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THE OUTDOOR NATURE CLUB of HOUSTON, TEXAS
No. 6
Second Scries
BULLETIN
SPRING
1937
Tarantula Versus Tarantula
Killer
BY OSWALD MUELLER
Many interesting phases of insect life
have been recorded which have not been
observed generally by the amateur naturalist or layman. It often requires years
of study, research and a certain amount
of luck to enable one to be at the right
place at the right moment to witness interesting, fascinating and intriguing
happenings in the insect world. Usually
it is luck which permits us to get a
glimpse of the more intimate doings of
our insect friends. At any rate, the
writer attributes it to luck that he was
permitted to witness a duel between a
tarantula (Lycosa texanum) and a tarantula killer (Pepsis formosa).
One evening while standing in one of
*_e brilliantly lighted pavilions found
ing the shores of Medina Lake, my at-
\ ition was attracted to a very large
" /antula which was slowly crawling toward me. Spiders are no particular
friends of mine, for the bite of a very
small and insignificant one had at one
time put me to bed for three days. Upon
seeing this huge spider coming toward
me, I concluded that if the poison from
the bite of a small spider was potent
enough to almost paralyze me for a few
days, the bite of a large tarantula could
surely kill me within a few minutes.
Many people believe this today, although
it has now been definitely established,
that the bite of the tarantula is not nearly so poisonous as was formerly supposed.
Had I followed my first impulse, the
tarantula would have been killed quickly,
but I was interested in learning more
about this insect, and thus I was permitted to witness a mortal combat,
which, in relation to the size of the combatants, can be compared to the unequal
battle between David and Goliath.
The spider had approached to within a
few feet of me, when suddenly a wasplike insect appeared. The tarantula
sensed danger immediately, stopped sud-
'enly and then raised itself on its hind
k 'S. This was the wrong thing to do
I it exposed a vulnerable spot, the
east. The tarantula killer was not slow
»o follow up this advantage and it quickly plunged its long sting into it. Then
it withdrew as quickly as it had appeared. The tarantula quivered, raised itself
on its back pair of legs and began to
thresh the air with its front legs, evidently expecting another attack. It was
soon forthcoming, for the wasp returned
shortly. However, it was more wary,
dancing about and feigning attacks. The
tarantula lunged viciously at its foe, but
(Continued on page 2)
We Need a Nature
Sanctuary
The need of a nature sanctuary for
Houston can hardly be overestimated,
not only to save from extinction the
gradually disappearing flora and fauna
of our region, but also for making a
place which will attract and provide
cover and protection for our wild life.
While the San Jacinto River bottom
and the Bay shore regions produce a
feeling of sadness and regret in the
hearts of those who loved their trails
ten years ago, the trails still offer rich
treasures to those who follow them now.
Among the nature lovers of Houston
there are those who have received national recognition for their work in
Texas and there are others who possess
wealth in money and land. The Houston
Outdoor Nature Club, once a powerful
organization, has survived the depression and is again showing signs of
growth and strength.
Somewhere there may be a group or
an individual who can lead and organize
those who are willing to contribute their
time, talents or money to such an enterprise and so bring it to a realization before our vanishing species have become
extinct.
The officers of the club will appreciate any suggestions and comments from
those who are interested in procuring
a tract of land suitable for a nature
preserve.
Hikers Utilize Topographic
Maps
Mr. Louis Desjardins has been utilizing his set of the detailed topographic
maps of Harris County of the U. S. Geological Survey, for exploring new prospective localities for Outdoor Nature
Club trips. These maps show topography
by contours having a one-foot interval,
and show roads, houses and woods. Other
members of the club have accompanied
Mr. Desjardins on these hikes.
A "beauty spot" was found (utilized
for a club trip in November) along
Green's Bayou about midway between
the crossings of Goose Creek and Wallis-
ville roads. Here there is a beautiful
forest, deep ravines, and a high magnolia-crowned knoll commanding a mag-
nificient view of the curving bayou both
upstream and down with nothing to mar
the forest beauty anywhere in the scene.
Another location of unrivalled beauty
was found in the San Jacinto river valley about six miles above Magnolia Garden at a body of water caller Silver Lake
on the map. To get there required driving for miles along country roads and
ranch lanes, and a hike through the
(Continued on page 3)
The "Swarming" of Turtles
BY R. A. SELLE
The annual "coming out" of the turtles
furnishes a strange pageant that attracts a motely horde of Mexican egg-
hunters, coyotes, lizards and snakes.
About one-hundred miles south of
Brownsville, Texas, on the coast of Mexico, the turtles come from almost the entire waters of the Gulf each year about
June 1, in such countless numbers as to
resemble a solid beach several miles
long—of moving turtles. The location is
well chosen because it has reefs along
the edge of the water, where the little
turtles may rush to safety from the
fish—that is if they are lucky enough
to get into the water alive.
Turtles come out of the water to lay
their eggs, and in such numbers as to
literally cover the beach with their shells
clicking against each other. Mexican
egg-hunters frequently walk along on
the backs of the turtles without touching the ground. Guided by instinct, a
turtle pays no attention to people or
coyotes, but with the most determined
purpose finds a suitable place in the
sand, digs a hole and deposits about
seventy eggs. She carefully covers the
nest with sand and conceals it by scratching up the surface of the sand surrounding it for several feet. Even while a
man stands a few steps away watching,
the turtle continues her work of concealing.
But there are thousands of turtles;
egg-hunters and coyotes may crowd
around but from the great number, there
will be enough to preserve the species.
The beach is honey-combed with eggs;
the egg-hunters dig carefully so as not
to break the valuable eggs which are
collected by thousands and rushed to
Mexico City, Monterrey and Vera Cruz
where they bring high prices as a delicacy in the leading restaurants and dining rooms.
The coyotes get fat eating the eggs.
The turtles slip back into the sea; in
about three days, the beach is quiet
again, except for the busy egg-hunters.
SELECTS NATURE CLUB MEMBER
Joseph M. Heiser, Jr., was elected to
the Advisory Board of the National Association of Audubon Societies at their
annual members meeting in October. The
Board is composed of one member from
each state in the Union. The Association refers questions applicable to bird
distribution and condition of rookeries
to their representatives and consults
them on problems of conservation in
their respective states.
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