School is out for the summer. What to do with those kids that have nothing to do but stare at a glowing screen all day. Try to entice them outside with hands-on activities that keep their interest. Here is one of a couple I will share in the coming weeks.
Among the many species of large wasps in our world, some create beautiful nests from raw materials around them. Paper wasps and hornets scrape wood fibers from trees to create their nests. Others use soil to create earthen structures, the most recognizable being that of Organ Pipe Mud Daubers.
Finding the motionless, rigid body of an insect covered with odd spiky protrusions is certain to get anyone’s attention. My friend Shawn Harris had a typical reaction when he asked me about his recent observation – “What the Frankenstein is this!?! My response – “Why, that is just your typical Zombie Wasp. Cool!”
