MYSTERY SOLVED!

CONGRATULATIONS to Brigid Weiner of Parker Farms School for solving the identity of the mystery creature. Great sleuthing!

And the answer is . . .the larva of the Dobsonfly!

The dobsonfly is found east of the Continental Divide and lives by streams. And, I just happen to have a stream in my backyard.

Maybe he might have a friend . . .**

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WORDS TO MAKE YOU WONDER . . .

POINTS TO PONDER . . .

What do we mean by larva?
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/larva

When an organism undergoes a complete change in its form, we call it a metamorphosis. Is this what happened to the larva of the dobsonfly?

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Do you think caterpillars undergo metamorphosis? Support your answer with evidence. You might want to explore the metamorphosis websites below.

For all you fans of monarch butterflies, check this out!

http://home.earthlink.net/~mr_chickenman/Metamorphosis/page1.html

http://home.earthlink.net/~mr_chickenman/Metamorphosis/page2.html

http://home.earthlink.net/~mr_chickenman/Metamorphosis/page3.html

http://home.earthlink.net/~mr_chickenman/Metamorphosis/page4.html

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Photo: Wayne Kryduba . . Photo: Tanya

What is the Continental Divide? Let's find it together on this U.S. map.

http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/infopage/contdiv.htm

**Speaking of a friend, I did find this fellow hanging out in the dobsonfly's stream. Do you think you can identify him?

P.S. I still have that bag of carrot sticks. Brigid opted for the chocolate . . .