yes ball pythons! woah that wasp story's pretty neat :o how long did it take to raise the wasps?

I am not sure, they were paper wasps, I am guessing not long based on the lifespan of a paper wasp.

Wasps are adorable, they don't deserve all the hate they get

I agree Lyn, they are such beneficial creatures.

Thanks! That is interesting. I always enjoy reading about your creatures

This formation method means that they might not actually be iron films, but this type is quite understudied, and I originally encountered it in a vernal pool. :) If that is too much trouble though, no problem! I hope your vernal pool patrols go well! (and what a cool term, haha)

I could do that! It looks like you have iNaturalist, are there any projects related to iron films?

I just saw your ecospheres page and it is so cool! I want to make some now :-)

(I hope this method replies to you!) I actually just now made an account! People usually report films on iNaturalist as "Leptothrix discophora" but I've been hesitant to do the same because it's much more likely that they can form in a plethora of different ways that can't really be ascribed to one species. But I'll look into it more!

And yes you totally should make ecosphere jars! They're so fun and low-maintenence, and it's especially amazing to watch them evolve over time. My oldest one is 1.5 years and is still not done changing! Some professors I know have ones that are 15 years old..

Sorry for spam, but I just made a project after seeing there were none! :) https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/iron-films

aaand even more spam -- I found another project, oops! https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/bog-iron

Thanks! I'll join both projects.

YES!!!! I love her books so much! My mom had the whole collection, and I believe she read the stories to her students when she was a kindergarten teacher. Do you have a favorite story? Mine is the one with the caddis worms.

You know, as a French person, I personally think it is a crime that we don't seem to have any french translations. It's been a project for a while to translate them to maybe re-publish them? Idk... Also, my favourite book is by faaar Among the Meadow People, but I can't choose between the grasshoppers, the lazy snail or the tent-caterpillars!

I definetely think that they should be translated into more languages. That way, more people can enjoy them! Among the Meadow People is a good one.

yeah, it's really fun and interesting! do you have a collection? I only have a cat skull that I found during a community cleanup.

Yes! I do! I have a few deer, an opossum, a skunk, two of our chickens who passed, a baby raccoon and a few more smaller ones. Collecting them is so much fun.