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Mega Nutrient Microgreens!

Growing microgreens is the perfect winter project. Most can be grown indoors from start to finish in one to three weeks. Learn how to grow this simple crop and add homegrown produce to your winter diet. Learn their many benefits and some simple ways to grow these delicious, nutritious, and inexpensive baby plants and sprouts in your own home.
Come learn how to grow your own vibrant microgreens at CREATE ART CENTER and add a healthy dose of homegrown veggies to your plate this Fall. 🌱🥗 #WinterGardening #HomegrownGoodness
Growing Microgreens – November 9th, 6:30pm at Create Art Center, 900 4th St, Newport, WA 99156

How to Plant, Grow & Harvest Garlic

Ready to spice up your garden? Plant some garlic this fall and let the deliciousness unfold!

 

If you like to grow your own vegetables, late fall presents one last chance to get a crop in the ground. Although it is too late for most cool-season plants, it’s the perfect time to plant garlic! For home gardeners in the Northwest, garlic is easy to grow, prolific, and can be stored for several months after it is harvested.

This pungent bulb adds flavor to countless recipes. In this class you will learn which garlic variety matches your location and microclimate. Your heads of garlic will be ready to harvest in the summer, during the middle of the vegetable garden season. After you harvest and clean out the bed, you can plant another crop in the same bed. In addition to having an intense flavor and many culinary uses, the “stinking rose” also serves as an insect repellent in the garden and has been used as a home remedy for centuries.

Come learn How to Plant, Grow & Harvest Garlic with Spokane Master Gardener, Marcia Sands on Thursday, October 5, 2023 from 1:00 – 2:30pm at the WSU Extension Office at 227 S Garden Ave, Newport, WA.

Call 509-447-2401 to REGISTER TODAY!

2023 MASTER GARDENER CLASS SERIES

October 2023

 

October 2023 Features


 

Celebrate 2023 National 4 H Week – October 1st through 7th!

Denise Echelbarger

2023 National 4‑H Week is October 1 – 7!

Every year, National 4-H Week sees millions of youth, parents, volunteers and alumni come together to celebrate the many positive youth development opportunities offered by 4-H. The theme for this year’s National 4-H Week, is a campaign that was created by National 4-H Council to rally support for Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program and identify solutions to eliminate the opportunity gap that affects 55 million kids across America.

With so many children struggling to reach their full potential, 4-H believes that young people, in partnership with adults, can play a key role in creating a more promising and equitable future for youth, families and communities across the country. In 4-H, we believe every child should have an equal opportunity to succeed. We believe every child should have the skills they need to make a difference in the world.

To learn more about how you can get involved, visit extension.wsu.edu/4h/


October 1, 2023 marked the beginning of a NEW Year for 4-H!

Sign in to your accounts or register online at v2.4honline.com


Save The Date! Washington State 4-H Volunteer Recognition Luncheon – October 28th!

Jana Ferris

Volunteer Recognition Logo featuring a brick foundation, trowel and fall color bouquet of flowers.

Please join us in honoring our volunteers! Our 2023/2022 Volunteer Recognition Luncheon will be held Saturday, October 28 at 12:30 p.m. at The Armory in Ellensburg, WA. All state awardees (Alumni Award, Salute to Excellence Ten Year and Lifetime, Heather Rider Award, Volunteer Staff Award, [state] Friend of 4-H AND Hall of Fame) for years 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 will be honored. Volunteers of the Year and Teen Leaders of the Year for 2022 and 2023 will be honored through narrated video during the program.

 

All state awardees will receive an invitation directly to reserve their space at the event and will RSVP as indicated on their invitations. Others may attend at a $20/person cost; registration for non-awardees opens on Friday, September 22 and can be found at:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/722452523947

Contact Jana Ferris at ferrisj@wsu.edu or 360-548-3301


 

Table Sponsorship Packages Are Available for the 2023 4-H Washington State Volunteer Recognition Luncheon

Denise Echelbarger


 

TSC Fall Paper Clover Campaign Kicks Off on October 4th!

Denise Echelbarger

The Fall 2023 Tractor Supply 4-H Clover Campaign is coming soon!. Tractor Supply campaign funds are to support 4-H camp and leadership experiences.

Planning to work with your local Tractor Supply Store? The store managers and cashiers have a lot on their plate, so it’s usually helpful if the local 4-H clubs/program can reach out (https://www.tsceventpartners.com/events/signup/1). That interaction can look different, depending on the situation. The clubs can ask to set up a table or display featuring the 4-H program in the store. It could also be as simple as telling them “thank you,” or having a foods member bring them a plate of cookies for the breakroom.  Anything we can do to stay top of mind is helpful.  The campaign will happen either way – because it’s programmed into the pin pad now – but when you’ve got employees who care about the 4-H program and are physically asking, it’s always going to be more successful.

Best wishes for a successful Fall Paper Clover Campaign!


 

State 4-H Fair Board Seeks Qualified Candidates For State 4-H Fair Manager Position Opening 

 

The State 4-H Fair Manager Position Is Now Open!

The job description for the State 4-H Fair Manager position is available for download by clicking HERE.

The State 4-H Fair Manager is not a WSU position, but reports directly to the State 4-H Fair Board.  The salary is $32,500, paid in twelve monthly installments.  There are no benefits associated with this position.

This is a part time position of about 1,000 hours annually, with extended hours during August and September, during the fair cycle in Puyallup, Washington.

The position will remain open until filled.

Please forward your cover letter and resume to:

Washington State 4-H Fair Board
PO Box 1225
Puyallup, Washington, 98371-0233

or by email to the Fair Board at st4hfair@gmail.com.


Ask  Dr. Universe

Besides Telescopes and Spaceships, How Do We Really Know That There Are Other Planets? — Ia, 12, Montana

Check out the latest episode of the Ask Dr. Universe podcast and meet 17-year-old Adah Crandall, a youth climate organizer. She got started as a middle schooler!

Dear Ia,

I looked through a high-power telescope for the first time in college. I couldn’t believe how many stars I saw. It’s hard to imagine all the planets orbiting all those stars. I talked about how we know those planets are out there with my friend Jose Vazquez. He’s an astronomer at Washington State University.

He told me that scientists look for planets outside our solar system using a number of instruments—like a photometer. That’s a tool that attaches to a telescope and measures light. The sun and eight major planets make up our solar system. All the planets outside our solar system are called extrasolar planets or exoplanets. Some of them are called hot Jupiters. Exoplanets orbit other stars—just like we orbit the sun.

The closest exoplanet is nearly 25 trillion miles away. Scientists can’t point a telescope and look directly at a planet that distant. They can’t send a rover that far. Instead, they look for clues that a planet is there. One clue is called a light curve. Imagine you’re facing a distant star with a planet. As the planet orbits its star, sometimes it will pass between you and the star. The star’s light will get dimmer as the planet passes by. Then it will get brighter again.

Scientists measure a star’s light using a photometer. They take lots of measurements over time. Then they plot them into a graph called a light curve. Any time the light dims, there’s a dip in the graph. The dip shows when the planet passed in front of the star. Generally, the deeper the dip, the bigger the planet. Scientists also use a light curve to tell how long it takes the planet to orbit its star. They can even tell how hot the planet is and how thick its atmosphere is.


Here’s what a light curve looks like, credit: KuriwaObs

In 2009, NASA wanted to see how many Earth-sized exoplanets they could find. They wanted to learn more about the universe. They wanted to see if there were other planets that could support life. So, they launched a giant space telescope called Kepler. Its main instrument was a photometer. It zoomed around measuring the light from different stars. Then, scientists made light curves and looked for exoplanets. So far, scientists have found more than 5,500 exoplanets. They’ve found many more possible exoplanets. Scientists are still combing through the Kepler data. Plus, another space telescope called TESS took over when Kepler ran out of fuel.

You don’t have to be an astronomer to hunt for exoplanets. Anybody can use robot-powered telescopes online to look for planets and other objects in space. Or you can look through the data from Kepler yourself. “The MicroObservatory Telescope Network is for anybody who’s interested in extrasolar systems,” Vazquez said. “With just a few clicks, students can take pictures and try to make contributions to finding these planets.”

That’s an invitation to do community science that’s out of this world.

Sincerely,
Dr. Universe


Dr. Universe: Why do cats purr? – Kaylee, 11, Kentucky

Dear Kaylee,

I purr all. the. time. I purr when I get a good question like yours. I purr when I finish answering a question. I even purr when I’m struggling to find an answer. Luckily, Dr. Sarah Guess says that’s normal. She’s a veterinarian at Washington State University. She told me that cats purr when they’re content and when they’re stressed out. It can be a little confusing for humans.

Scientists have two ideas about why cats purr. It could have come from the way mother cats care for kittens. Or it could keep their bones and tissues healthy. But experts don’t agree on the answer yet.

“This is a hotly debated topic among scientists,” Guess said. “Purring is something unique to cats, and when it comes to cat communication, we’re just starting to scratch the surface.”

We do know how cats purr. A cat’s brain sends a message to muscles in the cat’s throat. Those muscles begin to twitch. As the cat breathes, air whooshes over the muscle, bone and tissue in the throat. They vibrate, and that makes the rumbling sound we call a purr.

A cat’s purr can be low or high frequency. That means the sounds move through the air at different speeds. Low purrs and high purrs sound slightly different. Some scientists think purring evolved as a way for moms and kittens to understand each other. Maybe low purrs and high purrs mean different things.

“One thought is that the different frequencies of purring relate to whether the cat is more content or more stressed,” Guess said. “That offers feedback from kitten to mother or mother to kitten.”

So, mother cats might learn how their kittens feel based on their purrs. Then, they know which kitten needs help. They might purr back to help soothe the kittens. Maybe grownup cats purr to soothe themselves. Maybe they purr to tell you that you’re making them feel safe and happy like their mother. Or to ask you to fix something that’s stressful like a slightly empty food bowl.

We know some cats knead while purring. That’s for sure a throwback to when they were kittens. Kneading on their mothers’ tummies while nursing helped the kittens get more milk. The other idea for why cats purr is that the frequency of the purr vibration may be healing.

“Cats tend to be inactive for a lot of the day with sudden bursts of activity surrounding feedings,” Guess said. “So, maybe purring creates vibrations that help maintain bone and tissue structure while the cats are in those inactive periods.”

So, it’s possible cats purr to heal themselves and stay strong. There’s even some research that shows that vibrations at the precise frequencies that house cats purr at can help heal human bones and tissues. Maybe your cat purrs to heal its own body or to heal you. Only a few kinds of cats purr at those frequencies—including cougars. Since I’m a house cat and a cougar, maybe I should spend more time aiming my extra-powerful purrs at my human friends.

Sincerely,
Dr. Universe


Get more questions and answers here!

Know a kid with a science question?
Help them submit it for a chance to be featured in a future Q&A.

Submit a question!


Q and A Sessions for the Washington 4-H Horse Program Continue – Now On First Wednesdays!

Have questions about the Washington 4-H horse program? Our monthly Q and A for leaders, parents, members, and staff will now be meeting on the first Wednesday of each month via Zoom from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. beginning June 7th.

Zooms are structured around the theme/parameters of horses and youth development. They are more than “what are the rules.” There is also time set aside for input on future topics for subsequent Zooms. The Zoom meeting ID is 452-082-9765 with no passcode. You must have a zoom account to participate.

The meetings are facilitated by Kim Baker, State 4-H Equine Coordinator.

Feel free to contact Kim with any questions at kim.baker@wsu.edu.

 

4-H Year Begins – Online Registration Open

October 1, 2023 marked the beginning of a NEW Year for 4-H!

Sign in to your accounts or register online at v2.4honline.com

 

 

WSU Cultivating Success™: Whole Farm Planning

🌱 Dive into the world of sustainable farming with WSU Extension’s Cultivating Success Whole Farm Planning Course. Join us this fall and let’s cultivate a greener future together! 🌿

This course will cover a broad range of topics and decision-making tools for you to create a successful small farm enterprise! Whether you are just exploring the opportunities available or already have an existing operation, you’ll learn what it takes to create, sustain, and grow a viable small farm.

· $200 for an 11-week course September 25th through December 4th, 2023

· Class meets weekly on Mondays from 6:00pm to 8:00pm

· Online course classroom through Zoom with in-person field trips

· Scholarships available for Military Veterans and anyone for whom the course fee is a barrier

· This course will be offered with Spanish language interpretation and facilitation

Visit Cultivating Success WA to register online.
WSU Food Systems  | Skagit County Extension

#smallfarm #sustainability #environmentallyconscious #community #wsufoodsystems #cultivatingsuccess #cultivatingsuccesswa

Extension programs and policies are consistent with federal and state laws and regulations on nondiscrimination regarding race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, and sexual orientation. Evidence of non-compliance may be reported through your local Extension Office.

Edible Landscaping

WSU Master Gardener Kamori Cattadoris presents Edible Landscaping, the use of food plants as design features in a landscape. These plants are used both for aesthetic value as well as consumption. Edible landscaping incorporates food-producing plants and flowers that you can eat. It combines fruit and nut trees, berry bushes, vegetables and herbs.

Learn why you may want to landscape with edibles; enjoy the freshness and flavor of home-grown, fully ripened fruits and vegetables, control the quantity and kind of pesticides and herbicides used on the foods you consume, increase the food security of your household, save on grocery bills, grow unusual varieties not available in stores, and get outside, interact with nature, and have fun. By simply replacing an ornamental flower garden with edible herbs and flowers, you can have beauty and function too.

Class will be held at the WSU Extension Office in Newport on Thursday, September 14, 2023 from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. Located at 227 South Garden Avenue. To register, please contact Beverly Sarles, M-F, 8-4:30pm, at 509-447-2401 or email anytime at: beverly.sarles@wsu.edu. Class Fee is $5, ($3 for Master Gardeners), and can be paid by check, money order, or through PayPal.

 

WSU Extension programs are offered without regard to race; sex; religion; age; color; creed; national or ethnic origin; physical, mental or sensory disability; marital status; sexual orientation; and/or status as a Vietnam-era or disabled veteran. Persons with a disability requiring special accommodations while participating in this program may call: 509-447-2401 at least 14 days before the program.

September 2023

News and Views Features – September 2023


Save The Date! Washington State 4-H Volunteer Recognition Luncheon – October 28th!

Jana Ferris

The Washington State 4-H Volunteer Recognition Luncheon will be held Saturday, October 28 at 12:30 p.m. at The Armory in Ellensburg, WA. All state awardees (Alumni Award, Salute to Excellence Ten Year and Lifetime, Heather Rider Award, Volunteer Staff Award, and [state] Friend of 4-H) for years 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 will be honored. All invitations to awardees will be sent directly to the recipients. More information will be forthcoming.

To facilitate further nominations, we are re-opening nominations for state awards with a firm deadline of Monday, September 11th at 8:00 a.m. After this deadline, no further nominations will be accepted. Volunteer Recognition Nomination Forms

Volunteers of the Year from each county will be honored through narrated video during the luncheon. The deadline for submitting your Volunteer of the Year has been changed to October 1st; with this deadline, you must submit a high-resolution photo with the nomination if you would like one displayed. County displays will be shown digitally; we will send out instructions for displays no later than Monday, September 11th.

Please join us to honor our deserving volunteers. Those wishing to attend the luncheon who do not receive a personal invitation are welcome to attend at a $20/person cost. More information about reserving your space will be distributed the first week of October.
Please contact Jana Ferris  at ferrisj@wsu.edu or call 425-595-2950 with any questions.


Washington State 4-H Ambassadors Food Drive Has Ended

Berklie Sheppard

Hello all!

Our “Hunger Doesn’t Take a Vacation Food Drive” has come to an end. The last Checkpoint, Checkpoint 3, was on August 31st. If you collected food items in August for the food drive, please fill out the form linked below. We appreciate all of those who participated and helped people in need.

We will be announcing the Checkpoint 3 winner and the Overall winner on our Instagram site with pictures of their participation! Those counties will also receive a Certificate of Achievement. Congrats to those of you in advance! If you have any pictures from the food drive, please email them to us!

 “HDTV” Food Drive: Check 3

Berklie Sheppard, State Ambassador
WA 4-H SA Team
wa4hsa@gmail.com


2023 State Dog Judging Contest Comes With Changes

Amber Hammond

The Washington State Dog Judging Contest this year will include some changes from past years…

Placement Classes

There will be only four placement classes. This will include an obedience OR fitting & showmanship class. All age levels will place in the same classes.

Identification Portion

Intermediates and Seniors
There will be 25 breeds and 25 parts/anatomy (as has always been done in the past)

Juniors
There will be 15 breeds and 15 parts/anatomy (this is condensed as mentioned in the exhibitor guide)

Oral Reasons
There will be one placement class designated as the oral reasons class.

Intermediates and Seniors are required to do oral reasons.

Juniors have the option to do oral reasons, it is not required. (Junior scores for oral reasons will not count towards their overall total).

Some Housekeeping

Participants should bring their own clipboards and pencils. None will be provided by the state fair for the contest.

Dress attire for oral reasons is Business Casual (it is fine to wear your showmanship attire if you prefer/it is easier). Please no jeans. If juniors do not plan on doing oral reasons, it is fine to just abide by the 4-H dress code, but please no club/county affiliated shirts. There is no opportunity to change clothes once the contest has started, so please enter the contest dressed appropriately.

I will be posting a list of needed volunteer spots soon; if you have volunteered in the past and have a spot you know of that you like, please let me know and I’ll add you in ahead of time.

Thank you!

Amber Hammond
bajadenton@gmail.com 


State 4-H Ambassadors Present the 4-H Youth of the Month for August!

Berklie Sheppard

The Washington State 4-H Ambassadors recognize the 4-H Youth of the Month honoree for August, Zoey Van Gordon of Clallam County! The Ambassadors are proud to highlight 4-H youth monthly throughout the year!

If you have any questions about the State Ambassadors, or are interested in joining, please email wa4hsa@gmail.com. We hope to hear from you!


Addendums for Rule Changes for PNW 4-H Horse Contest Guide Now Available

Jennifer Leach

As of this date, the Washington 4-H horse program is still waiting for the final version of the PNW 4-H Horse Contest guide from Oregon. This publication is a joint effort between Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

In the meantime, a sub-committee of the Washington State 4-H equine committee led by Stephanie Roeter Smith, 4-H Regional Specialist, compared the 2015 edition with the soon to be published final version. However, Washington 4-H Horse Program is not sure of the date of the final publication.

These addendums are posted on the WSU 4-H website’s Horse page, located at the link called WA State 4-H Equine Policies and Rules-PNW 4-H Horse Contest Guide-Addendums. The direct link to the Horse Page is https://extension.wsu.edu/4h/projects/animal-science/companion-performance/horse/

There are two addendums. Addendum I is specific to the rule changes affecting Washington as related to current PNW 4-H Horse Contest Guide. Find Addendum I HERE.

Addendum II is a “clarification” of selected rules in the PNW 4-H Horse Contest Guide, but are not rule changes. Find Addendum II HERE.

The current version of PNW 4-H Horse Contest Guide dated October 1, 2015 will continue to be the contest guide we will use until we (Washington) receive the final from Oregon.

Addendum  I (rule changes) will be effective for the remainder of this program year to September 30, 2023. Addendum II may be updated as more questions of clarification are identified – also through to September 30, 2023.

For information or clarification on the PNW 4-H Horse Contest guide process or rules, contact Jennifer Leach, State Horse Contact at LeachJ@co.cowlitz.wa.gov or jleach@wsu.edu.


4-H Giving Page Update – Give Online to Your County 4-H Program!

Denise Echelbarger

 We’ve Changed!

But it’s all good—we’ve just launched our new 4-H Giving Page design. It’s now even easier to find your county excellence fund give link and give directly to your county 4-H program. With better navigation, we hope you love it as much as we do. CHECK IT OUT!


Visit Pullman to Celebrate 4-H Day With Cougar Football – September 23rd!

Denise Echelbarger

 Save the date! Celebrate 4-H Day with the Cougs in Pullman on September 23rd vs. the Oregon State University Beavers at Martin Stadium.
Game time is yet to be determined. Discounted tickets are available!

4-H Day with the Cougs!
Discounted Tickets Available 
PURCHASE HERE


Volunteer to Support the Washington State 4-H Fair

State Fair Board

 The Washington State 4-H Fair board encourages individuals with an interest in serving youth development to offer their time and talents in support of the State 4-H Fair as volunteers.

Please send an email to 4-H Fair Board President Kirk Gresham at st4hfair@gmail.com with any questions, for more information, or to volunteer.

Thank You!


Donate to the Washington State 4-H Fair

4-H State Fair Board

 Every year, the Washington State 4-H Fair Board ensures the continuation and success of 4-H programs old and new alike, from purchasing trophies and ribbons, buckles and banners for awards to fair participants to scheduling and facilitating events and more. This year, the State 4-H Fair Board is asking for your donations to assist the board in its efforts to provide youth an environment that fosters caring relationships, constructive learning experiences, leadership opportunities and to serve our communities.

Please contact a State 4-H Fair board member for more information.
st4hfair@gmail.com


State 4-H Fair Board Seeks Qualified Candidates For State 4-H Fair Manager Position Opening 

 

The State 4-H Fair Manager Position Is Now Open!

The job description for the State 4-H Fair Manager position is available for download by clicking HERE.

The State 4-H Fair Manager is not a WSU position, but reports directly to the State 4-H Fair Board.  The salary is $32,500, paid in twelve monthly installments.  There are no benefits associated with this position.

This is a part time position of about 1,000 hours annually, with extended hours during August and September, during the fair cycle in Puyallup, Washington.

The position will remain open until filled.

Please forward your cover letter and resume to:

Washington State 4-H Fair Board
PO Box 1225
Puyallup, Washington, 98371-0233

or by email to the Fair Board at st4hfair@gmail.com.


Ask Dr. Universe:

What Makes Fireflies Light Up At Night? – Asher, 7, Maryland

Do you love helping animals? Check out this podcast episode about a community science project you can do to help scientists conserve monarch butterflies

Dr. Universe: What makes fireflies light up at night? – Asher, 7, Maryland

Dear Asher,

When I was a kitten, there were tons of fireflies in my grandparents’ yard. My litter mates and I loved to gently catch them and let them go.

I talked with my friend Richard Zack about how and why fireflies light up. He’s an insect scientist at Washington State University.

Those glowing insects are a kind of beetle. But we call them fireflies or lightning bugs. Their glow is a form of bioluminescence. That’s when a chemical reaction inside a living thing makes it light up.

Zack told me to think about a glow stick. If you shake it, you can tell it has liquid inside it. There’s also a small glass capsule filled with another liquid inside. When you crack the glow stick, the glass breaks, and the two liquids mix. That causes a chemical reaction—and the glow stick lights up.

A firefly’s chemical reaction happens inside a special light organ in its abdomen. The stuff inside the light organ—a molecule called luciferin and a protein called luciferase—don’t glow on their own. But when the firefly’s body lets oxygen into the light organ, a chemical reaction happens and the firefly’s abdomen glows.

Zack told me the big reason fireflies light up is to find mates. You’ve probably noticed that a firefly’s light doesn’t stay on. It flicks on and off. Different kinds of fireflies use different patterns of lighting up and turning off to find each other.

“If you’re watching fireflies, the ones you see flying around and flickering are mostly males,” Zack said. “If you look down at the ground, you will see flickering females. So, what happens is the male is out there giving off its species’ flick, flick, flick pattern. Then a female of the same species will respond with a different pattern. Ideally the right male finds the right female, and they mate and everybody’s happy.”

A firefly’s glow is also a warning. It lets predators know that the beetle is poisonous and not a good snack.

But some fireflies don’t glow. Those are the fireflies we have in the western United States. They either don’t light up at all or glow so faintly that you can’t see them. They use chemical signals to find their mates instead.

For some unfortunate male fireflies, a female firefly’s glow is the worst kind of invitation. Different kinds of fireflies have different eating habits as adults. Some never eat at all. Some eat nectar or pollen. But the fireflies from the group Photuris are predators. They’re also aggressive mimics.

Female fireflies from this group hang out on the ground looking for the flickering patterns of male fireflies from another group. They respond by mimicking the glow pattern the male firefly expects to see from a potential mate. He gets closer and closer—and then the female eats him. As a bonus, that gives the Photuris firefly the poison she needs to protect her from predators since this group doesn’t make it on their own.

I’m pretty sure she gives the meal a glowing review.

Sincerely,
Dr. Universe


Dr. Universe: What are butterfly cocoons made of? — Anabelle, 8, Massachusetts

 

A moth’s cocoon, credit: entomart
A moth’s cocoon, credit: entomart

Dear Anabelle,

When I was a kit, I looked a lot like the adult cat I would become—even though I was smaller and fluffier. But wiggly caterpillars don’t look like butterflies at all.

I talked about this with my friend Allan Felsot. He’s an insect scientist at Washington State University.

He told me cocoons are mostly silk. But they’re usually made by moths. A butterfly “cocoon” isn’t really a cocoon at all. It’s called a chrysalis. Both butterflies and moths belong to a big group of insects that go through complete metamorphosis. They have four life stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. They go through a massive change to become an adult.

That big change happens when the insect is a pupa. That’s like their teenager stage. A moth pupa usually changes inside a silk cocoon. Sometimes people harvest that silk to make fabric. A butterfly pupa might look like a cocoon, but it’s different.

Butterfly Chrysalis
Butterfly Chrysalis

“Many butterflies have what we call a naked pupa or chrysalis,” Felsot said. “The wings, mouthparts and antennae are glued to the body, and it’s compressed. But if you poke it, you’ll see it wiggles around.” A butterfly pupa is covered with the same tough skin that you see on any insect. It’s just a temporary, baggy version of that skin called a chrysalis. The chrysalis is often tethered with silk, so it stays put.

Insect silk generally comes from the same organs that make saliva.

“There are lots of things that salivary glands do,” Felsot said. “One thing is produce silk proteins. These are in the form of a gel. So, it’s very viscous, and it’s forced out as a drop. But then the insect pulls away from it—maybe they wiggle their head or move their body a little bit—and that spins it into a fiber.”

As the gel hits the air and the insect pulls away from it, the silk crystallizes. The particles in the silk line up in an orderly way. That makes the silk strong. The silks made by different kinds of insects are all a little bit different.

Insects use silk for all kinds of things. Some insects like moths wrap silk around their bodies to make a silk cocoon. Some insects use silk like glue to make cases out of stuff they find.

A caddisfly’s case, credit: NSF
A caddisfly’s case, credit: NSF

One of my favorites is the caddisfly. They’re related to butterflies and moths, but their larvae live underwater.

Some caddisflies use silk to glue together tiny bits of sand and debris. It forms a little house a larva can live in and carry around. When it’s time to change into an adult, the insect usually seals up the entrance to the case with more silk.

Caddisfly silk is so special—sticky, stretchy and waterproof—that scientists want to copy it so they can make better bandages and stitches. Scientists study insect and spider silks to learn how to make all kinds of things.

It’s just one more way insects make our lives smooth as silk.

Sincerely,
Dr. Universe


Get more questions and answers here!

Know a kid with a science question?
Help them submit it for a chance to be featured in a future Q&A.

Submit a question!


Q and A Sessions for the Washington 4-H Horse Program Continue – Now On First Wednesdays!

Have questions about the Washington 4-H horse program? Our monthly Q and A for leaders, parents, members, and staff will now be meeting on the first Wednesday of each month via Zoom from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. beginning June 7th.

Zooms are structured around the theme/parameters of horses and youth development. They are more than “what are the rules.” There is also time set aside for input on future topics for subsequent Zooms. The Zoom meeting ID is 452-082-9765 with no passcode. You must have a zoom account to participate.

The meetings are facilitated by Kim Baker, State 4-H Equine Coordinator.

.Feel free to contact Kim with any questions at kim.baker@wsu.edu.


4-H Voluneers, Thank You

Garden Clinic Day

Calling all plant enthusiasts and green thumbs! 🌿✨ Mark your calendars for September 1st, 2023, from 9am to Noon, as the Pend Oreille County Master Gardeners invite you to an educational Garden Clinic Day. Explore the importance of soil pH, gain invaluable knowhow, and join a tour through the demonstration garden that will leave you inspired. Got Questions? Bring ’em. We’ve got answers! Volunteers onsite to help with Plant health, Insect ID, and more.  🌼🌿 #answerclinic #mastergardeners

Strategic Gardening: Integrating Nutrition with Crop Choices

Gardening is not just a wonderful source of fresh food, the fruits and vegetables it provides can also be a way to bring essential nutrition into your home.

Through a class hosted by the Newport Community Garden Committee, join Pend Oreille Master Gardener Kamori Cattadoris to help you do the same. She will answer all your questions about the rarely covered aspect of gardening, such as how does she plan a garden that provides essential nutritional needs for her family? Which are the most nutritionally important crops to grow in limited space? Which varieties of root crops, greens, or fruit provide the best bang for your gardening buck?

Event held at the Newport Public Library on Friday, August 11th from 2-3pm. RSVP is required and available on the Library event page at pocld.org/events. If you need assistance with registration, call 1-800-366-3654.

Garden to Table – Cooking Class

What does it mean to Eat a Rainbow?

Discover the vibrant world of fruits and vegetables! Join us as we explore the concept of ‘Eating a Rainbow’ and learn how different colors can unlock a rainbow of health benefits. 🌈🍎🥕 #Nutrition #Gardening #Cooking #GardenToTable

Participants will be learning about fruits and vegetables from each color and how they offer a variety of important vitamins and nutrients that can prevent disease through hands-on instruction. This combination Education and Cooking Class will be instructed by SNAP-Ed (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education) Coordinator, Chris Knoefler and Educator, Jennifer Anderberg. Seating is limited!

To register, call Beverly Sarles at 509-447-2401

2023 MASTER GARDENER CLASS SERIES

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP-Ed USDA logo