Frogs are super common, which you know because you hear the mating calls every 30 feet or so while walking a path. I attempted to stalk frogs, creeping up, waiting until the call resumed, and then moving closer again. After 20 minutes I was able to get within 3 feet of the call, and still couldn’t find the frog. Finally I searched every square inch of the decaying leaves on the forest floor and found the shape which was like every other leaf, but with frog eyes.
I was at a light sheet last night with some Japanese people that were looking for tree hoppers. They couldn’t say this because they had no English. Luckily any scientist understands Latin names: they were looking for membracidae. I saw no white witches, or even any related moths. Why should it be easy?
I got a bucket of bananas, and will let them ferment for a couple of days. Then I’ll paint them on trees to bait moths, and see what I get.
It is dramatic to think about the dangers of a rainforest – predatory animals. But discomfort is a bigger concern. It is wet. Light rain in any one hour, heavy rain occasionally. If it isn’t raining, the wet is from sweat. If you’re walking in vegetation, there are the stings of ants. You might notice a swarm of fire ants if you sit on the ground. Otherwise it will be random times when an ant turns up under your shirt. But an advantage over Connecticut: mosquitos are not too bad, and there is no poison ivy.
Speaking of Connecticut, am I missing the frozen outdoor landscape? No.
--DLC