Caddisfly larvae are architects of the insect world. As the larvae develop, they use silk glands near their mouths to make nets for catching bits of plant matter for food and to build cases for themselves, which they piece together using sand, tiny pebbles, and plant material. These cases help to camouflage the larvae and protect them from predators, but many larvae still end up being a meal for fish or birds. The caddisfly larvae that survive develop into adult caddisflies, which look like small moths, live near water, and are attracted to lights at night. Moose are herbivores, which means they eat only plants. Aquatic vegetation such as water lilies are among their favorite summer- time meals. Moose are the largest members of the deer family. They can be 6 feet (2 metres) tall, and the males’ antlers can grow up to 6 feet wide. You wouldn’t think such a huge animal would feel at home in the water, but moose are good swimmers and have been known to swim several miles at a time. Beavers form the building crews of the wetland world. When they can’t find a suitable home in a river, lake, or pond, they’ll make one! Beavers use their powerful jaws to take down trees. They block streams with tree trunks, branches, and mud to create the ponds they love. Beavers also use sticks and mud to build their lodges—homes with secret underwater entrances. The American Goldfinch nests in shrubs and saplings and breeds later than many other birds. Finches wait until June or July to build their nests so that seeds from plants like milkweed and thistle are available to feed their young.
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