WEEK 9: Mar 27 - Apr 2
This Week's Topic
Entomology - Unit 13 in your textbook. Complete the (optional) quiz.
Our Expert on Stage
Molly Keck, Integrated Pest Management Program Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Read Molly's BIO
Pre-work - Must be completed by class time
Look over Unit 13 in your textbook. Complete the optional quiz HERE
Watch these informative videos
Predators and Parasitoids (85:00)
A Bee Short (14:51), presented by Carol Clark, BPTMN class of 2010
Prepare a 5-minute presentation on your assigned topic, to be presented to your pod. We will use the breakout session for your presentations. NOTE: the 5-minute time limit will be firm, to make sure everyone has time to present.
Start by reading this guide to preparing your Five-Minute Presentation.
We are flexible in how granular you make your presentation: a broad Order description, a specific Family of species, a particular Species profile, or a combination. Just remember that your presentation should be packed with info and condensed to 5 min.
You can use slides, but limit them to 3-5 at the most. Or you may only need one!
With your time so limited, consider carefully the 3 or 4 important points you want your audience to take away from your presentation.
Be sure you have had a TIMED practice before class!
After everyone has shared in your pod, there may be a few extra minutes for a short Q&A. That's when you are able to offer some of the interesting facts you learned that didn’t fit into your presentation during you allotted time.
Capture an insect from your environment. Place it in your petri dish (the one you received in your supply bag) and carefully examine all sides of your insect. (You might find it helpful to place the insect and petri dish in the refrigerator for a half-hour.) Think about what you see. Photograph the dorsal and ventral sides. Use this Pictorial Dichotomous Key to determine what Order you think your insect belongs to. Enter the pictures into iNaturalist, and see what kind of identification you get. Were you correct?
Optional Activities
If you have children handy, recruit them for an Insect Scavenger Hunt . Or if you want a real challenge, try this Advanced Insect Scavenger Hunt.
Scroll down to the bottom of this page to see some gnarly photomicrography of ants and read the article.
Bring to Class
Reminders
Logging Hours
Log last week's class attendance in VMS
(If you missed class, contact your pod guides to schedule a make-up.)
Opportunity: Init Training-Class 08
Date: March 26, 2025
Hours: 3.0
Description: Meteorology with Dr. David Baker
If you attend any of the Field Trips to the Chalk Hill Farm, Connemara Meadow, or Hagerman NWR, enter it in VMS.
Opportunity: IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST FIELD TRIP, LOG IT AS: Initial Training: Field Trip (A)
IF IT IS YOUR SECOND FIELD TRIP, LOG IT AS: Initial Training: Field Trip (B)
IF IT IS YOUR THIRD FIELD TRIP, LOG IT AS: Initial Training: Field Trip (C)
Date: date you attended
Hours: 2.5
Description: Class Field Trip to enter name of location
IF YOU HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED YOUR THREE FIELD TRIPS, Log as Advanced Training
Opportunity: AT: BPTMN Other Pre-approved training
Date: date you attended
Hours: 2.5
Description: ADDITIONAL Class Field Trip to enter name of location
See how to log Ren's Opossum Deep Dive HERE
Volunteer and Training Opportunities
Volunteers (VH) Opportunities
Heard Natural Science Museum – animal care, contact Laura Ragan at lragan@heard.org
Holifield Science Learning Center – animal care, contact Brett Taylor at brett.taylor@pisd.edu
iNaturalist insect surveys
Monarch View Park – April 4th or 11th workdays, 9am-noon
Pollinator Garden in JM Caldwell Sr. Park – April 19th, 9-11am
Mothing iNat event at Grand Park, Frisco - April 26th, 7:30pm
Advanced Training (AT) Opportunities
Chapter Meeting - The Joy of Flies with Laura Kimberly- April 8th, 7pm
Backyard Bug Hunt Webinar Series with Wizzie Brown – April 18th is Native Bee ID, 10-11am
2025 Monarch Conservation Webinar Series “Getting Youth Involved with Monarchs” – April 22nd, 1-2pm
NSPOT – North Texas Pollinators – May 6th, 7-8:30pm
Butterfly Garden Walk at Hagerman NWR – May 10th & 11th, 10am-noon
Other Entomology Resources
Bugguide.net - for expert help in insect ID
Common Insects of Texas and Surrounding States - Abbott and Abbott (2020)
Field Guide to Insects of North America - Kaufman
Texas Crawdads - book by Sterling K Johnson, et al (2008). This book is out of print, but you might find it in the used book markets.
Dragonflies of Texas: A Field Guide - John C. Abbott (2015)
Damselflies of Texas: A Field Guide - John C. Abbott (2011)
CLASS MEETING INFORMATION
First, make sure you are signed into your zoom account.
Week NINE: March 26, 2025
6:00 - 9:00 PM
Class meets via zoom
Meeting ID: 885 6252 1303
Passcode: 041792
Need Help with Zoom? Click here to see helpful video links
If you have trouble logging into Zoom, call or text
Lisa's cell at 817-832-3912
Ant photos from wildlife photographer Eugenijus Kavaliauskas
Here's an article discussing them with links to more of his photomicrography.
WEEK NINE CLASS UPDATE
How appropriate that we had such a mix of weather conditions before our meteorology class. I've added links to all of Dr. Baker's mind-blowing maps and his presentation onto the Resources page of the class website. Just scroll down to "Week Eight extras".
Week Nine: Mar 27-Apr 2
Next week will be another ZOOM class. Here's the meeting link. Make sure to complete your pre-work prior to class. If you haven't gotten a jump on Molly's long video, you'll want to start early in the week and spread it out over several days.
Insect Presentations (NOT optional):
As part of your pre-work this week, you will research an assigned insect Order and create a 5-minute presentation to share with your pod members during the Entomology class. Remember to focus on the sticky facts that spark interest and practice your timing. The pod Guides have been instructed to hold firm to our 5-minute maximum. Please put effort into your presentation. Your other pod members are counting on you! The link to the list of assigned topics is in your pre-work.
End-of-Class Presentations and Projects (optional):
If you haven't signed up for a EOC presentation or project, please consider doing so. Your pod Guides and the other training committee members would be happy to answer any questions you may have. We will also help you through the process in any way we can.
Upcoming Field Trips:
Friday, March 28th
Chalk Hill Farm
9-11:30am
Meet at house
Saturday, March 29th
Bonus Connemara Meadow
9:30-noon
Drive through gate to the left of 7800 Roberta Dr.
Email Bob to sign-up at rmione@aol.com
Sunday, March 30th
Hagerman NWR
1-3:30pm
Meet at visitor center
For all 3 field trips, use the SUG attachments for directions and info. Dress for walking/hiking outside and wear your nametag. Take binoculars and water bottle. Make sure to plan for the weather because we will go rain or shine. The event will only be canceled in the event of severe weather (lightning, hail, damaging winds).
If your plans change, make sure to update the SUG. Need help? Use these instructions.
See you next week,
Nancy
Nancy Casillas, Training Director
Texas Master Naturalist, Blackland Prairie Chapter
nancyc@bptmn.org
214-725-2309