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.

TWO "BAD BOY" BEETLES

It never ceases to amaze me, as I observe the tiniest creatures... they act just like humans (or we act like them?)  Macho males and loudmouth young punks talking trash.  Yep, it is on all levels of life it seems.  However, the humor allowed the observer is one I enjoy immensely and share with you in the dramatic moments photographed below.  I will affectionately call them Big Dog and Lil Pup, which sets the mood of territorial dominance.  

 Big Dog Beetle eyes Lil Pup coming into his leaf space.

 Big Dog is cool and simply walks away, trying to ignore him. Maybe he'll just go away.

 But no, Lil Pup is like "Hey, whatcha doin? Wow, you big AND ugly. You a boy or girl?"

 Big Dog "WHOA, I KNOW he is NOT smelling my butt?!"

 Big Dog thinking  "Just ignore him and he'll go away.  Stay cool.  Stay calm."  

 Lil Pup "Hey, You a BIG bad boy beetle, huh?  Hey, I'm talkin' to you."

 Lil Pup huffing up his wings and lifting his butt  "Look at me, I'm bad.  You scared huh?"

 "Yeah, you SHOULD be scared.  Maybe I'll just come over there and slap you off MY leaf!"

 "Yeah, that's right.  You too scared to even look at me, huh?  You're not so BIG and BAD?" 

 Then slowly, Big Dog starts turning his head ... Lil Pup "Uh Oh...Gotta go!"

 RUN Lil Pup, RUN!  Big Dog's tired of you talkin' smack and gonna whoop your a__!

However, some time later...Lil Pup gave Big Dog the respect he deserved.

My Gardens - SNOW 2/11

A lovely "winter" feel in Texas.  Snow is rare and doesn't usually last through the day, so I took the photos of the glistening white in my gardens early in the a.m. 

CAMOUFLAGE

Camouflage in nature gives protection to the prey, as well as an advantage to the predator.  I am absolutely fascinated by the perfection each of these species has adapted to blend in with their surroundings.  I was simply lucky to see any of them and getting the photo was a thrill.  Here are a few...

 Praying Mantis with butterfly wing.

 Grasshopper.

 Striped Garter Snake just finished shedding skin.

 Walking Stick moves back and forth, as if the wind is blowing it.

 Tiny baby grasshopper.

 Lacewing ... how perfectly matched to the underside of the leaf.

 Caterpillar on Honeysuckle vine.

 Lacewing larvae sneaks up on prey like a wolf in sheep's clothing.

 Tiny spider waiting patiently on a sunflower.

 Tiny, tiny caterpillar on very small wildflower.

 This tiny caterpillar attaches small flowers to his back to blend in with whole flower.

Small white spider blends easily with white rain flower.

LADY BUG BEETLES

Lady Bugs are small beetles.  Most of us are familiar with pictures and drawings of the cute round red-orange one with black spots.  This was the extent of my awareness when I first began my gardens.  I even bought a bag of them from a plant nursery.  I learned they were a natural predator of smaller insects, so helped in keeping a healthy balance in the garden.  I later began to meet many of these small lady bug beetles of different colors, who were with and without spots.  Once again, my small garden was a classroom of discoveries.  I am excited to share some of them here...