GoodWorks in Leipers Fork TN

Sunday, May 29th was the delightful presentation from Noah Charney and Charlie Eiseman, “Tracks and Sign Insects and Other Invertebrates.”

Pictured here is 8th grade science teacher Sarah White holding a jar of cocoons while talking with Eiseman.  Here is what she had to say:

“Charley Eiseman and Noah Charney fascinated us with their true tales of insect life and lore. Their personal investigations, which are chronicled in their book Tracks & Signs of Insects & Other Invertebrates turned up truths that are stranger then fiction. The leafcutter bee cuts perfect circles out of leaves, then uses them to make nest cells. The paper wasp builds its egg nest from prechewed wood and suspends it from a narrow stalk that has an ant repellant substance on it, to protect the eggs from marauding ants. No longer do we believe that the spider is at the top of the insect food chain. On the contrary, there are parasitic wasps that lay eggs in spider egg sacs which hatch and feed on the unhatched spider eggs. Insects live in a tough world, shared by Charley and Noah with artistic photography and wry humor. Much of this life and death drama happens right outside our front doors, if we but open our eyes and look a little bit closer than we normally do.”

Left, Noah Charney