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THE SANCTUARY Issue #1-20 A Quarterly Newsletter for Members and Friends of Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary THE SANCTUARY Issue #1-20 From the Sanctuary By Michael Sandy Time to sign up for EGADS, SUMMER CAMP starting April 7th, members sign up starting March 3rd. Summer Camp is Monday through Friday for various age groups. Each week has it’s own theme and adventures. Please sign up early as some weeks fill quickly. If you wait until the last minute T-shirts and spots may not be available. If you know any high school seniors or early college students wanting experience in education please tell them to volunteer with Martha Lafite’s summer camp program. It is GREAT experience for future educators! Thank you to all the members that have renewed their membership. We could NOT keep the Nature Sanctuary open with out your donations. MLTNS WISHLIST - Tractor with backhoe and brush hog, tennis ball cans, solar SUNFLOWER, riding mower. Please remember, visit our GIFTSHOP for unique Birthday Gifts! HOUSE PSEUDOSCORPION (CHELIFER CANCROIDES) BY Collin Edwards, Naturalist Between the pages of that New York Times bestselling book you shelved years ago could exist a plethora of fauna. Carpet and cigarette beetle larvae may be found feasting on the pages. Springtails may inhabit books exposed to humidity and book lice may be found feeding upon molds and fungi between volumes. While each of these creatures do their part to damage your book collection, there is one other inhabitant that comes to the aid of bibliophiles – the house pseudoscorpion. The words “scorpion” and “house” in combination often elicit concerned or fearful responses. However, the house pseudoscorpion is no scorpion at all and due to the species small size, less than two-tenths of an inch, Collin Edwards 2019 homeowners very infrequently notice their helpful presence. Pseudoscorpions, like scorpions, are arachnids. But despite similarities in appearance, each belong to completely different orders. Both possess similar claw-like appendages and similar body shapes. A significant difference is the Pseudoscorpion’s lack of a stinging tail. Instead, the claw-like appendages, or pedipalps, of the pseudoscorpion contain venom glands for subduing prey. Additionally, pseudoscorpions lack lungs unlike scorpions. Another unique feature is the house pseudoscorpion’s ability to spin a silken cocoon which it uses for protection during molting, mating, and outlasting cold temperatures. Indeed the house pseudoscorpion, despite its stature, is the predator of the bookshelf. This small creature maintains a diet of even smaller creatures including the book lice and springtails mentioned above, as well as dust mites and other larvae. Males maintain small territories of only a few centimeters where they hunt and mate. Once mated, females may have broods of 20-40 young, which will travel on her body until they are mature enough to survive on their own. Overall, a pseudoscorpion may live up to 3-4 years. One of the oddest behaviors of the pseudoscorpion is the means by which it travels. Many of these animals start their lives outdoors; under bark, in wood and leaf litter. But to arrive indoors they often hitch a ride, referred to as phoresis. Phoresis is the act of using another animal as a mode of transportation. In the case of the pseudoscorpion, they latch onto larger insects using their claws and these insects bring them indoors. As long as people have collected papers, house pseudoscorpions have lived among them. In fact, Aristotle provided the first account of an encounter with one of these tiny animals. Next time you visit the Roger C. Lee Memorial Library at the Nature Sanctuary, ruffle through the pages of a North American birding field guide, graze through a copy of Sand County Almanac and see if you can spot a tiny hunter within the pages. The mission of the Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary is to provide: Engaging, hands-on environmental and natural science education for all ages Biodiversity of native plants and animals through wise management of our natural resources Understanding that all Earth’s inhabitants are part of complex, interdependent ecosystems, and Opportunities for quiet reflection and reconnection with the natural world A Quarterly Newsletter for Members and Friends of Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary THE SANCTUARY Page 2 Issue #1-20 WINTER AND SPRING PROGRAMS FOR THE FAMILY! Call to pre-register (781-8598). Tuesday, March 17: ST. PATRICK’S DAY Tuesday, March 3 Members exclusive early registration begins for EGADS Saturday, March 14 Cub Scouts (Wolves): Paws on the Path summer camp Follow the website link on line. Take a hike with our naturalist and learn about how to be prepared while out walking in the wilderness as we complete the Paws on the Wednesday, March 4 Path adventure! Please call to register, 816-781-8598. HOMESCHOOLERS (6 and up): Missouri Symbols Time: 2:00 - 3:30pm Fees: $5/child w/adult Did you know Missouri has a state flower, a state dinosaur, and a state Rank: Wolf MLTNS Members: $3/child grass? Learn more about our state symbols and look for some on the Nature Sanctuary property. Friday, March 20 SPRING 'N STARS Time:1:00 - 2:30pm Fees: $5/child, $10/family Join us for our monthly astronomy program. During this program we'll Age: 6 and up MLTNS Members: $3/child, $5/family take a look at the planet Saturn and learn the constellations Canis Major, Leo and Cassiopeia. Limit 25. Time: 7:00 - 8:30 pm Friday & Saturday, March 6, 7, 13 & 14 (dates are subject to Age: 6 and up Fees: $8/1 adult and 1 child, or $10/family change) WOODCOCK WATCH MLTNS Members: $3/1 adult and 1 child, or $5/family Join us as we observe the mating ritual of the American Woodcock. Tuesday, March 19: FIRST DAY OF SPRING/ VERNAL We'll start off with some background on what we will (hopefully) be EQUINOX - Day and night are equal in length. seeing when we head outside to watch for their aerial displays. Bring your binoculars and lawn chairs if you have them. The courtship of the Saturday, March 21 LUNCH WITH THE BIRDS American Woodcock can only be witnessed in the month of March. Bring your lunch and sit in the bird viewing area to watch and discuss We try to pick a good day for viewing them, and with any wildlife birding then go on a birding hike. Time: 12:00 - 1:30pm viewing there is no guarantee our intended wildlife will show, but Fee: Free, donations welcome to help feed the birds we've had some really good viewing in recent years. Age: 6 and up Time: 6:00 - 7:30 pm (runs late) Fee: $5 per person Saturday, March 28 PASSPORT TO ADVENTURE KICKOFF Be sure to stop by and say hello at the Passport to Adventure Kickoff Friday, March 6 PRESCHOOLERS: MISSOURI SYMBOLS at the Independence Center Mall, Did you know Missouri has a state flower, a state dinosaur, and a 18001 East 39th Street S, Independence, MO 64057 state grass? Learn more about our state symbols and look for some Time: 11 - 3pm Ages: Family on the Nature Sanctuary property. Time: 1:00 – 2:00pm Fees: $5/child $10/family Saturday, March 28 Age: 3 - 6 years MLTNS Members: $3/child $5/family CANDLELIGHT NIGHT HIKE / EARTH HOUR Turn off your lights and come out to the Nature Sanctuary for a SATURDAY, MARCH 7 MLTNS GROUNDS WORK / L&R candlelight night hike. Bring an earth friendly candle. Please call to WORKDAY register, 816-781-8598. Time: 8:30 - 9:30pm Come see how we maintain MLTNS and participate in this work day Age: Family Fee: Donations are appreciated to help keep the wildlife habitats wild and healthy. (Get volunteer Tuesday, March 24: NEW MOON service hours.) Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm Age: 14 and up CALL 816-781-8598, OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 14, 21, 28 SATURDAY StoryTime (WWW.NATURESANCTUARY.COM), FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON PROGRAMS AND EVENTS On Saturdays, come hear a naturalist read a tale about an exciting animal. Afterwards, we’ll make a fun craft to take home. Please call to Wednesday, April 1 register, 816-781-8598 Fees: Donations are appreciated HOMESCHOOLERS (6 AND UP): AMIABLE AMPHIBIANS Time: 1:30 – 2:30pm Learn about the wet, wondrous, and weird, world of amphibians! Meet Age: 3 and up plenty of live amphibious creatures and make a cold-blooded craft! Time: 1:00 – 2:30pm Ages: 6 and up Fees: $5/child, $10/family Members: $3/child, $5/family SATURDAY, MARCH 7 GIRL SCOUTS (DAISIES); 3 CHEERS FOR ANIMALS WORKSHOP Friday, April 3 PRESCHOOLERS: AMIABLE AMPHIBIANS Girls will learn about animal care inside and outside at the Sanctuary Learn about the wet, wondrous, and weird, world of amphibians! Meet and meet some of our animals up close! They will also learn about plenty of live amphibious creatures and make a cold-blooded craft! caring for wildlife in their daily lives with the aid of recycled materials. Time: 1:00 – 2:00pm Fees: $5/child, $10/family Time: 1:00 - 3:00pm Fees: $5/child w/adult Ages: 3-6 years Members: $3/child, $5/family Rank: Daisy MLTNS Members: $3/child Friday, April 3 ASTRONOMY - SPRING 'N STARS Sunday, March 8:FULL MOON AND During this program we'll take a look at the stars Regulus, Sirius and DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS Arcturus, learn the constellations Virgo and Bootes, and look at the Saturday, March 14 & 28 LIVE ANIMAL FEEDING “Beehive” Cluster. Limit 25. Please call to register, 816-781-8598. Time: 3:00pm until they’re done Time: 7:30 – 9:00pm Fees: Free! Give a donation to help with animal care costs.
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