It's a Spittlebug

Well, here’s another insect post. 

I hope there are some kids out there

who might enjoy this. 

And some grown-ups too! 

My three kids and I were walking through the recently cut

 hay field with their Grammy the other week. 

Along the way we found some really fun bugs.

 

 I used to love these bugs as a kid.

 They’re what we called “spittlebugs”. 

They live on the stems or leaves of plants.

 While they eat, they keep safe from predators

 by hiding in a wad of foamy, slimy “spit”.

 Ewww.

 But not too Ewww.  

Actually, Coool!

After doing a little research, I learned that

 they’re the nymph stage of a Froghopper insect.

They’re actually somewhat of a pest,

 since they eat gardeners’ an farmers’ plants.

 But I still think they’re cool. 

And these were sucking on weeds in the hay fields,

so maybe they were being helpful. 

But those weeds were plantain,

which can be useful.

 (Just not when they’re taking over a hay field.)

 Maybe there is a little lesson here

 that I didn’t see before. 

Even good things in life can be harmful

in the wrong place. 

And sometimes things that seem

not-so-helpful in life can work for good.

"And we know that for those who love God

 all things work together for good,

for those who are called according to his purpose."

 Romans 8:28

Mantis Munchies

Here’s a post for the kids.

Or the kids at heart.

September is a great month for insects! 

Just listen when you go outside and hear all the chirping and buzzing.

 It’s like the creatures are making life count before it gets cold

and the frost puts an end to the summer fun. 

If you’re lucky, you might be able to spot

one of the coolest insects around  -- the Praying Mantis!

This Mantis is cleaning her foot.

It’s famous for being the only known insect that can turn its head and look over its back.

  That might be what makes it look just a little spooky!  

Their eyes are very sharp (this makes them great at catching prey),

 and they watch you as if they are extra smart.

 And maybe they are!

Here is a Praying Mantis on our front porch.

If you do get to spot a Praying Mantis, you may want to give it a little snack.

 It’s very easy, actually.

 (Watching insects eat is a fascinating thing!  Last year I wrote about feeding Ant Lions. 

You can look at those pictures here.)

We caught some crickets in this jar.

 First, you’ve got to do some hunting! 

Your prey is whatever a Mantis likes to eat – pick something that looks really tasty!

  Maybe not a stinkbug?!!  

We’ve found that they really like crickets and small grasshoppers.

 And those insects are usually fairly easy to find,

 just crawling or hopping around in the yard.  

Once you’ve captured a cricket (or something else) pop its head off to kill it.

  Then choose a skinny stick or extra-long stem of grass or weed

and poke the dead insect onto the end like this.

 Slowly crawl the dead insect toward the Praying Mantis, making it look as though it’s alive.

 I bet it will only take an instant before she will turn her quick eyes to watch the new insect. 

She’s hoping this might be supper!!! 

Creep the Mantis dinner very close, and she should pounce on it and start gnawing. 

Now just sit back and watch!!!  

Munch, Munch!

A cricket drumstick.

Cassia is making the cricket "crawl" along the arm of the bench.

 Mantises love to eat insects and are very helpful in the garden for eating pest insects.

Now there’s one thing about the Praying Mantis.

 Please, please, please, be careful with them.

 If you want to hold one, don’t scoop it up.

 Don’t grab it up. 

They can be damaged easily!  

Especially if they have large swollen abdomens.

 These big fat ones are females who are getting ready to lay their eggs

 in a special foam sack that’s like a tiny brown insulated cooler.

 This sack will protect her eggs all through the winter until next spring,

when the little green baby Mantises hatch out. 

So… if you do want to hold a Mantis, carefully put your hand in front of it,

 and gently nudge it forward so that it crawls onto you by itself. 

This way you won’t accidentally bend its legs or squish its soft belly.

If you’d like to see some more cool insects,

you can look at these we found last summer.

 Happy hunting!!!

 “But ask the animals, and they will teach you,

or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;

or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,

or let the fish in the sea inform you.

Which of all these does not know

that the hand of the Lord has done this?

In his hand is the life of every creature

and the breath of all mankind.”

Job 12:7-10

How to Feed an Antlion

Today I’m sharing photos and writing for kids of all ages.  

When it comes to some things, I’ll always be a kid. 

 I remember very well spending hours watching insects, frogs, 

and whatever other little creatures I could find. 

 I could still be quite content spending time like that.  

It’s just that time is a little harder to find now than it was back then!

I wonder if you have you ever noticed sandy looking

 little cone shaped holes in the ground?  

Do you know what they are? 

Ever wonder who made them, or why they’re there? 

They’re a special kind of trap made by a hungry lion!!!  

Now, it might not be the lion you’re thinking of. 

 It’s not hungry for gazelles and zebras, it’s hungry for ants!  

This lion is kind of ugly.  It’s a dirty brown color with long pinchers in the front 

that are perfect for snagging ants that wander into its trap.  

This Antlion is actually a larva that develops into a flying insect 

which looks a little bit like a small dragonfly or a lacewing. 

 You can often find these Antlion traps under porches, swing sets, picnic tables, 

or anywhere there is bare soil that is loose and dry.

  If you can discover some Antlion pits, 

you’ll probably be able to feed an Antlion. J

 First of all you’ll need to find some ants. 

 Drop one or two into a pit, hold very still, watch, and wait. 

 The ant will try to escape, but the steep sides and loose sand 

will cause it to keep sliding back into the bottom of the trap

 where the Antlion is waiting. 

(Sometimes an extra lucky ant will make it to the top.  

Yay for the American Ninja Ant Warrior!  I’ll let you decide if he has earned his freedom or if you drop him back into the terrible trap.) 

 You may even see dirt shooting up, knocking the ant 

back down to the bottom of the pit where the he can be nabbed.  

This is the Antlion’s dirt flicking trick to keep him from escaping.  

If everything goes right for the Antlion, you will soon see 

the ant disappear as he pulls his prize down underground for supper.

 Here you can see that I've circled Ant Number 2 

who's been caught, and only his legs are sticking out.

 If you would like to actually see the Antlion, you will have to dig him up.  

Take a small spoon and very carefully dig at the side of the pit. 

Don’t go straight down at the bottom 

or you will squish the little guy.  

Gently scoop up the dirt from the very bottom of the pit, 

and spread it out on a light colored paper.  

The Antlion will probably lie on his back with his feet in the air playing dead. 

(Once you return him to his home, he’ll begin burrowing back underground.)

 Here is a small Antlion I dug from a small sized trap.  

The ant is almost as big as he is!

Can you spot the Antlion burrowing back underground?  

They are well camouflaged!  

I would love to hear your Antlion stories or other insect stories in the comment section!

“Praise the Lord from the earth,

you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,

lightning and hail, snow and clouds,

stormy winds that do his bidding,

you mountains and all hills,

fruit trees and all cedars,

wild animals and all cattle,

small creatures and flying birds,

kings of the earth and all nations,

you princes and all rulers on earth,

young men and women,

old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the Lord,

for his name alone is exalted;

his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.”

Psalm 148:7-13