Wolf Spider

This large wolf spider (in the Genus Arctosa) was brought to ENWYC class on July 21st. These are large hunting spiders that don't construct webs and capture their prey by jumping on it. There are many species of spiders in the wolf spider family, Lycosidae.

Spiders unlike insects which have compound eyes, have simple eyes.Wolf spiders and jumping spiders have excellent vision whereas web building spiders depend on their web to trap prey and have relatively poor vision. Wolf spiders have eight eyes with a fixed focus. The four large eyes seen from above help in accurately judging distance to their prey. Four smaller eyes can be seen in front and below those eyes. Some spiders like the brown recluse have only six eyes.

Cow Killer

The Cow Killer or Velvet Ant (Dasymutilla occidentalis) is a parasitic wasp that lays its eggs in the larvae of bumble bees. Cow Killer larvae destroy the immature bees as they grow. The scarlet color comes from velvet-like hairs on the insect. These red and black warning colors advertise a very unpleasant experience for any person or animal that bothers it. The name "Cow Killer" reportedly comes from the experience of a cow getting this insect trapped inside its hoof, getting stung repeatedly, and reacting with such violence (because the sting is very painful) that it broke it's leg and had to be put down. The Cow Killer's stinger is as long as its body and very thin and flexible.  

Note the stinger extended under the forceps. 

ENWYC Pictures

Playing with Sycamore seed pods, nature's own pinata tree!

Welcome!

Hello Parents and Kids of ENWYC!

Welcome to your new blog. Here, you will be able to view pictures taken by Mr. Tate and yourselves of the plants and creatures you discover in nature. In addition you will also be able to view comments and messages from Mr. Tate. I am Mei-Jing, Mr. Tate's intern, and I will be doing a lot of the managing of the blog for him. If you have any pictures that you want up on the blog please email them to Mr. Tate. We will have pictures up soon!