David Albaugh, a lifelong Rhode Islander known for his dual passions of entomology and all things strange, has established his home in Richmond, Rhode Island. This move allows him to continue his dedicated work in moth and butterfly conservation, while also providing a new backdrop for his explorations into local lore and the macabre through “David’s Basement of the Bizarre.”
Albaugh’s dedication to the natural world is evident in his continued focus on raising local species of butterflies and moths in a predator-free environment, releasing them back into the wild. His recent posts on “Dave the Bug Guy” from Richmond confirm his ongoing moth studies in the area, specifically mentioning his success in attracting various Saturniidae moths like Polyphemus, Cecropia, and Io to his yard. He notes that 2024 was an “amazing year for the giant silk moths” in Richmond, observing strong populations and interesting color variations in Polyphemus moths. This shift in location appears to have only deepened his engagement with local insect populations, with Albaugh documenting his findings and observations, including the abundance of certain species in the Richmond area.
Concurrently, Albaugh maintains his active presence with “David’s Basement of the Bizarre,” a platform where he shares his fascination with monster movies, comic books, UFOs, cryptozoology, and local legends. His “Roadside Rhode Island” section continues to explore the state’s eerie history, including the famed “vampire” legend of Mercy Brown and other haunted sites. Living in Richmond provides a new perspective for these explorations, undoubtedly influencing his insights into Rhode Island’s rich tapestry of strange tales.
Through his continued work on both “Dave the Bug Guy” and “David’s Basement of the Bizarre,” David Albaugh in Richmond, Rhode Island, remains a dedicated advocate for natural conservation and a captivating chronicler of the peculiar.
davethebugguy.org 
Hello Dave,
You came to do a presentation last year at my school. We would love to have you come again this year in April or May. You would need to pick a day that you can visit 3-4 classrooms. Email me back and let me know if you are still doing classroom visits and we can book a day.
Carolyn
Hi Carolyn. Thanks for writing. Like last year I can only do Fridays and have all of April open except for April 29th. All of May is booked except for the 6th. Please e-mail me direct at bugguy01@cox.net with your thoughts. Thank you!
Just an update…May 6 is now booked
We recently had the opportunity to see you at the zoo, and was wondering if you happen to do birthday parties? We live in milford ma.
Unfortunately I do not do birthday parties. I wish I knew of someone in your area to recommend but there are not a lot of people that do this.
Is there glass over your insect displays? It’s hard to tell from the computer pictures.
thanks, Pam
Yes there is glass.
I want to thank you so very much for the wonderful review you did on my book “Raising Butterflies in the Garden”. It really blessed my heart. Thank you for your kind words.
You are very welcome! I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to using it this coming spring!
I live in North Carolina. I am an amateur naturalist and a kindergarten teacher. Being at home has had its blessings. I have enjoyed making videos of garden snails, worms, pill bugs and the monarch caterpillars in my yard. I am currently obsessed with finding moth caterpillars especially the Luna Moth. I did find what I think was an emerged luna cocoon below a hickory tree. I am currently stalking this tree as I can see that the new spring leaves are being eaten by someone (?)! What can I expect to find in April in North Carolina? What should I be looking for? I have heard that the luna has several broods in the South so would I expect to find a new cocoon? How big would the caterpillars be? Where are they hiding?! Who else might be eating the leaves?
Hi Kristen. Thanks for writing! With the warmer weather luna moths should be hatching soon and of course doing what they do best, mating. The fact that you found a cocoon is very promising! How are the temperatures there? Have they been consistently warm? The caterpillars, if you have them, should still be less than an inch in length. Believe it or not the easiest way to find them is at night, with a black light (the kind that makes things glow). These caterpillars will glow with one of those lights. I am guessing it is too early for finding new cocoons right now but by mid June the first brood should be making their cocoons! I hope you find some!
Hi Dave. I have a 2 year old terantula that I am trying to find a good home for. I live in Bronx, New York. Would you be interested in taking on another friend. As far as I know it’s a male and he is very gentle. Unfortunately we are moving and can’t take him with us. You can contact me at kellyvalladares12-2@gmail.com
Hi Dave. I saw your pictures of various silk moth cocoons while researching a find I made today on my walk here in Hendersonville, TN. I took a number of pictures and was wondering if I could send them to you to get your take on what I may have found.
Please do! My email is davethebugguy67@gmail.com
Hey Dave,
I noticed that you featured a photo of a Sulawesi black tarantula in your collection and I’ve never known anyone to have one. I’m wondering if you know whether these are still available and if you might be able to point me in the right direction. After seeing Guy Tansley’s video of them in the wild I was hooked!
Hey Joshua. I received this girl in 2015 as a freebie believe it or not. Since that time, I have not seen them available, which is a shame. Hopefully they are made available soon!
Web Tucker here! I found your site. Very nice! Let me know if you would like to use more of my photos in your guidebook.
Thank you so much, Web! I definitely will!
Hi Dave,
I tried to email you about coming to my school to do a presentation but it said that your email was unable to receive mail. Are you using a different email?
Hi Donna. My new email is davethebugguy67@gmail.com