Challenge for Today - Working Transects

Answer the questions about the parasites and parasitoids. Today we spent our first time in the field actually hunting caterpillars. It was difficult. We saw a lot of really neat gold orb spiders they are about 6 and 1/2 inches long. Here is a math problem: Today we set up transects that were 10 meters in diameter. What was their radius? Do you think you can determine the area of the transect?

While hunting we looked for evidence that the caterpillars had been eating; chewed leaves, holes in leaves, and missing leaves. We also looked for leaves that were rolled up. The common name for the caterpillars that do this is leaf folders. We found our first caterpillar rolled up in a dry leaf. Then when we had finished that we used a tool called a beat sheet. A large square of taut fabric held beneath the plant to catch any falling caterpillars when the tree was hit with a stick.