Megan's Nature Nook
Nature Notes, Phenology, Photography, Fun Facts, Trips, Maybe Even a Bad Joke or Two... and More!
Have you ever seen an insect fluttering about, and wondered was that a butterfly, or was that a moth? Butterflies and moths have a lot in common, but they also have some defining characteristics that will help you tell them apart. Let’s start with some of the similarities. Both butterflies and moths are part of the Lepidoptera order. Lepidoptera means “scale winged” which they were named because of the powdery scales on their wings. Both insects’ lifecycles start as eggs that hatch into hungry caterpillars; the caterpillars will then enter the pupa stage and emerge as adults. Adults eat flower nectar, fruit juice, and mineral-filled standing water. Both Butterflies and Moths
Now here are some of the differences...
Now when you see an insect fluttering about you'll be able to easily identify whether it is a butterfly or moth! Enjoy these warm summer days and the insects that share them with us!
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It’s turtle time! You have probably been seeing turtles around, either basking on logs, swimming in the lake, or crossing the road. Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes are home to nine species of turtles. Towards the end of May and into June turtles are often seen crossing roads as they are heading to nesting spots. Unfortunately for the turtles, nesting time can be a dangerous part of their lives, but there are a few things we can do to help these interesting creatures. Check out this PDF from the MN Department of Natural Resources about our turtles. Nesting Sites Snapping and Painted Turtles are the ones we most often see, especially during nesting season. When looking for a nesting site, females will look for soft, sandy soil that has lots of sun exposure. She will use her back legs to dig a hole the shape of a cereal box where she will lay her eggs. Eggs are soft and have a leathery shell. The whole nesting process takes 3-4 hours, and often happens in the evening or mornings. Snapping turtles lay 20-40 eggs, and Painted turtles lay 4-15 eggs. Once the eggs are laid the female will cover them with the soil or sand that was dug out and then leaves the nest. Incubation (done by the sun) takes 2-3 months and the hatchlings will emerge in mid to late August, or even into September for some Snapping turtles. Turtles do not have sex chromosomes, so the sex of the hatchlings will be determined by the temperature during incubation. Warmer temps will yield females, while cooler temps result in males. Raccoons, mink, skunks, and foxes are common predators of turtle eggs, often digging up nests within 48 hours of the eggs being laid. Nests can be protected from predators by placing a wire fence or cage around the nest area. Be sure to remove the wire by August 1st so the hatchlings can get out once they hatch. Occasionally, the eggs will overwinter and hatch in the spring. Helping Turtles Cross the Road
Unfortunately for many turtles, finding that perfect nesting spot puts them in danger as they cross roads. Although they are crossing roads in areas which may not make much sense to us, the turtles are going to familiar nesting spots and know where they are going. If you see a turtle crossing the road there are a few things you can do to help.
Turtle Rehabilitation When I was an intern at the Northwoods Wildlife Center in Minocqua, WI the summer of 2015, we got quite a few turtles in that had been hit by cars. If it was just a shell injury where they had been hit and the shell cracked, we were usually able to fix them up and release the turtle. We would use zip ties and superglue to fix them back up. We glued the zip ties onto the shell then would gradually tighten the zip ties over a few days so the shell would no longer have gaps, then once the gaps were closed up, we could glue the shell and over time the turtle’s shell would heal completely. The shell is made of bone, so the glue would hold it in place until it had time to heal, much like a cast does when we break a bone. If you find a turtle in need a rehabilitation, look up your nearest wildlife rehabilitation center so it can get the proper care needed. As you’re driving around this turtle season, pledge to Brake for Turtles and help them cross the road when you can! Keep your eyes open in August and see if you can spot any hatchlings emerging. Why did the turtle cross the road? To get to the Shell station! |
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