what is hiding in our leaves...2 (Opening up the leaves) Experiment 1, 2 &3

Unfortunately we cannot get the video to work for this experiment, so we will have to write up what happened. 

Guessing form the silky threads and Erica's previous experience with spiders hiding in the leaves, we all guessed that there would be spiders in our tight leaves.(All photographs copyrighted and the property of Joy Murray, not to be used without permission)

So armed with spider spray in case a spider attack I very gingery started to open up the leaves, no kids would volunteer!(All photographs copyrighted and the property of Joy Murray, not to be used without permission)

Of course I felt totally guilty for disrupting a spider's domain, all in the name of science.(All photographs copyrighted and the property of Joy Murray, not to be used without permission)

Gingerly I opened up with a long knife and fork, trying to stay as far away as possible. Each leaf vain looked like a spider leg and gave us a fright. There were multiple leaves I think glued together very tightly, making it difficult to prize open.This was the tightest leaf we opened, with no holes for exiting or entering.(All photographs copyrighted and the property of Joy Murray, not to be used without permission)

We wondered why one end was soggy/rotten looking.(All photographs copyrighted and the property of Joy Murray, not to be used without permission)

We were in for a huge surprise.....just take a look at what was inside!(All photographs copyrighted and the property of Joy Murray, not to be used without permission)

Two little worms. (All photographs copyrighted and the property of Joy Murray, not to be used without permission)

And lots of droppings too. They were very much active and not cocoons. The rotting/soggy end we figured out was the toilet end - gross, but also amazing!(All photographs copyrighted and the property of Joy Murray, not to be used without permission)

For experiment two the children insisted their hypothesis was that spiders still lived in the leaves- huhhhh??? Okay so everyone still stayed clear of the leaf until it was open. This time hter ewere no worm but lots of droppings, as Jo said maybe they just used the leaves as a toilet. there were places where a small worm could have gotttne in and out I think at the ends. (All photographs copyrighted and the property of Joy Murray, not to be used without permission)

Jarryn was fascinated by now and just studied and studied what was going on.(All photographs copyrighted and the property of Joy Murray, not to be used without permission)

Who says a threee year old can't do school work!(All photographs copyrighted and the property of Joy Murray, not to be used without permission)

He can even discuss a scientific hypothesis.(All photographs copyrighted and the property of Joy Murray, not to be used without permission)

Magic Moments- I love 'em!(All photographs copyrighted and the property of Joy Murray, not to be used without permission)

Okay after all that chatting I was sure the kids would get the hypothesis right for experiemnt 3!(All photographs copyrighted and the property of Joy Murray, not to be used without permission)

(All photographs copyrighted and the property of Joy Murray, not to be used without permission)

So I ask what do you think lives inside this leaf?(All photographs copyrighted and the property of Joy Murray, not to be used without permission)

MMMMMM??????(All photographs copyrighted and the property of Joy Murray, not to be used without permission)

Spiders!

?????

This is the brownest 'leaf home' we had on our little tree.(All photographs copyrighted and the property of Joy Murray, not to be used without permission)

Again threads hed tight but end are looser, space for exiting and entering. (All photographs copyrighted and the property of Joy Murray, not to be used without permission)

And this is what is inside ??? Eggs??? "no the moths or butterflys lay eggs, not worms." Rotten worm???? "No, too bitty"(All photographs copyrighted and the property of Joy Murray, not to be used without permission)

Conclusion: rotten worm droppings Actually I think you call them worm castings.(All photographs copyrighted and the property of Joy Murray, not to be used without permission)