The ANT

Ants.  I don't like them, but I have to learn to live with them here in Alabama. 
Last month's nature study a la The Handbook of Nature Study blog pointed us to ants. 
Yes, we started with identifying their insect parts: head, thorax, abdomen, antennae. 
But I did not want to get out and explore the fire ants that abound around here.  It's just too risky.
I didn't know where these other ants were, if any of them survived the Fire Ant invasion of the 1930's.  After just a bit of research, I found out that other types of ants prefer undisturbed areas.  So off to find some non-fire ants. 

On a walking trail we saw some ant mounds ...

and some ant row homes. 

My camera skills are just too basic to actually capture the ant itself.  Even so, we didn't see very many.  Moreover, it was still very hot in September, and - well, we were ready to get out of the heat. 

SIGH.  Now what?  Well, nature gave us plenty of ant hills here in Lower Alabama, so ant hills it is.  At the very least, we compared their sizes.  

One thing's for sure:  Fire Ants sure know how to build a big house. 

Look at these things!

This one is up to Z's knees!  

Now that the weather is cooling off, these insects are moving their homes closer to the sidewalks which stay warm longer.  Now we have to be even more careful when we go outside looking for this month's subject:  trees.  
At least they don't bite. 

Critter Patrol

It wasn't on our nature study list.  
It wasn't convenient. 
But it was pretty cool.
Last Friday, I found what I think was a salamander in our yard.  It looked like a tiny snake at first.  In fact, a snake would have been a more likely find after the kids and I found a small corn snake in our garage last week!
But I much prefer finding this little guy.

 The closest description we could find was that of a three-striped salamander.  If anyone out there happens to know what it is, feel free to educate me.  
Now this next one is a little blurry, but it's the only one I have that shows his feet.  He wasn't exactly easy to pose.  

Unfortunately, Z was not home at the time, so I insisted we keep the guy in our handy dandy critter container until Z got home to see him.  That drove E a little crazy with worry for the little guy.  Three whole hours in captivity!  
Alas, we set him free in the same area we found him (or her; I don't know).  

Thanks for visiting!  Come back soon.  
(Now I'm going to read The Salamander Room with the kids.)