Long-horned Beetle    

With a style that is as witty as it is engaging, Tracie delivers a skillful blend of natural history and human lore.   Guests can expect Tracie to cover a wealth of fascinating topics, such as:

 Six-legged Sex and Eight-eyed Erotica  

Did you know some male insects sing with their genitals to attract a mate?   Or that, if an insect falls victim to one STD, the truly bizarre result may be a spontaneous sex-change?  For our mature audiences only, we'll take an entertaining look at the private lives of insects and spiders.  Learn about love potions, fatal attractions, and bridal bondage with this tantalizing topic. 

Beetle Juice and Chemical Warfare

Poison gases, lethal bombs, the deployment of tens of thousands of soldiers...are these horrid agents of warfare a modern invention?  Certainly not.   For millions of years, insects have been waging a chemical arms race that rivals the military aspirations of nations.   From the weaponry of scorpions to the legions of army ants, Tracie will take you to the battlefields of the mini-beasts.   More intriguing still, guests will  learn why the Pentagon and a little-known government agency  have a keen interest in insect weaponry today.

 Cockroach      

  Insects in Medicine

"Take two roaches, and call me in the morning."  You may not have heard this recommendation from your doctor, but, believe it or not, roaches have been in the "medicine chests" of various cultures since antiquity.   Tracie has done extensive research on the medicinal use of insects by tribal and ancient societies - and how modern scientist are only now beginning to confirm their   therapeutic potential.  How might scorpions one day save tens of thousands of lives?  You'll find out on The Night Tour.

Jumping Spider        

The World of Spiders

Throughout The Night Tour, we'll explore the lives and lore of the planet's most feared, and misunderstood, creatures: the spiders and their creepy, crawly kin.   We'll cover subjects as diverse as courtship and "child" care to the amazing properties of spider silk.  We'll also address an array of intriguing and odd questions:  Why were spiders fed mind-altering substances in the 1970's?  Why do some spiders deliberately adorn their webs with the bodies of their victims?    Guests should be prepared to see more eight-legged creepy-crawlies than ever before!

Slithering Snakes, Sleeping Lizards, and Lovable Frogs

Juvenile Neotropical Racer

   Tracie The Bug Lady and  naturalist Gianfranco Gomez are avid amphibian and reptile enthusiasts.   Frogs, snakes, and lizards are all commonly encountered on the tour.    Whether or not you delight in or despise these cold blooded creatures, you'll certainly  be amazed by the tales you'll hear.  Discover the lizard that runs on water and  the frog that eats snakes.    Guests will enjoy many great photo opportunities,  as well.

Other Denizens of The Dark

Compared to insects, spiders, frogs, and snakes,  most mammals tend to be very shy creatures.  They're usually highly alert and possess superior speed.  

Every mammal encounter on The Night Tour is a chance encounter.  We do see several ocelots each year, and often from very close vantage points.  In April 2006, a Puma even crossed our path.   While you would have to be very lucky to see one of our Costa Rican wild cats, here is a partial list of mammals that are regularly seen:

Kinkajous, Striped Hog-Nosed Skunks, Northern Raccoons, Pacas, Armadillos, Three Toed Sloths, Northern Tamandua Anteaters, Wooly Opossums, Four-eyed Opossums, Common Opossums, and a variety of bats.