Today there were some really cool discoveries made during our ecosystem study! Quinn and Jude found an old log and rolled it over. Look what they found! They found under that old log several of these strange looking cocoon type structures. They were stuck in between cracks in the log. Ben walked by and said simply, "Oh, cool! Praying Mantis eggs!" I took a second look at Ben, very impressed by his knowledge of insect egg sacks. Quinn's face lit up and he proclaimed, "I think that's what they are because my grandpa has these things all over his fence!" I could see the wheels of Quinn's brain speeding up times 1000. They were absolutely right! I love praying mantises! This really made my day because I have wondered where a praying mantis will lay their eggs over the winter here in Utah. A female mantis laying her eggs...in a safe place.... When it's the right time, here come all the baby mantises! There's not just one in the egg sack, there are like hundreds! Another discovery was made by Elayna and Mary Grace. They found a low lying green, spiky plant covered with ladybugs! The girls found a very "noxious" weed called a plumeless thistle or "bull thistle". These are seriously sticky, spiky weeds with a purple flower that presents in spring and summer. We have questions about the ladybugs though, were they there sucking the juice from the leaves of the plant? Were they sheltering under the large spiky leaves, protected from numerous birds that might eat the ladybugs? Or were they laying their own eggs before warmer weather? That's what I love about ecosystems! There is a story in every little circle that each one of you investigated and I think it is so much fun to try and piece together that story. It's so satisfying!! Yes! That satisfying!
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Mrs. TaylorI love science! Everything about the world is interesting and never boring. I love to study plants, animals, insects, and people. My favorite subjects are my students who are the most unique organisms on the planet! Categories |