Hunting for Caterpillars

Dr. Angela Smilanich to assist EC Stevens and Parker Farms Caterpillar Hunters

2009-05-28T10:52:00.000-07:00

Now that winter is behind us, fourth grade students from E.C. Stevens and Parker Farms Schools will be teaming up with a caterpillar scientist from Wesleyan University to hunt for caterpillars in Connecticut. Dr. Angela Smilanich, formerly of Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana (where I was part of the Earthwatch Expedition this past fall), has relocated to Connecticut to pursue post-doctoral research on caterpillar immune systems at Wesleyan University in Middletown. She will be sharing her expertise with us as we explore the Miller's Pond State Park in Durham in search of caterpillars. We will follow our hunt with a visit to the Caterpillar Lab at Wesleyan University in June. How fortunate we are to have Dr. Angela in our backyard!

The Votes Are In!

2008-11-24T10:41:00.000-08:00

And the winner is . . .

GEORGIE GUMMY!

Congratulations!

Thank you for voting for your favorite caterpillar!

Official Stats. for "Hunting for Caterpillars"

2008-11-07T13:05:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

I just received the statistics from the scientists outlining what we accomplished in the swamps of Louisiana. Wow. It sure was a lot of hard work - but fun!

TEAM 4 Hunting For Caterpillars

*Collected, photographed, identified, logged-in and cared for a total of 559 individual specimens (caterpillars) from plots and general collections in the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area.

*Identified caterpillars from at least 12 different families of Lepidoptera

*Completed 16 plots (which equates to leaf and herbivory estimations, and caterpillar collections on all plants in 1,256 square meters of dense, snake-, alligator-, hog-, chigger-, poison ivy- and mosquito-infested bottomland hardwood forest!)

NEWSFLASH! Caterpillar Election Extended - Bagworm Enters Contest

2008-11-06T08:40:00.000-08:00

Due to staff development days this week, many students were unable to log on to the blog and vote for their favorite caterpillar. So, the election has been extended until Friday, November 21st.

We also have a new addition to our list of contenders for "Favorite Caterpillar" - Bertrum Bagworm!

Before you get too excited and cast your vote for this caterpillar, I think you should learn a little more about him.

First, look closely at the green leaf below. Do you see the small bits of dead leaves on it?

When I was examining this leaf, the pieces of dead leaves began to move! I immediately alerted a scientist who informed me that these moving pieces of leaves were in fact part of a caterpillar called the bagworm! Check out its side-view.

Bertrum Bagworm

This larva constructs a bag around its body made of silk and materials from its habitat (such as leaves). How do you think this bag might protect it from predators?

This caterpillar can inflict extensive damage upon trees and shrubs. So look very closely the next time you see pieces of dead leaves moving. Defoliation may be following close behind!

Tulane Lab and Good-Byes

2008-11-05T09:34:00.000-08:00

Before we departed Louisiana, our team had to move all of the 500 plus caterpillars that we collected to the Tulane University Lab. Here we are, setting up our rearing rack which comprises the caterpillar "zoo."

Each bag on the rack contains anywhere from one to five caterpillars. The rack is divided into sections for live caterpillars, pupating caterpillars, parasitized caterpillars and dead caterpillars.

The bags below contain parasitized caterpillars. One of the scientists took a parasitized caterpillar out of the bag and removed the parasitoid with the tweezers. Next it was put in an alcohol solution.

A second scientist then took the parasitoid and examined it under the microscope. Notice that his microscope has a camera attached to the top of it. This allows him to take pictures of his specimens and project their images onto the computer screen.

The scientist showed us a wasp parasitoid and a fly parasitoid. The specimen of the fly parasitoid was not in the best of shape. However, parasitoids can always be distinguished by their wings. Can you describe each parasitoid's wings? What do you think the differences are?

Wasp parasitoid

Fly parasitoid

After we finished our work in the lab, it was time to say our good-byes. Our time together had been educational and memorable. We are all looking forward to getting back to our schools and continuing to share the valuable lessons regarding climate change and biodiversity that the caterpillars have taught us.

Earthwatch Institute, Hunting for Caterpillars - Team 4, Oct.-Nov. 2008.

New Orleans from above.

Log On and Vote!

2008-11-04T20:04:00.000-08:00

It's Election Day! Make sure you remind your parents to get out and exercise their right to vote! Here in Louisiana, early voting has been in effect since last week. As we drove to our caterpillar plotting sites each day we noticed the long lines of concerned citizens, waiting patiently to have their voices be heard. Don't worry, I submitted my absentee ballot before the expedition started.

Well girls and boys. I think that you too, should be able to participate in an election. So, we are going to have a vote for our favorite caterpillar. Everyone gets one vote, and you must cast it on this blog site. The voting will close tonight at 12 midnight Eastern Standard Time, so click on the comments section of this entry and vote today! Don't forget to include your reason for choosing the particular caterpillar as your favorite.

Zebra Zelda

Ikey Inchworm

Willy Webworm

Red-Eyed Button Bobbi

Spiny-Oak Ollie

Hickory Tussock Tommy

Baltimore Bombalocha Barrie

Walter Woolly

Georgie Gummy

Trudie Tortricidae

Purple-Crested Paula

Sally Saddleback

Good Luck to All!

Adventures in Honey Island Swamp

2008-11-03T18:25:00.000-08:00

Hello from the swamp of Honey Island, Louisiana. Boy, did we sure have an exciting time today! First, our scientist Mike (Remember, Parker Farms kids, he joined us at our Thursday morning conference), chose to disembark upon the river shore where alligator footprints dominated the beach! Yes, we were a bit hesitant about exploring this spot, and proceeded with caution.

Next, upon staking out our plot, I found the molted skin of a water moccasin hanging from a tree branch! In areas by water, it is common for this snake to relax on tree branches. Therefore in Louisiana swamp territory, one must always be on alert, looking up as well as down, making sure to stay clear of this aggressive reptile.

Sometimes the water moccasin is referred to as the cottonmouth. This is because when it is startled, it flings its head back and opens its jaws, displaying a white interior mouth cavity. It likes to eat warm as well as cold blooded animals and has heat sensing organs to help it detect prey. The water moccasion is one of the deadliest snakes in North America and is best avoided.

Next, we came across Charlotte's Web and her family of baby spiders. There seemed to be hundreds of them! Very Cool!

Now, you may be wondering, "Where are the caterpillars?" Well, this plot wasn't as productive as we would have liked. Oh well. Our other discoveries more than made up for the lack of caterpillars.

Back in the Field

2008-11-02T17:52:00.000-08:00

Today we returned to Slidell. Our life of luxury is over! This is the bunkhouse where we are both living and working:

And here are some more of the cool-looking caterpillars that we have found:

We call this guy the "zebra." We are not quite sure what his scientific name is.

This caterpillar is a spiny oak-slug. As you can see, he is quite colorful.

I found this sick-looking one today while I was checking the caterpillars in our zoo. Can you tell me what kind of caterpillar it is? (Hint: Refer to the blog of Oct. 27th). What do you think the white mass is underneath him? How do you think it got there?

In the field today we found this red-eyed button slug. His topside reminds me of a turtle's shell. What do you think?

Tomorrow I will be off in the field, kayaking to a new research site. I can't wait to see what I will find!

My Day Off at the Zoo

2008-11-01T21:30:00.000-07:00

Welcome to New Orleans. We are staying in luxury tonight - at the Park View Guest House. Rumor has it that this place is haunted and that ghost hunters will be here in January to film for a television special. I sure hope the ghost doesn't show up in my room!

The Park View Guest House has an awesome view of Audobon Park. The oak trees here are just incredible. Some are even 5oo years old!

At the south end of the park is the Audobon Zoo.
It is named after John James Audubon (1785-1851) the famous illustrator/naturalist whose drawings and paintings of birds were rendered in a highly realistic fashion. He is well known for his book, Birds of America. I am sure many of you have seen his art work.

At the zoo, I saw a white alligator. Wow, was it wild looking! White-skinned alligators are very rare. They have only been observed in the Louisiana swamps and only on two occasions. The white color of the alligator's body is caused by a rare genetic abnormality called leucism. Because this alligator has blue eyes and occasional dark spots on its body, it is not considered albino.

While at the zoo, I had the experience of having a rat snake wrap its tail around my wrist! Was I hesitant? You bet. But I decided to "go for it"!

There was also a "Swamp Fest" happening at Audobon Park. So, not only did I get to hear some Cajun and Zydeco music, but I also got to sample some delectable dietary fare!

BOO! Beware of the Pillaging by the Parasitoids!

2008-10-31T14:01:00.000-07:00

Today we attended a very interesting lecture by the chief scientist on our expedition, Dr. Lee Dyer. During the talk Dr. Dyer explained how parasitoids can grow inside of a caterpillar's body, consuming parts of its internal organs like it's heart, brain, etc . . . until the caterpillar eventually dies. After the parasitoid emerges from the caterpillar, it forms a cocoon, metamorphosing into an adult wasp or fly. Check out this parasitized saddleback caterpillar!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2008-10-31T08:07:00.000-07:00

The Swamp, the Spider, the Snake!

2008-10-30T08:06:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Honey Island Swamp! Here are a few pictures showing you our immediate outdoor surroundings.

Now for a couple of challenge questions regarding the pictures below:

1. What is the transparent material hanging from the trees?

2. Do you see those two "stump-like" things to the right of the three trees in the first picture below? These growths serve a very important purpose in the survival of trees in this environment. Can you tell me what they are and what their function is?

3. Why do the trunks of the trees in the second picture widen so dramatically as they approach the water?

One day during our caterpillar search in the swamp, we met a local hunter named Richard. He shared with us his experiences here with the elusive ivory-billed woodpecker, a species that was previously thought to be extinct. It was very interesting. We told him about our hunt for caterpillars.

Sometimes the areas we are searching for caterpillars in are very difficult to access. This is because remnants of Hurricane Katrina are still widespread - evident in the form of numerous fallen trees. As you can see, it was a challenge for me to set up my tape to mark the hunting plot.

Another challenge in our search for caterpillars is avoiding natural hazards. Quite common are these huge spiders with gigantic webs, sometimes spanning twelve or more feet!

I have also heard stories of past encounters with water moccasins, but luckily, we have only come across baby snakes.

Keep blogging. I will talk to you tomorrow.

Some Cool Caterpillars!

2008-10-29T11:15:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! It was really fun conferencing with you today. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

So far, we have logged in over 300 caterpillars. Can you guess how many caterpillars Dr. Dyer and his scientists from Tulane University have collected since the year 2000? (The answer is found at the end of this blog).
Below are some of the neat caterpillars that we have found:

This caterpillar on the pink background has a "not so nice companion" with him. It is a parasitoid that has just popped out of his body! When the parasitoid is ready to pupate, it pushes through the caterpillar's body and then forms a pupa. By next week this slimy invader will be an adult wasp!

This green caterpillar with the brown, black and white markings likes to graze from the yummy tops of leaves. The sections of this leaf that are brown are the parts that he has already eaten. When we are in the field collecting caterpillars, we must record the percentage of brown sections on a tree's foliage. This is called the tree's herbivory.
Look at this caterpillar's body. It is in the form of an upside down "U." Do you remember it's name? (Hint: Check out the October 27th blog).

This caterpillar is a called a panopoda because it sticks its two hind legs out. (pano - being spread out, pod - feet. It is even found in Connecticut. Let's see if you can find one!

This caterpillar is actually a slug and is referred to as "purple-crested." Can you find its green stinging spines?
When we collect the caterpillars in the field, we put them in plastic bags and label the bags with this information:
1. Caterpillar type
2. Kind of tree or shrub that the caterpillar was
found on.
3. Plot number

We make sure to include extra leaves in the bag so that the caterpillar will have enough food to eat.

The scientists then record this data on their computers. We keep the bags in the "zoo" that you see here.

Everyday, we must check on each caterpillar. Sometimes, we find that some have pupated. Others might have died. Still others could be being consumed by parasitoids. We report these findings to the scientists. We also clean the frass ("caterpillar poop")out of the caterpillars' bags, feed them, and then put them back in the "zoo." That is what I am doing in this picture:

I am looking forward to blogging with you tomorrow. Keep those comments coming!

P.S. The answer is: over 11,000!

Video: Scientist reveals the caterpillars' "silk secret"

2008-10-28T05:45:00.000-07:00

This is one of our scientists from Tulane University, Tara. Here she is explaining how caterpillars deposit silk on leaves. This helps the caterpillar to seal the leaves together, forming a protective "house" to keep them safe from prey, such as wasps.

The silk is in the saliva that the caterpillars secrete from the glands in their mouth. This silk is very strong and is the basis for silk fabric.

Tara instructed us to peel the leaves apart. When we did, we often found a caterpillar hiding in between.

An Alligator, Inchworm and Webworm, OH MY!

2008-10-27T09:30:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! We sure had fun today. On our expedition to the Honey Island Swamp in the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area in Slidell, Louisiana, we first came across this alligator that you see here! I made sure to keep my distance.

Next, we began our hunt for caterpillars. One crawly guy that we found was an inchworm. Did you know that the inchworm is really a caterpillar? Do you know why they crawl the way that they do, displaying a large loop with their bodies as they move about? . . .
Well, to solve this mystery, we first have to learn about the caterpillars’ legs. As you know, caterpillars have many legs, but only THREE pairs of “true legs” or thoracic legs (Those that contain joints, like our knees). And, having three pairs of “true legs” means that they have SIX “true legs.”

Remember in the Mystery Creature and Nature Hike posts I asked you if a caterpillar was an insect? Well, the answer is . . . YES! Some of you told me that one characteristic of an insect is that it has SIX legs.

.
Then, what are those “other legs” that caterpillars have? Well, they are called prolegs or abdominal legs and they are used to propel the caterpillar along his way. But they DO NOT contain true joints. Inchworms, unlike most caterpillars, only have TWO sets of prolegs, so they must loop the center of their bodies to move themselves along. Pretty interesting, don’t you think?!

Not only do caterpillars have SIX “true legs”, but when they undergo metamorphosis, turning into a butterfly, they retain these SIX “true legs.” Can you find them in this diagram?

In my search today, I also found this white fuzzy caterpillar. I learned that it is a fall webworm. Check out the silken nest that he built. Sometimes, this nest is confused with that of the eastern tent caterpillar or the gypsy moth. However, eastern tent caterpillars are only present in the spring time.

Make sure you stay tuned to the blog tomorrow. I will be going deep into the swamp in a kayak, in search of the caterpillar that “wears a coat!” (See the blog: It’s Expedition Time).

See you then!

P.S. Here are some maps to help you to visualize where I am.

Red = Connecticut

Green = Louisiana

Greetings from New Orleans!

2008-10-26T22:23:00.000-07:00

Hello from New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz! The weather is beautiful, and that means the musicians are playing their instruments outside! I wish I had an instrument here so that I could join them!

Tonight I met the members of the "Hunting for Caterpillars" team. Here is a picture of us all together:

In a few hours, we will begin our expedition to the swamps, in search of some neat "crawly folks." Check out this one that was found on a past trip:

Extra credit will go to the first student who can positively identify this colorful creature.

P.S. Don't forget to practice!

MYSTERY SOLVED!

2008-10-21T12:40:00.000-07:00

CONGRATULATIONS to Brigid Weiner of Parker Farms School for solving the identity of the mystery creature. Great sleuthing!

And the answer is . . .the larva of the Dobsonfly!

The dobsonfly is found east of the Continental Divide and lives by streams. And, I just happen to have a stream in my backyard.

Maybe he might have a friend . . .**

WORDS TO MAKE YOU WONDER . . .

POINTS TO PONDER . . .

What do we mean by larva?
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/larva

When an organism undergoes a complete change in its form, we call it a metamorphosis. Is this what happened to the larva of the dobsonfly?

Do you think caterpillars undergo metamorphosis? Support your answer with evidence. You might want to explore the metamorphosis websites below.

For all you fans of monarch butterflies, check this out!

http://home.earthlink.net/~mr_chickenman/Metamorphosis/page1.html

http://home.earthlink.net/~mr_chickenman/Metamorphosis/page2.html

http://home.earthlink.net/~mr_chickenman/Metamorphosis/page3.html

http://home.earthlink.net/~mr_chickenman/Metamorphosis/page4.html

. . .

Photo: Wayne Kryduba . . Photo: Tanya

What is the Continental Divide? Let's find it together on this U.S. map.

http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/infopage/contdiv.htm

**Speaking of a friend, I did find this fellow hanging out in the dobsonfly's stream. Do you think you can identify him?

P.S. I still have that bag of carrot sticks. Brigid opted for the chocolate . . .

Hello Mr./Mrs. Woolly Bear!

2008-10-16T12:30:00.000-07:00

Many of you have been sharing your caterpillar stories with me. It sounds as if you have sighted quite a few woolly bear caterpillars this fall.

Have you heard that the wider the black bands are on the woolly bear caterpillar, the longer and colder the winter will be? Don't worry. This is just a myth. The black bands on this caterpillar are just an indication of the caterpillar's age.

Look at this close-up of the woolly bear's body. Pretty neat, huh?!

Points to Ponder . . .

*I wonder if those spiky-looking hairs are sharp?

*I wonder what kind of moth or butterfly Mr./Mrs. Woolly Bear will turn into?

If you would like to see for yourself, check out this website. It will show you how to catch and care for your own woolly bear!

http://www.backyardwildlifehabitat.info/captureabear.htm

2008-10-14T06:49:00.001-07:00

Nature Hike

2008-10-13T19:17:00.000-07:00

Wasn't the weather this weekend just spectacular?! With that being said, I was out for a hike during The Last Green Valley's "Walktober Weekend."

Where might the Last Green Valley be, you may ask? Well, believe it or not, it is right here in northeastern Connecticut and has been given the distinction by airline pilots as being the only "dark spot" on the ground in the densely populated corridor between Washington, D.C. and Boston. Fewer people = less light pollution = more forests and farms + more nature-based recreational opportunities.

http://www.thelastgreenvalley.org/
http://www.nationalparks.org/discover-parks/index.cfm?fa=viewPark&pid=QUSH

So, to Cat Hollow Park, I went. And boy, was it beautiful!

On the trail, I spotted the very large spider pictured here. Spiders are NOT insects, but belong to a family known as ARACHNIDS.

Words to make you Wonder . . .
*Arachnid

Points to Ponder . . .

*How do insects differ from arachnids?

http://www.amonline.net.au/spiders/diversity/what/difference.htm

*Are caterpillars insects, arachnids, or something else? Why?

The Mystery Creature

2008-10-13T19:08:00.000-07:00

ATTENTION PLEASE, calling all aspiring entomologists!

Does anyone have any idea of what this "creature" may be? I discovered it one afternoon in my driveway and had to run back into the house to get the camera to photograph it because it looked so interesting.

In keeping with the school's "healthy snack" policy, the first student to correctly identify this "creature" will win a bag of carrot sticks!

Good Luck!

(P.S. Don't tell - I really have chocolate!)

WORDS THAT MAKE YOU WONDER . . .
POINTS TO PONDER . . .

What is an entomologist?

How many legs do insects have?

Is a caterpillar an insect? If so, why?

A New Friend!

2008-10-10T18:55:00.000-07:00

I returned home from school today to find this fluffy-looking caterpillar crawling in my driveway. How perfect, considering that I am working on this blog. I wonder what kind of butterfly or moth it will turn into. Do you have any ideas? What do you think the purpose of the four black plumes are on it's body?

You may want to visit the excellent websites listed below. Not only will you be able to build your own caterpillars, but I think these links may help you to answer the questions!

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/explorer/ecosystems/be_an_explorer/map/form_caterpillars.htm#

http://www3.islandtelecom.com/~oehlkew/slcaryae.htm

It's Expediton Time!

2008-10-10T17:22:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

As you know, I will be going on an Earthwatch Expedition in a couple of weeks! I am participating in a “Live from the Field” Fellowship entitled “Climate Change and Caterpillars in New Orleans.” I, along with six other teachers from throughout the U.S., will be assisting a scientific research team from Tulane University in New Orleans in examining how extreme weather conditions, such as hurricanes, affect caterpillar populations.

We have all heard the buzz words global warming, and have seen the effects of it in pictures. But did you know that global warming is linked to adverse weather conditions such as hurricanes? In 2005, the New Orleans area was ravaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The repercussions are still evident. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effect_of_Hurricane_Katrina_on_New_Orleans)

I invite all of you “to come along with me and our team of scientists and teachers, via cyberspace," to explore these repercussions in regard to caterpillars

Please join in as I teach "live from the field" and blog about the research at the Tulane University Lab and our excursions to the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area. It promises to be a remarkable adventure!

***Some topics to research ahead of time include:

· Global Warming/Hurricanes
Whats%20up%20with%20Global%20Warming.ppt

· Predator/Prey relationships in the context of caterpillars

· Caterpillar populations and their relationship with agricultural crops

Have Fun!