By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio — He’s used high-tech cameras and sound equipment to capture the sights and sounds made by 77 species of insects. Now, he’s going to reveal how to interpret the sounds of those insects during his keynote speech at this year’s Ohio Wildlife Diversity Conference to be held on Wednesday, March 10 at the Aladdin Shrine Center in Columbus.

Wil Hershberger, author of The Songs of Insects, will set the tone for a day of discussions about scent, sound and taste and their effects on wildlife and humans.

“Whenever I give this talk I realize that people have no idea of the diversity of the species of these singing insects,” Hershberger said. “In the summer months I often take people out on walks in the woods and I point out all the species out there. There’s a tremendous adversity and richness of species that created that symphony of late summer and fall.”

This year’s program, which is sponsored by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), is entitled “It All Makes Sense.” And Hershberger plans on concentrating on the senses of sight and sound in his presentation.

Hershberger and his associate, Lang Elliott, captured brilliant close-up photos of the insects. But the recordings are the real crowd pleasers.

“Perhaps the most challenging aspect of the entire project was capturing clean recordings of all 77 species,” Hershberger said. “It’s difficult to capture the sounds of nature without the intrusion of a multitude of man-made sounds.”

The pair took their enthusiasm for insects a step further by producing a full-color book and accompanying audio compact disc on insects. The audio depicts the songs of 77 species of crickets, katydids and cicadas in east and central North America. The men have a website as well (songsofinsects.com).

“We include information about insect photography and sound recording, how to find and capture singing insects, keeping insects as pets and much more,” Hershberger said.

“Capturing the images of these lovely insects for publication was a challenge and a joy. Working with these creatures taught us a great deal about them as species and taught us a great deal about patience.”

Most of his photos are taken using an 11 megapixel digital SLR camera and a Canon 180mm macro lens.

“Working with the insects in the field became a real problem as they would fly or jump away,” Hershberger said. “Cooling the insects certainly slowed them down, but then they looked lethargic. We found that working with the insects inside was far more controllable and that playing with them made them either tired or used to us. After being handled the insects would invariably preen and this allowed for a prolonged opportunity to gather the photos that we desired.”

The two traveled from Canada to Florida, and from the east coast to Missouri to capture pristine field recordings of these small singers.

In addition to Hershberger, Dr. Stan Gehrt of Ohio State University will address issues concerning skunks. Other conference topics include discussions of the paddlefish caviar market, wild boar, saw-whet owls, and kids and conservation.

The event is open to the public. For more information or to register for the conference call 1-800-WILDLIFE. The registration fee prior to Feb. 26 is $25. After that date the fee is $35.