‘HOPPERS July 2012 Volume 12 Issue 7 Special points of interest: SWAt Rob’s Ramblings Beat the Heat In this issue: SWAt Team 2 Rob’s Rambling 4 Announcements 4 Junior Master Naturalist 5 Speaker Bio 6 Newest Family Member 6 When It’s 114 7 Field Notes in Focus 8 Who we are 9 TEXAS MASTER NATURALIST ELM FORK CHAPTER Texas AgriLIFE Extension AgriLIFE Extension Service Elm Fork Chapter Newsletter TM by Buddy Cole — Honorary Texas Master Naturalist, Elm Fork Chapter, Class of 2001 For over a month now our region has been experiencing a huge crop and garden dam- aging invasion of grasshop- pers devouring everything in their path. A beautiful field of corn between Tioga and Gunter was there one day and nothing but stalks the next and a farmer 6 miles west of Krum was plowing a field where millet only grew a couple of inches due to lack of rain which the 'hoppers ate to the ground. He was plowing the field up and said he got dizzy from seeing the huge clouds and waves of 'hoppers ris- ing in front of his tractor. I had similar comments from a lady near Justin and another in the Mustang community east of Aubrey. Another lady said some county roads had so many 'hoppers on them it was like driving on Rice Krisp- ies snap, crackle and pop. A pest control man said he's been very busy spraying customers’ ornamentals and trees to kill the pests. There are several spe- cies of grasshoppers in Texas and about 1000 species nationwide but this pre- sent pest is the common Differential grasshop- per, Melanoplus differ- entialis, a member of the order Orthoptera. It's usually just called the "yellow" grasshopper since it is mostly yellow but can be a little brownish or olive yellow. It's about 1.75 inches long, winged and can fly well but is not migratory in the true sense but does quickly move from a field they've devoured to a fresh, green one. They do occur all over the U.S. They have brown eyes and two short antennae. The powerful hind legs have a saw- tooth edge on the lower (tibia) leg and black V or chevron shaped markings on the larger upper (femur) leg. Photo—courtesy Buddy Cole Field Notes Grasshopper Invasion Who We Are
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Texas Master Naturalist, Elm Fork Chapter Newsletter Page 1
‘HOPPERS
July 2012
Volume 12 Issue 7
Special points of interest:
SWAt
Rob’s Ramblings
Beat the Heat
In this issue:
SWAt Team 2
Rob’s Rambling 4
Announcements 4
Junior Master Naturalist 5
Speaker Bio 6
Newest Family Member 6
When It’s 114 7
Field Notes in Focus 8
Who we are 9
TEXAS MASTER NATURALIST ELM FORK CHAPTER
Texas AgriLIFE Extension
AgriLIFE Extension Service
Elm Fork Chapter
Newsletter
TM
by Buddy Cole — Honorary Texas Master Naturalist,
Elm Fork Chapter, Class of 2001
FFor over a month now our
region has been experiencing
a huge crop and garden dam-
aging invasion of grasshop-
pers devouring everything in
their path. A beautiful field
of corn between Tioga and
Gunter was there one day
and nothing but stalks the
next and a farmer 6 miles
west of Krum was plowing a field where
millet only grew a couple of inches due
to lack of rain which the 'hoppers ate to
the ground. He was plowing the field up
and said he got dizzy from seeing the
huge clouds and waves of 'hoppers ris-
ing in front of his tractor. I had similar
comments from a lady near Justin and
another in the Mustang community east
of Aubrey. Another lady said some
county roads had so many 'hoppers on
them it was like driving on Rice Krisp-
ies snap, crackle and pop. A pest control
man said he's been very busy spraying
customers’ ornamentals and trees to kill
the pests.
TThere are several spe-
cies of grasshoppers in
Texas and about 1000
species
nationwide but this pre-
sent pest is the common
Differential grasshop-
per, Melanoplus differ-
entialis, a member of the
order Orthoptera. It's
usually just called the "yellow"
grasshopper since it is mostly yellow
but can be a little brownish or olive
yellow. It's about 1.75 inches long,
winged and can fly well but is not
migratory in the true sense but does
quickly move from a field they've
devoured to a fresh, green one. They
do occur all over the U.S. They have
brown eyes and two short antennae.
The powerful hind legs have a saw-
tooth edge on the lower (tibia) leg
and black V or chevron shaped
markings on the larger upper (femur)
leg.
Photo—courtesy
Buddy Cole
Field Notes
Grasshopper Invasion
Who We Are
Texas Master Naturalist, Elm Fork Chapter Newsletter Page 2
TThe life cycle is egg, nymph and adult. A female inserts her ovipositor at the rear end of the
abdomen into soft soil and deposits several pods or sacs about an inch long down to an inch
or so deep in the ground. Each pod contains from 1 to 3 dozen eggs. They overwinter this
way and emerge in spring, going through 5 or 6 Instars to reach adult size in 45 to 60 days.
Some small Instars may be off yellow or black in color. There is one generation per year.
MMild winters with no extended very cold makes for large hatches such as we have now. I think it was the summer of 2001 when we
had this same situation and one day an unusual high north wind swept over the area and hordes of Differentials took flight out over
Lake Ray Roberts. They covered the standing dead timber in the lake, the water and fishermen's boats even sticking to anglers shirts
and hats. Catfish rose in large numbers to graciously accept this manna from Heaven.
FFishermen just cut off their lures, tied on a hook, plucked a ' hopper off their shirt, stuck it on the hook and cast out. Fish fry num-
bers were caught! Anglers do catch gallon milk jugs full of ' hoppers and freeze for future use.
Some resort to running across a field with a minnow seine to really gather larger numbers. You
might try that and remember by doing so the cantaloupes and okra you save might be your
own!
We are pleased and honored to have Buddy Cole on
the Newsletter Team and look forward to hearing
from him again and again. Thanks, Buddy.
Grasshopper laying eggs —
photo Buddy Cole
We have successfully completed the
fourth annual training of teachers in
which the SWAt (Science With Attitude!) team pre-
sented activities, gardening, planting and habitat
methods to teachers interested in teaching these
methods to their classrooms. During the 3 day
workshop (June 18,19,20) teachers were shown
how, with their guidance and help, schools can
install and maintain their very own Outdoor Habi-
tat and Learning Center on their campuses.
Th e SWAt team,
comprised of
Janet Laminack, Cheryl
Kesterson and Susan
Kilpatrick along with her daughters, Shelby, Lau-
ren and Kaitlin, and a cadre of other volunteers
from the Master Gardeners and Master Natural-
ists of Denton County, utilized the three action
packed days to instill confidence and knowledge
into teachers who previously had no idea on how
to go about planning, installing or using an Out-
door Learning Center. During the workshop,
teachers learned how and when to plant, how to
design habitat and vegetable garden space,
which plants are most successful in a school Out-
door Learning Area, and, most importantly, how
the area can be incorporated into their curricu-
lum.
The SWAt team did it again!
From Cheryl Kesterson
Public domain photo
Texas Master Naturalist, Elm Fork Chapter Newsletter Page 3
It is widely understood that in today's society, children have few opportunities to explore the natural world or even
know where their food comes from. Research has shown that children who gain a hands on understanding of the
natural world through planting, whether vegetable gardens and /or native plants, gain a better understanding of the in-
terconnection within all habitats and learn how it can and will impact their lives now and in the future. In addition, their
test scores increase, their social skills improve, and they are more likely to become better citizens in their adult lives. By
utilizing a natural habitat and garden area outside their classroom walls, much can be accomplished and promoted for a
better tomorrow to come from today's youth. With the help of volunteers from the Denton County Agrilife Extension Agen-
cy, Master Naturalists and Master Gardeners, the seeds for a brighter future are being planted today, one child at a
time.
SWAT team — cont’d Photos courtesy
Cheryl Kesterson
Texas Master Naturalist, Elm Fork Chapter Newsletter Page 4
ROB’S RAMBLINGS—JULY 2012
T he year is half gone. We’ve had great pro-
grams at our monthly meetings plus addition-
al AT opportunities including field trips. The
rest of the year has a great lineup of program speakers and
AT events as well.
N ext month’s meeting is our most important of
the year as we invite prospective members to
attend our Roundup on Thursday, August 16th,
in the Copeland Center. It is a great opportunity to tell them
who we are and what we do. Invite a friend or neighbor who
might be interested in attending our 2012 class and becom-
ing a member. Offer to
bring them to the meeting.
B e an ambassador at the meeting. Welcome
the visitors, tell them what you do within the
chapter, show them the various project and
other displays, introduce them to other members, answer
their questions and encourage them to sign up for the
class.
H ope you are planning to attend
the 2012 State Conference to
be held near Navasota, October
26-28. We hope to have a large contingent of our
members attending. A regional conference of
chapters in our area is scheduled for April 12-14,
2013. Planning is underway and volunteers are
needed to help with the planning, organizing, and
running the conference. More details will be
forthcoming in the next months. Meanwhile,
mark your calendar.
B e careful when working outdoors!
Rob Roy, President
“Head ‘em up”— clip art
Dear friends,
Cara, the Crested Caracara that has lived with Doris Mager for
30 years has passed on. Doris has received permission to
mount Cara so that she can still contribute to raptor education,
and she is currently applying donations toward this cause in
memory of Cara. If you would like to send a card or note to
Doris you should mail it to Doris Mager, 132 Autumn Lane,
Clyde, NC 28721.
Special Message from Susan Pohlen:
Cara—photo ourtesy
Alex Lieban
FROM THE BULLETIN
BOARD — INFORMATION
AND OPPORTUNITIES
Texas Master Naturalist, Elm Fork Chapter Newsletter Page 5
If you have an idea for, or information about a speaker,
please send your suggestions, with all contact infor-
September 12 Field Trip: Guided tour of Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center. (Limit: 20 people. Cost: $6.00 per per-son). For more information, please con-tact Peg La Point:
Junior Master Naturalist. Jonah completed his 16 hours of training during the June summer program held at Clear Creek. He completed his 8 hours of service at Hickory Creek park on Lake Lewisville.
His grandparents are park hosts at Hickory Creek and he was spending time with them at the park. He picked up trash and planted wildflowers at the park.
Jan Hodson
Junior Master Naturalist Jonah Bradshaw with Jan Hodson
I would like to send a well deserved “thank you” to every-one who helped with the first Junior Master Naturalist summer program. I could not have done it without you.
Rosemary Carrizales Susan Pohlen Marian Kester Theresa Page Claire Kamego
I would also like to thank Chris Stogsdill who has helped me time and time again with the monthly JMN programs.
And a big “thank you” to Tracy Durmick and Denton Parks and Recreation for assisting with our mission to educate the public.
Texas Master Naturalist, Elm Fork Chapter Newsletter Page 6
MY NEWEST FAMILY MEMBER—Dorothy Thetford (Class 2001)
W ell, here I go again! Only one out of four eggs hatched from my second nesting of Bluebirds in June. Can any of my Master Naturalist birding friends tell me why this happened? Seems like it may have something to do with fertilization? eh? And is one out of 4 a common ratio?
A nd, I have another puzzle to solve. I watched and
photographed the skinny, lone, naked baby for 4-5 days as it
lay across the remaining three, unhatched eggs while wonder-
ing if I should remove the unhatched eggs so the baby would
have more space. Then, as if by magic, the unhatched eggs
disappeared. No, I didn't do it. Can someone please tell me
how that happened without leaving any signs of shells or egg
yolk or feathers or damage or anything? I can't imagine how a
parent bird could have maneuvered each large egg up the
depth of the bluebirdbox wall, and then gotten it through the
entrance hole alongside its own body. I think I need a Bluebird
101 course, or maybe a little help from my friends, please mail