A diamondback terrapin hatchling emerges from its Turtle Point nest and begins its scramble into the safety of the Lieutenant Island nursery marsh.
Lone Hatchling Slowly Emerges & Heads to Safety
The Hatchling Also Rises
August 27th, 2008Flying Insect Ovipositing on Terrapin Nesting Dune
August 25th, 2008Voracious and aggressive predators of just pipped diamondback terrapin hatchlings are insect maggots. A large percentage of terrapin nests are invaded by these maggots that destroy hatchlings before they can ever emerge. We have identified at least one species of these maggots. On Monday, 25 August, I observed this flying insect inspecting the tracks of recently emerged hatchlings and then ovipositing immediately atop these tracks on the terrapin nesting dune at Turtle Pass.
Wasp-Like Insect Ovipositing on Turtle Pass Dune
Hatchling Emerges
August 25th, 2008A nest broils in emergence on the high dune of Turtle Point and a dashing, if not-too-daring hatchling takes the lead in scrambling to safety. Remember: Turtling takes patience. Lots and lots and lots of patience.
Terrapin Hatchling Emerges … Slowly … at Turtle Speed
Run for Your Life
August 24th, 2008As tiny, defenseless, 1-inch, quarter ounce hatchlings emerge, their only hope for survival is a mad dash from exposed sandy dunes to the cover of vegetation and the nursery salt marsh.
Terrapin Hatchling Runs for Its Life
Not Every “Emergence Hole” Hosts Hatchlings
August 23rd, 2008Watch out below! Those perfectly circular holes on upland banks are not formed by hatchlings, but rather carved by the extremely aggressive Wolf Spider … not a critter who appreciates your apology after knocking on the wrong hole.
Aggressive Wolf Spider and Hole