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/963498
APRIL 2018 • NEBRASKAland 23 their life. During the larva stage, this insect will build a mobile house to protect itself until it reaches adulthood. The caddis fly will fabricate a house by gluing hard materials such as sand, dried leaves, twigs and small stones to its body using a specially made silk, similar to the silk produced by spiders. This animal will select objects harder than its own shell to build a camouflaged "case." During construction, this animal will even assemble windows into its design – holes that allow its legs to move about. This enables the insect to eat without ever leaving its house. The specialized silk that a caddis fly produces can also be used to make fishing nets to catch food from the flowing river. Depending on the speed of the current and the size of the catch, the caddis fly will make a net with small or large mesh to catch its prey. Monarchs These insects are known for flying thousands of miles to migrate, but they are also amazing architects. Similar to other butterflies, monarchs will build a chrysalis when they change from caterpillar to butterfly. To start, the caterpillar will find a branch where it feeds and hang by its tail using its own silk. The chrysalis is made up of chitin, the same material found in insect shells – like that of a cicada. The chrysalis will change colors from green to translucent during the development of the butterfly within. Honeybees Honeybees live in large groups and share the same hive. To build their hive these bees look for an ideal spot – like a tree trunk, cave, shed or high branch. Then, these insects will actually clean the surface of the spot where the hive will be attached to make it more durable. The hive is built of wax, which is formed into hexagon shapes. This gives the bees the most space, using the least amount of wax. Bees mix the wax with their saliva to make it flexible and then shape it with their jaws. Baltimore Orioles Not only are their colors bright and eye-catching, these birds are among Pictured is a caddis fly in its larva stage while underwater. It builds its mobile residence with widely available materials such as sand, leaves, twigs and small stones, which it "glues" together using self-produced silk, similar to spiders. The metamorphosis of the monarch butterfly is illustrated here starting with the caterpillar in a green chrysalis. This chrysalis will then become translucent as the butterfly is ready to emerge. The chrysalis is made up of chitin – the same material found in insect shells, like a cicada. PHOTO BY KEN BOUC