Butterflies and Moths, Oh My!

Monarch Caterpillar - Eaton Family

Hello my friends!

One thing you guys are finding lots of are insects, in particular: caterpillars! Were you able to see the wooly bear caterpillar in the last post?

We are seeing butterflies and moths in many of the stages they go through in their life. In each stage they transform shape, colour and size!


First, a mother butterfly/moth will lay her eggs on specific plants that will make good food for her babies.

Next, a larva will hatch from the egg. We call larva by a different name- caterpillar! The first meal for each caterpillar will be its own eggshell… mmm nutrients.

Monarch Butterfly - Katherine Denune

Caterpillars go through several stages (called instars), where they grow too big for their own‘skin’ so they shed or molt. Sometimes when they molt (change instars) they will end up looking like an ENTIRELY different caterpillar! Caterpillars will continuously eat, poop, molt, eat, poop, molt, until they are finally ready to turn into a moth.

Then they leave their plant, find a safe place, and start to “pupate”, or form a hard, strong, skin. Sometimes when this happen they will turn brown!

Once they are fully pupated, they are called chrysalides (if butterflies) or cocoons (if moths). They might stay in that stage all winter, and then hatch as moth/butterfly in the spring! They hatch by pumping a liquid into the veins of their wings to expand them. Adult moth/butterflies are in the “imago” stage.

POP QUIZ! What are the differences between a butterfly and a moth? 

Three cheers for butterfly nets and pretty sun sets!

Best Time of Year to See Mushrooms, PLUS The Mystery Revealed

Hellooooo Kids in the Biosphere!

Another awesome week of exploring the Biosphere has gone by and what a week it has been.We have seen lots of reptiles, some very pretty flowers and many, many insects!

I'm sure you have been wondering what in the world the picture is in the last blog post. Some odd black ball thing in the water? Drum-roll please... it is a school of juvenile (or baby) catfish! Look closely and you can see the individuals. They might look similar to tadpoles but on closer inspection actually have small 'whiskers' on their face, hence the name catfish! Unlike real cats who's whiskers are made of hair, catfish whiskers are made of skin and contain sensors that allow them to feel, smell and taste.

When you are walking through the forests this weekend be sure to have a close look for mushrooms. This is one of the best times of the year to see many different kinds. Rainfall plus warmer temperatures causes them to grow super quickly!

If it is too rainy to go outside, here is another mystery to solve: what animal is in this picture?

Hint: it is widely rumored this animal can be used to predict the winter weather!

Happy adventures and three cheers for pine cones and beaver homes...

Can You Tell What This Is?

Howdy All!

I have received soooo many amazing pictures lately! Everyone is seeing some awesome things this summer in the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve. This photo I received is of something that you might not have seen before:

What do you think is in this picture? Hint: Dotty the turtle might come here for lunch!

The answer will be revealed at the end of the week...

Many, many more pictures are on and being added to the Kids in the Biosphere webpage, can you tell which one is which?

• Monarch butterfly and caterpillar
• Massasauga Rattlesnake
• Dekay's Snake
• Deer
• Birds nest
• Rock bass
• Red fox
• Swamp rose
• Lichens

Keep sending me in questions and letting me know when you have completed activities!

Three cheers for catching frogs and looking under logs...