Creatures in the Gloaming - Welcome to our world. Quiz | Animals

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. As we sit outside on a summer evening in the gloaming, a natural light display occurs courtesy of a winged flying insect. What is NOT a common name for these lovely creatures and their larvae?

Answer: Cicadas

Cicadas are large flying insects - the males make a loud buzzing noise during the summer months in the USA. They are often annoying but do not glow.

OK - now for the biological stuff...(you are now officially warned that relatively boring science facts will follow.)

Bioluminescence is the chemical reaction that allows the Lampyridea family of the beetle Coleoptera family to glow. Known regionally as fireflies, lightning bugs and glowworms, many children have chased these "evening sparks" through their lawns as dusk descends. (One must have a mayonnaise jar with holes poked in the lid in order to properly catch a firefly...please enjoy their glow then promptly let them go.)

2. When the sun sets, an endangered species in the American Midwest emerges to hunt. They sport large broad wings, a big heart-shaped white face and are monogamous. What are they called?

Answer: Barn owls

The barn owl has a very distinctive and beautiful face with white feathers and wide eyes. Unlike other owls, it does not hoot but instead makes an extremely loud "shree scream."

The American bald eagle has made a comeback from the endangered list in the USA (due to the ban of DDT insecticide.) The hoot owl is the one most associated with the eponymous call.

To my knowledge, there is no bird called a night hawk...but there is one called a duck hawk. (If I were a superhero I would choose the former rather than the latter as my alter-ego. Better costume options - I can't imagine a cool duck hawk outfit. Quack.)

3. The Zika virus is passed by which insect, that typically appears in the twilight time around water?

Answer: Mosquito

The Zika virus is a threat particularly to pregnant women, as it is implicated in causing birth defects - especially with abnormally small heads in babies. It is prevalent in regions of South and Central America.

4. I'm a solitary and nomadic nocturnal animal. I have a unique survival tactic - I pretend to be dead. I close my eyes, salivate and release a bad smell from my bottom. I also go stiff for as long as four hours. What am I?

Answer: Opossum

The opossum (or possum as Midwestern folks call them) is a very interesting marsupial. The name is borrowed from the Virginian Algonquian language (1607 or so) therefore these critters have been around America for a long time.

One lived under my porch for a time and another visited our backyard to eat our squirrel corn. Our Sheltie pup ran into the backyard thinking she has found a friend. This possum bared its teeth and hissed. No interspecies friendship happened on this day.

By the way, Cousin Earl does exhibit all these tendencies every Thanksgiving dinner we host!

5. I moved into a new apartment in the Midwest US state of Nebraska. I put my belongings away and went to bed. I woke up in the night and went into the kitchen for a drink. When I turned on the light, I discovered unwelcome insect roomies. Which would NOT be one of these?

Answer: Walking sticks

Walking sticks are funny looking insects found in the gardens of warmer southern climates of USA. They have an eponymous name and can't survive harsh winters. Cockroaches, silverfish and ants seem to abide cold weather and tend to enjoy my space after I go to bed. Lucky me!

6. As the gloaming melds into evening hours, other animals enter the world's environment. Which is NOT one that would typically appear at this time?

Answer: Tufted Arctic hare

Unfortunately, the tufted Arctic hare was an invention (In my mind, it would look beautiful though.) The other foils were correct. I had lots of fun with the website for an aardvark as it had 2nd-3rd grade level content and pictures. Believe it or not, I learned stuff! The slow loris is a wonderful gentle, slow-moving nocturnal creature who does have a toxic bite if bothered by predators.

The slug is creepily amazing if one enjoys slimy creatures.

7. Bruce Wayne would love this evening occurrence in New Mexico. Each night around sunset, many creatures emerge from Carlsbad Cavern. What are they?

Answer: Bats

Each evening in the summer, Brazilian free-tailed bats leave in search of dinner. Moms and babies wheel in the sky as the kids are taught to catch dinner. The National Park Service has a wonderful "Bat Flight" program that you may attend - an informational talk and first-hand views of the bats exiting their habitat in the evening.

Please help celebrate the US National Park Service's 100th birthday! They have great websites for your vacation plans.

8. I am a large nocturnal mammal who lives in Africa. My name refers to a sweet natural substance. Interestingly, I have a "suffocating smell" from an anterior gland that I use to calm bees when I raid their hives. Who am I?

Answer: Honey badger

Honey badgers are very interesting. They are vocal but are solitary. Strong, vicious and determined, they have been known to drive away lions. It has also been theorized that their coloring has evolved to mimic leopard cubs to allow co-existence in the veldt. (Cool, right?) The USA Cornell University and British Museum of Natural History have studies about this wonderful creature.

9. I emerge in the evening and feed on the blood of living animals. I am known as a "true mammalian parasite." Found in the New World Tropics (Argentina to New Mexico), I gently use my sharp fangs to obtain my blood meal on a sleeping victim. Who am I?

Answer: Vampire bat

I am a vampire bat. There are three distinct species in the New World Tropics. A false vampire bat is of the Old World Tropics and is carnivorous but does not drink blood. Chagra's disease and rabies are both transmitted by the vampire bat.

For an "eewie" final note on this subject, one can exterminate these pesky fanged flyers by capturing one, coating it with poison and releasing it. It will fly back to its roost. Evidently, bats like to groom each other and therefore the poison will be transmitted.

10. In the evening, fluttery insects appear around our outside lights. They are lovely but tend to fly too close to the hot bulbs, sometimes with tragic results. Which is the largest member of this nocturnal family?

Answer: Atlas moth

The Atlas moth is the largest moth in the world with a wing span of over one foot. It hails from the Malay Archipelago and it is said that its cocoons are used as purses in Taiwan. I had fun with the other foils.

Source: Author Jinxgirl

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor guitargoddess before going online.
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Creatures in the Gloaming - Welcome to our world. Quiz

The gloaming is a Scottish term that refers to the twilight time of the day. The following questions refer to creatures that one may encounter during the gloaming and beyond into the night.

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