The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #145393   Message #3364271
Posted By: JohnInKansas
16-Jun-12 - 03:07 PM
Thread Name: BS: Frog Invasion!!!
Subject: RE: BS: Frog Invasion!!!
I haven't seen frogs this spring, but I've spotted an unusual number of tiny toads in unusual places. We don't usually see the ones that are common before they're at least 3 inches or more in body length, but these have been all less than 3/4 inch long.

It's common for the larger ones to gather near an occupied dwelling, since the light from inside attracts flying bugs to the area. In a former home they would gather on the patio slab for supper in the early evening. Occasionally I'd leave the outside patio light on to draw a few more delicacies for them.

One of their impressive features is that their tongue can flick out a little more than twice the length of their body to snag a bug that ventures near enough, and I've spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to catch a picture of the "flick" for a few disbelievers (many years ago); but the closest I ever got was one shot with a bit of bug-tail still barely visible, protruding from the mouth of one toad. They're very quick with the flick.

Even with a movie cam, the actual tongue action always came out and disappeared sometime in the space between frames, so I used the lack of success to lecture the kids about the "application of statistics to the experimental methodology of sampling for low frequency events" at one of our family gatherings.

John