Climate Change and Caterpillars with Ms. Moser

Finding Plots

2009-10-29T13:41:00.002-04:00

I truly enjoyed skyping with you all today! I thought you all would enjoy a picture of what I really looked like during the process. Notice how I have not changed into a cat!

Sometimes we have to kayak to a plot. That means we cannot reach it by land. We find a site on the wetlands, then tie up our kayaks and then hike to the plot.

What would be the benefit of finding a plot by kayak rather then by foot?

Well, we are almost to the end of my caterpillar hunting trip. Great job scientists, I look forward to seeing you on Monday!

Stinging Caterpillars

2009-10-29T13:26:00.003-04:00

Hi! Today when I was skyping with you all I got stung by a caterpillar in my nose! Everyone here thinks that is mighty funny!

The caterpillar at the bottom left is a saturnidae.

The one at the top left is a saddleback. It is the one I showed you today that had pupated overnight. It is also the one that stung me, even afte it had spun a cocoon!

The caterpillar in the very top center is a Io moth. It is the same one that you might see on the Lunesta commerical (but that is its adult form). The caterpillar to the right is an oak slug.

All four caterpillars are stinging caterpillars.

Look at them. Can you decide what might make them stinging caterpillars?

Try making a three ring venn diagram comparing and contrasting these caterpillars. A great level 4 opportunity would be to make a venn diagram comparing and contrasting these caterpillars to non-stinging ones!

Parasitoids

2009-10-28T13:32:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow we will be talking more about our research and the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the caterpillars. We will also talk about parasitoids.

Here is a picture of a caterpillar (a Fall webworm) that has begun to spin a cocoon. In the science world that is called pupating.

Ask Ms. J to show you a picture of a caterpillar with parasitoids on it!

PS-Who can guess what I am going to dress up as for Halloween? I'll give you a hint, it has a connection to what I'm doing here in LA!

More Caterpillars

2009-10-27T14:12:00.002-04:00

Hey! I had fun talking with you today!

Here are some more caterpillar pictures for you to draw. While you are drawing them, I want you to try and determine which ones are stinging caterpillars and which are not. I will give you a hint, two of these are stinging caterpillars. Both of the stinging caterpillars are very rare caterpillars, as well.

I also want you to try and label at least one caterpillar with their legs, prolegs, spiracles, and setae.

See you soon! Be good!

Plants and Soils of New Orleans

2009-10-26T19:37:00.003-04:00

I am really proud of all my little scientists! You all are doing a great job!

Today I spent a lot of time identifying new plants and the caterpillars that lived on those plants.

We have a lot of the same plants in NC that they have here in Louisiana. However, I have seen alot more poision ivy!

Now that we are in the woods, I have seen a lot more topsoil and humus. I have also found a lot more decomposing plants and animals, which helps make up the fertile topsoil. Today I noticed a spot in the woods where there were no plants growing.

What do you think caused no plants to grow in that area, even though plants were growing all around it?

Today I counted the leaves on a few plants that are here in New Orleans and not in NC. For example, I found Tall Gallberry Holly today and we do not have that in NC.

Why do you think they might grow better here in Louisiana then in NC?

Last question.....

What do you think the difference between a parasite and a parasitoid is?

You all will be amazed when we talk on Thursday. We have found such cool stuff in our zoo today! Two of our caterpillars are spinning cocoons!

What is different about this Caterpillar?

2009-10-25T19:52:00.002-04:00

Who can tell me what you notice about this caterpillar that makes it different from other ones you've seen or other ones in my pictures?

I think you will be amazed by the answer!!!!!!!!!

Cool Caterpillars

2009-10-25T19:45:00.003-04:00

Just thought you all might want to see some pictures of some of the cool caterpillars I have collected! Get your questions ready, I'll talk to you Tuesday!

The Difficult Part of Being a Scientist

2009-10-25T19:28:00.002-04:00

Being a scientist is not all fun and games! Today we spent the WHOLE day trying to figure out what types of caterpillars and what types of plants we bagged yesterday. Then we have to put all of that information into a data sheet. It took us all day to identify just one plant!

First we set up our "zoo". It is made of PVC pipe and yarn! The first picture is us setting up the zoo.

Then we take out all the bags we collected yesterday and figure out the exact type of caterpillar and plant in the bag. We also have to make sure that clean all the frass out of the bag.

What do you think frass is?

The second picture is all of the bags that we collected yesterday and tagged today. This is how our zoo looked at the end of the day! We did A LOT of work on Sunday!

First Day as an Actual Caterpillar Huntress

2009-10-24T19:28:00.006-04:00

Today was our first day out in the field. We spent our morning learning about what types of caterpillars to look for...it was kind of like being a student again! Then we got all dressed up in our outfits and headed out to the swamplands. Watch the video of us trekking to our plot site!

Why do you think we are dressed in all orange???

The first thing we do is find an area to plot. Then we mark off 5 meters in each direction.

Can you think of anything that is 5 meters long?

Next, we search on every leaf, tree and bush for caterpillars. If we find one, we pick it up, put it in our ziploc bag, and tag it (write the date, type of caterpillar and what tree we found it on). The picture to the left is the first type of caterpillar I found. It is called a Skipper caterpillar. After we have found all the caterpillars in our plot, we have to estimate how many different types of vegetation are in our plot.

What is vegetation and why is it important to caterpillars?

Finally, we have to estimate how many leaves are on all the different trees, shrubs and bushes in our plot. That is REALLY hard to do!

For your homework Monday night, I want you to pick a tree or bush in your yard or in the yard at recess. Try and estimate how many leaves are on that one tree. Write down your estimate, as well as how you figured out your estimate. Good Luck Hunters!

Street Cars

2009-10-23T20:33:00.004-04:00

Today I rode in a street car to Layfayette Square. Above is a picture of a streetcar. Notice that it does not run on wheels. How do you think it gets its power? Have you ever seen something that this streetcar reminds you of?

The streetcars started running again in 2008, after being shut down due to Hurricane Katrina. It looks like the streetcars are running on the grass, but actually they are running on rails. They travel down the middle of the road where the median is. Cars are on either side of the streetcar running down the road. I thought it was very interesting that even streetcars have to obey the traffic lights and signals!

When we got to base camp today, I got to go kayaking! Here is a picture of me on the swamp! Guess what?! I didn't fall in!

I hope you all are doing well. Have a great weekend! I will be out in the bayou....

Hey, what do you think a bayou is?????????

Park Walk

2009-10-23T14:57:00.002-04:00

I went on a walk around the park today and saw an amazing tree growing out of the soil. What do you think is hanging off the tree?

Why do you think it is on the tree to begin with?

Do we have trees like this in NC?

Does this remind you of anything you have seen before?

I hope you all have a good weekend. Keep checking back, because as of tomorrow I am officially a caterpillar hunter!!!!!!

Heading to the Swamplands!

2009-10-23T14:49:00.004-04:00

This afternoon we leave our beautiful guest house to head into the SWAMPS! This is a picture of the Parkview Guest House.

First Day Here!!!

2009-10-22T15:59:00.003-04:00

So, my roommate for the week thought I was funny going around town smelling and studying the soil! Here is what I found...there is a lot less clay here then at home. Since I am staying inland tonight, I have not seen any sand, yet. The soil smells like mostly humus, but I haven't tested it yet.
It is very warm here! The humidity is at 95%. Does anyone know what humidity is? I am staying on St. Charles Street across the street from Tulane University. Maybe Ms. J and Ms. Mc can show you where that is on the map.
I drove by the superdome today. Does anyone know who plays there?
I also drove by some cemeteries. I will try to post a picture of one tonight. I found it interesting that all of the tombs were a white color.
I could see the levys when I drove in. What do the levys do for the city of New Orleans?
Well, I will get back to you after I meet my new teammates and team leader. Hope you guys were good for Ms. Cobb today! Miss you!

Almost ready?!

2009-10-16T08:12:00.003-04:00

Wow, it's hard to believe less then a week until Miss Moser Catepillar Hunter emerges!
Here is a question for you to ponder...
Thinking about what you have learned about New Orleans and Louisiana, what type of soil do you think is found in this area?
Send me your ideas :)

Welcome!

2009-09-03T15:02:00.002-04:00

Welcome to Miss Moser's blog about her grant expedition to New Orleans. The fellowship takes place October 22-November 1. I will be traveling to the swamplands with scientists from Tulane in order to take on my alter ego...Miss Moser Catepillar Hunter! Check back soon to read more about my class and our unit on plants and climate change!