NatureNotes

In order to move faster, caterpillars and some other insects form formations known as "rolling swarms" by crawling over each other.

Rudy Mancke helps to identify a mystery skeleton sent to him by Jim Welch, his former co-host on SCETV's "NatureScene."

Samson foxes are a strain of red foxes which have a recessive trait preventing long hair growth.

Rudy Mancke shares a note from a listener about how thinking of nature as a recycling system has changed their view on life.

Citheronia regalis, commonly known as the regal moth or royal walnut moth, is native to the eastern United States.

Asimina triloba, commonly known as the pawpaw tree, is the only North American member of the tropical plant family Annonaceae and produces the large edible fruit native to the continent.

Heterodon platirhinos, commonly known as the eastern hognose snake, is a species of snake which grow to be 20-30 inches long with a thick body and an upturned snout. These snakes mainly feed on amphibians, are not harmful to humans, and will play dead when threatened.

A listener from Horry County asks Rudy Mancke to help identify a skull found on their property. While partially devoured, the skull's teeth point to it belonging to a member of the rabbit family.

Cuckoo wasps are a family of parasitic wasps with often brilliant metallic colored bodies.

White-eyed and red-eyed vireos are species of birds common to the eastern United States. They are known for building nests using materials like spider silk and caterpillar silk to attach their nests between tree branches.

Lucanus elaphus, commonly known as the giant stag beetle, the elk stag beetle, or the elephant stag beetle, is a species of large beetles native to eastern North America. Male giant stag beetles can reach 2.5 inches in length, including large antler-like mandibles.

The barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) is the most widespread species of swallow in the world. It appears to have the largest natural distribution of any of the world's passerines, ranging over 251 million square kilometres globally. It is a distinctive passerine bird with blue upperparts and a long, deeply forked tail. It is found in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.

Storeria occipitomaculata, commonly known as the redbelly snake or the red-bellied snake, is a species of harmless snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to North America (Canada and the United States).

Millipedes have two sets of legs per segment positioned directly under their body. Centipedes have one set of legs per segment positioned on the side of their body.

Wild blackberries are delicious - but, don't eat them unless you thoroughly wash them!

A listener finds the remains of an animal in her yard...

Pantherophis alleghaniensis, commonly called the eastern rat snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to North America. Additional common names for P. alleghaniensis include black rat snake, pilot snake, pilot black snake, chicken snake; and in Florida, yellow rat snake and Everglades rat snake.

A listener finds something in a bluebird box....

Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperii) is a medium-sized hawk native to the North American continent and found from southern Canada to Mexico. This species is a member of the genus Accipiter, sometimes referred to as true hawks, which are famously agile, relatively small hawks common to wooded habitats around the world and also the most diverse of all diurnal raptor genera.

Lampropeltis getula, commonly known as the eastern kingsnake, common kingsnake, or chain kingsnake, is a harmless colubrid species endemic to the United States and Mexico. It has long been a favorite among collectors.

The American redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) is a New World warbler. It is unrelated to the Old World (common) redstart.

Acer negundo, the box elder, boxelder maple, Manitoba maple or ash-leaved maple, is a species of maple native to North America. It is a fast-growing, short-lived tree with opposite, compound leaves. It is sometimes considered a weedy or invasive species, and has been introduced to and naturalized throughout much of the world, including in South America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, much o...

Spiranthes vernalis, commonly called the spring ladies'-tresses, is a species of orchid that is native to North America, Central America and the Bahamas. It is a perennial that produces a spiral of white flowers in the early summer.

The summer solstice, also called the estival solstice or midsummer, occurs when one of Earth's poles has its maximum tilt toward the Sun. It happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern).

The eastern glass lizard (Ophisaurus ventralis) is a species of legless lizard in the family Anguidae, endemic to the Southeastern United States.