& Outdoors Knowledge comes in small par- cels and by slow degrees, often over long periods of time. Readers of this column will all be familiar with the tremendous efuptions of tent caterpillars which we experience with some regular ity on the Peninsula. At such times, they are every- where, festooning trees and shrubs in gardens and along roadsides in their crawling hordes, constructing their nighttime tents in the bare branches which they have stripped of every vestige of leaf. For years I have wondered why. hungry birds failed to keep their burgeoning hordes in check. The only bird that I had ever seen foraging upon their numbers was the black-billed cuckoo. And so far as I know, this species has not been recorded on the Island. Back on the prairies, black- billed cuckoos turned up in num- bers during those years when tent caterpillars were numerous. I concluded tentatively that for some reason or other most birds did not find the tent caterpillars Savory. During this last week, I have enjoyed a most pleasant and extended visit with Dr Andre Steiner, undoubtedly the leading authority on animal behaviour in Western Canada. One evening I was showing him one of our films on the Badlands country in southern Alberta. One of the sequences consisted of a predatory wasp paralyzing a TheReview “Tt has been discovered that its stomach contains elements which neutralize the toxin. The Smithso- nian Institution keeps careful records of such things.” CATERPILLARS TENT Wednesday, February 27,1991 — AI17} » Why tent caterpillars aren't tasty FRESH = ROS ES & CARNATIONS —~ § 999 4 \ per bunch _enapdragon “Well, V’ll be darned. I wonder} how all that evolved.” “Me, too,” Andre said. “But there is a bird which can feed upon tent caterpillars with impunity, i Marserg oo J 2360 Beacon Avenue “You mean the black-billed == = ree cuckoo?” me Sidney, BC. NES.” “I've seen them eating tent» compLere LINE OF GARDENING NEEDS 656-5199 caterpillars dozens of times,too. How do they get away with the toxin?” “In much the same way as Podalonia does. The stomach juices contain substances which neutralize it.” And so, after years of painstak- ing work by some dedicated researcher, another item or two has been added to the growing accu- mulation of scientific knowledge. AFFORDABLE FAMILY HOUSING Rental Family townhouses are planned for the Sidney area sponsored by the Wakefield Manor Society and the Sidney Rotary Club. Rent subsidies will be available Applications may be picked up at: PEMBERTON HOLMES 2481 Beacon Avenue, Sidney, V8L 1X9 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Mon. - Fri. For further information, please call Wells Hooker at 656-1154 Deadline for return of applications is March 6, 1991. — NOTARIES PUBLIC — Conveyancing ** Mortgages ** Wills Powers of Attorney ** Promissory Notes Liens ** Mobile Home Transfers Residential Building Contracts ** Fax Services ** Title Services ** Title Searches ** Affidavits ** Personal Property Registry CY HAMPSON photo 4 LAURIE SALVADOR & SUSAN DAVIS 2412 Beacon Ave., Sidney 656-3951 TENT CATERPILLAR tent caterpillar and then digging a burrow into which it dragged its victim and laid an egg beside it. The tiny burrow was then care- fully sealed with sand and smoothed over. Of course, the practise was to provide the young wasp, after hatching, with suffi- cient fresh meat for its growth and development. “Hey, that wasp is Podalonia!” Andre exclaimed. “It’s the only predatory wasp that preys upon tent caterpillars. I have recorded it as far north as the Yukon. ‘For years I have wondered why hungry birds failed to keep their burgeoning horces in check’ “But why don’t other wasps prey upon it as well?” “Because it has been found that the spines of the caterpillar con- tain a toxin, a poisonous sub- stance, that they can’t contend with.” “How does Podalonia manage it then?” CY HAMPSON photo H&R Block — is EVERY DAY i experience UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT “CHEF” DON MEE... yOu nee HOURS: SUN. - THURS, 11:00 AM. - 8:00 PM. ‘| (Made FRI. & SAT. 11:00 AM. - 10 PM. = HOLIDAYS 11:00 AM. - 8:00 PM. AGL fai DAILY LUNCH SPECIALG......... 4 We prepare all kinds of income tax ee returns, from the simple to the complex. COMBO SPECIAL FAMILY DINNER SPECIAL a Whatever your tax situation, we can 4 CHIOKEN CHOW MEN CHINESE CHOWHEN fF Me CHICKEN CHOP SUEY CHICKEN FRIED RICE angle it. x SWEET & SOUR CHICKEN 4 DEEP FRIED PRAWNS ea) BALLS 4 BONELESS PORK 4 DEEP FRIED PRANNS SWEET & SOUR : “eR BLOCK: _ _TEARCOFFEE gay 4 ALMOND GUY DING = fr. _NCLUDED 6 41 EGG ROLUPERSON / SERIESS Canada’s Tax Team. PEOPLE Family Restaurant oe EINES Cuisine Put us to work for you! 9843 Second St. Sidney 656-2411 326° | Serving the Peninsula for over 13 years. Always with Guaranteed Fresh- ness, Consistancy and Good Taste. | Brentwood Mall 1205-C Verdier Brentwood Bay 652-1482 5 (| Hours: 9am - 6pm Mon-Fri SD Jam-5pm Saturday SS —VISA