Banded Sphinx?

Figure 1: Hanging out in the grasses on a Ludwigia

Working out in the field as usual I notice this Sphinx caterpillar in the grasses. I snap a few photos to find out what kind of caterpillar I saw that day. Come to find out it was a Banded Sphinx Moth (Eumorpha fasciatus), sad that I never get to see a butterfly caterpillar but still happy because the are pollinators too. Then a few weeks went by I spot another one on a swamp buggy, but this time the color was very different. Thinking to myself I wondered if there were the same species.



The Banded Sphinx can are mostly green (Figure 1), but can come in a base color variation of green yellow or pinkish-red (Figure 2). Caterpillars usually go through five instars of various colors and patterns. There fifth instar is a characteristic of the 1st form which is usually green or 2nd form, a color other than green. Mature larvae leave there host plant (plants in the Onagraceae family) to tuck away in an underground cavity in fall. Caterpillars pupate during winter, then crawl out of their burrows in the spring.

Figure 2: Feeding on a Ludwigia

The sphinx's wingspan can range between 8.7-9.6 cm after emerging. Their size and rapid wing beats allow them to hover and feed like hummingbirds, giving them the nickname 'hummingbird moths'. Caterpillars this shower are just as cool to spot as are butterflies, plus they can't fly away yet making pictures easier to take. I will never underestimate a moths beauty again.

-Ayanna💛

Prescribed burns safety measures

I've been an intern with Corkscrew for about a month now, and I have already had the luxury to partake in two prescribed burns. With that in mind I wanted to take a moment to talk about the safety precautions that are implemented to make sure a prescribed fire runs as smoothly as possible. At the end of the day we are working with fire, and there is always the concern with possibilities of fire spreading to nearby properties and smoke intrusions in populated areas. In order to prevent these scenarios, we take many preventive measures, with considerable preparation and planning. First, a prescription is written that includes a description of the area, the objectives for the burn, acceptable weather parameters including smoke modeling, description of anticipated fire behavior, a list of personnel and equipment to implement and hold the burn, etc.

Next is prepping, many precautions are taken at the burn unit to make it as fire safe as possible. Prepping consist of establishing the perimeter fire breaks. Such as Hard lines, which consist of bare sand/ soil containing no organic matter (which can be seen in the photo) or natural boundaries such as bodies of water.

  Many factors must be considered when choosing a day to burn.  fires are generally not permitted by the Florida Forest Service, when hot, dry weather conditions or high fuel loads increase the likelihood that the fire could spread to other property. Likewise, fires should be ignited only when wind directions are predicted to carry smoke away from nearby smoke sensitive areas. If the fire is approved, a crew is lead by a highly trained burn boss. It is part of everyone’s duty to attentively watch where the ashes are landing to make sure the fire does not jump to another unit or extinguish them as quickly as possible.

Once the fire is finished, the mop up begins.  The Mop up consists of ensuring any flaming or smoking material which may threaten the containment of the fire is fully extinguished.

-Julie, Conservation intern

What We Give Our Children

Richard Louv said "We have such a brief opportunity to pass on to our children our love for this Earth, and to tell our stories. These are the moments when the world is made whole".

The beauty of ecology is that there’s always a story to tell. And all children love stories.We can talk about the history in a drop of water— maybe you’re drinking what once passed through the mouth of a dinosaur. Or we can think of all the ways a small beetle could be connected to a huge alligator. My favorite stories to share are the ones that show how everything in nature is connected, including humans.

Each year, thousands of students visit us on field trips. Each grade has a theme, carefully curated to support their classroom curriculum. The trips feature a set of stations and allow time for students to experience sections of the boardwalk here at Corkscrew. Although we lead the same trips many times per season, the days are richly diverse. Every group of students can change the course of the day. 

Some groups are inevitably more challenging than others. From my experience, however, those students sometimes need these programs the most. A child with behavioral issues may have an easier time controlling their actions in the beauty of nature. A child with their head in the clouds may love to wonder and think out loud to brainstorm ideas about the habitat the group is exploring.

 Finding a way to break through to a difficult group is one of the most rewarding things of all. It happens in surprising ways. While I was talking to the other guides after a program this week, one of them shared how her rambunctious group was so enamored by wildlife photos that they immediately quieted down and sat still for the first time. We never know which parts the kids will enjoy most. I’ve led groups of students who talked over me the entire time, only to fall nearly silent when it comes time to enter the boardwalk. 

Outdoor education is an incredibly powerful experience. It goes beyond teaching about nature. Children are able to explore, to dive into their curiosity, and to discover the stories that speak to them. They also begin to develop their own relationship with the natural world. This exploration is absolutely vital to build conservationists. More importantly, we’re allowing them to discover that there is joy in nature. The natural world is weird and gross and shocking and beautiful all at the same time. No matter your interests or experience level, there’s always something to learn. With well-developed programs and skilled teachers, the learning is made fun.

~AnnaFaith, Education Intern