Nymph Traditional Geocache
Dalesman: The cache owner is not responding to issues with this geocache, so I must regretfully archive it.
Please note that if geocaches are archived by a reviewer or Geocaching HQ for lack of maintenance, they are not eligible for unarchival.
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Printmaker, Hester Cox has created a series of geo art caches that take the seeker on a journey through Hackfall Wood with each cache illustrating a story of one of the many creatures that live there and leaving the visitor with a book of impressions from their day.
Nymph: Dragonfly nymph
Tale:
Nymph is the name given to the second stage of the dragonfly’s life cycle. The word comes from Greek and means ‘bride’ and is also used to refer to female nature spirits. In this case, nymph refers to a creature part way through metamorphosis.
Dragonflies in England are also known as ‘horse stingers’. They have been given this name by the fact that they are sometimes seen flying round horses as they jump and kick to get rid of stinging insects. Dragonflies are not capable of stinging anything and are harmless so are probably feeding from the insects that are doing the stinging!
Sweden has a macabre folk story about dragonflies. They are sometimes called ‘Blindsticka’ meaning ‘Blind Stinger’ and stories have been told how dragonflies would sew together the eyelids of children that were caught lying.
Hackfall:
The dragonfly nymph is the aquatic stage of the dragonfly’s life cycle. It can stay in that form for months or sometimes even years. It is a voracious predator and will eat many other water insects as well as tadpoles. When conditions are just right, the dragonfly nymph will crawl out of the water up the stem of a plant where it will shed its skin and become a dragonfly.
Dragonflies are the most amazing fliers. They are capable of incredible aerobatics being able to hover, fly in any direction including backwards and to control their two sets of wings independently. They can even reach speeds of up to thirty miles per hour. There are many species of dragonflies in Britain. Look out for some of them around the pond and streams of Hackfall and if you get a chance, join in a pond dipping day when you might just be lucky enough to catch a dragonfly nymph.
This geocache is part of a series of caches hidden in Hackfall as part of North Yorkshire Open Studios - http://www.nyos.org.uk
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Urnqvat bhg ba gur cngu gung yrnqf gb gur Terjrygubecr ebnq, gurer vf n oevqtr - qba'g tb bire vg be nebhaq vg jurer ryfr pna lbh ybbx?