TICK

CLASS Arachnida

ORDER Acari

CARD 61

GROUP 5: INSECTS &: SPIDERS

FAMILIES Argasidae, Ixodidae

Ticks are common animals, distantly related to spiders, that feed exclusively on the blood of mammals, birds, and reptiles. Because they can carry serious diseases, they should be removed promptly.

KEY FACTS

CHARACTERISTICS

Length: Usually up to ~ in., but up to

1 in . in a female swollen with eggs.

Coloration: Variable, depending on

the species.

BREEDING

Breeding season: From spring to

summer.

No. of eggs: 3,000-6,000.

Hatching time: 2-5 days.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Solitary, external parasites on

mammals, birds, and reptiles.

Diet: Blood .

Lifespan: Up to 10 years.

RELATED SPECIES

The approximately 900 tick species

are divided into the soft ticks (family

Argasidae) and the hard ticks (family

Ixodidae). Two well-known North

American species are the dog tick,

Dermacentor variabilis, and the deer

tick, Ixodes dammini-both hard ticks.

FEATURES OF A HARD TICK

Prosoma: Consists of the head with its piercing mouthparts and the part of the body that bears the legs. In hard ticks there is also a shield-shaped hard plate called the scutum, which pro­vides protection.

Legs: There are 8 legs as in the related spiders, rather tnan 6 fegs as in insects. Al l the legs are attached to the underside of the prosoma. They are well adapted fo r holding onto the ti ck's host.

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Range of ticks.

DISTRIBUTION

Both hard and soft ticks are found in all parts of the world ex­

cept the polar regions and the largest and hottest deserts.

CONSERVATION

Ticks are abundant and widespread. Some species feed only on

the blood of one kind of animal, so they depend on that animal's

survival. But no species is considered in any danger.

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Opisthosoma: Rear porti on of body containing the ani­mal 's reproductive and other internal organs.

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Ticks can transmit a variety of blood-borne diseases to

humans and wildlife. But, fortunatelYt the most serious

and life-threatening of these illnesses can be treated

successfully with antibiotics if detected promptly.

~ HABITS There are two kinds of tick­hard and soft. A hard tick has a hard plate just behind its head. A soft tick lacks this back plate but instead has a tough, leath­ery covering.

All ticks are parasites, feeding . on the blood of various verte­

brates. Using its sharp mouth­parts, a tick pierces its victim's skin. Between meals, it usually drops off its host to molt, shed­ding its covering . A soft tick of­ten hides like a bedbug in the nest or house of its host. In con-

trast, a hard tick generally lives in the grass or underbrush be­tween attacks on its host.

Ticks are effective carriers of certain diseases because they feed on blood and change their hosts frequently. The diseases transmitted by ticks to humans include Lyme disease, Colora­do tick fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and tick paraly­sis. Ticks also present a health problem for livestock by trans­mitting diseases such as Texas fever and equine encephalitis.

~ lIFECYCLE After mating and eating a final meal of blood, the female tick drops off her host animal and lays several thousand eggs. The eggs hatch in two to five days.

In its first, immature stage, a newly hatched tick is known as a larva. It has six legs instead of the eight legs of the adult. The larva quickly finds a hust animal. After feeding on blood, it drops to the ground and molts to be­come an eight-legged nymph.

The nymph either returns to

Left: Perched on a blade of grass with its legs outstretched, a tick is ready to grasp a host animal.

~ FOOD & FEEDING Hard and soft ticks feed on the blood of mammals, birds, and reptiles. Some attack a broad range of hosts. Others feed on only one host species.

During its larval and nymphal stages of development, a tick at­taches itself to a host, gorges it­self with blood, and then drops off to molt. After it becomes an adult, a tick mates and has one more meal before it drops off its host, lays its eggs, and dies.

Finding a suitable host can be difficult, so ticks at any stage of development can survive for an

the same host animal or finds a new one for a meal of blood. It then drops off the host to molt again. This time it becomes an adult female or male.

A female soft tick mates only once, but she may lay several batches of eggs before dying. In contrast, when a mated fe­male hard tick drops off a host, she lays only one large batch of eggs before she dies. Both hard and soft male ticks die soon af­ter mating. Right: A swollen female hard tick contains thousands of eggs, which she lays shortly before she dies.

extended period without any food. There are adult ticks that are known to have lived as long as 10 years without feeding.

DID YOU KNOW? • Ticks are usually fairly fla t ovals before feeding . After they eat, their bodies expand until almost spherical. • Because a tick has a dart­like anchor below its mouth, its head becomes embedded in the skin and may remain there if the tick is pulled off.

I [ ~<.'IJ NATUREWATCH Ticks are relatively easy to find your skin . An embedded tick in woodlands or fields . Adults should be removed promptly, can often be seen poised with their legs outstretched on the tips of twigs or blades of grass, waiting for potential hosts to pass within reach .

After a walk outdoors, you may at times see a tick crawl­ing on your clothing, or you may find one embedded in

~ LYME DISEASE Lyme disease was initially iden­tified in Lyme, Connecticut, in 1975. It has spread throughout the United States, to Canada, and to several countries in Eur­asia and Africa. The disease is caused by a bacterium, but it is spread by the larvae, nymphs, and adults of the deer tick as well as a few other hard tick

Left: Wood tick species are familiar North American hard ticks. They are more common than the deer tick.

preferably by a physician, with a pair of fine-pointed forceps or tweezers. Do not try to re­move a tick with alcohol, min­erai oil, an insecticide, or heat, because these methods may leave the tick's mouthparts and head in the wound, re-suiting in infection .

species that attack rodents, deer, and humans.

It is important to begin treat­ing the disease with antibiotics as soon as possible. Symptoms usually occur in three stages. A rash normally appears at the site of the bite within a month. Diz­ziness, shortness of breath, and muscle aches follow. Without treatment, there may be bouts of arthritis, memory loss, facial paralysis, or meningitis.

CRAB SPIDER

CLASS Arachnida

ORDER Araneae

FAMILY Thomisidae

A crab spider sits perfectly still on a flower with its forelegs spread apart and waits for an insect to pass by. It then swiftly grabs its

prey and delivers a dose of nerve-stunning poison.

KEY FACTS

SIZE

Length: Usually less than ~ in.

BREEDING

Breeding season: Summer.

Eggs: Laid in silken egg sac that is

attached to a plant and guarded

by the female.

Egg development: 2-3 weeks.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Sedentary, catching prey by

ambush.

Diet: Insects.

Lifespan: About 1 year in temper­

ate climates.

RELATED SPECIES

There are approximately 3,000

species worldwide in the family

Thomisidae. Close relatives include

the jumping spiders of the family

Salticidae and the wolf spiders of

the family Lycosidae. Representa­

tive species from these families are

found in much of North America.

FEATURES OF CRAB SPIDERS

The ambush: Most crab spiders feed by lying in wait with their front legs extended and then pouncing on insects that come within range. Flower-dwelling species often hide on blooms that match their body color. The pink Thomisus onusfus, for example, may settle on pink or purple heather.

Range of crab spiders.

DISTRIBUTION

Crab spiders are found throughout the world except in polar

regions and in the more barren deserts.

CONSERVATION

Although vulnerable to pesticides and loss of habitat, crab spi­

ders are not directly threatened by humans. Their populations

appear to be stable.

Coloration: Varies greatly depending on the species. Some species can

gradually change color to suit their background. Pictured here is the

common white crab spider.

Palps: Two limblike Chelicerae: The two jaws. Each jaw has a base segment tipped with a tiny hollow fang . When the spider bites into a victim, venom flows from a gland in the head, along ducts in the base segment, and out at the fang tip.

appendages on either side of the chelicerae. Both sexes may use them to manipulate food. Those of the male have specialized tips for transferring sperm to the female.

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There are around 3,000 species of crab spider in the world.

These creatures are named for their slight resemblance

to crabs and for their habit of walking sideways or

diagonally, rather than forward like other spiders.

Crab spiders are well camouflaged by their coloring,

which may be a pure hue or a subtle pattern. As a

result, they can simply wait and ambush their prey.

~ HABITS Some spiders are active hunters,

while others trap prey in webs.

Crab spiders use a special tech­

nique-they ambush their prey.

Their main weapon is their col­

oring, which helps camouflage

them against the food source

of their prey.

"Flower spiders" lurk on the

blooms visited by flies, bees,

and butterflies. Misumena vatia is common on white and yellow

flowers like daisies. The male is

dark, but the pure-white female

matches the white petals. The

motionless spider sits patiently

in the white area with its power­

ful front legs wide open. It usu-

ally moves only at the moment

of capturing prey-although if

disturbed, it may creep slowly

under the flower.

Other crab spiders also use

this basic strategy. One of the

strangest is a black-and-white

species from New Guinea that

looks just like a bird dropping.

Many tropical flies and butter­

flies are attracted to bird drop­

pings for the salts they contain.

Any that investigate this spider,

however, very quickly discover

their mistake.

Right: The tiny male picks his time carefully, mating when the female is busy feeding.

~ FOOD &: HUNTING Crab spiders have one of the

most efficient killing techniques

in the animal world. When an

insect lands nearby, a crab spi­

der remains perfectly still, wait­

ing with its front legs open. The

insect usually walks right into

the trap. The spider then snaps

its legs together to trap its prey.

Plunging its fangs into the area

between the victim's head and

thorax, it injects a poison that

causes almost instant paralysis.

left: To await its prey, a crab spi­der opens its front legs wide and does not move.

I DID YOU KNOW? • If a spider is seized by one

leg, it frequently sheds it to

escape. This loss is no problem

for most spiders, but it can

hamper a crab spider, which

needs all its legs to catch prey.

• Crab spiders cannot usually

identify the warning color of

an insect that tastes bad. If a

crab spider kills such a victim,

As a result, the spider does not

waste much energy subduing a

struggling victim, nor does it

attract the attention of forag­

ing birds.

After paralyzing its prey, a

crab spider floods the insect's

body with digestive juices, turn­

ing the insect's insides into liq­

uid. The spider then sucks up

the liquid. All that remains of

the insect is a dry husk, which

the spider drops to the ground.

Right: By injecting a quick-acting venom, crab spiders can subdue much larger insects.

it may abandon it immediately.

• An African crab spider was

once found feeding on a pray­

ing mantis that was about four

times its size.

• The common white crab spi­der also occurs on yellow flow­

ers. To conceal itself, the crab

spider may change to yellow

over several days.

[ "J NATUREWATCH Crab spiders are well camou­

flaged, so they are difficult to

spot. One way to find them is

to examine flowers for seem­

ingly immobile insects. You

may see that one is impaled

on the fangs of a crab spider.

Crab spiders do not chew,

~ BREEDING Like all spiders, a male crab spi­

der uses a special organ on the

tip of one of his palps (see Fea­tures on back) to transfer sperm

to the female. To do this, he

must get dangerously close to

the powerful, short-sighted,

and highly predatory female.

A female flower-dwelling crab

spider usually lets the smaller

male crab spider crawl onto her

back and caress her a little with

his legs before mating. Unlike

many other female spiders, she

makes no attempt to eat him.

The males of other crab spi­

der species must immobilize

their mates if they are to es-

so their victims look intact un­

til they are sucked dry and dis­

carded. If you find a spider,

look for tiny corpses at the

base of its feeding perch . A

female may spend most of

her life on just one plant if it

yields plenty of prey.

cape alive. The common Eur­

opean Xysticus cristatus has an

ingenius technique. He seizes

the female by one leg, then im­

mediately starts circling and

stroking her. In the process he

spins a silken thread that effec­

tively ties her up. This lets him

mate with her and then get

away unharmed.

After mating, the female lays

her eggs in a silken pouch at­

tached to a plant and guards it

closely. The newly hatched spi­

derlings feed at first on their

egg sac. They molt (shed their

covering), like other spiders, sev­

eral times while growing.

BRIMSTONE BUTTERFL V

CLASS Insecta

ORDER Lepidoptera

GROUP 5: INSECTS & SPIDERS FAMILY Pieridae

GENUS & SPECIES Gonepteryx rhamni

The bright yellow brimstone is one of the first butterflies to appear in the spring, emerging from its winter refuge

as the woodland primroses burst into bloom.

KEY FACTS

CHARACTERISTICS

Wings: 2 pairs.

Wingspan: About 2 in.

Legs: 3 pairs.

Mouthparts: Sucking proboscis

(adult); biting jaws (caterpillar).

BREEDING

Breeding season: Early spring in

north; spring to summer in south.

Egg to caterpillar: 1-2 weeks.

Caterpillar to pupa: 3-7 weeks.

Pupa to adult: 12-15 days.

Adult lifespan: Up to 9 months.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Flies during sunny periods.

lives alone or in pairs.

Diet: Adult, nectar and organic

juices. Caterpillar, foliage of buck­

thorn and alder buckthorn.

RELATED SPECIES

The brimstone's closest relative is

the cleopatra butterfly, Gonepteryx

cleopatra.

Range of the brimstone butterfly.

DISTRIBUTION

The brimstone occurs through most of Europe north to south­

ern Scandinavia, and across temperate Asia as far east as Ja­

pan. It is also found in northwest Africa.

CONSERVATldN

Although it is at some risk from agricultural insecticides and

habitat destruction, the brimstone butterfly is numerous and

in no danger.

FEATURES OF THE BRIMSTONE BUTTERFLY

Adult male: Yellow upper wing surface. Characteristic notch on forewings and point on hind wings. Wings of adult female are paler. Both sexes have an orange spot on each wing.

Camouflage: The brimstone hibernates among ivy, where it is concealed by the pale yellow-green and heavy veins of its wing undersides.

I

© MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.

Feeding: The brimstone inserts

its proboscis (mouth­part) into the base of

a tubular flower to ex­tract nectar. In the pro­cess it picks up pollen,

which it transfers to the next flower. This

helps to propagate its food plant.

0160200821 PACKET 82

As an adult, the brimstone lives much longer than most

other butterfly species. This insect feeds throughout the fall

in order to build up its energy reserves. It then settles on

an evergreen plant where it hibernates throughout the

cold winter. The brimstone butterfly then reappears

in the spring sunshine with a flourish of activity.

~ LlFECYCLE The adult brimstone lives up

to nine months-much longer

than most butterfly species. In

the fall it finds a sheltered spot,

frequently among ivy foliage,

and enters the dormant state

called hibernation, having stored

enough energy to survive the

winter. It usually stays hidden

until early spring. It then mates,

lays its eggs, and dies. Adults

that live through the winter

rarely survive into summer.

The eggs hatch in a week or

two, and a caterpillar emerges

from each one. The caterpillar

grows rapidly for three to sev­

en weeks before attaching itself

to a stem and changing into a

pupa. Around two weeks later

the pupa splits open and the

adult hauls itself free, allowing

its wings to expand and hard­

en before it flies off.

In the warmer south the adult

emerges from the pupa in the

early summer and produces a

second, or even a third, gener­

ation. In northern regions the

adult emerges too late to breed

that year. Instead it feeds in the

fall, hibernates, and breeds the

following spring.

Right: The brimstone caterpillar feeds voraciously on buckthorn and alder buckthorn.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING Brimstone caterpillars eat only

buckthorn and alder buckthorn

foliage. The adult female lays

her eggs one at a time near the

tips of the young shoots, and

the caterpillar starts feeding as

soon as it hatches. It usually be­

gins by chewing a hole and then

eats the leaf edge, rapidly strip­

ping it down to the midrib.

The adult generally flies near

buckthorn and alder buckthorn

plants, but it does not eat them.

Like all adult butterflies, it can

only take liquid food. Using its

Left: The coloring of the male brim­stone is much brighter than that of the female.

DID YOU KNOW? • The male's butter-colored

wings may be the origin of

the word butterfly. • Mating brimstones may stay

attached to each other for up

to 24 hours. I • Hibernating brimstones can

survive very severe frosts.

long, tubular proboscis (mouth­

part), it sips energy-rich nectar

from flowers, or it sucks juices

from rotting fruit or fungi to ob­

tain protein.

As it probes flowers for nectar,

the brimstone transports pol­

len from one blossom to anoth­

er, cross-fertilizing plants in the

same way a bee does. The brim­

stone butterfly is one of the main

pollinators of spring flowers such

as woodland primroses, whose

tubular blooms match the but­

terfly's long proboscis.

Right: The long proboscis extracts nectar from slim, tubular flowers such as red valerian.

• The brimstone favors yellow

and purple blossoms, a pref­

erence reflected in its yellow

wings and purplish body.

• When resting, a brimstone

"switches off" so effectively

that a fly may land on it with­

out disturbing it.

I r>;J NATUREWATCH

I The brimstone is most abun­

dant near buckthorn bushes in

open woods, thickets, and hill-

sides. It appears in two waves

each year: the first is in early

spring, when the mature but­

terflies emerge from hiberna-

~ HABITS One of the most sun-loving but­

terflies in Europe, the brimstone

must warm its body thoroughly

in order to fly. It does not fly if

the sun is not out, and by mid­

afternoon it begins seeking a

roost for the night.

Active brimstones are much

easier to spot than perching

ones. In flight the male is par-

tion; the second is in summer

and fall, when the new gener­

ation is in flight.

When perching with its wings

closed, the brimstone is hard

to spot, since it looks like the

leaves on which it has settled.

ticularly conspicuous, but when

he perches and closes his color­

ful wings, the bright yellow is

hidden. The wing undersides

are a paler greenish yellow, with

a leaflike outline that disguises

the butterfly. When the brim­

stone takes off, it seems to burst

out of nowhere into a flash of

sulfur-yellow.

The male brimstone ranges

more widely than the female. He

roams far from his usual breed­

ing areas, possibly looking for a

new site with a resident female.

Left: The camouflaged pupa is attached to the plant's stem by both a silken pad and a girdle.

PERIODICAL CICADA \

CLASS Insecta

ORDER Heteroptera

'" CARD 64

GROUP 5: INSECTS &: SPIDERS \ ~ FAMILY GENUS . -~. Cicadidae Magicicada

Periodical cicadas live much longer than any other insects. After spending many years developing underground, they come up

for a brief period to reproduce, and then they die.

SIZES

Length: 1-1 ~ in.

Wingspan: 2~-3 in.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 17 years in the

North; 13 years in the South.

Mating season: May to June.

No. of eggs: 500-600.

Hatching time: About 1 month.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Solitary except during the

brief mating season, when thou­

sands appear within a few days.

Diet: Plant juices, obtained from sub­

terranean roots as nymphs and from

twigs and shoots as adults. Many do

not feed during their brief adult lives.

RELATED SPECIES

Of the 75 species of cicada in North

America, only 6 belong to the genus

Magicicada. The 3 northern species

mature in 17 years, and the 3 south­

ern ones in 13.

• Range of periodical cicadas.

DISTRIBUTION

Found in woodlands and suburbs in eastern North America,

from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast, but not in Florida.

CONSERVATION

Because of the clearing of forests and development of suburbs

and shopping malls, periodical cicadas are declining throughout

their range. Immature cicadas often tunnel upward after their

long stay under the ground, only to be blocked by pavement.

FEATURES OF PERIODICAL CICAD

Adult: Can be recognized by its black body, colorful wings, and bulging, bright red eyes.

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Nymph: Front leg is modified into a sharp digging claw and used for burrowing. The adult lacks this claw.

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In the northern part of their range, periodical cicadas

require 17 years to mature and emerge as adults. In

southern areas, they take 13 years. At the end of this

period, a huge brood swarms out of the ground. There

are more insects than their predators can handle.

~ HABITS Although periodical cicadas are sometimes called locusts, this term is more correctly used to refer to large grasshoppers. Un­like grasshoppers, cicadas do not jump.

One of the main differences between periodical cicadas and other cicadas is the long time that it takes for periodical cica­das to develop. In the northern United States, as well as south­ern Canada, these insects spend 17 years feeding underground on tree roots. There are three northern species, and the first

to be described was actually given the species name septen­decim (Latin for "seventeen").

Development is faster in the warmer climate of the southern states. There the nymphs (im­mature insects) become adults after 13 years.

A generation of cicadas that emerges simultaneously at the end of a 13- or 17 -year period is called a brood. There may be two or even three broods in one area, but their emergences are always separated by at least four years.

~ lIFECYClE After 13 or 17 years of develop­ment, adult periodical cicadas emerge by the thousands. The males are equipped with sound­producing organs, which they use to make loud, wailing calls that sound like drawn-out rep­etitions of the word pharaoh.

After mating, the females fly to tender shoots of oaks, apples, and other trees. With her sharp egg-laying apparatus, called an ovipositor, each female deposits 500 to 600 eggs under the bark. Once they have mated and laid their eggs, all the adult periodi­cal cicadas die.

Within a month, tiny, whitish

left: When an adult periodical cica­da emerges, it is pale with only two black patches. But it soon darkens.

~ DEFENSES Periodical cicadas survive part­ly because of their large num­bers. Many thousands of these insects suddenly appear all at once. Even though a variety of insect-eating predators, such as birds and skunks, catch thou­sands of these cicadas, that rep­resents only a fraction of the

nymphs hatch. They drop to the ground and work their way down into the soil. There they pierce the roots of trees with their beaks and begin to feed on the nutrient-rich sap.

During their 13 or 17 years as nymphs, young periodical cica­das move around from time to time. They live in small cham­bers in the soil, where they are safe from predators.

After spending 13 or 17 years underground, the nymphs have already lived longer than any other insects. They then crawl up, split their skins, and emerge as adults, ready to mate.

Below: A periodical cicada's beaklike mouthparts begin for back under its head and can pierce plant stems.

population. Thousands more survive for the few weeks they need to mate and lay eggs.

Periodical cicadas' long lifecy­de also protects them. It is sig­nificant that both 13 and 17 are prime numbers-indivisible by smaller numbers. Even if there is more than one brood in an

DID YOU KNOW? • In North America cicadas are often called locusts because in 1634 the settlers at Plymouth, Massachusetts, witnessed a brood of periodical cicadas emerging. Impressed by the huge number of insects, they thought this was one of the plagues of locusts mentioned in the Old Testament. Descen­dants of this brood emerged in Massachusetts in 1991 .

G:J NATUREWATCH Years go by without any sign of periodical cicadas while the nymphs feed quietly on tree roots deep in the soil. Then, in a matter of a few days, thou­sands of adults appear. They swarm out of the ground and fill the air with their loud, wail­ing calls.

area, it is mathematically impos­sible for predators--even ones with lifecycles that take several years-to time their own emer­gences to always match those of periodical cicadas. As a re­sult, there is never a swarm of predators equal to the swarm of cicadas.

• In any emergence of period­ical cicadas, a few individuals miss their cue, coming out of the ground a year before or af­ter the majority of the brood. • One tiny, newly hatched periodical cicada tunneled 20 feet into the ground in search of a tree root suitable for feed­ing. This is equivalent to a hu­man digging with bare hands 1,500 feet into the earth.

left: After a ma­

jor emergence, the ground near the base of a tree is often covered with exuviae, or cast-off nymph­al skins. After the adults die, the exuviae are the only evidence of the emergence.

Once an outbreak has sub­sided and the adults die, little evidence of the cicadas' pres­ence remains. The only signs are empty nymphal skins on tree trunks and dried, brown shoots of various trees, which the females killed when they deposited their eggs.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING Periodical cicadas have beaklike mouthparts. They use these to pierce the stems and roots of plants and then suck out the juices. Cicada nymphs are at­tached to roots and feed for 13 to 17 years during the summer. Many adults do not feed at all during their brief adult lives.

DEATH'S HEAD HAWK MOTH

CLASS Insecta

ORDER Lepidoptera

GROUP 5: INSECTS & SPIDERS

FAMILY Sphingidae

GENUS & SPECIES Acherontia atropos

The death's head hawk moth is one of Europe~ largest moths. The skull-shaped mark on its back has given rise to the superstition that this harmless insect is an evil omen.

KEY FACTS ----- ... -SIZES

Adult wingspan: 5 in.

Caterpillar: 5 in. long.

lIFECYCLE

Eggs: Laid singly on the upper sur­

faces of leaves of food plants.

Development time: In Europe,

from egg to adult in 5-6 months.

In Africa, there may be 2-3 broods

a year.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Fast-moving, night-flying,

and migratory.

Diet: Larva eats foliage of potato

and other plants. Adult eats nectar,

sap, and honey.

lifespan: At least 2-3 weeks in the

adult form, possibly longer.

RELATED SPECIES

There are 2 other species in the ge­

nus Acherontia. One, A. lachetis, is

found in India and Southeast Asia .

The other, A. styx, lives in the Mid­

dle and Far East.

Range of the death's head hawk moth.

DISTRIBUTION

The death's head hawk moth ranges from Africa north as far as

the Shetland Islands, west to the Azores, and east to northern

Iran as a migrant.

CONSERVATION

The death's head hawk moth is common throughout much of

its range. This moth is less likely to breed in regions of Europe

where insecticides are used on potato crops.

LlFECYCLE OF THE DEATH'S HEAD HAWK MOTH

Adult: A large, robust moth. Hairy abdomen with a rounded end. Male and female are similar in appearance, although the male is slightly smaller. Visible claws on the feet for clinging to leaves.

Coloration: Forewings are marbled black and brown , with buff spots and bands. Hind wings are yellow with black bands. Abdomen is striped black and yellow. Top of thorax has yellow "skull" mark.

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Egg: Tiny green egg laid singly on the upper surface

of a food plant leaf.

/1 .. )

. ,1 '. Caterpillar: Up to 5 inches

long. Brightly colored, with a "horn" at its rear end to deter predators.

It feeds on the potato and other plants. If it is touched , it makes a squeaky

clicking sound .

Pupa: Encased in a fragile brown cocoon. Squeaks when touched.

Stays underground throughout winter.

0160200921 PACKET 92

The death s head hawk moth migrates from Africa as far

north as Scandanavia and Great Britain. Early arrivals may

breed in these regions, but they cannot survive the winter.

This moth is named for the adults distinctive markings,

which resemble a human skull. These marks, along with

the moths ability to make a rhythmic squeaking noise,

have given this insect species a place in European folklore.

~ HABITS The death's head hawk moth of Africa migrates north and east, probably when populations get too dense. It normally reaches Great Britain and Scandinavia.

At all stages of its lifecycle, ex­cept the egg, this moth makes sounds that humans can hear. The caterpillar gives a crackling sound with its jaws, especially when it is picked up. The pupa can squeak, and the adult pro-

duces the same sound to fright­en predators. It is thought that the adult squeaks either by forc­ing air out through its tongue or by rubbing the segments of its abdomen together.

The species' ability to produce sound has probably helped to make humans afraid of it.

Right: The death's head hawk moth uses its proboscis to suck honey from the cells of beehives.

~ LlFECYClE The death's head hawk moth mates in spring. After mating, the female lays her oval green eggs one at a time. She places each egg on the upper surface of a leaf of a food plant, often the potato.

The caterpillar may vary in its coloring. In Europe it is general­ly bright green or yellow with blue or purple stripes. It has sev­eral defenses. It can produce a startling crackling sound when touched, and it is very poison­ous. Also, like many hawk moth caterpillars, it has a downward­

Left: The caterpillar's garish color­ing warns potential predators that it is poisonous.

Right: When it is disturbed, the brown pupa of the death's head hawk moth squeaks.

DID YOU KNOW? • The black and yellow stripes of the death's head hawk moth and its habit of invading bee­hives have earned it the name "bee tyger hawk moth." Mod­ern hives are designed to keep the moth out. • Some other names include "death's head phantom" and "wandering death bird."

curving horn at its rear end, and this may discourage birds from eating it.

The caterpillar feeds ravenous­ly and grows very large-up to five inches in northern Europe. When fully grown, it burrows into the soil and forms a large, fragile cocoon in which it pu­pates. It remains in the pupal state throughout the winter and emerges as an adult the following spring.

Right: The moth's stripes seemed to resemble human ribs, adding to the fear of this insect.

• The genus name, Acherontia, is derived from the name of a river in the mythical Greek un­derworld. The species name, atropos, comes from the name of a Greek goddess who cut the thread of life. The moth's skull mark supposedly looks like the goddess's mask with her scissors underneath.

r' ,~I NATUREWATCH In Europe, the death's head hawk moth is most often seen at the caterpillar stage, feed­ing in potato fields in late sum­mer. These caterpillars are the offspring of early migrants.

In late fall adult death's head hawk moths arrive in Europe.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING Within Europe the death's head hawk moth caterpillar feeds pri­marily on the potato plant. But elsewhere it eats many plants, including the tomato, ash, jas­mine, snowberry, woody night­shade, and cotton.

The adult moth feeds at dusk, using its hard, pointed proboscis (mouthparts) to pierce fruit and suck the juice. It also gets nectar from flowers and takes sap from

They can sometimes be seen around lights.

Farm workers used to find pupae in potato fields when they dug up potatoes using their hands. This happens less often now that crops are har­vested mechanically.

trees. It is fond of honey and will raid a beehive for it. As it moves across a comb, it thrusts its pro­boscis into the cells to suck up the honey. Amazingly, the bees rarely kill the invader. The moth's strong, furry body may be resis­tant to bee stings, or its squeak may protect it. Sometimes the bees do kill the moth. They cov­er its body with wax and leave it in the hive.

BLACK ANT

CLASS Insecta

ORDER Hymenoptera

'" CARD 66

GROUP 5: INSECTS &: SPIDERS

FAMILY Formicidae Lasius niger

The black ant is one of 14,000 species in an enormous family. Although it is called the garden ant, it is found not only in gardens but also inside kitchens, where it often finds food.

KEY FACTS

CHARACTERISTICS

Length: About )il in .

Coloration: Brown to black.

Wings: Only on males and young

queen ants.

BREEDING

Eggs: Laid by queen at a rate of 1

every 10 minutes or so, over a pe­

riod of 6 or 7 years.

Larval development: Varies from

weeks to months, depending on

when the egg hatches.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Social, living in a colony that

has thousands of members.

Diet: Insects, sowbugs, mites, nec­

tar, and honeydew.

Lifespan: A few months for males;

a few years for queen and workers.

RELATED SPECIES

The genus Lasius includes the jet­

black ant, L. fuliginosus, and the

meadow ant, L. flavus.

Range of tne black ant.

DISTRIBUTION

The black ant is found in Great Britain and North America, but

some authorities consider the North American population to

be a separate species.

CONSERVATION

The black ant is abundant throughout its range, despite being

preyed on by birds and killed by humans.

FEATURES OF THE BLACK ANT

Antennae: Serve as the main sensory organs for smell , touch , taste , and hearing .

Eyes: Compound, with many tiny lenses, each reg iste ring an impres­sion of part of what the ant is looking at.

Abdomen: Includes most of the digestive system and other internal organs.

,£) MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

Mouthparts: Include a pair of

mandibles (jaws) that are used for

Legs: Each has 9 segments connected

by movable joints. On each foot there

are 2 hooked claws, which dig into the surface as the ant

walks and enable it to dig tunnels, scale

heights, and walk upside down.

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THE NEST OF A BLACK ANT COLONY

The chambers and tunnels extend from the surface to a depth of 3 feet or more . One chamber is oc­cupied by the Queen and her eggs (1). Other rooms serve as resti ng places or hold pupae (2) , larvae (3) , or food . Eggs, pupae, and ~~ vae are regularly moved between rooms to maintain the appropri­ate temperature for their particu­lar stage of development.

0160200991 PACKET 99

The black ant is one of the common species in a family

of insects that have evolved an advanced social structure.

Like other ant species, the black ant lives within a large

but well-organized society in which every member has

a clearly defined role. Each ant takes on specific tasks,

working together with the other ants in order to maintain

the colony as well as to ensure its continued survival.

~ CHARACTERISTICS The black ant makes its nest in a variety of places-under low mounds of earth, beneath logs, under stone walks, or in brick­work. The nest consists of a nar­row entrance leading through several small passages to the main chambers, which are con­nected by tunnels. Each room has a different use.

Like nearly all other ant spe­cies, the black ant lives in a very organized colony that has many thousands of individuals. Each member has a well-defined role within one of three positions re­ferred to as castes: queen (fertile, egg-laying female), king (fertile

male), or worker (sterile female). The workers carry out a vari­

ety of tasks. Some tend the eggs and look after the larvae when the eggs hatch. Others build or extend the nest and help main­tain it. Still other workers forage for food, look after the queen, or guard the nest.

The queen spends almost all her life deep inside the colony, laying eggs in a steady stream. In a new colony the first genera­tion of ants develops very quick­ly. They immediately begin to build the nest and look after the queen and the larvae in the sec­ond generation.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING The black ant has a varied diet. It eats large numbers of insects such as beetle larvae and other invertebrates such as sowbugs and mites. In addition, it likes sweet foods such as nectar and especially honeydew.

Honeydew is a kind of sugar­water produced by aphids and related insects. The ant climbs up plants to look for aphids and then "milks" them by stroking them with its antennae. As a

left: Male and young queen black ants use their wings just once, for their sole mating flight.

DID YOU KNOW? • In addition to aphids, there may be various species of sow­bug, scavenging beetle, and springtail living in the black ant's nest. • Each year some of the new­ly hatched females are fertile and have the potential to be­come queens. Whether they do depends on the food they

result of this action, the aphids release the honeydew.

In addition to foraging for the honeydew, the black ant takes a few aphids back to its nest. It then "farms" them-keeping the aphids in special chambers where they can feed on roots. In fall the black ant may collect the aphids' eggs and take them to its nest for the winter. In the spring it puts them out to hatch on suitable plants near the nest.

Right: When the black ant discov­ers food, it announces this by danc­ing and waving its antennae.

eat. Larvae that are to become queens are fed a special liquid produced by certain worker ants. The others are fed only regurgitated food, and they become sterile workers. • The sole reason for the male black ant's existe~ce is for him to fertilize the queen. He usu­ally dies after mating.

r '," , ;~ NATUREWATCH The best time to find black ants is on a warm summer day. Look for a trail of forag­ing worker ants.

To observe a colony, find a stone slab that has an ant trail leading to it. On a hot day if you lift up the slab, you will

~ BREEDING Once a year, generally in July or August, queens and males fly away from their nests to mate. The swarm of insects may be so huge that it disrupts city traffic. The ants mate in the air. In just one mating flight, each queen receives enough male sperm to last for the rest of her lifetime.

After they mate, most of the males die. Each queen returns to the ground and removes her wings by rubbing them against stems and tugging at them with her jaws. She then digs a small

left: Worker black ants tend to the queen while she lays an almost end­less supply of eggs.

see eggs as well as larvae near the surface. The eggs have to be maintained at a regulated temperature, so you may see some workers move the eggs and larvae deeper inside the colony, away from the direct heat of the sun.

hole in the ground to begin a new nest. After sealing herself in, she remains alone in her hole for several months until the first eggs are ready to be laid. Dur­ing that time, she lives on her stores of fat and by absorbing her now useless wing muscles.

The queen lays both fertilized and unfertilized eggs. The fertil­ized eggs develop into females and the unfertilized eggs into males. When the larvae hatch, the queen feeds them with her saliva. They soon change into pupae and eventually emerge as adult ants, becoming part of the growing colony.

PEPPERED MOTH

CLASS Insecta

ORDER Lepidoptera

GROUP 5: INSECTS &: SPIDERS

FAMILY Geometridae

GENUS &: SPECIES Biston betularia

The peppered moth exists in two dramatically different forms­the normal pale version and a dark variation that has evolved

to suit the dirty, polluted landscapes of industrial Europe.

CHARACTERISTICS

Wings: 2 pairs. Wingspan up to 2

in. Female larger than male.

Eyes: Compound in adult.

Mouthparts: Larva has slicing

jaws. Adult does not feed .

L1FECYCLE

Eggs: Laid in Mayor June in bead­

like strings on foliage.

Larva: Hatches in June or July and

feeds for 2 months.

Pupa: Overwinters in soil between

September and May.

Adult: Emerges in May and flies in

May and June.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Solitary; active by night.

Diet: Larva eats foliage of decidu­

ous trees. Adult does not feed.

RELATED SPECIES

Others in the same family include

the magpie moth, swallow-tailed

moth, and common emerald.

Range of the peppered moth.

DISTRIBUTION

Found in parts of North Africa, throughout most of Europe,

and east into temperate Asia.

CONSERVATION

Like most moths, the peppered moth has suffered from the

widespread use of insecticides on agricultural lands. It has also

lost much of its habitat, but the species is not endangered .

-----------------------------------~--~

TWO FORMS OF THE PEPPERED MOTH

Pale form: A male in flight is shown here. This form 's wings are colored

pale ash-gray with dark speckles, mimicking the lichens on tree

trunks and rocks and thus helping to camouflage

the moth at rest.

Antennae: Feathery on male; simple and threadlike

on female.

© MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.

Melanic (dark) form: A male at rest is shown here. This sooty brown form began to become prevalent in the last century, when increasing air pollution from industry blackened tree trunks. In polluted areas the dark moths fared better than their pale counterparts because their coloring helped conceal them from birds.

0160200941 PACKET 94

The peppered moth is a good example of evolution in action.

The increased prevalence of the dark form in grimy industrial

regions illustrates the role of natural selection in changing

living creatures to suit altered surroundings, such as a newly

polluted landscape. The change from a pale to a dark color

may seem superficial, but over millions of years changes like

this can lead to the development of a completely new species.

~ LlFECYClE Like all the moths, the peppered moth goes through four phases: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Af­ter hatching from the egg, the larva feeds and grows. During the pupal stage, the larval body changes into a sexually mature adult. The adult does not grow at all, devoting its energies to mating and laying eggs.

The whole cycle, or metamor­phosis, occupies little more than a year. The adult female lays her eggs in late spring. She attaches them in beadlike rows to the leaves of deciduous trees such as oaks and beeches. The larvae hatch in a few days and begin feeding on the foliage, growing

rapidly and shedding their skin several times.

By late summer the larvae are fully grown and are ready to pu­pate. Each works its way down to the ground, burrows into the soil, and builds itself an earthen cocoon before shedding its skin to reveal a shiny brown pupal case. It spends the winter in this state, protected from the frost by the insulating soil. In spring it emerges as a winged moth. As soon as it can fly, the adult takes off to mate and dies soon after the female lays her eggs.

Right: On a tree trunk blackened by soot, a dark moth is better cam­ouflaged than a pale one.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING The adult peppered moth does not need to feed since it rarely lives longer than a week or two -just long enough to mate and lay eggs. As a larva, it stores up enough food energy to support its transformation into an adult and its brief adult life.

Using its biting jaws, the larva cuts through energy-rich tree foliage. It nearly always feeds at night, spending the day in Left: The pale peppered moth is pat­terned to resemble lichen, using this mimicry to avoid predators.

DID YOU KNOW? • The advantages of the dark form were revealed in a study made in the 1950s. A scientist released both dark and light forms. The dark moths fared better in smoky towns, while the pale forms flourished in the country. • The peppered moth's family is named Geometridae because

a state of sticklike immobility to hide from predatory birds.

Unlike most caterpillars, the peppered moth larva feeds on a variety of leaves, including oak, elm, beech, birch, willow, plum, and even bramble foliage. As a result, female peppered moths can lay their eggs on a range of plants, enabling the species to colonize different types of habi­tats throughout their range. Right: The twiglike larva of the pep­pered moth feeds at night, chewing through foliage.

all the larvae walk by looping their bodies in a way that re­sembles the dividers used by mathematicians in geometry. • Many moths have evolved dark forms, but the peppered moth is the best-known exam­ple of industrial melanism. Mel­anin is the dark pigment that helps disguise the moth.

m~.J NATUREWATCH The peppered moth rests on tree trunks and in foliage. It is hard to ~ee unless it is a poor match with its background. Dark and light forms frequent­ly occur together, but there are always more of the better­matched variety since birds

~ DEFENSES As a larva and an adult, the pep­pered moth's main defense is camouflage. The larva looks like a twig, enhancing this effect by holding itself stiff when it is not feeding or is threatened. Its skin color is always a close match to the bark of the tree on which it feeds, varying from yellowish green on willow to ash gray on oak and brown on birch.

But camouflage is not a per­fect defense, so the larva has an­other trick. If spotted, it drops to the ground and lies motionless. Most predators seeking live prey ignore an animal that seems to be dead, even if they are able to find it again.

catch the mismatched insects. A female moth has simple,

threadlike antennae. The male is smaller, with complicated, feathery antennae with thou­sands of sensory cells that can detect the female's fragrance from far away.

The normal adult is a pale col­or with dark speckles, which dis­guises it when it rests on a tree covered with lichens. But in an industrial area, where trees have lost their lichens because of pol­lution, peppered moths tend to be dark, matching bark that has been blackened by soot. Since light-colored moths in these re­gio.ns are more visible to preda­tors, it is mostly the dark moths that survive to breed.

First discovered in 1848, pop­ulations of dark peppered moths flourished due to the Industrial Revolution. Now, as control of air pollution improves, the dark forms are decreasing.

CARD 68 ]

PURPLE HAIRSTREAK BUTTERFL V ~ "'__ GROUP 5: INSECTS &: SPI~ ,.-(

CLASS ORDER FAMILY GENUS &; SPECIES Insecta Lepidoptera Lycaenidae Quercusia quercus

The purple hairstreak is a high-flying butterfly that is found in European oak forests. As it flits among the topmost

branches, its iridescent wings glint in the sun.

KEY FACTS

CHARACTERISTICS

Wings: 2 pairs.

Wingspan: 1 ~ in.

Eyes: Compound.

Mouthparts: Larva has 1 pair of

chewing mouthparts. Adult has

sucking proboscis.

LlFECYCLE

Eggs: Laid singly on oak twigs.

Larva: Brown. Feeds for 6 weeks.

Pupa to adult: 5 weeks.

Adult lifespan: 4 weeks.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Flies by day high in trees.

Diet: Larva, mainly oak foliage.

Adult, honeydew and nectar.

RELATED SPECIES

The black hairstreak, Stryrnonidia

pruni; white-letter hairstreak, S. w­alburn; green hairstreak, Cal/ophrys

rubi; and brown hairstreak, Thecla

betulae, are the closest relatives.

Range of the purple hairstreak butterfly. ==--=====

DISTRIBUTION

The purple hairstreak is found in Europe as far east as Turkey,

but not in the far north. This butterfly also occurs on the north­

ernmost tip of Africa .

CONSERVATION

Like most butterflies, the purple hairstreak has suffered from

deforestation and the widespread use of insecticide sprays.

THE PURPLE AND BROWN HAIRSTREAK BUTTERFLIES

Purple hairstreak: Male has purple iridescence over most of his wings, which are dull brown when light is not reflected off them. Wings are edged with white. Each hind wing has a small "tail."

© MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN USA.

Brown hairstreak: Male is brown allover, with orange patches on "tails" of hind wings. Female has broad orange bands across forewings.

0160200951 PACKET 95

The purple hairstreak is a glowing example of butterfly

iridescence. It is essentially dull colored, but it gleams with

rich purple when the sunlight is reflected off of its wings.

Although it is one of the most common hairstreaks, this

species is rarely noticed because it flies high and is elusive.

~ CHARACTERISTICS A butterfly's color comes from

the minute scales that cover its

wings. The actual wings under­

neath the scales are stiff, trans­

parent membranes.

The purple hairstreak's wing

scales are mostly dark brown,

but some are finely etched with

ridges that act like microscopic

prisms, scattering light and re­

flecting it as an iridescent pur­

ple. The intensity of the purple

varies depending on the angle

of the light, and the color may

seem to flash on and off as the

butterfly flutters its wings. This

bright coloring can be a disad­

vantage, making the butterfly

obvious to predators like birds.

The male flies higher than the

female. He patrols his territory

and swoops down on any rival

males or other intruders such as

wasps. Occasionally the purple

hairstreak flies down to a forest

clearing to feed or bask in the

sun. The female descends more

often than the male, but she is

not as brightly colored and is

therefore harder to spot.

Like all butterflies, the purple

hairstreak must warm up in the

sun to bring its flight muscles up

to their working temperature.

So on cloudy, cool days it may

not fly at all.

~ FOOD & FEEDING The adult purple hairstreak lives

for only about one month. So it

needs food only to supply ener­

gy for breeding and flying. It

gets this food in the most con­

centrated form available: sugar.

Most butterflies obtain sugar

from nectar, the syrup secreted

by flowers to attract insects. Al­

though the purple hairstreak

drinks nectar, it gets most of its

sugar from tree sap.

Trees are often plagued by

sap-sucking aphids. Tree sap is

mostly sugar with a little pro­

tein. To obtain enough protein,

Left: The male hairstreak is the more conspicuous sex because his wings reflect more purple.

~ID YOU KNOW? • Although it is the most com-

mon hairstreak in northern Eu­

rope, the purple hairstreak is

very rarely seen.

• The purple hairstreak's scien­

tific name comes from the Lat­

in word quercus, which means

aphids must eat far more sugar

than they need, so they get rid

of the excess in the form of a

sugary secretion called honey­

dew. In summer honeydew falls

onto trees' lower leaves, where

the purple hairstreak feeds on it.

Uncoiling its long proboscis, or

mouthpart, it sucks the sugary

solution into its stomach. Some­

times a rich source of honeydew

attracts a large number of pur­

ple hairstreaks, which create a

spectacular sight as they flutter

from one leaf to the next on iri­

descent wings.

Right: The white "hairstreak" on the underside shows when the but­terfly folds its wings.

"oak tree," and reflects the fact

that the oak is the caterpillar's

food plant.

• A dark area on the forewings

of the male emits a powerful

scent known as a pheromone that helps attract mates.

I r{;;~ NATUREWATCH The adult purple hairstreak is

most likely to be seen feeding

on honeydew from an aphid­

infested tree. The caterpillar

can be found on leaves of oak

~ lIFECYCLE Like most insects, the purple

hairstreak has a multistage life­

cycle lasting about a year. It be­

gins life as an egg, hatches as

a feeding caterpillar, and then

enters a transformation stage

called the pupa. Eventually the

adult butterfly emerges from

the pupa. It mates and lays its

eggs, starting the cycle again.

The female purple hairstreak

lays her eggs on oak twigs dur­

ing july. The eggs are dormant

through fall and winter, then

hatch in April, when the oak

Left: The brown caterpillar of the purple hairstreak feeds on young oak leaves.

trees, but it falls off if touched.

With binoculars, the purple

hairstreak can be seen flying

high in the trees or basking

in the sun.

trees are budding. The tiny cat­

erpillars immediately start eat­

ing the tender foliage. Several

caterpillars feed on one shoot,

spinning a silken net to hide

themselves from predators.

The caterpillar grows for six

weeks, shedding its skin several

times. It then pupates in a bark

crevice or under leaf debris on

the ground. In five weeks the

adult butterfly emerges.

After its wings have expanded

and hardened, the butterfly be­

gins looking for a mate. Within

a few days a female may lay her

eggs. Soon after mating and

egg laying, the butterfly dies.

MEADOW BROWN BUTTERFLY

CLASS Insecta

ORDER Lepidoptera

GROUP 5: INSECTS &: SPIDERS FAMILY Satyridae

GENUS & SPECIES Maniola jurtina

The meadow brown is one of the most common butterflies in Europe. The primary reason for its success is the great abundance of its main requirement-grass.

CHARACTERISTICS

Wings: 2 pairs.

Wingspan: Female, up to 2 in.

Male, 1% in.

Legs: 3 pairs, with 1 pair nonfunc­

tional.

Mouthparts: Sucking proboscis

(adult); biting jaws (caterpillar).

LlFECYCLE

Breeding season: From May to

September.

Caterpillar to pupa: 8-9 months.

Pupa to adult: 1 month.

Adult lifespan: Up to 2 months.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Flies throughout summer

on sunny and cloudy days.

Diet: Adult, nectar and organic

juices. Caterpillar, grasses.

RELATED SPECIES

Close relatives include the gate­

keeper and grayling and other

"browns" such as the speckled

wood, ringlet, and marbled white.

• Range of the meadow brown butterfly.

DISTRIBUTION

The meadow brown butterfly inhabits a range from Europe

south to North Africa and north to southern Scandinavia,

extending east to the Ural Mountains and Iran.

CONSERVATION

The meadow brown is at some risk from agricultural insecticides

and habitat destruction. But it appears to be flourishing and is

not thought to be in any danger.

FEATURES OF THE MEADOW BROWN BUTTERFLY

Female resting: Wings close to reveal the duller undersides, which camouflage the butterfly against grass and leaves.

© MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILE'M PRINTED IN U.S.A.

Female: Much brighter than the male. A large single eye­spot stands out against the orange patch on each of her forewings.

0160200831 PACKET 83

The meadow brown is one of Europe's least spectacular

butterflies, but it is also one of the toughest. It is capable of

flying during weather that would keep almost every other

species from taking to the air. The meadow brown is also

unusual because the female is much brighter than the

male. The opposite is true of most other butterfly species.

~ HABITS Most butterflies are unable to fly

without the heat of the sun to

warm them. As a result, they dis­

appear on cloudy days, saving

their energy until the sun comes

out. The meadow brown, how­

ever, seems to have extra ener­

gy reserves, since it keeps flying

even in a light drizzle. This but­

terfly is most common on grass­

land, especially long grass. But

it also flutters through gardens,

farm fields, and woods.

The male is duller than the big-

Right: The caterpillar changes into a pale green pupa at the base of a food plant.

ger female, but both have drab

coloring that camouflages them

well. A resting meadow brown

is difficult to see, especially in

dead grass or fallen leaves. The

undersides of the forewings are

pale orange, but when slipped

behind the brown hind wings,

they seem to vanish.

~ LlFECYClE The meadow brown's life is over

within a year. It spends most of

the year as a caterpillar and only

a few weeks to two months as a

winged adult.

After emerging as an adult in

spring or early summer, the male

flies off to find an unmated fe­

male. If he is successful, the cou­

ple performs an aerial courtship

dance. Then they mate, linking

the tips of their abdomens to

transfer sperm.

The female spends some time

searching for suitable grasses on

which to lay her eggs. She de­

posits each egg on a separate

Left: The female meadow brown has an eyespot on each forewing.

DID YOU KNOW? • The meadow brown is fre­

quently afflicted with tiny red

mites that suck blood from the

joints in its external skeleton.

• Meadow browns sometimes

patrol up and down hedges

without actually crossing them.

The hedges apparently act as

blade. The caterpillar immedi­

ately starts feeding on the grass

after hatching. It molts (sheds its

skin) several times as it grows

during summer and early fall. In

winter it is mostly dormant, wak­

ing only in mild spells to feed.

By midspring the caterpillar is

fully grown. It goes through its

final molt in Mayor June and

turns into a pupa. It spends a

month in this transitional stage,

attached to a grass stem by a

pad of silk. During this time, its

body breaks down and reforms.

When it finally emerges from the

pupa, it is a winged adult.

Right: The nocturnal caterpillar feeds for eight or nine months.

boundaries between territories.l • In the warmer parts of the

meadow brown's range, the

caterpillars may develop so

quickly that they emerge as

adults during their first sum­

mer. They then lay eggs that

produce a second generation.

1'I:nJ NATUREWATCH The meadow brown is one of the only butterfly to be seen.

the most common butterflies The female has orange wing

in Europe. It thrives wherever flashes, while the male is dark-

there is enough grass to feed er and smaller. Variations are

its caterpillars. It flies through- common, with some individ-

out the warmer months, and uals possessing much larger or

I on clou~ it is frequently __ s_m_a_lIe_r_e_y_es_p_o_ts_. ____ ---I

~ FOOD &: FEEDING As an adult, the meadow brown

can feed only on liquids, which

it sucks up through its long, tu­

bular proboscis (mouthpart). In

order to obtain fuel for flying, it

feeds on rotting fruit and flower

nectar-energy-rich foods that

have high sugar contents.

Flowers produce nectar to at­

tract insects such as butterflies,

which become dusted with pol­

len as they feed. They then car­

ry the pollen to other flowers,

fertilizing the unripe seeds.

Left: When mating, the male and female meadow browns join the tips of their abdomens.

Flowers benefit if the butterfly

visits many plants of the same

species, so each flower provides

just enough nectar for a taste.

Eager for more, the butterfly

moves on to the next flower.

The meadow brown favors the

nectar of grassland plants such

as thyme and scabious.

The caterpillar has a different

diet. Instead of a sucking pro­

boscis, it has very strong jaws

for chewing tough grass such as

meadow grass. It feeds on great

quantities to build up the re­

serves it needs for its transfor­

mation into an adult.

'" CARD 70 COMMON WHIRLIGIG BEETLE '~. " GROUP 5: INSECTS & SPIDERS "-' .

CLASS ~ ORDER FAMILY GENUS & SPECIES Insecta ~ Coleoptera Gyrinidae Gyrinus natator

The common whirligig beetle is a sociable creature that lives in groups on fresh water. A tireless predator, it spends most of its time darting across the surface looking for small insects and their larvae.

CHARACTERISTICS

Length: Larva, about ~ in. Adult,

less than 1. in .

Coloration and form: Larva is

slender, with about 1 3 sections

plus gills. Adult is shiny bluish

black, with an oval body.

Mouthparts: Adult has pointed

mandibles. Larva has a perforated

sucking canal.

BREEDING

Breeding season: March to April.

Eggs: Laid end to end or in clus­

ters . underwater.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Sociable. Feeds by day; flies

by night to new habitats if neces­

sary. Adult hibernates in winter.

Diet: Insects and their larvae, espe­

cially mosquitoes.

RELATED SPECIES

There are more than 700 species in

the family Gyrinidae.

• Range of the common whirligig beetle.

DISTRIBUTION

The common whirligig beetle is found in Great Britain and Eu­

rope, south to northern Spain, north to southern Norway and

Sweden, and east to the Black Sea.

CONSERVATION

The common whirligig beetle is in no immediate danger. How­

ever, some local populations are threatened by drainage or pol­

lution of their watery habitats.

FEATURES OF THE COMMON WHIRLIGIG BEETLE

Larva

Gills: Slender appendages that enable the larva to breathe un­derwater.

Body: Slender and segmented into about 13 sections. Twice as long as that of the adult.

Adult

'i;' MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILE TM PRINTED IN U.s.A

Body: Hard . shiny black sur­face . Elytra (out­er wing cases) protect the wings.

Legs: Long front pair. Two hind

pairs are much shorter and are used to propel

the beetle on the water surface.

0160200871 PACKET 87

The common whirligig beetle can fly, leap, dive, and even

walk on water. It is a dizzying sight as it constantly darts

across the surface of a calm pond. This restless behavior

enables the shiny black beetle to escape from predators

or to pounce on another insect in just a split second.

~ HABITS Adult common whirligig beetles

live in groups on still or sluggish

fresh water. They spend most of

the day dashing over the sur­

face of the water.

Surface tension makes the top

of the water a springy "floor"

for this beetle. Its light body

weight, spread over six legs, al­

lows it to walk across the water

without breaking the elastic sur­

face. But at any sign of danger,

the beetle dives underwater.

There it moves by beating its

two short hind pairs of legs up

to 60 times a second. Very small

blades on the legs fan out on

each backward thrust to propel

the beetle forward . The insect

also uses this method to move

on the su rface.

Unlike some other beetle spe­

cies, the common whirligig bee­

tle flies very well. So if its watery

home begins to dry up, it can

fly to a new area.

~ LlFECYCLE After hibernating in the winter,

the common whirligig beetle

mates in the spring . The female

lays her eggs end to end or in

clusters on underwater plants.

The slender larva that emerges

after several weeks is about half

an inch long, twice the adult's

length. Unlike the adult, the lar­

va spends almost all of its time

underwater. It takes its oxygen

directly from the water, using

10 pairs of slender gills. In con­

trast, the adult breathes air.

The whirligig larva preys on

creatures such as midge larvae.

Its long legs have sharp claws,

and each of its mandibles (jaw

pincers) has a canal through

Left: Common whirligig beetles gather on the water, moving rest­lessly in search of food.

Right: When handled, some whirli­gig beetles give off an odor similar to the scent of pineapples.

DID YOU KNOW? • A whirligig beetle can jump more than three feet, or 200

times its body length. That is

the equivalent of a rabbit leap­

ing more than 250 feet.

• A relative of the common

which it is able to suck fluid out

of its prey.

The larva builds a cocoon out

of mud on a plant beside the

water's edge. Unaccustomed

to moving outside of its aquat­

ic home, the larva contorts itself

uncomfortably during the con­

struction. The whirligig spends

its pupal stage in the cocoon

and emerges as an adult in Au­

gust or September.

Right: The larva's front three pairs of appendages are legs. The others are gills.

whirligig, native to Southeast

Asia, measures one inch long.

Although it is over four times

longer than the common Eu­

ropean species, it is also able

to skim the water's surface.

k:i~ NATUREWATCH The best time to see the com­

mon whirligig beetle is in Au­

gust or September, after the

youngest beetles have come

out of their pupas.

~ FOOD & FEEDING The adult common whirligig

beetle feeds mainly on mosqui­

toes, but it also finds other in­

sects and their larvae under or

on the water. Since its hind legs

propel it effectively, this beetle

can use its much longer front

legs to catch food. Each foreleg

has a sharp claw to grasp the

catch, which is often a dead

Left: The usually active common whirligig beetle floats on the wa­ter 's surface when resting.

These insects can be seen on

fresh water, searching for prey.

But they must be approached

cautiously, since they will dive

underwater if disturbed.

insect floating on the water.

Each of the beetle's eyes have

two parts that work much like

bifocal glasses. As a result, the

insect can see above and below

the water at the same time.

This whirligig can face fierce

competition when it hunts. It is

always on the lookout for pred­

atory insects, birds, and fish . If

cornered, it secretes a milky liq­

uid and tries to escape through

the cloudy water.