WI State Symbols – Insect LbNA #44947
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Add Location| Owner: | Wisconsin Hiker  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Nov 30, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Chippewa Falls |
| County: | Chippewa |
| State: | Wisconsin |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Found by: | one love journeying |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Sep 27, 2009 |
| Status: | FOF |
| Last edited: | May 15, 2016 |
Last found/checked: 18-AUG-09
Location: A state park located east of Chippewa Falls. From Chippewa Falls, take State Highway 178 north to County Highway S. Turn right (east) on Highway S. In about 2 miles, Highway S goes over the Chippewa River where it empties into the park’s namesake lake. About 500 feet after the bridge, turn right (east) on County Highway O. Go about 2 miles to the park entrance, which will be on your right.
Hiking Distance/Time: ~2 miles / ~ 1 hour
Terrain: Fairly level, wide, grass & dirt trail most of the time. Off trail to find box.
Note: A valid Wisconsin State Park vehicle admission sticker is required and may be purchased at the park. In 2009 the daily rate is $7 for WI residents or $10 for non-residents. Annual state park stickers are $25/$35.
Clues:
Wisconsin designated the honeybee as official state insect in 1977. Bee pollination is critical to plant and human survival - beeswax and honey are just surplus gifts from this tiny wonder of nature. The plant world expends a lot of energy attracting bees and other insects with brilliantly colored flowers and sweet nectar (nectar is produced solely to attract pollinating insects).
The first bees appear in the fossil record dating 40 million years ago and the honeybee has remained physically and socially unchanged for 30 million years. Probably originating in tropical Africa, they were brought to the New World with the first Spanish and English colonists, quickly escaping to the wild and eventually populating the entire western hemisphere. American Indians called the honeybee "white man's flies."
Follow the park road past the campground and park on the small lot on the left (east) side of the road. Start at the info sign and buzz off to the east on the Pinus resinosa trail. A honeybee would be attracted to this area since prairie wildflowers bloom nearby in the more temperate months. Change you flight plan to the left at the bench, then fly straight through the intersection heading west through the stately pines.
Pass by a path on the left and after a bench on the right buzz to the south. Continue on your southward journey across all obstacles. Eventually the pine plantation will end and the trail begins to curve to the left. Slow down here and instead take a small side path to the north. Now you’ll need to be on the lookout. A bee's eyes, like those of other insects, differ greatly from human eyes. They consist of a pair of compound eyes made up of numerous six-sided facets. They also have three simple eyes. Despite this, their vision is believed to be sharp for a distance of only about 3 feet. Hopefully you can see a bit farther and will be able to spot a large fallen pine on the left.
Unlike most insects, honeybees remain active through the winter, consuming and metabolizing honey in order to keep from freezing to death. That means this bee should be active any time of the year. But don’t worry, this is a male bee and males cannot sting! The drone was kicked out of the main hive and is nesting all alone, about 8’-10’ from the base of the tree and tucked under a branch. Please replace him carefully so no marauding bears looking for honey come to disturb him.
To finish your hike, return to the main path and continue on, taking a left at a “T”. Enjoy the views to the right and you’ll eventually travel along a long fence on the right, then another shorter fence. At the next intersection turn left before the bench and you’ll be on the proper path to find your vehicle.
Since we don’t live in the area, status reports would be greatly appreciated!
Hike length: 1-2 miles
Location: A state park located east of Chippewa Falls. From Chippewa Falls, take State Highway 178 north to County Highway S. Turn right (east) on Highway S. In about 2 miles, Highway S goes over the Chippewa River where it empties into the park’s namesake lake. About 500 feet after the bridge, turn right (east) on County Highway O. Go about 2 miles to the park entrance, which will be on your right.
Hiking Distance/Time: ~2 miles / ~ 1 hour
Terrain: Fairly level, wide, grass & dirt trail most of the time. Off trail to find box.
Note: A valid Wisconsin State Park vehicle admission sticker is required and may be purchased at the park. In 2009 the daily rate is $7 for WI residents or $10 for non-residents. Annual state park stickers are $25/$35.
Clues:
Wisconsin designated the honeybee as official state insect in 1977. Bee pollination is critical to plant and human survival - beeswax and honey are just surplus gifts from this tiny wonder of nature. The plant world expends a lot of energy attracting bees and other insects with brilliantly colored flowers and sweet nectar (nectar is produced solely to attract pollinating insects).
The first bees appear in the fossil record dating 40 million years ago and the honeybee has remained physically and socially unchanged for 30 million years. Probably originating in tropical Africa, they were brought to the New World with the first Spanish and English colonists, quickly escaping to the wild and eventually populating the entire western hemisphere. American Indians called the honeybee "white man's flies."
Follow the park road past the campground and park on the small lot on the left (east) side of the road. Start at the info sign and buzz off to the east on the Pinus resinosa trail. A honeybee would be attracted to this area since prairie wildflowers bloom nearby in the more temperate months. Change you flight plan to the left at the bench, then fly straight through the intersection heading west through the stately pines.
Pass by a path on the left and after a bench on the right buzz to the south. Continue on your southward journey across all obstacles. Eventually the pine plantation will end and the trail begins to curve to the left. Slow down here and instead take a small side path to the north. Now you’ll need to be on the lookout. A bee's eyes, like those of other insects, differ greatly from human eyes. They consist of a pair of compound eyes made up of numerous six-sided facets. They also have three simple eyes. Despite this, their vision is believed to be sharp for a distance of only about 3 feet. Hopefully you can see a bit farther and will be able to spot a large fallen pine on the left.
Unlike most insects, honeybees remain active through the winter, consuming and metabolizing honey in order to keep from freezing to death. That means this bee should be active any time of the year. But don’t worry, this is a male bee and males cannot sting! The drone was kicked out of the main hive and is nesting all alone, about 8’-10’ from the base of the tree and tucked under a branch. Please replace him carefully so no marauding bears looking for honey come to disturb him.
To finish your hike, return to the main path and continue on, taking a left at a “T”. Enjoy the views to the right and you’ll eventually travel along a long fence on the right, then another shorter fence. At the next intersection turn left before the bench and you’ll be on the proper path to find your vehicle.
Since we don’t live in the area, status reports would be greatly appreciated!
Hike length: 1-2 miles