GRASSHOPPERS

GRASSHOPPERS come in all colors, patterns, shapes and sizes.  Most of them instinctively camouflage with surrounding colors and textures.  Occasionally, I think some are either color blind or not so smart!

                                             COLOR PATTERNS HELP THEM HIDE!

COLOR SMART...

                   

                                                                  NOT  SO SMART!

WOLF SPIDER

The WOLF SPIDER does not spin a web to catch food.  Instead, as the name suggests, it hunts down its prey like a wolf.  The mother spider carries her babies on her back, very similar to a mother opossum.  

PARTY TRACKS!

Animal tracks are fun to look for after a rain.  I use these in my show-n-tell exhibits for children.


RACCOON paw print:

CAT paw print:

WHICH ONE HAD FRIENDS OVER FOR A PARTY!!!???

CATERPILLAR POOP & LADYBUG FART

Yes, I said it...poop and fart.  Recently, I gave a show-n-tell type exhibit to 200 fourth graders.  It seems those two words can magically cause giggles to ripple through a crowd who have just been told to sit still, be quiet and listen.  Breaking the ice will be a lot easier, now that I know the magic words.  Of course, they were used ever so appropriately with the following exhibit photos from a very educational perspective:


"One of the things Native American and all hunters look for when hunting is poop.  Bear poop, deer poop, rabbit poop, etc.  Where there is poop, that animal has been.  So, when looking for creatures in the woods or backyard, one of the things to look for is poop.  Here is a caterpillar pooping." (Mother Earth)

"Most tiny creatures have natural defenses against potential predators.  Like this little guy.  When he is threatened, these shoot out of a pocket in his head and ooze with a strong smelling liquid.  Kind of like a caterpillar fart.  A bird must think...'If he tastes as bad as he smells, I do NOT want to eat him!'  (Mother Earth)

"Well...this photo, just looks like a ladybug farting!"  (Mother Earth)

TINY BUG SCRATCHING HIS NOSE

Ever wondered how a tiny little bug scratches his nose?  Me either, but I as I was taking these photos, I guess his had an itch and I caught the moment ...too cute!

Twitch twitch, gotta itch...

Scratch, scratch, scratch...

LACE WING

Learning about this tiny insect was a long process of "connecting dots".  What evolved over a year's span of photos for me, I will put in sequence for you here.  


The EGG:  

The BIRTH:

The TEEN:  Covers their body with various debris, so they can sneak past the ants that guard the aphids the Lace Wing larvae hunts for food.

The MATURE LACE WING:

BABY CATERPILLAR & THE ANT

I first noticed the baby caterpillar (Gulf Fritillary Butterfly) on the Passion Flower vine in my entrance walkway.  During the photo session, I did not even notice the ants on the same vine. It was not until reviewing the photos that I realized how clearly evident their attention to each other was.  I had, simply by chance, captured a brief social moment between their two very different species.


In the first photo the baby caterpillar is bending his head down toward the ant just below.  In the second photo the baby caterpillar has raised up on tip toe and is intently exchanging cordial acknowledgement with both new friends.

They seem to be introducing themselves for the first time.

The ant seems to have brought another ant to meet his new big, scary friend.