Katie Says: Did you know…?

…that some species of flowers only open at night? These flowers were designed to attract moths, bats and other nocturnal animals as their pollinators, which are not active during the day.

…that not all fireflies are nocturnal? There are diurnal (active during the day) species that look just like any other firefly, except they lack the yellow, glowing abdomen. They also have longer, fuzzier antennae, a sign that these daytime fireflies rely on chemical signals from their mates, and not blinking, glowing ones.

…that snakes cannot blink? If you ever see a legless reptile blink at you, you’ll know you’re looking not at a snake, but at a species of legless lizard, found in the southeastern United States.

…that daddy long legs are not spiders? Although they are a kind of arachnid (along with mites, scorpions and ticks), they are not spiders. Daddy long legs cannot produce silk, have only two eyes instead of eight and have only one body segment instead of two. And in case you’re wondering, yes, daddy long legs can bite, but contrary to the myth, their venom is quite weak.

…that the barn owl can eat more mice in one year than ten cats combined? In parts of the country where the barn owl is common, farmers put up owl nest boxes around their crops to attract these magnificent mouse munchers!

…that Briar Bush is starting a brand new series of nighttime programs called “Hot S’more Nights”? It’s true! Each Thursday night in July, Briar Bush educators will lead fun and exciting programs to teach about the nighttime side of the Briar Bush woods. Want to learn more? Call Briar Bush at 215-887-6603 or be on the lookout for the next Briar Flyer!