Connected on 2011-01-07 10:00:00
from Palm Beach Gardens, FL, US
- 8:01 am
- Bugscope Teamsample is being coated...
- Bugscope Teamsample is now pumping down
- 9:03 am
- 9:09 am
- 9:15 am
- 9:21 am
- 9:26 am
- Bugscope Teampresets are done
- 9:49 am
- Bugscope TeamHello Ed!
- Bugscope TeamOur session is scheduled to start at 10 our time. Please let us know if you have any questions in the meantime.
- 9:55 am
- Bugscope Teamhi Paul!
- Bugscope TeamWelcome to Bugscope!
- Bugscope TeamPlease let us know when you have questions about the samples, or the microscope, or anything else -- about the setup..
- 10:00 am
- Bugscope TeamPaul you have control of the microscope whenever you would like to 'drive.' If you click on the lefthand arrow the screen will slide to the right and you can see the presets for today's session. You can click on any one of those, and the microscope will move to that position on the stage.
- Bugscope TeamHi Marni!
- Bugscope TeamWelcome to Bugscope!
- Bugscope TeamPlease let us know if you have any questions.
- TeacherWhen can we start
- Bugscope Teamyou can start anytime you are ready
- TeacherAre these cyc;ical
- 10:05 am
- Bugscope TeamI don't know what type of caterpillars these are
- TeacherAre they phenophase
- Bugscope Teamyou mean do they come around again every year? they do in temperate zones like this.
- Teacherit is a puss
- Bugscope Teamthis is one of the phases of the lifecycle of this butterfly or moth, yes
- TeacherThey do sting whar precautopns can we take
- Bugscope Teamyeah you have to be careful with those
- Bugscope TeamMarni we were not able to include the one puss caterpillar because it was too 'juicy' to go into the microscope
- Bugscope Teampeople can get bad reactions to their stings
- Bugscope Teamthe puss caterpillar was the furry one
- 10:11 am
- TeacherWe are having problems with seeing other parts
Bugscope Teamcan you see the arrows to the left and right of the screen with the image on it?
- TeacherAre they poisonois
Bugscope Teamthe spines under the hair on the puss caterpillars are poisonous
- TeacherYes
- Bugscope Teamso if you click on the lefthand arrow the screen to the left will move to the middle position, and you will be able to see the presets
- Bugscope Teamyou can click on any one of the presets and the microscope will move to that place
- TeacherHow long is their cycle of development
Bugscope Teamthey life for around a year. They go into a cocoon over the winter and emerge in the late spring
- Bugscope Teamthe presets are thumbnail images of places we selected for the microscope to go, so that you can see everything that is on the stub
- TeacherIs that for Flotida
- 10:16 am
- Bugscope Teamnow we are on part of the leaf that you included
- Bugscope Teamthis is one of the stomates -- the little breathing pores that leaves have. they are like spiracles -- the breathing pores that insects have
- Bugscope Teamthis one has a mold spore on one of its 'lips'
- Bugscope Teamactually there are a few mold spores; this is one of the spikey-looking ones
- TeacherCAn we go back to the bug
- 10:21 am
- TeacherAre they dangerous for Rabbits the puss
Bugscope Teami would think that if the rabbit was chowing down on a pant on the ground that the caterpillar was on, the rabbit's nose would be most susceptible to the sting and it could be quite bad for the rabbit
- TeacherWhat are the bumps are its back
- TeacherWhat species of trees do they invade
Bugscope TeamThey can be found on oaks, elms, citrus and other trees, and many garden plants such as roses and ivy.
- 10:26 am
- TeacherAre there any natural predators
Bugscope Teamtachinid flies lay their eggs in puss caterpillars and the larvae feed on them. so those particular flies do not have a problem with them
- TeacherWhat happen to the fur
Bugscope Teamthis is not a puss caterpillar. the puss caterpillar was too juicy to go into the microsope chamber, wihch is under vacuum
- TeacherWhat does it eat
Bugscope Teamthey are garden pests
- TeacherWhat type is this
Bugscope Teamthis is another caterpillar, and I am not sure what kind it is
- Bugscope Teamthese are the tiny claws on the 'prolegs' of the unidentified caterpillar we are looking at now
- 10:31 am
- TeacherAny puss on file
Bugscope TeamI am sorry -- we do not have any puss caterpillars in the Bugscope database
- TeacherAre there related species
Bugscope Teamthe saddleback caterpillar, stinging rose caterpillar, hag moth are in the same category of slug like caterpillars that sting
- Bugscope TeamMost encounters with stinging caterpillars result from accidently brushing against leaves on which they are feeding. The chances of running into these insects are relatively low, but occasionally one species may be very abundant. Also the more time spent in wooded areas, the greater the opportunity for contact. Most of these caterpillars are distinctly marked or brightly colored. This can allow you to see and avoid them. If you find one on yourself, don't brush it off or slap it with a bare hand. Use a stick or other object to remove it carefully. Hollow spines may break off in clothing or gloves.
- Bugscope Teamnot too many natural predators other than the one scot mentioned. The poisonous hairs make it hard for birds and lizards to eat
- TeacherDoes it have eyes
Bugscope Teamthey have simple eyes- i think about 5 on each side. We can see 4 bumps here
- TeacherCan we discourage them
- 10:36 am
- TeacherIf you cut apiece off-would it die
Bugscope Teamyes most likely it will bleed out and slowly die at best
- TeacherHow can you tell
- Bugscope Teamit's easier to tell with adults. let me check and see if I can find somewhere in my book about caterpillars
- TeacherIt is male or female
Bugscope Teamthere is no way to tell a caterpillar is male or female unless you cut them open.
- TeacherAre they dangerous even if they are dead
Bugscope Teamyes the hairs on the caterpillars could still contain some poison so if you touch the hairs, you could sting yourself essentially
- Bugscope Teamwith adults, the males are often more colorful and have a slit at the tip of the abdomen
- 10:42 am
- TeacherCan we go to the mouth
Bugscope TeamI'm afraid the mouth is not seen today because it is facing down. Sorry
- Bugscope Teamcaterpillars do have big fat jaws that open like a gate
- TeacherCan they burrow into fur
Bugscope TeamI suppose they could- and that would be dangerous too. But they will most likely slide off the animal before burrowing (at least I hope they would!)
- Bugscope Teamthe holes you see around the bumps here are where the spines (the caterpillar hair) fell off
- TeacherCan we stop them in any way
Bugscope Teamto get them away use a stick and brush them away. That would be the best. Otherwise for killing, you may have to use pesticides
- 10:49 am
- TeacherIn the future could we try a puss
Bugscope Teamyes that would be very feasible. I have the 2 you sent, and I can keep them until you have another session with us
- Bugscope Teamthere are hairs that are probably from the puss sticking to one of the cocoons you sent
- TeacherAwesome
- TeacherThank you so much
- TeacherWe are changing classes thank you a ton
- Bugscope Teamthese should be from your puss
- Bugscope Teamcaterpillar
- Bugscope Teamsweet. these look like urticating hairs from a spider
- 10:54 am
- Bugscope Teamit's the same deal- the poison is in the spines of the hair
