Comics by Bernie and Nature!
Laugh and Learn
De-bugging insects
Vermont single-panel comics. Captions by Bernie, images by nature. Sponsored by the Insect Alliance, Solidarity for All Life, and our highly valued Local Pollinators. These comics introduced the term "Inverting" which means invertebrate watching as birding is to bird watching.
Inverting is being outside, observing, experiencing
the multitude, the diversity, the daily going ons of LIFE.
No bones about it, I am an 'inverter'!
Let's recognize our bond with all living species.
Bug-inspired comic #168 Feb 8, 2025Genetics of Tongue Folding & Rolling
The term tongue twisting comprises rolling, folding, rotating, adjusting, and turning of the tongue. Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) roll their tongue with apparent ease. TRY THIS AT HOME - IT'S FUN! Let us know when you can mimic a Clearwing. View more Snowberry Clearwing moths.
Wood frogs and spring peepers are highly susceptible (low tolerance) to salt (Chloride concentrations). NaC1 (salt) can cause mortality for the most susceptible species in worst-case scenarios. Population-specific members of a species have different tolerances due to the locations where they reside and long-term genetics. Sub-lethal concentrations of salt can increase the susceptibility to other stressors (parasites, predators, diseases). The toxicity of NaC1 is also influenced by shifts in water chemistry which can be impacted by such things as invasive plants and salt. Listen to more at Winter Salt Week 2025: Dilution is not the Solution
Salt can significantly hurt frogs because it disrupts their delicate electrolyte balance through their permeable skin, leading to dehydration, organ damage, and potential death if exposed to high concentrations; essentially, salt draws water out of their bodies, causing harm.
View more spring peeper photos at Spring Peeper Pseudacris crucifer
Asleep at the Wheel
Mice eat worms, snails, slugs, beetles, centipedes, grasshoppers, cockroaches, scorpions, and moth and butterfly larvae; not much of these about when it is 2 below 0 degrees.
Today (at -2) mice must risk coming out of their dens and your warm houses to search for birdseed.
The scout mouse calls out to the rest "It's safe, just be really quiet so you don't wake up the owl!"
Bug-inspired comic #165 Jan 18, 2025
Mice eat worms, snails, slugs, beetles, centipedes, grasshoppers, cockroaches, scorpions, and moth and butterfly larvae; not much of these about when it is 2 below 0 degrees.
Today (at -2) mice must risk coming out of their dens and your warm houses to search for birdseed.
The scout mouse calls out to the rest "It's safe, just be really quiet so you don't wake up the owl!"
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
This town ain't big enough for the two of us.Your epitaph will readlong on legsshort on thedraw!
Bug-inspired comic #164 Jan 11, 2025
Pantry running low
Mama told me not to stick my tongue out
Mama told me not to stick my tongue out
unless I was reaching into a flower.
Now that it is freezing outside
with not a flower or mama in sight
thought I would give it a try
didn't get caught
it froze in place
mama mia!
Pure Green Sweat Bee (Augochlora pura)
Whatever you will become,
HAPPY NEW YEAR to you!
When I was just a little girl
I asked my mother, "What will I be?
Will I be pretty, will I be rich?"
Here's what she said to me
"Que Sera, Sera
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be"
When I was young, I fell in love
I asked my sweetheart, "What lies ahead?
Will we have rainbows, day after day?"
Here's what my sweetheart said
"Que Sera, Sera
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be"
Now I have children of my own
They ask their mother, "What will I be
Will I be handsome, will I be rich?"
I tell them tenderly
"Que Sera, Sera
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be"
Songwriters: Raymond B. Evans / Jay Livingston. Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera) lyrics © Jay Livingston Music, St. Angelo Music, Crc Jianian Publishing, St Angelo Music