Katy's Big Adventure

Meet Katy, the bravest Katydid nymph you'll ever meet.  She got scooped up into a jar yesterday, with one single flower to nibble on overnight.  Then, before she even knew what was happening, she was loaded into a car, driven 20 miles and set out (in her jar, of course) on a table in a shady area right next to the woods.  

Before she knew it, a passel (that's about 20, if you're counting) of small humans descended.  They picked up Katy's castle, turning it this way and that, peering inside with giant eyes (okay, well, maybe they were magnifying glasses, but still...), talking non-stop, asking soooo many questions, and complimenting Katy's splendid green color.  

Before she knew it, several hours had gone by and about 80 pairs of young, inquisitive eyes had peered at Katy.  Just when she was getting used to all the acclaim, it was back into the car - ugh traveling with hairy caterpillars, most undignified for a star katydid - and back into the garden.  Truthfully, Katy was pretty happy to get back to her patch of day lilies.

The morning with the kids at Nature Camp was so much fun.  I especially enjoyed the youngest kids who were so incredibly inquisitive and excited about each discovery.  Armed with magnifying glasses, we turned over leaves and peered into webs, finding all sorts of exciting things.  In terms of the "display" insects that traveled to and fro, the big hits were the meal worms and the fuzzy white caterpillars (web worm and Virginia Tiger moth larva).  One of the caterpillars had just shed its skin this morning, leaving behind a fuzzy ball of white which fascinated the kids.  

And, I came home with a bonus caterpillar that one of the kids found and had an adult bring to me in a bottle.  I'll release it in the woods - I believe it's a Giant Leopard Moth caterpillar, probably looking for a place to pupate.  

A big nap for yours truly when I got home. There is a reason women my age don't have children!

xo,
Debbi

PS:  Meanwhile, at the Coneflower Motel, two longhorn beetles were making the magic happen, right out in the open