Bug Chick Power!

Jessica prepares to pass around some beetle larvae and explains complete metamorphosis.

We asked The Bug Chicks to do one of their awesome shows for our homeschool group.  They are a local entomologist duo whose mission it is to share a curiosity and respect for insects and fellow invertebrates.  They also are wonderful examples that women thrive in science!  They have just returned from a whirlwind tour of the US, discovering America's wild creepy crawlies from sea to shining sea.  Unfortunately, Bug Chick Kristie was ill, and so Jessica did a solo act for us.  Of course she rocked! We chose Mt. Talbert Nature Park for the show. We wanted a location where the kids would be able to do a bug hunt afterwards, so she could tell them about their finds.  So we looked for a park with a natural area with tall grass (which bugs adore) and a covered picnic area in case of rain. Thankfully the weather was gorgeous anyway!  Jessica showed the kids lots of critters, telling them what makes each amazing and letting them hold as many as possible. She made it obvious why she is passionate about these animals- they are both very strange and very beautiful, when you get to know them.  The bug hunt was great fun, and demonstrated to the kids that there are marvels to be found all around us.  The kids found several praying mantises and a mantis egg case!  Jasper  and his bug hunt team also caught a small garter snake, which coiled itself protectively up and moved them to set it free quickly.  The Bug Chicks can be found around town doing their shows occasionally at Multnomah County Libraries and at Leach Botanical Garden.  Their website lists public shows when they are scheduled, and it also has lots of wonderful buggy information and videos, so check it out!

Jessica shows off a splendid whip scorpion.  Jasper and I had never seen one before and we were fascinated!

A spider from the tall grass.

The largest praying mantis found.

Another praying mantis. 

The garter snake.

Mantis egg case.

We went for a ramble at Mt. Talbert and found a picnic spot.  There were lots of tiny wildflowers still blooming.