteries. Sometimes aquatic insects can be found in puddles and temporary pools of freshwater.
	Here's an oddity: Moth, butterfly, bee or fly? (Thanks to "Heather" for identifying this as one of the "plume moths.")
Leaf-footed Pine Seed Bug
Wheel-bug (A type of Assassin Bug) (Thanks to R.L.Wanat)	Another Wheel-bug lands in an inappropriate spot!
We don't know everything, so if you identify an unlabelled bug on this page, send us your report and you'll win a prize if you are the first to contact us. Ocean Institute Insects, Box 533, Sandy Hook, NJ 07732	A cabbage butterfly starting to spread its wings upon hatching.
A sod beetle checks out fungus on a piece of wood. Leaf-hopper from the marsh grass.	A fly "impersonating " a wasp. Another harmless bee-fly captured during the Spring migration.
An anxious woolly bear caterpillar searches for an over-wintering location.	One of our most interesting insects, the "hummingbird" moth, visits a garden flower in July
The mud nest of a tiny wasp	An unusual Sandy Hook field trip event; an insect bite...Call the Guinness Records Book people! When scratched, a simple bite can become very irritated. Also, different species of mosquitoes are present in different areas, and those first bites can cause an unusually strong, but generally harmless, reaction. (Student's arm, Courtesy of Northwest Christian School ) Learn more about bug bites and other seasonal concerns at FAQ's.