26 Nebraskaland • January-February 2022
response by that plant to the invasion. One of the most
common and recognizable of those is found on goldenrod
plants. A fl y larva spends the winter inside those golf ball-
sized masses, waiting to emerge as an adult in the spring —
unless parasitoid wasps or woodpeckers get to it fi rst.
Some spiders and moths use silk to build winter hideouts.
Silk moths of various species overwinter in cocoons
constructed with silk and leaves or other plant materials.
Some adult spiders create insulated winter lodging in a
similar manner. If you look carefully for small, odd-shaped
masses of leaves stuck to grasses or branches, you might fi nd
some of those shelters.
No. 4 Patterns
In addition to animals and their various signs, there are
lots of other vignettes of natural beauty available to winter
hikers. Sunrise hikes after a snow or on a frosty morning
are especially great for fi nding interesting patterns. As an
extra bonus, low-angled and low-intensity morning light
can produce excellent conditions for photographing those
discoveries if you so desire.
Accumulations of frost crystals can highlight the edges
of leaves and stems, transforming dull brown landscapes
A jumping spider takes winter shelter inside a leaf attached to prairie grass.
Chinese mantis egg case in snowy prairie.
