April 2020 – Discover-Nature

Naiad

At this time of year, creeks, rivers, marshes and ponds are filling with water from melting snow and spring rains. Dragonflies and damselflies are two animal groups to watch for in these wetland areas.

You may not see many of them flying around your backyard or local ponds yet. The ones we love to watch flitting over the ponds and showing off their aerial skills are adults. Each summer, males & females will mate and lay eggs in submerged plant stems, mud-banks, damp logs or directly into the water. After two to six weeks, eggs will hatch into naiads (pronounced nay’-ed), sometimes called nymphs, and they will live in the ponds for several months to several years, depending on the species.

A naiad is a formidable predator. The abdomen contains a set of openings through which the naiad can propel water at jet force pushing it through the pond at incredible speeds. The lower jaw of this insect is about one-third the length of the entire body. When it is not eating, this jaw remains at rest under the head. But when hunting, the lower jaw can shoot out to stab its prey. All dragonflies are in the insect order Odanata, a Greek word meaning ‘tooth’. An excellent short video can be found at A Baby Dragonfly’s Mouth Will Give You Nightmares | Deep Look

Naiads can be placed into three groups: ones that crawl, ones that climb or ones that burrow. The crawlers have long legs, drab colors and move slowly along the bottom of ponds. Climbing naiads can be found on dense vegetation in quiet ponds. Burrowers can be found in muddy banks along faster flowing creeks and streams.

Try this activity to learn more: take a dip net or small container and scoop up some of the soft mud at the bottom of a pond. Pour that out into a shallow, light colored tray. Keep it shaded and wet, so any naiads are protected until you return them to the pond. With a little luck, you should be able to spot one or two of them. Can you identify their color? Can you find their lower jaw and see how it moves? Can you see the openings for water intake and jet propulsion along the back underside of the abdomen?

Come back in the early morning or late afternoon of a summer day, when temperatures start to soar, to see if you can spot a naiad climbing out of the water onto plant stems or leaves and molt one final time to reveal its wings and fully formed adult body.

Check out these links to learn more about common dragonflies in Illinois: https://fieldguides.fieldmuseum.org/guides/guide/380

http://www.museum.state.il.us/ismdepts/zoology/odonata/

Garter Snakes

At this time of year, as soon as the daytime temperatures start to reach into the forties and above, we begin to see snakes coming out of their winter dens. Two common snakes in DuPage County are both garter snakes, from the genus Thamnophis which includes 30 species worldwide.

The Eastern Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis and the Plains Garter Snake, Thamnophis radix spend the winter in underground dens containing several dozen to several hundreds of individuals. Winter is a period of dormancy where these snakes enter brumation, an extreme slowing down of their metabolism.

Eastern Garter Snake, *Thamnophis sirtalis*, by DonArnold

A garter can be up to 30″ long, black/brown backs, yellow stripes on their sides and a gray-green belly. Usually found in meadows, light forests, marshes and vacant lots, they enjoy a warm spot such as open rocky/paved surfaces warmed by sunlight or hanging out in bushes or logs in the sun. Their meals include insects, earthworms, slugs and fish. Nights are spent under logs, rocks or leaf litter protected from wind and rain.

There are a variety of methods used to study snake species, one of which involves using cover boards. Boards are approximately two square feet, made of plywood, aluminum siding or heavy rubber. These are placed in likely spots where snakes will be found. The snakes use the boards during the day for shelter, rest and warmth. When snakes are found under the boards we identify each snake, weigh and measure it, take lots of pictures and note any markings or injuries. We also record location, weather, time of day and any activity observed. Finding a variety of individuals helps to establish population numbers; finding the same individuals more than once helps to identify whether snakes are moving to different locales during the year.

Spring Wildflowers

We may not be able to tell exactly when winter ends and spring begins, but the plant community all around us has determined that the change has already happened for this year. With the longer days and warming weather comes myriad changes in the plant community. This is the chance for us to observe many species that come and go very quickly at this time of year. These are the wildflowers of spring, and a few early ones to look for on your walks are listed below.

*Dodecatheon meadia*, Shooting Star by Sue

One of the more showy flowers is Shooting Star, Dodecatheon meadia. A delicate pink, lilac or white bloom droops from a single tall stalk in the middle of a grouping of lance-shaped leaves. The plant may stand from 6″ to 20″ high. The flowers form a cone surrounding the stalk with lobes bent backwards. This plant is pollinated by female bumble bees that collect the yellow powder-like pollen by vibrating the anthers with two or three short sonic bursts called buzz-pollination. The place to observe all this activity includes brightly lit open woods and meadows.

Virginia Bluebells, *Mertensia virginica* by Sue

Virginia Bluebells, Mertensia virginica, may not be in full bloom, yet, but will soon be spectacular in their showiness. They are found in rich, damp woodlands, many times along streams and rivers. In many areas, they can be found growing in great swaths covering large areas of the forest floor in open woodlands. Trumpet shaped flowers nodding from a long stalk are about an inch long, pink when young but turning to a beautiful, rich hue of blue.

Dutchmans Breeches, *Dicentra cucullaria* by Sue

Dutchman’s Breeches, Dicentra cucullaria, is a common species found in open, dry woodlands. The flower, in white or pink, appears as if someone is hanging out their trousers to dry. The green base of the plant is located far below the naked flower stalk and is composed of several fern like leaves. This flower is mainly pollinated by bumblebees, who have a longer proboscis than honey bees, allowing them to tap the flower for its nectar.

Bloodroot, *Sanguinaria canadensis* by Sue

Another showy but short-lived bloom in the woods at this time is Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis, found in dry woodland areas. Sanguine, an adjective for the color of blood, appropriately describes the juice derived from the plant. A single leaf divided into five to nine deep round lobes clasps the flower stalk, wrapping around the base. A single white flower rises 3″-6″ above the leaf. The flowers contain no nectar, but attract a variety of female bees as well as the false blister beetle to collect pollen.

Spring Peepers

Spring Peeper – a lyrical name for a wonderful little singer in the woods at this time of year. Most often heard in the late evening or through the night, these small frogs have some interesting traits.

Pseudacris crucifer, Spring Peeper by DonArnold

They are hard to find due to their small size, 20mm-25mm or .8″-1″ when fully grown. A little large than an adult’s thumbnail! And their coloration provides wonderful camouflage from shades of brown, gray or olive skin. The belly is cream or white, and the back is marked with a dark cross as well as darker bands marking the legs.

Spring Peepers are native to our area and can be found in marshy areas or light woods near freshwater ponds. They are good climbers but prefer to stay near the ground, burrowing into leaf litter whenever it is available. At this time of year, larger populations can be found near their preferred breeding habitat which is clear, clean freshwater ponds with no fish.

Peepers breed in early spring time when males start to call for females in the early evening and on into early morning. Only the males call. And their call is a high pitched note which can be heard for several hundred yards in the woods. And they are loud! It is near impossible to have a conversation between two people when standing on the edge of a pond where a chorus of 8 or more of these tiny frogs are singing. Click on the attached audio file to listen.

As you are out walking this spring, take a moment to stop by your favorite pond and listen closely for the sounds of spring.