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/985091
JUNE 2018 • NEBRASKAland 19 male NEBRASKAland Visitor Last issue's winner of the Visitor drawing was Sherrill Maxon of Bellevue, Nebraska, who found the velvet ant on page 36. 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 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 16, 17, 19, 26, 40-45, or 63. The velvet ant (Dasymutilla occidetalis), native to Nebraska, is not an ant at all; it is actually a wasp. Both males and females are nearly one inch in length, and have dense, orange to reddish hairs covering their black bodies. Males have transparent wings and look like a typical wasp. But it is the wingless female, scurrying along the ground in late summer, that attracts all the attention. This bold coloring is a warning that she is not to be messed with. While not aggressive, the female can deliver a very painful sting when threatened, earning her the nickname "cow killer." Velvet ants are solitary creatures and do not build a nest or live in a colony. Instead the female lays eggs in ground- dwelling bee and wasp nests. Her larvae parasitize the host larvae, ultimately killing them. Special thanks to Julie Van Meter, State Entomologist, Nebraska Department of Agriculture. Go Ape! By Cara Pesek On Arbor Day, a group of students from Lincoln Southwest High School spent the morning in the treetop canopy at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park. They crossed suspension bridges, balanced on cables, and completed other feats of daring and strength before ziplining back to the ground. It was an experience many said they found both exhilarating and unforgettable. The students were among the first participants to try the new Go Ape Treetop Adventure, which is now open at Mahoney State Park. This new feature, the first of its kind in Nebraska, features six challenge courses high up in the trees. The grand finale of each course is a zipline that whisks participants back to the ground. The Go Ape Treetop Adventure is part of Nebraska's new Venture Parks Complex, which will bring exciting new activities and features to four parks: Mahoney State Park, Platte River State Park, Schramm Park State Recreation Area and Louisville State Recreation Area. "Providing learning opportunities in an outdoor environment is a key pillar of the Venture Parks project," said Nebraska State Parks Administrator Jim Swenson. "Guests gain a sensory experience by venturing into the parks' treetops and have a fun and memorable experience at the same time." To learn more about the course, see photos and video or to book online, visit goape.com. ■ Preston Green of Lincoln crosses a Go Ape structure at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park. male m o eir black female June 23 National Park Service River Adventure Day Niobrara SP, Niobrara June 23 Tour de Nebraska Bicycle Tour Niobrara SP, Niobrara June 24 Show and Shine Car Show Indian Cave SP, Shubert June 26-28 Outdoor Explorer's Camp Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center, Lincoln June 27 Family Fishing Event Prairie Queen Recreation Area, LaVista; Red Willow Reservoir SRA, McCook June 28 Family Fishing Event Carter Lake, Omaha June 29 Dutch Oven Cooking Class Louisville SRA, Louisville June 30 White Perch Tournament Branched Oak SRA, Raymond June 30-July 1 Living History Fort Atkinson SHP, Fort Calhoun PHOTO BY JEFF KURRUS