Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
fossils!
at last, while out fossil hunting for my geology class fossil collection, i found a limestone boulder riddled with blastoids, which look like this:
i think i also might have found a fragment of a crinoid calyx, which would be really cool, since i'm so used to finding the stems, but never the parts on top.
i think i also might have found a fragment of a crinoid calyx, which would be really cool, since i'm so used to finding the stems, but never the parts on top.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
giant leopard moth caterpillar
an enormous black, spiny caterpillar was found during an evening walk, and taken home by me at the urging of my best friend, since i have been very interested in observing the whole metamorphosis process of caterpillar to butterfly/moth, but had not yet come across a caterpillar this year 'til now.
he was brought home in a jar, and then placed inside a 10 gallon fish tank, along with some leaves of dandelions, honeysuckle and violets. i had identified him previously because of his distinctive orange bands which became visible when he curled up in defense mode. so, having identified the caterpillar as that of a giant leopard moth, i found which kinds of food were most popular with that caterpillar and tried them all. the violet leaves seem to have been his preferred choice. i refreshed the supply of these multiple times a day.
after observing the caterpillar over a few days, i noticed that he was nocturnal, and would remain nearly motionless during daylight hours. eventually, however, he began to run around and around the tank day and night; this was unusual, and i thought that perhaps he was looking for a place to settle in for his transformation, but couldn't find a happy spot. he tried spinning silk in two different corners of the tank, but gave up eventually on each spot. i decided that there was something he needed that wasn't in the tank, that perhaps the glass was too slick for him and the silk to cling to easily. so i introduced a small cardboard box with a twig in it, the bottom of the box placed against the back of the tank so i could still observe the caterpillar. within one minute of me putting the box in the tank, the caterpillar was in it and only left once to come right back. he stayed in it, checking it out for about a day, then began weaving silk in the upper right corner of the box.
the next day, he had surrounded himself in that corner with a fine netting of silk, and remained motionless there now both during day and night.
another couple of days later, and it appears that the cardboard box was just what he needed. he's now shedding his skin as he begins to pupate. unlike many moths, the giant leopard moth caterpillar does not make a solid cocoon, but rather pupates directly within the fine netting he's woven.
more information will be posted as the transformation progresses.
the moth-to-be:
he was brought home in a jar, and then placed inside a 10 gallon fish tank, along with some leaves of dandelions, honeysuckle and violets. i had identified him previously because of his distinctive orange bands which became visible when he curled up in defense mode. so, having identified the caterpillar as that of a giant leopard moth, i found which kinds of food were most popular with that caterpillar and tried them all. the violet leaves seem to have been his preferred choice. i refreshed the supply of these multiple times a day.
after observing the caterpillar over a few days, i noticed that he was nocturnal, and would remain nearly motionless during daylight hours. eventually, however, he began to run around and around the tank day and night; this was unusual, and i thought that perhaps he was looking for a place to settle in for his transformation, but couldn't find a happy spot. he tried spinning silk in two different corners of the tank, but gave up eventually on each spot. i decided that there was something he needed that wasn't in the tank, that perhaps the glass was too slick for him and the silk to cling to easily. so i introduced a small cardboard box with a twig in it, the bottom of the box placed against the back of the tank so i could still observe the caterpillar. within one minute of me putting the box in the tank, the caterpillar was in it and only left once to come right back. he stayed in it, checking it out for about a day, then began weaving silk in the upper right corner of the box.
the next day, he had surrounded himself in that corner with a fine netting of silk, and remained motionless there now both during day and night.
another couple of days later, and it appears that the cardboard box was just what he needed. he's now shedding his skin as he begins to pupate. unlike many moths, the giant leopard moth caterpillar does not make a solid cocoon, but rather pupates directly within the fine netting he's woven.
more information will be posted as the transformation progresses.
the moth-to-be:
Sunday, April 19, 2009
luna moth found at last!!!
after searching many nights for this creature over the duration of a year, almost believing its existence in these parts to be a myth (contrary to sightings and encounters other people told me about), i have at last a Luna Moth in my possession. thanks to God as well as my best friend and his wonderful skills handling a net, the moth is in pristine condition; a most gorgeous treasure :D
some quick shots of the lovely animal (which is a male of the species) in natural pose, and in pinning (plastic strips and pins get removed after a few days).
some quick shots of the lovely animal (which is a male of the species) in natural pose, and in pinning (plastic strips and pins get removed after a few days).
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
cocoon watch
today i retrieved a cocoon that appears to be of the bagworm variety, but have yet to identify the host tree. a couple other cocoons nearby had already hatched, so hopefully this one is still developing and will emerge very soon. it's been placed in a jar, still attached to its branch so that it can hang naturally; the jar is covered with cheesecloth secured by a rubberband to allow air flow while still maintaining an enclosed environment.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
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