NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/498175
MAY 2015 • NEBRASKAland 19 NEBRASKAland Visitor and Last issue's winner of the Visitor drawing was Lindsay Vivian of Oakland, California, who found the funnel weaver on page 11. Readers are encouraged to contact NEBRASKAland within 10 days after this issue's publication with the correct page number and name of this issue's "Visitor" – a critter found in Nebraska. We will then gather the correct entries and draw one to win a NEBRASKAland Magazine mug. To enter each month, write: NEBRASKAland Visitor 2200 North 33rd Street, Lincoln, NE 68503. Or e-mail: Tim.Reigert@Nebraska.gov with "Visitor" in the subject line of the message. HINT: This issue's visitor is not on page 3, 4, 7, 12, 19, or 38-41. This spider is in the family Agelenidae, the funnel weavers. These are generally medium sized (body length of 1/3" to 2/3"), brown to grayish spiders, usually with banding on the legs. They do not spin a typical web. Instead they create a dense, horizontal, sheet-like web, low to the ground, with a funnel shape at one end, often hidden in vegetation. The spider hides in that funnel, waiting for prey, typically insects and mites. The web isn't sticky, but prey finds it slow and difficult to walk across; the spider has no such problem. When prey enters the web, the spider rushes out to subdue it. Spiders inject venom through their fangs, or chelicerae, to immobilize prey. Digestive fluids then break down the tissue of the prey, and the spider sucks that liquefied tissue back up as a meal. Bugguide.net is a popular site for identification. Nebraska International Migratory Bird Month By Lindsay Rogers, Wildlife Education Specialist To us, the life of a migratory bird might seem amazing – winters in a warm location like Argentina or the beaches of Central America and summers in the pristine Nebraska Sandhills or the Platte River. But in reality, the life of a migrating bird is hard. Not only is the migration itself hard, but now these migrant species must rely on sound habitat conservation in both its wintering and breeding locations – and many spots along the way. To celebrate migratory birds, their journey, and the critical role they play in our ecosystems, International Migratory Bird Day was established in 1993. Typically celebrated on the second Saturday of May, the Nebraska celebration has been extended throughout the month of May. Across the state, conservation organizations and agencies have worked together to plan events, classes and festivals for all Nebraskans to attend. Join us by finding an event in your area on the Nebraska Migratory Bird Month website, Nebraskabirdmonth.org. ■ Special thanks to Julie Van Meter, State Entomologist, Nebraska Department of Agriculture. Photo by Chris Helzer. A Western meadowlark forages at Box Butte Reservoir State Recreation Area in Dawes County.