TN Naturalist @ Ijams search for the creepy crawlies

Naturalists Josh and Deb with Argiope aurantia

The TN Naturalist Program @ Ijams is 20 hours of naturalist classes covering a wide range of topics plus 20 hours of volunteer work. 

Jen Roder taught the class titled World of Invertebrates—what some call the insects and other creepy crawlies. The class is usually taught in late August when there are lots of the Arthropoda active and about, like our bountiful crop of garden spiders, a.k.a. writing spiders (Argiope aurantia) in the greenhouse. (See above photograph.)

We also had great fun scratching through the leaf litter (detritus) looking for detritivores, decomposer crawly things like millipedes that turn dead leaves into humus. 

The TN Naturalist Program @ Ijams classes begin in March and end in November. We are already taking registration for 2015. To register call Peg at (865) 577-4717, ext. 114. (She needs your name, phone number and email address.)

- Stephen Lyn Bales.