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  • Squeaks and I are exploring!

  • We're looking around the yard to see what kinds of things we can find.

  • And I know of a great place to find lots of cool stuff, stuff that you might not otherwise

  • see ....

  • under rocks!

  • Now, the underside of a rock might not seem like a place where you and I would want to live.

  • It's dark, it's kind of chilly, and it's usually pretty damp.

  • But it's the perfect place to look for insects, spiders, slugs, and other animals!

  • For lots of reasons!

  • For one thing, there's lots to eat under there!

  • Rotting leaves, old grass, and other kinds of plants make good food for small animals

  • like insects.

  • And then other creatures, like spiders, eat insects!

  • So there's usually plenty of food to go around.

  • Another reason that life's so good under a rock?

  • You and I might like sunshine, but lots of other animals like it dark and damp.

  • The moisture under rocks keeps animals like worms from drying out.

  • And the darkness makes it easier for them to hide from hungry predators.

  • So, if you want to find some cool creepy-crawlies, look no further than your nearest rock!

  • But here are a couple of rock-flipping tips.

  • First, look for rocks that are in a quiet, out of the way place.

  • You also want them to be kind of big, but not too bigotherwise you won't be able

  • to turn them over!

  • So, look for rocks that are about the size of a grown up's shoe.

  • It's also better to look under rocks that have dirt or grass under them, instead of

  • cement or other rocks.

  • And be careful when you turn it over!

  • If you're lucky enough to find something under there, you can look at it, but don't

  • touch them.

  • Okay, ready?

  • Let's see what we can find under this one!

  • Whoa, look at all the living things!

  • Let's write down what we see before they all have a chance to run and hide!

  • Okay, the first thing I see are insects.

  • Lots of them.

  • There are lots of kinds of insects that live under rocks.

  • But some of the most common ones are crickets, ants, and beetles.

  • One of my favorite things about insects is that they can change into different forms as they

  • grow up.

  • An insect's life begins as an egg.

  • And sometimes an insect egg hatches into what are called larva.

  • A caterpillar is a kind of insect larva.

  • Then the larvae goes through some really big changes, and becomes an adult!

  • Oh, and look!

  • I see some beetle eggs under our rock, too!

  • They look a little like rice.

  • And you see those things there?

  • Those things that look like short, squishy, worms?

  • Those really aren't worms at all.

  • They're grubs!

  • A grub is a beetle larva.

  • Just like a caterpillar will someday be a moth or a butterfly...this grub will someday

  • be a beetle.

  • And I can see some adult beetles, too.

  • I also see some spiders.

  • They look and act kind of like insects, but spiders have eight legs, and only two body segments.

  • And spider eggs don't hatch into larvae...they hatch into tiny spiders called spiderlings.

  • Ooo, look!

  • There are some slimy-looking things stuck to the bottom of the rock.

  • These definitely aren't insects, or spiders!

  • They're animals, called slugs.

  • A slug looks like a snail without a shell.

  • They don't have any legs.

  • Instead, slugs have a huge muscle called the foot that helps them move.

  • And slugs make slime, lots of it.

  • In fact, slugs leave a trail of slime behind them wherever they go.

  • This slime helps keep the slug from getting too dry.

  • Wow, there were a lot of things under that rock!

  • Spiders, insects, and slugs are just a few of the things that you might find under a rock.

  • If you turn over a rock in your neighborhood, you might find centipedes, snails, or even

  • salamanders.

  • Now that you know what to expect when you turn over a rock, are you ready to explore?

  • I am...c'mon Squeaks, let's go find another rock!

  • Thanks for joining us on SciShow Kids!

  • We're so happy that you dropped by, and we're very excited to see you in the coming

  • weeks because Squeaks and I are making some changes around the fort.

  • So keep watching to see what's new on SciShow Kids!

  • Do you have a question?

  • If so, grab a grownup and leave a comment down below, or send us an email

  • to kids@thescishow.com.

  • And we'll see you next time, here at the fort!

Squeaks and I are exploring!

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