Stump the Naturalist!

We get tons of questions from people about wildlife, attracting birds and butterflies to your yard, and many more! We love it when you stump us! See some questions we've been asked below.

If you have a question about wildlife in South Dakota, butterfly gardens, bird feeding, hunting, fishing or outdoor skills, e-mail us by clicking here:

Some questions from our Stump the Naturalist Files
I would like to purchase some mantid egg sacs for my son to hatch and release. I'm wondering if there are any ecological concerns with doing so.	No problems. The most common species available through horticultural sources are exotic species, such as the Chinese mantid, established in warm parts of the country for 200 years. They are not generally able to successfully overwinter around here except in urban areas during unusually mild winters. They are unlikely to compete with our native mantids that are generally found in lightly disturbed or undisturbed steppe (a rare habitat in SD). Source: Paul J. Johnson, Ph.D.Professor of Entomology, SDSU
How do elk scratch?	Elk scratch using their hooves and antlers. They will also rub up against things like trees and fence posts.
How do porcupines mate without getting hurt?	The female porcupine flattens her tail against her back. The underside of her tail has no quills. The male proceeds to mount her from behind. He will put his forearms on the underside of her tail and hold it down in order to get close to her. Porcupine bellies are also quilless. Thus, nobody is getting accidentally stuck with quills.
Do you know a website that may help me identify different kinds of ducks?	There is an excellent site hosted by the USGS... Species, Age and Sex Identification of Ducks Using Wing Plumage
What year did the coyote become South Dakota's state animal?	The coyote became South Dakota's state animal in 1949.
I've been feeding the butterflies in my garden, but how do I get caterpillars?	Try some good host plants for caterpillars such as milkweed, dill, parsley, fennel, or carrots. Check our website for more good host plants: Outdoor Campus Butterfly Garden
How can I find out the times of sunrise and sunset in my hometown?	Try this website: http://aa.usno.navy.mil/AA/data/
Are box elder bugs a threat to our caterpillar larvae and pupae?	Boxelder bug, Boisea trivittatus, is an interesting herbivore that will not bother butterfly eggs, but does have a tendency to get into your home, in winter, to seek the warmth. The adult looks like a cockroach with orange chevrons on its back. The nymph has a mostly orange/red body with a black wing shaped pattern on the thorax and first several abdominal segments. In the spring the adult emerges from the hibernation when the buds of the Boxelder trees [Acer negundo] open and lay their eggs. The first generation nymphs and adults feed on Boxelder seeds and at times on Silver Maple seeds. There are two generations per year in the warmer climates. It's kind of a neat bug and does absolutely no harm to anyone. ~information contributed by Jay McRoberts
My daughter discovered a black caterpillar w/small white "dots" along its sides. It is about an inch long. Can you help us identify it,and where to find such info in the future?	Your best clue about any kind of caterpillar involves what kind of plant she found it on. I don't know what part of the country you live in, but was it found on dill, fennel, carrots, queen anne's lace or parsley? Those would give us the clue that it is a black swallowtail caterpillar. We use a book here called Peterson's First Guide to Caterpillars. It can help you identify the caterpillars by how they look, or what they were eating.
My daughter collects insects as a hobby. Recently she discovered several small cockroaches hiding in the peeling bark of dead trees near our home in Indiana. This cockroaches are small, about 1/2", with only small wing vestiges, and reddish-brown in color. She collected several nymphs and adults. One female produced an egg capsule shortly after it was collected. The egg capsule remained adhered to the female's abdomen and was a dark reddish-brown after about the first 24 hours. Is there any chance that you can help us identify them? Thanks! Kathie	The two most common cockroaches that live in the US are the German and American Cockroach. The American can grow to be nearly 2 inches long, while the German is a lot shorter at only 0.5 inches long. The German also carries its ootheca on its body. So, from this I would say the girl found a German cockroach. This roach is also the roach that is least demanding with respect to humidity and temperature, making it easier to live in the Midwest. ~ answer from Tyler Ahnemann, Great Plains Zoo
What is a group of alligators called?	After birth, hatchling alligators form groups called "pods" and may stay in the same vicinity of their nesting site for several years. ~Information gathered from http://home.cfl.rr.com/gatorhole/
What is a group of frogs called?	A group of frogs is called an Army. ~Information from http://allaboutfrogs.org

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