Naturalist Marianne Posting Daily “Nature Notes”

Although Naturalist Marianne’s April presentations have been canceled, during April around 7am daily, Marianne is going to post a “Nature Note” to the Naturalist Marianne Facebook Page. We’ll share it on the Russell Lands On Lake Martin Facebook page, too.

This will be a short, daily tidbit that parents can start the day giving their kids a look about the natural world. She will do this with either photos or videos and will often include a link for “extended activity.” According to Marianne, “this is intended as a brief science lesson appropriate across multiple age groups.” Here’s her first Nature Note:

Camouflage Critters

They aren’t always brown or gray! Even some brightly-colored animals are perfectly designed to match the PLANTS around them. These moths are splashed with yellow just like the (tulip poplar) tree leaf shown. They are called IMPERIAL MOTHS and don’t ever EAT once they’re winged adults. Some other moths do eat as adults, but the imperial moth only eats when it is a caterpillar. It eats many different types of tree leaves.

The green and brown caterpillar shown below perfectly matches the wild grape leaves in the woods where it lives. This one is called a Saddleback Caterpillar—its brown spot is right where a saddle would be! This is one of the few caterpillars around here whose spiky hairs would sting/irritate your skin if you touched it. Most other caterpillars are soft when you touch them. It will turn into a moth one day too.

Moths and butterflies both start their lives as caterpillars. The caterpillar is the larva (young form) of the adult. Moths and butterflies accomplish their change a bit differently. Click below to watch a speedy video that shows how a caterpillar changes into a butterfly.