Wasp mimicry (Yellow/dark), a set on Flickr. Click on the link to see all.
The kids went cheerfully along with my flickr slide show calling out the different insect orders that they recognized.
They loved to handle my two life Agave Weevils. Of course, they also enjoyed hunting one of them down when it flew around the class room - after I had introduced it as a flight-less species.
A big Dynastes male with its wings spread open was everyones favorite. I wished the class had visited in summer, so I could have had some life Dynastes and Oxbeetles and maybe some Chrysinas. All of them occur on Reservation land, but I doubt that many of the kids get to see them.
The teacher Kathryn Killmer gave a great introduction to the path to college and university, and kids and parents were obviously fascinated with our subject matter, so one can hope that some of them will eventually return to the U of A as students.
The kids went cheerfully along with my flickr slide show calling out the different insect orders that they recognized.
They loved to handle my two life Agave Weevils. Of course, they also enjoyed hunting one of them down when it flew around the class room - after I had introduced it as a flight-less species.
A big Dynastes male with its wings spread open was everyones favorite. I wished the class had visited in summer, so I could have had some life Dynastes and Oxbeetles and maybe some Chrysinas. All of them occur on Reservation land, but I doubt that many of the kids get to see them.
The teacher Kathryn Killmer gave a great introduction to the path to college and university, and kids and parents were obviously fascinated with our subject matter, so one can hope that some of them will eventually return to the U of A as students.
I hope they had as much fun as I did.
The soldierfly and Acmaedera amabilis look quite delicious...
ReplyDeleteThats a aspect that we discussed, too. But although grasshoppers are commonly eaten in Mexico, and the tribe's area extends far into Sonora, the kids all seemed to dislike the idea just as much as most US Americans do. Only one of the older people asked about the food value of the big Dynastes grubs, but I don't know how serious he was.
ReplyDeleteThey certainly look like they had fun! What an awesome presentation. They look enthralled.
ReplyDeleteGreat set on mimicry too!
They certainly look like they had a lot of fun!! So.... am I understanding correctly that all those bee 'mimics' don't sting you!!?
ReplyDeleteNo, the mimics don't sting. But I had the real wasps mixed into the presentation - so all the paper wasps, yellow jacket and hornet for ex. can sting painfully, if they are females. Of the others, the assassin bug can deliver a painful bite at least. Check Muellerian mimicry: It's good gang up and advertise together
ReplyDeleteWell done, Margarethe! I guarantee they had fun, you can see it on their faces :-) Really great job on the spur of the moment. You have great empathy for the children, too. You are no doubt correct that they haven't seen the beetles on their native lands. Hm-m-m, maybe we can take them blacklighting?
ReplyDeleteSounds like a plan, just need to get a permit rom the tribal chairman (woman) not easy
ReplyDelete