Arizona Insect Festival, 2015 Activities and table layout.

Arizona Insect Arizona Insect Festival, 2015Festival, 2015

Activities and table Activities and table layoutlayout

Make an Make an ObservationObservationWhat is an observation? What is an observation? The action of looking at something very closely to gain The action of looking at something very closely to gain information or learn about it in more detail. information or learn about it in more detail.

Activity 1

www.usanpn.org/species-search http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/beauty/Sky_Islands/plants/Funastrum_hartwegii/index.shtml

www.usanpn.org/species-search

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/Gardening-Handbook/PDF-files/GH-026--orange-dog-caterpillar.pdf

www.usanpn.org/species-search

Papilio cresphontes

LEAVES

http://www.citrusvariety.ucr.edu/citrus/mexican.html

www.usanpn.org/species-search

Draw or describe….Draw or describe….What time of year do you think each of the things in the What time of year do you think each of the things in the pictures happens in our neighborhood? What else might you pictures happens in our neighborhood? What else might you see during each of these times of year?see during each of these times of year?

Activity 2

What time is it?What time is it?Draw or tell us a story about what might be happening in Draw or tell us a story about what might be happening in these photos. What does it look like around the photo? these photos. What does it look like around the photo? Which insects or other pollinators might be visiting the Which insects or other pollinators might be visiting the flowers? What time of year do you think this might be?flowers? What time of year do you think this might be?

Activity 3

Name the parts of a Name the parts of a plant.plant.This plant is found in our neighborhood. It is in the milkweed This plant is found in our neighborhood. It is in the milkweed subfamiliy and attracts monarch and queen butterflies to it subfamiliy and attracts monarch and queen butterflies to it because it is a source of nectar (food) and a place for them because it is a source of nectar (food) and a place for them to lay their eggs (shelter). Which parts of the plant do you to lay their eggs (shelter). Which parts of the plant do you see here? Which parts do you think the butterflies use see here? Which parts do you think the butterflies use during the different times of their lives?during the different times of their lives?

Activity 4

Life cycle matching Life cycle matching game.game.Pair the description card with the matching photo where the Pair the description card with the matching photo where the item appears.item appears.

Activity 5

Nature’s Notebook.Nature’s Notebook.Sign up to participate in our citizen science program! Your Sign up to participate in our citizen science program! Your observations on insects, their habitats, and their neighbors observations on insects, their habitats, and their neighbors are very helpful to scientists who want to know how they are are very helpful to scientists who want to know how they are spending their exciting lives and how they can survive spending their exciting lives and how they can survive through changing climate conditions. through changing climate conditions.

Activity 6

Life cycles and Life cycles and interactions.interactions.Put the apple tree and bean plant in the correct Put the apple tree and bean plant in the correct developmental order. When do you think insects might developmental order. When do you think insects might interact with them? At which stage?interact with them? At which stage?

Activity 7

Tucson Phenology Tucson Phenology Trail.Trail.www.usanpn.org/nn/tucson-phenology-trailwww.usanpn.org/nn/tucson-phenology-trail

Featuring monitoring sites at: Featuring monitoring sites at: •The Biosphere2The Biosphere2•Arizona Trail AssociationArizona Trail Association•Oracle State ParkOracle State Park•Tucson AudubonTucson Audubon•Tortolita Middle SchoolTortolita Middle School•Sweetwater WetlandsSweetwater Wetlands•Pima County Cooperative ExtensionPima County Cooperative Extension•Pima County Natural Resources, Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and RecreationParks and Recreation•Tucson Botanical GardenTucson Botanical Garden

• University of Arizona Campus University of Arizona Campus ArboretumArboretum

• Sam Hughes Neighborhood AssnSam Hughes Neighborhood Assn• Sam Hughes Elementary SchoolSam Hughes Elementary School• Mansfield Magnet Middle SchoolMansfield Magnet Middle School• Rincon Heights Neighborhood Rincon Heights Neighborhood

AssnAssn• Tumamoc HillTumamoc Hill• Borton Environmental Learning Borton Environmental Learning

LabLab• Santa Rita High SchoolSanta Rita High School• Santa Rita Experimental RangeSanta Rita Experimental Range

Table layoutTable layout

A

1a

1

1

467

3

1

C B

D

Table layoutTable layoutActivity numbers correspond to activities in this powerpoint4

1aThis was a borrowed dissecting microscope. Other items for observation include:

Data sheets from Nature’s Notebook with definitions for monarch, aphids, orange dog caterpillars, citrus spp.

Plastic monarch life cycle model with hats to cover select phases

Critter keeper with citrus branches and orange dog caterpillars (Giant swallowtail)

Critter keeper with pipevine swallowtail caterpillars

A Butterfly habitat with live queen butterflies, nectar plants, and water

Table layoutTable layoutB General information about Nature’s Notebook, local

phenology opportunities, upcoming workshops, sign up sheet, and phenology. Also including activities from the USA-NPN’s Phenology Activity Book for youth.

DComputer displaying the Nature’s Notebook observation deck with live phenology calendar.