Crosswinds Marsh Nature fest 2021 Series
Nature Fest is a nature-oriented event that featured live entertainment, nature crafts, and games, face painting, and free canoeing. This cache is one of a series of 12 geocaches, launched the day after Nature Fest, with each one featuring a pollinator that might be found in Crosswinds Marsh Nature Preserve.
CMM11 - Beetles
Beetles are unique when it comes to pollination. First, they were among the first insects to pollinate flowers more than 200 million years ago. And because there are so many beetle species, they are the largest group of pollinating animals. In fact, they pollinate 88% of the 240,000 flowering plants on Earth! Rather than rely on their vision to find flowers, beetles rely on their sense of smell. These insects tend to prefer flowers that smell spicy, sweet, or fermented. In addition, while many of our pollinator species obtain nectar by using some adaptation of a tongue to drink the nectar, beetles often chew through flower parts to reach the pollen. Many also defecate in the flower, which has led to them being nicknamed "mess and soil" pollinators. Plants and trees that attract beetles include wild crab apples, sassafras, goldenrods, daisies, rattlesnake master, mountain mint, prairie smoke, and sunflowers, but be sure to find the native species of these plants and trees, as there are many from other countries that have not evolved with our beetle species.
Crosswinds Marsh Rules
No fires
No bikes / ATVs / personal watercraft
No swimming or ice fishing
Dogs must be leashed
No alcohol or illegal substances
No camping
Fishing in designated areas only
Collecting of plants & animals prohibited
Park only at N 42° 05.744' W 83° 26.552'
All Geocachers must follow the above rules.
Crosswinds Marsh is open from DAWN to DUSK. Admission is FREE.
NOTICE: Please carefully observe the way this cache is hidden before you retrieve it so that you can replace it the same way! (The cache container must not be in the water!!)
This cache has been placed with the permission of Wayne County Parks. Permit 2021-11 has been submitted and is on file at the park office.