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Newsletter
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September 25, 2009
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 EDITOR'S BLOG
Tenho Saudades
On calendars and on magazine covers, autumn is usually rendered
glossy and exhilarating: the foliage always neon orange against azure
skies, humans and their fall chores the cheerful equivalent of
nut-foraging cartoon squirrels, busy-busy until winter tucks the earth
in like a big fluffy quilt. As for the dark days...Full Article Text
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 THE OUTSIDE STORY
Maple Leafcutter and its Turtle-like Existence
Each fall I spend quiet time in the woods getting reacquainted with - yes, you guessed it - Paraclemensia acerifoliella. OK, I admit you may not know Paraclemensia acerifoliella. But if you are anywhere near sugar maples, you are probably...
Full Article Text
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 WHAT IN THE WOODS IS THAT?
Our Weekly Guessing Game!
Depending on the time of year, the seeds from this plant can be green or red. What in the woods is it?
Photo courtesy Jim Block.
Each week we run a photo of something unusual found in the woods. Guess
what it is and you'll be eligible to win a copy of The Outside Story, a
paperback collection of our Outside Story newspaper columns. A prize winner
will be drawn at random from all the correct entries. The correct answer, and
the winner's name, will appear in next week's column.View the full image and enter this week's contest This week's contest deadline is 5:00pm, Wednesday, September 30th.
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 Last Week's Contest Answer
Congratulations to last week's winner, Ken Hunter, of New Durham, NH. We had only 2 correct answers! Ken receives a copy of our book, The Outside Story.
Photo Courtesy Bryan Pfeiffer
No, it's not an alien life-form; and that's all the
help I'm giving you. What in the woods is it?
NW Answer: The tail end of a male lyre-tipped spreadwing damselfly,
Lestes unguiculatus.
The terminal appendages on male damselflies, like the ones
shown in this photo, are called the primary genitalia. This is because
damselflies also have secondary genitalia. Before mating, damselfly males curve
their abdomens around and put sperm from the back tip of the abdomen into their
secondary genitalia, a set of organs near the front of the abdomen.
They use their pincher-like cerci to clasp a female by her
thorax. If she is a willing partner, she curves the tip of her abdomen so that
it contacts the male's secondary genitalia. It is interesting that females in
this group do have a choice of mates. They can say no.
Mating damselflies first fly in tandem, with the male in
front, clasping the female. When she curves her abdomen around and makes
contact, they form a wheel shape and, amazingly enough, they can fly in that
position.
How this odd mating ritual evolved is a bit of a mystery,
but it may be a male strategy to avoid being eaten by the female, as sometimes
happens to other species of male insects and spiders.
Thanks to Bryan Pfeiffer for the use of this wonderful
photo. To check out more of Bryan's
work, visit www.WingsPhotography.com.
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 NORTHERN WOODLANDS NEWS
Northern Woodlands Goes to School
Dear Teachers in New England and New York,
We want to make sure that you're all aware of the big changes in the Northern Woodlands Goes to School program. As of the Autumn 2009 issue, the program has moved online.
A PDF of the magazine and a teacher's curriculum guide is now available on our new Google group site. The Teacher's Guide is also available on our web site, where it has always been posted within the "Program" area.
The Google Group site is now fully up and running. Any teacher previously enrolled in the program should have received an invitation to join the group. By signing up, you have access to the program materials, as well as the opportunity to trade ideas with your peers.
In addition to Curriculum materials and a magazine PDF, each teacher receives one hard copy of the magazine. If you find that your students can't live without their own print copy, you can enroll them for the year at an annual price of $10 per student.
If you would like to join this program, or have any questions, please email Dave Mance, dave@northernwoodlands.org. We'll make sure you get on the mailing list as well as getting full access to the Google group online site.
We hope to expand this program to reach hundreds of schools throughout our region. If you know any teachers who might be interested, please let us know. Thanks!
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We Welcome Your Questions and Comments
Postal Address:
Northern Woodlands
1776 Center Road
P.O. Box 471
Corinth, VT 05039
Toll-Free: (800) 290-5232
Phone: (802) 439-6292
Fax: (802) 439-6296
Email: mail@northernwoodlands.org
General inquiries form
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The mission of the Center for Northern Woodlands
Education is to encourage a culture of forest stewardship in the
Northeast by producing and distributing media content to increase
understanding of and appreciation for the natural wonders, economic
productivity, and ecological integrity of the region's forests. Our
programs give people the information
they need to help build a sustainable future for our region. Through
Northern Woodlands magazine, the Northern Woodlands Goes to School
program, and special
publications, we make a difference in how people care for their land.
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