tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69269102876289468602024-03-13T23:36:22.018-04:00Zen Through a LensLisa Sellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11709548876839559933noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926910287628946860.post-41544555217784878862012-08-05T17:48:00.001-04:002012-08-05T17:49:04.302-04:00Up From Darkness<span style="background-color: blue;"></span>Up from darkness they will come...cicadas, that is. Their life cycle is a fascinating one. The realm of darkness is where a cicada spends most of its life. It all begins with rice-sized eggs being deposited into a small tree limb. Tiny nymphs hatch from the cluster, and fall down to the inviting earth, burrowing into the deep soil that will nourish and protect them while they mature. This unseen life stage process could take anywhere from 2-17 years, depending on the species, and could happen anywhere from 1 foot to 9 feet underground. While in their dark tunnel, cicada nymphs will feed on the roots of trees and shed their skin several times as they grow larger, completing several stages of maturity.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Vch6kIeiAfYSjLetItQfuYLMOGlJZH2b2PCdVWE8monzhxOqYks8XJvgmwFxDYIgixRkV0CwADGglNWtgAaBuBk5Qq3QOMOqSc4K6HhbZe01WqO2kyfpN-V3-wohVJ-CYayUsPsMY7A/s1600/DSC_5548cicada+nymph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Vch6kIeiAfYSjLetItQfuYLMOGlJZH2b2PCdVWE8monzhxOqYks8XJvgmwFxDYIgixRkV0CwADGglNWtgAaBuBk5Qq3QOMOqSc4K6HhbZe01WqO2kyfpN-V3-wohVJ-CYayUsPsMY7A/s640/DSC_5548cicada+nymph.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cicada in one of the later nymphal stages, not yet ready to leave the ground.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Somewhere late in the maturation process, the cicada gets an "urge to emerge" and he heads upward from deep below, toward the surface of his dark hiding place, digging and tunneling with his specialized, strong front legs. A night ritual is in his near future. Now he awaits just under the surface of the earth until the temperature and conditions are just right. Nature then calls to the cicada to exit the safety of his black cavernous dwelling and beckons for him to continue onward and upward. The cicada now crawls over the soil and searches for the nearest vertical surface to begin his journey upward to complete one more amazing transformation that will completely change his life.<br />
<br />
I was fortunate to be able to witness this incredible life change. A few cicadas had exited their underground tunnels underneath a tree directly behind a fence where I had a white sheet hung to attract moths. A couple of them climbed up and over the fence and onto the sheet where my bright light was, so I captured the process in pictures.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65K41d1RJGa28oB9Ddtc_-I4Ak3Hwp71um7ddD3p6Lf3vKH6C6PZ_mbmL_IBjf9MR9Z2ZA4CZbN983FvkcrYNYsyR6pOoSJMT-p7qqc3Tce2Pigjqnd8LEhQlcxSKRlkUD3O6lQbZAdE/s1600/_DSC5802Cicada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65K41d1RJGa28oB9Ddtc_-I4Ak3Hwp71um7ddD3p6Lf3vKH6C6PZ_mbmL_IBjf9MR9Z2ZA4CZbN983FvkcrYNYsyR6pOoSJMT-p7qqc3Tce2Pigjqnd8LEhQlcxSKRlkUD3O6lQbZAdE/s640/_DSC5802Cicada.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cicada in his final nymph stage that just crawled up from below the ground and is ready to begin his transformation. Notice the fresh dirt and spider webs!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXnWi-Oe3V02fF9EPYoQVWlnO6muSpGs0v_8KLMl0JtHlOv7hEVFrkI_sraBcAWSC_WM7dXC1rUl5r7z1LTc8uwpmZlL71HKnLbstdK_u4F4O7MstyWgvtTimCAovO7ovoj54-_e1rdQ/s1600/_DSC5822cicada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXnWi-Oe3V02fF9EPYoQVWlnO6muSpGs0v_8KLMl0JtHlOv7hEVFrkI_sraBcAWSC_WM7dXC1rUl5r7z1LTc8uwpmZlL71HKnLbstdK_u4F4O7MstyWgvtTimCAovO7ovoj54-_e1rdQ/s640/_DSC5822cicada.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closeup to show the specialized digging apparatus on his front legs! No wonder they can excavate so well!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It is amazing enough to be able to watch the emerging cicada with the naked eye, but it is astounding to watch it through a macro lens! It was incredible to be able to watch at such a close-up range to witness the magnificence of the color unfold, just like a blooming flower. After the cicada chose just the perfect spot, he anchored himself, rested for a minute or two and began to intermittently vibrate. He then appeared to be doing "push ups" as was applying pressure toward his dorsal surface. His abdomen lengthened, his back began to slowly split, and the creature began his emergence into the world. The pictures below show the progression...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSngzOQcxNpO2_sbuhnu5NVEdZKy-tQp_2mjcZbVb0BSvD8YLXeh6FFxtOveSw11zCBO6qMxBvr2p3aLwLphUfIz0ymGrFHvF9l4UFoXSEa-Q_i9ddBeZkhfJ8sEKum2u5i2eQJyPMRQo/s1600/_DSC5824cicada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSngzOQcxNpO2_sbuhnu5NVEdZKy-tQp_2mjcZbVb0BSvD8YLXeh6FFxtOveSw11zCBO6qMxBvr2p3aLwLphUfIz0ymGrFHvF9l4UFoXSEa-Q_i9ddBeZkhfJ8sEKum2u5i2eQJyPMRQo/s640/_DSC5824cicada.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The emergence begins!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnm3mlTkEpt8XXRgL_RkWRL6AYFf8knLBWHNXZ1V3ptW-9dKft3BvWdqPL6_SX3dpiXTKmMqQUUwmb9dK_gIi-8N9p9XdrhbZ3HpkhWUP5GsX8BsREtm3muS3KIMU1Gmtgv-F8f80hNXA/s1600/_DSC5826cicada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnm3mlTkEpt8XXRgL_RkWRL6AYFf8knLBWHNXZ1V3ptW-9dKft3BvWdqPL6_SX3dpiXTKmMqQUUwmb9dK_gIi-8N9p9XdrhbZ3HpkhWUP5GsX8BsREtm3muS3KIMU1Gmtgv-F8f80hNXA/s640/_DSC5826cicada.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIZC7ZruKb3eH2Z0U8nVUk-YU80L2JL6CNz-x6khFs9RapbEXBeQqA_-v1Oez_35SREVMx7pkarxmorSod_V29kJ0QVr35DAXbGdaFmeGTOPCHFqpTDmKuy1mzRR7Qg6vTJ237l5UFFQ/s1600/_DSC5828cicada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIZC7ZruKb3eH2Z0U8nVUk-YU80L2JL6CNz-x6khFs9RapbEXBeQqA_-v1Oez_35SREVMx7pkarxmorSod_V29kJ0QVr35DAXbGdaFmeGTOPCHFqpTDmKuy1mzRR7Qg6vTJ237l5UFFQ/s640/_DSC5828cicada.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8Zs0toJTDTTIMuANyAeOefArq515_bjdKk1sh7pc3JaFUrV45yd2i88A53Dk6BLZVCCi_gIwQx4l1fJF5QxwfVlJr6aHjS8p5r8VtEEs3kjaAkT1gOOp1t4K9F5hUu-pStVXzyQvd9E/s1600/_DSC5830cicada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8Zs0toJTDTTIMuANyAeOefArq515_bjdKk1sh7pc3JaFUrV45yd2i88A53Dk6BLZVCCi_gIwQx4l1fJF5QxwfVlJr6aHjS8p5r8VtEEs3kjaAkT1gOOp1t4K9F5hUu-pStVXzyQvd9E/s640/_DSC5830cicada.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfDygLFOad7OMytXUwnI5VWJKFowo9q79adJixiHjFG7RObgg9WgBZCOn5T9uDvFXscB65tz2QQrTb0nhF-By6B16zNeWI6fMRkzb7Ctd5exj7_r9NT1YEXBQYVcBDvjb2hmZpgmnPw4/s1600/_DSC5831Cicada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfDygLFOad7OMytXUwnI5VWJKFowo9q79adJixiHjFG7RObgg9WgBZCOn5T9uDvFXscB65tz2QQrTb0nhF-By6B16zNeWI6fMRkzb7Ctd5exj7_r9NT1YEXBQYVcBDvjb2hmZpgmnPw4/s640/_DSC5831Cicada.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-kc78Re0s5dx5spsuvtthIjXKrhEl2TtdqKKgTPaw6PyOHyp3hCppCA0u-5PHZVyJ4EU4t2scpz23GNahyphenhyphenHlLLxR8uyWTxsvaCgwhkoGzZa6fo7d_FI9U3KYVwFDlTAQaIri2DRFtUGk/s1600/_DSC5832cicada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-kc78Re0s5dx5spsuvtthIjXKrhEl2TtdqKKgTPaw6PyOHyp3hCppCA0u-5PHZVyJ4EU4t2scpz23GNahyphenhyphenHlLLxR8uyWTxsvaCgwhkoGzZa6fo7d_FI9U3KYVwFDlTAQaIri2DRFtUGk/s640/_DSC5832cicada.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbvdHn1Evm5lxS73wgli4qJTDobJ-Beq9g4Oq7-MAIRvdVemREozJhM639OfomH0mgPf_mYNLIPqSdsymeeSC-40ZIQ2EGwLB1vwdOi3GzqGUJ8tjr8Kp8FQHMjbxcoO-dSQmlPvTMd5k/s1600/_DSC5836Cicada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbvdHn1Evm5lxS73wgli4qJTDobJ-Beq9g4Oq7-MAIRvdVemREozJhM639OfomH0mgPf_mYNLIPqSdsymeeSC-40ZIQ2EGwLB1vwdOi3GzqGUJ8tjr8Kp8FQHMjbxcoO-dSQmlPvTMd5k/s640/_DSC5836Cicada.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ND6jUq1-w5xIyXvzZvmSFCoB56KEWqw82Yrsb6X6xR1xmWk0FQhodK40T_A_HWYg3mu-8RSyB0PKnIaSaZuD5XnRugFG1eXwkkSdct3RJX76IEKASc6ljPkeScQN1rsOE_nE2CfjCOY/s1600/_DSC5837Cicada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ND6jUq1-w5xIyXvzZvmSFCoB56KEWqw82Yrsb6X6xR1xmWk0FQhodK40T_A_HWYg3mu-8RSyB0PKnIaSaZuD5XnRugFG1eXwkkSdct3RJX76IEKASc6ljPkeScQN1rsOE_nE2CfjCOY/s640/_DSC5837Cicada.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbrOkyX57KlJsmVNgWxeho2W7bKREgAFnsdfDM57yb3lWFbtHTEiNG7fYkGdt1-JfhYVhKT9V48e9Wbix1ITLEeQb46Ly2eFP-2F13plBCdT5WB1CFH62ZcGGAJMKqKgbCwLG9SAtOxY/s1600/_DSC5840Cicada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbrOkyX57KlJsmVNgWxeho2W7bKREgAFnsdfDM57yb3lWFbtHTEiNG7fYkGdt1-JfhYVhKT9V48e9Wbix1ITLEeQb46Ly2eFP-2F13plBCdT5WB1CFH62ZcGGAJMKqKgbCwLG9SAtOxY/s640/_DSC5840Cicada.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPDfInbH17GyM4OFcbNSi4ghKspoeacgqKZhrbgl9usBQxLWoP3JW8rEF1qJ4PiujlUsoxzIk0vZeFqkZBJDxKBm-qIDpWeoYSUBAEbTrW6G0PT8_veVSnZ57BLqnPTjenZJLmIMtLOo/s1600/_DSC5842Cicada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPDfInbH17GyM4OFcbNSi4ghKspoeacgqKZhrbgl9usBQxLWoP3JW8rEF1qJ4PiujlUsoxzIk0vZeFqkZBJDxKBm-qIDpWeoYSUBAEbTrW6G0PT8_veVSnZ57BLqnPTjenZJLmIMtLOo/s640/_DSC5842Cicada.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryBXewCe2Er_fahGzWtp_4EQYYQqZHDUNBP_KLlbI_z29788bdpfEzLKGcS2-IFcPUMWZsEypZJnHQudwjPIZQpqiedfFD1ebQyZdkqLpfF0y_kiMzw_4NwFbPSwGWMzKX4dtjdfiKMc/s1600/_DSC5850Cicada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryBXewCe2Er_fahGzWtp_4EQYYQqZHDUNBP_KLlbI_z29788bdpfEzLKGcS2-IFcPUMWZsEypZJnHQudwjPIZQpqiedfFD1ebQyZdkqLpfF0y_kiMzw_4NwFbPSwGWMzKX4dtjdfiKMc/s640/_DSC5850Cicada.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38tz2cCyAk1EWVHtqgXqy4jMQj7K8mnH0QooOV3lqrnjFUMZ-0qRPD6zWkTa_rAVaFx1fu8xZoTtZINwbYiU8PHV2XSCoo-DVv4qvZbR6xTOqpCRN4Fy8JWSU65WYu7BNjEpj7m_n-2A/s1600/_DSC5853Locust.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38tz2cCyAk1EWVHtqgXqy4jMQj7K8mnH0QooOV3lqrnjFUMZ-0qRPD6zWkTa_rAVaFx1fu8xZoTtZINwbYiU8PHV2XSCoo-DVv4qvZbR6xTOqpCRN4Fy8JWSU65WYu7BNjEpj7m_n-2A/s640/_DSC5853Locust.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture is a front angle of the picture above it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjSwhMvDGtqsHBvWH6fKO2bo0TTSCEgMVBjU4one41Nrj_QIic6TQ7wls6WITvwqlQKWeYDGgOtX5tXUnXVupkqNJIsVE4S_LDHKomG5SD-cL90acTMnP-Utwh8AMzG0IqAZsY-J24as/s1600/_DSC5856cicada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjSwhMvDGtqsHBvWH6fKO2bo0TTSCEgMVBjU4one41Nrj_QIic6TQ7wls6WITvwqlQKWeYDGgOtX5tXUnXVupkqNJIsVE4S_LDHKomG5SD-cL90acTMnP-Utwh8AMzG0IqAZsY-J24as/s640/_DSC5856cicada.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXgSW89ymt6fVN3ewSM4k3EYdcBlVC6y-njrFQs0qsgSJfPcOoAWshfvDbRiqU8Rh7sOi1O-uP9HyKSTuPnFbRhTOR9HqFiZzNDB4JLOKXN-QSl1bhl6VIdjiqwjoLYW5fGkUljGEyLw/s1600/_DSC5861Cicada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXgSW89ymt6fVN3ewSM4k3EYdcBlVC6y-njrFQs0qsgSJfPcOoAWshfvDbRiqU8Rh7sOi1O-uP9HyKSTuPnFbRhTOR9HqFiZzNDB4JLOKXN-QSl1bhl6VIdjiqwjoLYW5fGkUljGEyLw/s640/_DSC5861Cicada.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
<br />
Notice in the pictures above, the gorgeous colors of the newly emerging cicada. His emergence was slow and steady almost like invisible fingers were gently pulling him. Incredibly, when the eyes were pulled free of the exoskeleton and they became dull, it almost appeared that there were now two creatures; one whose life had ended and one whose life had just begun. After that, the real struggle was over and this new, active, fresh cicada was intent on his final escape! He accomplished a graceful back bend, then at the last minute when you might think he was going to fall, he pulls himself back up by hanging onto his exoskeleton. The shell that once protected his soft body is now a sturdy base from which to to rest, as the life force began its surge through his body and wings. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIR-jKirEoRCaIZ9dZ9QmE_V72PMzTmttUMOF5NpgQheG9ASGgKruq304JHp31t3kV7exO6LTH5DPYizz1vzhEEZ8wiFTv5OHgZxrVhG6T_0tNnC5_peLJzsF89vX2kemmgCXORkBWAM/s1600/_DSC5868Cicada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIR-jKirEoRCaIZ9dZ9QmE_V72PMzTmttUMOF5NpgQheG9ASGgKruq304JHp31t3kV7exO6LTH5DPYizz1vzhEEZ8wiFTv5OHgZxrVhG6T_0tNnC5_peLJzsF89vX2kemmgCXORkBWAM/s640/_DSC5868Cicada.jpg" width="512" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEOfSizQXIzD8s-GHRA57EhhaE3-QjS1WiJAMqb9gUT9IgOodHCysZpa33BfeLMftYsX3PbCBpLKSO5F-M2rhwrUfJ18enrZ6Fb-4sLLWeEHZ_Bq2UMQRYzlndrKwrWZ1f5YG98NTPCA/s1600/_DSC5870Cicada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEOfSizQXIzD8s-GHRA57EhhaE3-QjS1WiJAMqb9gUT9IgOodHCysZpa33BfeLMftYsX3PbCBpLKSO5F-M2rhwrUfJ18enrZ6Fb-4sLLWeEHZ_Bq2UMQRYzlndrKwrWZ1f5YG98NTPCA/s640/_DSC5870Cicada.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZlkQ68KaKiHTpdz7YicNgDFiijxPRpa6ZCiDSRW4cz7rnA9vMpMz9XB2vrYd9_hvnCoDSyNxRGTWNITTONErARt9pRVLbyu-EI_CsUt01Duz9ceW4RaJg6ZNzCF3IJbEv-1dnZoRPbI/s1600/_DSC5871cicada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZlkQ68KaKiHTpdz7YicNgDFiijxPRpa6ZCiDSRW4cz7rnA9vMpMz9XB2vrYd9_hvnCoDSyNxRGTWNITTONErARt9pRVLbyu-EI_CsUt01Duz9ceW4RaJg6ZNzCF3IJbEv-1dnZoRPbI/s640/_DSC5871cicada.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is another cicada that had already emerged when I started photographing the one on the white sheet. Notice how his wings have fully filled out and have become clear. He is now ready for flight at the first sight of daylight!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Above-ground life lasts only a precious 5-6 weeks for the adult winged cicada. The males will sing to attract females, and reproduction will ensure that new generations continue. The life cycle will once again begin, as tiny egg clusters deposited into small limbs and branches. <br />
<br />
Predation of this creature is very high as cicadas are commonly eaten by many birds, squirrels and other wildlife. There is a particular fungus that also kills many. Another predator that hunts the cicada in order to feed its young is the Cicada Killer. This is a very large wasp that will capture a cicada, paralyze it, spin it around and glide off with it to deposit into its ground nest, where the young will feed on it throughout the winter. I happened one afternoon to hear a raucous in the limb above my head, only to witness this very scenario. The pictures below are of the taking of a cicada by a cicada killer. It only took seconds for this whole violent scene to transpire. It was not a pretty sight, but I'm glad I had my camera!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtSj7Ku6meA_EM85xuD3Yin-jzeQWBOR-MWgbt9jM-PTetI3rpUMdz09pHPss-5pE5yLag58GfMFeLeBuoaQ-6e90OBo4nm9oGFqHDYaym_GacMBjY0CIwRuE4_xR9xnssFdk-VUooB4/s1600/_DSC0653cicada+killer3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtSj7Ku6meA_EM85xuD3Yin-jzeQWBOR-MWgbt9jM-PTetI3rpUMdz09pHPss-5pE5yLag58GfMFeLeBuoaQ-6e90OBo4nm9oGFqHDYaym_GacMBjY0CIwRuE4_xR9xnssFdk-VUooB4/s640/_DSC0653cicada+killer3.jpg" width="636" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvHh_drSSYFUdBZPRNPeWa0uFCMxhJJNymiBo276Uksy-hA31pUR-Gnpqn9VWCPdtZ5x_3ktJrnNbyMbW-bNVWvAntBY-xElZvddyWCJrtdeCNyIY2HxmzNxy9y4dZJ5cPmaXHz-HMVls/s1600/_DSC0658cicada+killer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvHh_drSSYFUdBZPRNPeWa0uFCMxhJJNymiBo276Uksy-hA31pUR-Gnpqn9VWCPdtZ5x_3ktJrnNbyMbW-bNVWvAntBY-xElZvddyWCJrtdeCNyIY2HxmzNxy9y4dZJ5cPmaXHz-HMVls/s640/_DSC0658cicada+killer.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxigzRIy1a1GHL7i7aqrteRHY9_qskjYW4_Sb7x7EGrR3LIAPVc9Kb5nKky6RFfAwbL8-oAMFskHWpud_7dv-9MfNMXL_Es0ANU9kCBWwPWC2mlYvHp6t65E1_NDfFCB44dDr7Gp3KHLs/s1600/_DSC0659cicadakiller.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxigzRIy1a1GHL7i7aqrteRHY9_qskjYW4_Sb7x7EGrR3LIAPVc9Kb5nKky6RFfAwbL8-oAMFskHWpud_7dv-9MfNMXL_Es0ANU9kCBWwPWC2mlYvHp6t65E1_NDfFCB44dDr7Gp3KHLs/s640/_DSC0659cicadakiller.tif" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I have a whole new respect for the cicada. What an interesting journey and example of the yin-yang of life!<br />
<br />
<br />Lisa Sellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11709548876839559933noreply@blogger.com123tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926910287628946860.post-82715901540795980792012-07-23T00:21:00.000-04:002012-07-23T00:21:02.040-04:00Amidst The Creatures Of The NightAs daylight ebbed and darkness crept in, we eagerly awaited the creatures of the night to emerge. Sounds like a line out of a horror story, but actually quite the opposite! I am referring to an impromptu evening of "Mothing" at Wahkeena Nature Preserve.<br />
<br />
The members of this nature-loving group were Dennis Profant, Jim McCormac, Robin Wright-Strauss, Tom Shisler, Roger Grossenbacher, and Alex Webb. My husband and I throughly enjoyed the company and expertise of this fine group of professionals.<br />
<br />
The black, moonless evening and the harmonious ensemble of cicadas and katydids in the surrounding dense shrubbery seemed to set the stage; enticing those of the silent and secret Lepidopteran kingdom to revealing themselves. Well, maybe it was actually the mercury vapor light and the white sheets that beckoned the moths from their hiding! Whatever the attraction, we had a plethora of winged activity that caused many ooh's and aah's for a few hours. The surprises we saw that evening were well worth the heat, humidity and sweat we had to endure!<br />
<br />
Photographs are important for identification purposes, but I always enjoy the ones taken at eye level that brings to life the individuality of these beautiful moths. This allows the viewer to appreciate and admire their beauty and charisma.<br />
<br />
I think a good title for the picture of the <b>Rosy Maple Moth (Dryocampa rubicunda)</b> in the picture below is "Cotton Candy on a Stick"! I really love these fuzzy, colorful guys!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPacO3-LbKKUdeyvcdTc3qrL9u1B9o4MueBZHzqNUg4GE1gAishp8HHPQRSVkdzhStMfLhXKBhCpihQBn7QMLH0WWIL0N84aYWJExFVK85Fh0b8cS5NUgNVnEd605Nq7qAjS7Zc-qMSc/s1600/_DSC5478-RosyMapleMoth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPacO3-LbKKUdeyvcdTc3qrL9u1B9o4MueBZHzqNUg4GE1gAishp8HHPQRSVkdzhStMfLhXKBhCpihQBn7QMLH0WWIL0N84aYWJExFVK85Fh0b8cS5NUgNVnEd605Nq7qAjS7Zc-qMSc/s640/_DSC5478-RosyMapleMoth.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Another of my very favorites is the Sphinx Moth. Below are the <b>Blinded Sphinx Moth (Paonias excaecatus)</b> and the <b>Poplar Sphinx Moth (Pachysphinx occidentalis)</b>. They are so friendly and will easily allow you to handle them. The Blinded Sphinx Moth has gorgeous colors and the Poplar Sphinx Moth is magnificent in size and character.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGSredoig4bhNHYV-VbWY5kFbUjIKI7gG0BxKySItMDzlylnBeqh183rpyqMKoB5PDya2ps9_9-6PiI5pK2moA24XT0Fx2N2058oIfl28lRRxTGyR3u5XFA4RSfvgqOPZUkXIrHJO6G4/s1600/_DSC5413Blinded+Sphinx+MothcropZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGSredoig4bhNHYV-VbWY5kFbUjIKI7gG0BxKySItMDzlylnBeqh183rpyqMKoB5PDya2ps9_9-6PiI5pK2moA24XT0Fx2N2058oIfl28lRRxTGyR3u5XFA4RSfvgqOPZUkXIrHJO6G4/s640/_DSC5413Blinded+Sphinx+MothcropZ.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Here is another view of the Blinded Sphinx Moth on the end of my finger. He eagerly climbed aboard!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRBYvAHoUGCpJqFPj2-gKhEiwb5x4EsUafsmF328ZZShsIgJSUACKAK3D2mbf1YbsQqOrW8hi7GRu1Ak7EVAnr-5mHmMj-wItgPwFVjafBWOvx1-iHnEKpQBG6Nda72wAUHK5zlTcc0g/s1600/_DSC5378BlindedSphinxMothZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRBYvAHoUGCpJqFPj2-gKhEiwb5x4EsUafsmF328ZZShsIgJSUACKAK3D2mbf1YbsQqOrW8hi7GRu1Ak7EVAnr-5mHmMj-wItgPwFVjafBWOvx1-iHnEKpQBG6Nda72wAUHK5zlTcc0g/s640/_DSC5378BlindedSphinxMothZ.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
This is the <b>Poplar Sphinx Moth</b>. This was the first time I've had the opportunity to experience this species. I was seduced by him right away!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLUsKwxshEegUcHAp68qJvqpp04lpr_edlOx9xJThnMRfuh_2fRXFesIFWwTc-iQmHlgSxYCQwZg5ISKExm__-MBATTj7fcLO0YGzROCJQTZXuxa_DoTxCRHd-xJ4PxziaoOhQdbDLlE/s1600/_DSC5416poplar+sphinx+mothZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLUsKwxshEegUcHAp68qJvqpp04lpr_edlOx9xJThnMRfuh_2fRXFesIFWwTc-iQmHlgSxYCQwZg5ISKExm__-MBATTj7fcLO0YGzROCJQTZXuxa_DoTxCRHd-xJ4PxziaoOhQdbDLlE/s640/_DSC5416poplar+sphinx+mothZ.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This next little beauty is the <b>Beautiful Wood Nymph Moth (Eudryas grata)</b>. Such a unique shape. His coloration and the way he rests on a leaf resembles bird poo. This is a survival tool for this species. Personally, I think he looks like a winged calico cat!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWD0YKC47KOd3w9Qx_9bWERbdnY7lZO0ZNlqOkOIAiwpAonzeCrzawsMBKpkMrgCqwBbfcw-13xxf2uaYEiHp0YKtuvqo8hoW7vCRf7JqkPomSAemFE8akConHKA8KYhYNkgjZqbfgJM/s1600/_DSC5436beautiful+wood+nymph+mothZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWD0YKC47KOd3w9Qx_9bWERbdnY7lZO0ZNlqOkOIAiwpAonzeCrzawsMBKpkMrgCqwBbfcw-13xxf2uaYEiHp0YKtuvqo8hoW7vCRf7JqkPomSAemFE8akConHKA8KYhYNkgjZqbfgJM/s640/_DSC5436beautiful+wood+nymph+mothZ.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
There were many more species that graced our presence that night, but these were among my personal favorites. One last surprise that evening was that of a tiny <b>Pickerel Frog (Rana palustris)</b>. He seemed to be quietly observing our antics from his poplar leaf. Sure made for a nice picture!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclCkcrtU5YDHnE74h2Ir-XvGL5owuxqwjdcn3SGGAnJqix24CeNXwQr3K_goGrJI4zBDf20IEue5w8m7q174MUVQMh87xQ3ekkrK9TdQYL-Y9c9XF0aZOQfbDaE3qboCNBPs5M_VhFC4/s1600/_DSC5390pickerel+frog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclCkcrtU5YDHnE74h2Ir-XvGL5owuxqwjdcn3SGGAnJqix24CeNXwQr3K_goGrJI4zBDf20IEue5w8m7q174MUVQMh87xQ3ekkrK9TdQYL-Y9c9XF0aZOQfbDaE3qboCNBPs5M_VhFC4/s640/_DSC5390pickerel+frog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I'm looking forward to attracting, observing, photographing and most of all appreciating more of our huge diversity of moth species, in light of National Moth Week, July 23-29.Lisa Sellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11709548876839559933noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926910287628946860.post-7173773375937235822012-01-28T22:05:00.000-05:002012-01-29T21:59:32.318-05:00Aphis Nerii and I<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Two summers ago there was an incredible demonstration that
took place right outside my back door involving the biological life cycle of a
tiny insect species. This interesting display even included a lesson in <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">phenotypic
plasticity</i></b>. It was a fantastic course in Nature 101. Who were
the teachers? The <b><i>Aphis nerii</i></b>. Who was the pupil? That would be me!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
What in the world is Aphis nerii? It is the scientific name
for a tiny sap-sucking insect, the <b><i>Oleander Aphid. </i></b>What in the world is
phenotypic plasticity? It is the ability of an organism to change its
phenotype, or body form, in response to changes in the environment (more about
that later). Yea, I became so fascinated
with these tiny creatures that I watched and photographed them every day
throughout the entire summer.<br />
<br />
The picture below is how I first observed the community sucking sap from my flowering vine.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPOsLHPD_NDz0l6B7mBtkxmVXhoJVrNvoK5FTO7zxJZYCpMr0Ha8bXCMmYfVfindeFBtsb5azVFgm2_p6dL-IQgnjMHcoLgO1zvxa9aqryRdOcAU-q5nrHK4ify2yFBsNI2HW5bAtIH8/s1600/DSC_0190aphis+neriiF.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPOsLHPD_NDz0l6B7mBtkxmVXhoJVrNvoK5FTO7zxJZYCpMr0Ha8bXCMmYfVfindeFBtsb5azVFgm2_p6dL-IQgnjMHcoLgO1zvxa9aqryRdOcAU-q5nrHK4ify2yFBsNI2HW5bAtIH8/s640/DSC_0190aphis+neriiF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Notice the sharp "stylet" that the aphids utilize to pierce a plant stem in order to access the sap.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNA3MbV2qywx-7Ws0b4rCctl-e9cRvrUJK5rhyphenhyphenq4uNCY7Qukt92HMIw_3u15a4ukhAj0p8kR08RRJ_EEAe5ZJERGzBJUeuBHMxbuthbCGb3T0k29NGKW-SSrfta9To52yTAlZelAMVlB4/s1600/DSC_0222aphis+neriiStylet.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNA3MbV2qywx-7Ws0b4rCctl-e9cRvrUJK5rhyphenhyphenq4uNCY7Qukt92HMIw_3u15a4ukhAj0p8kR08RRJ_EEAe5ZJERGzBJUeuBHMxbuthbCGb3T0k29NGKW-SSrfta9To52yTAlZelAMVlB4/s640/DSC_0222aphis+neriiStylet.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<br />
Safety in numbers is a crucial rule of survival for many
species, especially for those micro-sized individuals. I observed the oleander
aphids exhibiting a few intriguing defensive tactics utilizing “team work”. This
effort of the entire community is actually quite effective and crucial in
order to maintain their existence. One of these strategies is what first drew
my eye to them! I was watering an ornamental flowering vine when I noticed the
tiny, bright orange insects. When I leaned over to investigate, the entire colony
of aphids would, in perfect harmony, “kick” their tiny black legs up into the
air much like a herd of miniscule “bucking broncos”. I was very intrigued with
this cooperative behavior and after a little research I learned the very good
reason they do this little jig. They get a bit edgy whenever they feel that
something is approaching them too closely. The aphids are especially sensitive
due to the danger of an aerial attack from tiny parasitoid wasps that will attempt
to oviposit eggs into their soft bodies. The synchronous kicking movements help
discourage the wasps from being able to gain access to them. Despite the efforts of the aphids, some of the lucky wasps will eventually find
their opportunity to jab an egg into their aphid host. The developing wasp will
then eat the aphid from the inside out, and when it dies, it will turn hard
and brown like a mummy. When fully developed, the wasp will simply emerge from the back of the aphid
mummy by cutting a hole in its back.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I waved a finger above the aphids, they began their kicking and twitching.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VFO7oD8HJJeIlAGnimhyphenhyphenAWgYlDEKf8OLoi3jbjr0zCBR3jb_cWb8QcfdxwkhlfYLzVw_8xE6XRcWZiTwLxkdhxQfsZMD1m8keTDBOia3Cur3YmBvJ9t-RB08W0PVwwKumHDSkrbvFDk/s1600/DSC_0219aphis+nerii+kicking.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VFO7oD8HJJeIlAGnimhyphenhyphenAWgYlDEKf8OLoi3jbjr0zCBR3jb_cWb8QcfdxwkhlfYLzVw_8xE6XRcWZiTwLxkdhxQfsZMD1m8keTDBOia3Cur3YmBvJ9t-RB08W0PVwwKumHDSkrbvFDk/s640/DSC_0219aphis+nerii+kicking.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<br />
This picture shows most of them involved in a full "kick". They do this very forcefully and quickly!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJwX_dKMs7Xa2s6Vq75RHZu5YXebRoZebFzPCT5xYZDxIxxGtWaAB1bY9U7n5H8NQEM7MST9jZY38leuCt8xWFYH80w8q-Qyo-ks3q49SuWNtXrF94FJk4Hnpsv7kH5oWkDBKudRTs4E/s1600/DSC_0253aphis+neriiKicking.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJwX_dKMs7Xa2s6Vq75RHZu5YXebRoZebFzPCT5xYZDxIxxGtWaAB1bY9U7n5H8NQEM7MST9jZY38leuCt8xWFYH80w8q-Qyo-ks3q49SuWNtXrF94FJk4Hnpsv7kH5oWkDBKudRTs4E/s640/DSC_0253aphis+neriiKicking.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
The aphids have other tricks up their little black sleeves to
help ensure their survival in their volatile environment! The plants they consume
(mainly milkweed and oleander) contain deadly toxins called <b>cardiac
cardenolides</b>, which cause them to not only taste disgusting, but to also
actually be poisonous to those who prey on them. It doesn’t take long for some
predators, like birds or spiders, to realize their mistake after tasting one. It has even been observed that some species of
spiders quickly retreat, washing off their mouthparts after coming into contact
with the noxious flesh of the aphis nerii. The toxin can actually kill some
predators after consuming one of these aphids, and SHOULD the predator survive,
it may display problems later on. It has been noted that the ingested poison may
cause some spiders to weave disfigured webs, which results in the inability to
capture food, resulting in a lower survival rate. Ladybugs (another known
predator) may develop wing deformities, resulting in a decreased ability to
find food or to reproduce. I guess this is an attempt for the aphid species to reduce
the population of potential predators. Any insect or bird searching for a meal
should heed their bright yellow/orange coloration; in fact most species of the
natural world instinctively know that this color is a warning!<br />
<br />
<br />
The arrows below indicate droplets of the poisonous cardenolides being expelled through the tube-like cornicles located on the aphids' abdomens. This happens when they are threatened or aggravated. I observed this behavior quite frequently.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVp77D5tQF7_MUlTL1NhbhBpwGhnZK187ek4SFgqZbkjdRQog5LRHfG1QwcWdOIA_gTD9VAq06IBIIIFmBNqppuWIaoAHRDMbgeyKngl0H7cTxrVADNJup4h6DeBXXjIDMF5MYUH8oC20/s1600/DSC_0214AphisNeriiCarde.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVp77D5tQF7_MUlTL1NhbhBpwGhnZK187ek4SFgqZbkjdRQog5LRHfG1QwcWdOIA_gTD9VAq06IBIIIFmBNqppuWIaoAHRDMbgeyKngl0H7cTxrVADNJup4h6DeBXXjIDMF5MYUH8oC20/s640/DSC_0214AphisNeriiCarde.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<br />
As the days passed by, I noticed that their numbers were
increasing very rapidly, and it was no wonder... a closer look revealed they
were giving birth to live young! Due to their incredibly small size, I was only
able to witness this event through my 200mm macro lens. This is where things
really get bizarre...these aphids are thought to be <i><b>parthetogenetic</b></i>, which means
the adults are all female and reproduce without males (in fact males are
thought to be absolutely non-existent in the wild). The females give birth to live young,
which are perfect clones of themselves, and believe it or not, the newly
emerged nymph already has an exact clone inside of her, which has an exact
clone inside of her! These “<b><i>telescopic generations</i></b>” are not only nature’s
ingenious way to ensure a rapid increase in their population, but it also quickly
passes on the genetics needed to survive in the particular environment they are
living in.<br />
<br />
The picture below shows the aphids beginning to give birth to live young! It was an exciting event!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslQcM9x6hRMI3qEicJk4sAzGqW-M2VsvsJ6nepTLXhZszjS7WijqnCGTw0qa6P-OLdYZD7z-rTGeimb73xww7BZglLjHPqnMvCRNPvKn8P6RppdXKhFJiiPye2cRZteVg2yXeY8WBOzQ/s1600/DSC_0239aphis+neriiBabies1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslQcM9x6hRMI3qEicJk4sAzGqW-M2VsvsJ6nepTLXhZszjS7WijqnCGTw0qa6P-OLdYZD7z-rTGeimb73xww7BZglLjHPqnMvCRNPvKn8P6RppdXKhFJiiPye2cRZteVg2yXeY8WBOzQ/s640/DSC_0239aphis+neriiBabies1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
The picture below show how much the daughters look like the mother.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJ-Fd2TxzdSFWuLSVO6ai5BfjQlEJfqsphF_k6-1ND9sFbR0f1YMX86LMw7ulzkfAflLUQzMQnzw9Y4C7tU6ADiGnXUZLYiKXQBkcueuACfk-ydmIwMYEf8YSdgm7-xehqnLYUYuS0O0/s1600/DSC_0257aphis+neriiBabies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJ-Fd2TxzdSFWuLSVO6ai5BfjQlEJfqsphF_k6-1ND9sFbR0f1YMX86LMw7ulzkfAflLUQzMQnzw9Y4C7tU6ADiGnXUZLYiKXQBkcueuACfk-ydmIwMYEf8YSdgm7-xehqnLYUYuS0O0/s640/DSC_0257aphis+neriiBabies.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The aphids are extremely environmentally sensitive. Interestingly,
at first the young are un-winged, but they have the amazing ability to change their
body form based on changing conditions within their environment. Overcrowding,
decreased temperatures, decreased food sources or the increase in presence of natural
enemies are factors that will cause this transformation. For example, when a colony reproduces to the point where their food
supply becomes scarce, winged aphids will start to appear. This remarkable alteration further increases their chance of survival by allowing them to relocate where
they can continue to feed, reproduce and recolonize. In addition, extremely detrimental conditions can also cause changes within the mothers and they begin giving birth to
daughters who will now be winged. These characteristics are adaptations that allow
a species to better adapt to its environment to aid in “survival of the
species”. I witnessed this exact scenario as soon as the population
exploded to the point that they were becoming overcrowded. I was amazed at how many winged aphids began appearing all of a sudden, and even more appeared when the
temperatures started to decline in the evenings.<br />
<br />
<br />
You can see here how crowded things are becoming on the vine in the foreground. The background displays the transformation that has occurred because of that situation. They will now be able to relocate to a fresh food source. The arrow below shows the "wing buds" starting to form. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBF_DAT3YFQDUYeqFb_9_dHs4CsxJi20aSKhDeX7jpRf_35xn5-gbMHzbuDVJF8aPVa-Rol_Fk1tmKycmg-R-Ad-pi4wC2RJKHQI2R6kWwI64fSChivmxcG6tYGvgPqLtV-nujfmCYLjg/s1600/DSC_0779aphis+neriiWinged.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBF_DAT3YFQDUYeqFb_9_dHs4CsxJi20aSKhDeX7jpRf_35xn5-gbMHzbuDVJF8aPVa-Rol_Fk1tmKycmg-R-Ad-pi4wC2RJKHQI2R6kWwI64fSChivmxcG6tYGvgPqLtV-nujfmCYLjg/s640/DSC_0779aphis+neriiWinged.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeweLBnrbtwj-HXG_5sUSpg0_sL6GK0CUdqjjd_IWg4C7Jg81smm94wV8BMATCDxI5wcplPMO5Iii9ilRqmdqr6N1nKfv8sDldJYCi2Emifun0ZBzqzfeqtNyme2NDnfKK_wiACYww39Y/s1600/DSC_0783aphis+neriiWingbuds.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeweLBnrbtwj-HXG_5sUSpg0_sL6GK0CUdqjjd_IWg4C7Jg81smm94wV8BMATCDxI5wcplPMO5Iii9ilRqmdqr6N1nKfv8sDldJYCi2Emifun0ZBzqzfeqtNyme2NDnfKK_wiACYww39Y/s640/DSC_0783aphis+neriiWingbuds.jpg" width="468" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The white objects in the picture below are the skins that were shed during molting as the aphid nymphs were growing and developing. I read that the aphids may pile the molted skins up (as pictured), forming an infrastructure to serve as added protection from predation. I've also pointed out a dead, "mummified" aphid that fell victim to a parasitoid wasp.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKeD7xcuYpdJUgdQQ8CWbOI9zz9cFHDA3pq4CZePRABxLlk9W1WftaQFDRORgS7nKUZcpkWLmufATp7RpXEtmtpvGCxENd9XPGuQqnoX9ZbLouXzuhEzsIRLH5NPt3i9Ws1xEQAFpt0HQ/s1600/DSC_0782aphisneriiMoltedSkinInfrastructure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKeD7xcuYpdJUgdQQ8CWbOI9zz9cFHDA3pq4CZePRABxLlk9W1WftaQFDRORgS7nKUZcpkWLmufATp7RpXEtmtpvGCxENd9XPGuQqnoX9ZbLouXzuhEzsIRLH5NPt3i9Ws1xEQAFpt0HQ/s640/DSC_0782aphisneriiMoltedSkinInfrastructure.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
Below, it is evident how the body style differs between the winged aphids and the un-winged. The winged ones need to be successful at flight, so they are much lighter and thinner.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLEQ-7PG4Rk3qgTm6xhFAhyphenhyphenHVw9vg8DPBVjQaB73Fy3BmCTn99k8vlDVYH1USKXMnG5by-fP-k-A_ykp7KXbFWPfHK0FJE6hGyDFwWwBg0AstwylLsLtP3Z3CpH0KxAkWKkyNEKU6ITs/s1600/DSC_0782aphisneriiWinged2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLEQ-7PG4Rk3qgTm6xhFAhyphenhyphenHVw9vg8DPBVjQaB73Fy3BmCTn99k8vlDVYH1USKXMnG5by-fP-k-A_ykp7KXbFWPfHK0FJE6hGyDFwWwBg0AstwylLsLtP3Z3CpH0KxAkWKkyNEKU6ITs/s640/DSC_0782aphisneriiWinged2.jpg" width="464" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p><br />
<o:p><br /></o:p><br />
<o:p> </o:p>That summer, what began as a small group of aphids, grew to immense proportions in just a couple of months! My vine literally had thousands of them covering the branches and new shoots. Then as summer ended and the temperatures dropped, so did the their populations. Most likely a large portion of the winged aphids were dispersed by the wind, passively bound for warmer regions. They can migrate great distances, and that is probably how they first ended up here, since they do not overwinter, or begin as eggs. The remaining un-winged aphids succumbed to extinction by freezing to death and dropping to the ground. I was actually sorry to see them perish. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last summer I looked forward to once again being able to
observe their complex life cycle, but there were very few aphids visible on my
vine. I guess there are a lot of atmospheric variables that affect the
dispersal of insects, and last year just wasn’t as favorable as the previous
year. Even though aphids are a well-established invasive species that can cause
massive damage to the plants they feed on, I felt their establishment on my flowering
vine was an enlightening experience and a wonderful glimpse into an incredible
world where survival is the name of the game. One can learn so much about life
by observing even the smallest of organisms! I feel fortunate to have been able
to witness this incredible journey through the lens of my camera. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>Lisa Sellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11709548876839559933noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926910287628946860.post-73912561478823931492012-01-15T11:14:00.000-05:002012-01-16T23:25:42.095-05:00Bedazzled by Dragonflies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiWEAxfH1cdaY4gabZaxJdb-pHIzpn9JampRtA6ILiNSrRM6OrrbMHOc3lCVOoVt2oqHSDeh7aV8RCNbekajjrQ0fPkbPS0h25rZEhItw_EuczFV7pjRTs3vloX5ag5gzgLKrltukV_kQ/s1600/_DSC4779malebluedasherF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiWEAxfH1cdaY4gabZaxJdb-pHIzpn9JampRtA6ILiNSrRM6OrrbMHOc3lCVOoVt2oqHSDeh7aV8RCNbekajjrQ0fPkbPS0h25rZEhItw_EuczFV7pjRTs3vloX5ag5gzgLKrltukV_kQ/s640/_DSC4779malebluedasherF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Male Blue Dasher<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Dragonflies completely bedazzle me! Regardless of what I'm doing, or what my photographic focus is at the moment, once I spot that familiar burst of speed in my peripheral vision, the chase is on as if I'm spellbound! It is such a challenge to keep your eyes on these "Speedy Gonzaleses", and once they land it is always exciting to see what species they may be. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I've always been captivated and inspired by these beautiful, interesting creatures. The dragonfly's amazing agility is one of its most profound characteristics. Their maneuverability is as precise and skilled as that of an elite jet fighter pilot. I am in awe of how they can obtain incredible speeds, then abruptly turn or hover in mid-air as if carrying out a mission. It is a joy to watch as they patrol their domain, relentlessly chasing other species who dare invade their space. Even though they will fight other dragonflies to their death, and are voracious predators, they are also extremely delicate, gorgeous and can be downright charming! They are truly and literally a work of art!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Their colors and patterns are exquisite. Their relationship with light is a poetic one, as their fragile wings display an ethereal iridescence while the bold, beautiful colors of their bodies shimmer like jewels in the sun. It is no wonder they are regarded as mystical and symbolic by so many cultures.<br />
<br />
Dragonflies begin their life in an aquatic world, then take to the air when they reach maturity. They are very beneficial and contribute to the delicate balance of the ecosystem by consuming thousands of mosquitoes and other insects. Everything about them is fascinating, including their breeding habits.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
As I've observed and photographed dragonflies and damselflies, I've noticed that different species seem to have their own personalities. The one pictured above, the Blue Dasher, is very charismatic and curious. This particular species seems to lock eyes with you, watching you intently as if amused by your presence, while simultaneously scanning the periphery for a quick snack. They do this comical little move where they jerk their heads very quickly, which makes for some funny pictures if you catch just the right angle. The Blue Dasher seems to love your company and will remain very close, occasionally darting about to catch insects, but returning to the same perch over and over within a few seconds. Other species can be more aloof, and lead you around for hours as if enjoying some kind of game of aerial hide and seek!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
There is nothing more therapeutic than relaxing along a pond or stream on a warm afternoon, watching the graceful acrobatics of a dazzle of dragonflies, and listening to the sound of their wings as they skim over the sparkling surface of the water. Just the memory makes me long for spring!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuu4pohPiR7MEyYX7p0SGaUlc6oO5MdMuFdRAqqunGJLeNL6W7OBdWSgC-UmTa3EEv2ER2OCR6fuZ_sBokAgomqVkWYnUcKTysWQ50XDOsRSRAet9UjLWLzV4HswytRBNU1jjkR60oaI/s1600/DSC_0599VariegatedMeadowhawkF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuu4pohPiR7MEyYX7p0SGaUlc6oO5MdMuFdRAqqunGJLeNL6W7OBdWSgC-UmTa3EEv2ER2OCR6fuZ_sBokAgomqVkWYnUcKTysWQ50XDOsRSRAet9UjLWLzV4HswytRBNU1jjkR60oaI/s640/DSC_0599VariegatedMeadowhawkF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
The Variegated Meadowhawk. I found this dragonfly while visiting my daughter in Oregon. </div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-nTMoxDjDNBAP4dBPoIdeVhy8Sn5zM9oj0zM-jFkjcuodNEGLVRcui5iKlmYcbkfxD1jmrskaDenD4m8z-A10Qgk1B1t6p6bi0F9eEx-O36FHuD5Cs6RnWt6mZ90XY5g0wOLTBKnqbg/s1600/_DSC3616clamp-tippedermerald5x7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-nTMoxDjDNBAP4dBPoIdeVhy8Sn5zM9oj0zM-jFkjcuodNEGLVRcui5iKlmYcbkfxD1jmrskaDenD4m8z-A10Qgk1B1t6p6bi0F9eEx-O36FHuD5Cs6RnWt6mZ90XY5g0wOLTBKnqbg/s640/_DSC3616clamp-tippedermerald5x7.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>
I believe this to be the Clamp-tipped Emerald. Found him patrolling a drainage ditch along an old forestry road on top of a mountain in West Virginia. My husband and I set up our collapsible stools in the ditch and watched him diligently flying back and forth along that narrow ditch. He finally didn't seem to mind us anymore and would land right beside us! What a fun afternoon, and what a real beauty! Spectacular eyes!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA1-L21zb4sWmK8IzJ-ITS39H8mdt_WfEXLS0S5dLKecz8_lzvxtm4U3ersWzoZcpahKrE51V_JM96d977kkjKk1Az-i3kasMSq6EZDSuommgDLMZ0dZ9Ewy7XH1mk2psFLMXkYtstwV4/s1600/_DSC2377copyfemale12spottedskimmerF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA1-L21zb4sWmK8IzJ-ITS39H8mdt_WfEXLS0S5dLKecz8_lzvxtm4U3ersWzoZcpahKrE51V_JM96d977kkjKk1Az-i3kasMSq6EZDSuommgDLMZ0dZ9Ewy7XH1mk2psFLMXkYtstwV4/s640/_DSC2377copyfemale12spottedskimmerF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Female Twelve-Spotted Skimmer. The male is similar, but has a white spot in between each black spot.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYTB9YPHKfmXKQbM-i8fYnBKp_bP4u2rZIvguvCoWJGKX61zbZpknYc98Vf2Z79zP7qNdh7yfaetlC1kdhRXSN_mEVSbHLxjISzzfOFZxWknQK4_NjMYrpQV2_QNaRJF_Swcsaw3GULs/s1600/_DSC2698copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYTB9YPHKfmXKQbM-i8fYnBKp_bP4u2rZIvguvCoWJGKX61zbZpknYc98Vf2Z79zP7qNdh7yfaetlC1kdhRXSN_mEVSbHLxjISzzfOFZxWknQK4_NjMYrpQV2_QNaRJF_Swcsaw3GULs/s640/_DSC2698copy.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
Spreadwing Damselfly (unknown species) Some of these tiny damselflies literally shimmer and sparkle!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAKRkU3VYnkV4wBLoPe1uW7EJ4ynUHNq4-eKM47lHK0-Yx0XdLLn0c4mIyQk1XnMfhqtSeGHAWfQWARe7b4GCuq6Rtpj_TyUP6799iSU91Ie2EKlqPwPmRxItXKgx8tz1CqFBrejJiRc/s1600/_DSC2837blackshoulderedspinyleg2F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="614" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAKRkU3VYnkV4wBLoPe1uW7EJ4ynUHNq4-eKM47lHK0-Yx0XdLLn0c4mIyQk1XnMfhqtSeGHAWfQWARe7b4GCuq6Rtpj_TyUP6799iSU91Ie2EKlqPwPmRxItXKgx8tz1CqFBrejJiRc/s640/_DSC2837blackshoulderedspinyleg2F.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Possible Black-shouldered Spiny Leg. I've only seen one of these.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTDSRdeibVado2cj1QYIY_F5WnOgAopgTTedrytEHbaYPz6h-2qbGOhon7sEpd_zeiBifjVmSuuAwwARcbaSfBbBscVQ2HeW_PfwSbFLdkokx95H1AIj9uWuIEEVsdtjV9jNYn3PmouI/s1600/_DSC3691copyF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTDSRdeibVado2cj1QYIY_F5WnOgAopgTTedrytEHbaYPz6h-2qbGOhon7sEpd_zeiBifjVmSuuAwwARcbaSfBbBscVQ2HeW_PfwSbFLdkokx95H1AIj9uWuIEEVsdtjV9jNYn3PmouI/s640/_DSC3691copyF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Possible Violet Dancer Damselfly<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8VpxQhAdEH2_NBYHRZf1t7fYzcC3nWZxc2ExW1UfqxfhKSZzMDxpvgUoqk5Lxj4E0v4BQz9d8GGJH6TulT9qLhdsoTgVSH2p6KFjqE0GO48J9DK_xVW2Mm8uvKRu4p9dGZUbsCJj8r8U/s1600/_DSC8958green+darnersF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8VpxQhAdEH2_NBYHRZf1t7fYzcC3nWZxc2ExW1UfqxfhKSZzMDxpvgUoqk5Lxj4E0v4BQz9d8GGJH6TulT9qLhdsoTgVSH2p6KFjqE0GO48J9DK_xVW2Mm8uvKRu4p9dGZUbsCJj8r8U/s640/_DSC8958green+darnersF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Male and female Green Darner in tandem (the female is ovipositing her eggs as her mate guards her from other males who may try to breed her.)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2_fPTawczXsj5zbf7PaCJJu3LwcDG94Azt_LyRthVpQPkq_3Md9jV1v-4GRhk0DuZU-ezwUOmUy3_2U3nAHLQoGKBY2kBDu-sapbLxW9sIlse_nBPScW22oKUnOQBGOw2Uzvw9XIVWM/s1600/_DSC2847malepondhawkF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2_fPTawczXsj5zbf7PaCJJu3LwcDG94Azt_LyRthVpQPkq_3Md9jV1v-4GRhk0DuZU-ezwUOmUy3_2U3nAHLQoGKBY2kBDu-sapbLxW9sIlse_nBPScW22oKUnOQBGOw2Uzvw9XIVWM/s640/_DSC2847malepondhawkF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Male Pondhawk<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArs4A9TSRoYxf_skuVu6bW571yXy6h1_uS7Y5Ma8EDGFkzY3icH9JgPKnRWvvkzq1jEPbofxfQ3JrINquqbBS1fKudmNIIRM-hFqTrXjMM3W_2P2xDt1zsib0rpK4ZcUAg1xfTeIA7lU/s1600/_DSC3089copyF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArs4A9TSRoYxf_skuVu6bW571yXy6h1_uS7Y5Ma8EDGFkzY3icH9JgPKnRWvvkzq1jEPbofxfQ3JrINquqbBS1fKudmNIIRM-hFqTrXjMM3W_2P2xDt1zsib0rpK4ZcUAg1xfTeIA7lU/s640/_DSC3089copyF.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>
Damselfly (unknown species). I think these subtle colored damselflies are just as beautiful as the brighter ones. It is amazing how well they blend in.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNdPUWgAt_XdYpVun1MHSfEqmr8xd_mLAdO7R50MktD5flAKxX9Xk8F46Th9SW68i0dFMCdSzMU6GqHd3p5__DdPcOR5FyFenvQcyx5ECksRLvnf7PQETBNBM3w6lxX2OlYgSN8-qPEg/s1600/_DSC3327copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNdPUWgAt_XdYpVun1MHSfEqmr8xd_mLAdO7R50MktD5flAKxX9Xk8F46Th9SW68i0dFMCdSzMU6GqHd3p5__DdPcOR5FyFenvQcyx5ECksRLvnf7PQETBNBM3w6lxX2OlYgSN8-qPEg/s640/_DSC3327copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Male and female Blue Dasher, mating<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVQF_VTBp_f_OINDuN90dNp_S-KoXisgB4W7vfP25UxjLww5GlwVlchTEhqVZY2BzG8Cf_ZubO5xMUg7MxQtClnnGwzoStnKj7WQZ1q40FXbXwnhwWhHpv7E9YgsnIIRoXAqPzgBGh8U/s1600/_DSC3801femaleblacksaddlebagF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVQF_VTBp_f_OINDuN90dNp_S-KoXisgB4W7vfP25UxjLww5GlwVlchTEhqVZY2BzG8Cf_ZubO5xMUg7MxQtClnnGwzoStnKj7WQZ1q40FXbXwnhwWhHpv7E9YgsnIIRoXAqPzgBGh8U/s640/_DSC3801femaleblacksaddlebagF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Female Black Saddlebag<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBgy1FlywwzCTYivLFZr19neDuWQfIdEy1A0GwO492aR56ColMTcXnkILT7vCfV7FmOfIV83gwync_u19m1vPnm4dnOHTGfHF5Hwh7AJ2xq4ecXhaSPofFDOfWQ_Da7snw8PjCADI8SE/s1600/_DSC3975copyF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBgy1FlywwzCTYivLFZr19neDuWQfIdEy1A0GwO492aR56ColMTcXnkILT7vCfV7FmOfIV83gwync_u19m1vPnm4dnOHTGfHF5Hwh7AJ2xq4ecXhaSPofFDOfWQ_Da7snw8PjCADI8SE/s640/_DSC3975copyF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Female American Rubyspot Damselfly. She reflects the colors of her surroundings so much better than the male. They are both very stunning and fun to watch.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5iUikSsAS6y6CS2aRKRXszedcNVheNwmWYBH7DVA59pnR096RZANCVRAYrgleR58TYxHjfE8IJ_RDqPiRTQj6we8txM8Jg5avGNfYabiPGB2Hm3NCul9x67Hjaf-jtpBYkH2TRqRpT8/s1600/American+Rubyspot1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5iUikSsAS6y6CS2aRKRXszedcNVheNwmWYBH7DVA59pnR096RZANCVRAYrgleR58TYxHjfE8IJ_RDqPiRTQj6we8txM8Jg5avGNfYabiPGB2Hm3NCul9x67Hjaf-jtpBYkH2TRqRpT8/s640/American+Rubyspot1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Male American Rubyspot Damselfly. The Rubyspots really love moving water like rivers and streams.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmIV0V7QpfihwZ0n1AS4e_Ef058I64FS79yHwofKemVPzCt5TprpdAtDHGOajhPtZfCEn1JLvtHcrENq9aWAB9ecumVmOr4HZO__N57hhzECz_rvHaoJBBibzy5kLBY7lOEE8mRn5oUZY/s1600/American+Redspot3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmIV0V7QpfihwZ0n1AS4e_Ef058I64FS79yHwofKemVPzCt5TprpdAtDHGOajhPtZfCEn1JLvtHcrENq9aWAB9ecumVmOr4HZO__N57hhzECz_rvHaoJBBibzy5kLBY7lOEE8mRn5oUZY/s640/American+Redspot3.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Male and female American Rubyspot, mating. I love they way damselflies eventually form a heart while mating.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOktn91hLF-O8q6gchGMiqGZ3uWYp7eURdG8D24vqeOu_sJjkwDtth4DM7zW1IuNJEYe7V7F2T3hXfMR7g_Ziflyuv81vlh_VyUETV2BnWsa9HT5pBDbDmHWJ-wZ9gTp1L0tvkCP4xr0/s1600/06-09-07+Raccoon+Watershed+Wetlands+062F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOktn91hLF-O8q6gchGMiqGZ3uWYp7eURdG8D24vqeOu_sJjkwDtth4DM7zW1IuNJEYe7V7F2T3hXfMR7g_Ziflyuv81vlh_VyUETV2BnWsa9HT5pBDbDmHWJ-wZ9gTp1L0tvkCP4xr0/s640/06-09-07+Raccoon+Watershed+Wetlands+062F.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Male Blue Dasher<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5zxeT1Vo4jcfk1Qu6mQfc54Gr0hKn9WdWXbG3yqcGG8RxDlZK2w3nnkl6IZewGUoPWMT7OsM9k6i2_wO5MEiT7e19HdGtIPUnBLldeckK9ULT36YHVJZ6lk77mTwYe0QwXqhXe4DvIg/s1600/06-09-07+Raccoon+Watershed+Wetlands+080copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5zxeT1Vo4jcfk1Qu6mQfc54Gr0hKn9WdWXbG3yqcGG8RxDlZK2w3nnkl6IZewGUoPWMT7OsM9k6i2_wO5MEiT7e19HdGtIPUnBLldeckK9ULT36YHVJZ6lk77mTwYe0QwXqhXe4DvIg/s640/06-09-07+Raccoon+Watershed+Wetlands+080copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Female Blue Dasher<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCFg9jy0ocAoMOvqqxI_7rztR0UmtuWBXT6nNzsdA8Gh9rSaN4CGE5ieWrTSjDmXsVAJcPiggtT5bDWOSrAg1MyXoGQv0FnLJ7bFgAQjy5wW1b75A1iXAr8Z94hkmH3oqjDESsJRCo5k/s1600/06-09-07+bluedasheredit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCFg9jy0ocAoMOvqqxI_7rztR0UmtuWBXT6nNzsdA8Gh9rSaN4CGE5ieWrTSjDmXsVAJcPiggtT5bDWOSrAg1MyXoGQv0FnLJ7bFgAQjy5wW1b75A1iXAr8Z94hkmH3oqjDESsJRCo5k/s640/06-09-07+bluedasheredit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Male Blue Dasher<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNMMaZGQviqwdRg6KlQwGn7S7HgzOwbNg4DSLkI_QgYwSenyXl_inQU61IggOp6Jnot_vY6jhGvdWMNQMx0DJW96e9Hvj5yhmBI-4uZCJn8beeR0nCcyrVyjHL68dCR-aGe9tpN56N-s/s1600/bluedasher3F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNMMaZGQviqwdRg6KlQwGn7S7HgzOwbNg4DSLkI_QgYwSenyXl_inQU61IggOp6Jnot_vY6jhGvdWMNQMx0DJW96e9Hvj5yhmBI-4uZCJn8beeR0nCcyrVyjHL68dCR-aGe9tpN56N-s/s640/bluedasher3F.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Male Blue Dasher. Sure does appear that he is laughing!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRO9gPdUDA6pjL6BHjb48Cosku-cAr-ZaLtc7zZKYCAIyyCwQ2CBCtvv2nhyphenhyphenQQnOKLLKyirip34cbPc268JJpjMPPPYDBjwxLDwjVPOW37_WkkBb6Cj9csBz4qXMmB7AFo359AnUWoPyU/s1600/male+blue+dasher8x10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRO9gPdUDA6pjL6BHjb48Cosku-cAr-ZaLtc7zZKYCAIyyCwQ2CBCtvv2nhyphenhyphenQQnOKLLKyirip34cbPc268JJpjMPPPYDBjwxLDwjVPOW37_WkkBb6Cj9csBz4qXMmB7AFo359AnUWoPyU/s640/male+blue+dasher8x10.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
Male Blue Dasher<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpG3FLow_9ub3De3fere_utt4OpEydFWIpvJqG0eeVXaORhiLEQgm-R9XLGD0Vhcxpv6Jzvhgb1Z8R_9HOV43PWL3GsG0ytsGcLGNW_8G9fkxq-adBLcrtK3uSS9gd7oNTxBILAAolDo/s1600/Halloween+Pennant5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpG3FLow_9ub3De3fere_utt4OpEydFWIpvJqG0eeVXaORhiLEQgm-R9XLGD0Vhcxpv6Jzvhgb1Z8R_9HOV43PWL3GsG0ytsGcLGNW_8G9fkxq-adBLcrtK3uSS9gd7oNTxBILAAolDo/s640/Halloween+Pennant5.jpg" width="528" /></a></div>
Male Halloween Pennant. His coloring is perfect for his name.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-76yn2tcSssymijUOiu8Fzi48KHrAvVAHh-iRHLBPScOaKe7At-DWIuF_91lR4kdnHfsLxOhX1TIaPj0uo2NvSp4jip5TRDdolMO3QjtnTFb3l61TjUL6X_TnVx_1hYU-sxeR9qD-NA/s1600/yellow-legged+meadowhawk+025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-76yn2tcSssymijUOiu8Fzi48KHrAvVAHh-iRHLBPScOaKe7At-DWIuF_91lR4kdnHfsLxOhX1TIaPj0uo2NvSp4jip5TRDdolMO3QjtnTFb3l61TjUL6X_TnVx_1hYU-sxeR9qD-NA/s640/yellow-legged+meadowhawk+025.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Yellow-Legged Meadowhawk (also called Autumn Meadowhawk)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAuk_jFH1rqtww7L68ltb8Ne9B81Dzo2G25PG7ZDiCxU12JYvuAoAr_PWw_Ib-X8R5XUNNjL3kCDMtIZDpUud4ZLAvxdKyIPVrAeKfbxkCfAwLIEVNQnRhquSPM4c0-RxwptErfukoANw/s1600/WV09-29-07+033copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAuk_jFH1rqtww7L68ltb8Ne9B81Dzo2G25PG7ZDiCxU12JYvuAoAr_PWw_Ib-X8R5XUNNjL3kCDMtIZDpUud4ZLAvxdKyIPVrAeKfbxkCfAwLIEVNQnRhquSPM4c0-RxwptErfukoANw/s640/WV09-29-07+033copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Yellow-legged Meadowhawk (also called Autumn Meadowhawk)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpc_2_DGFKzGIbVenv9HUhinyDxChpiXydmaIdEQcg1FDuQrxHzRflHJhmXPRFquINPv0G2Jp7AHq7BwSVKBkAzZXAV35wa9VnxSuWS8a1DQKhjRteioDjMJ4Tdo6ty7mvvwrov4FYhk/s1600/_DSC2729copy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpc_2_DGFKzGIbVenv9HUhinyDxChpiXydmaIdEQcg1FDuQrxHzRflHJhmXPRFquINPv0G2Jp7AHq7BwSVKBkAzZXAV35wa9VnxSuWS8a1DQKhjRteioDjMJ4Tdo6ty7mvvwrov4FYhk/s640/_DSC2729copy2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Female Calico Pennant.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsN7AsxekFuc_HE-HrfeQUOF4Wm_KH8_wuiowNEfzHHfOhyphenhyphenOuLcs5fBnp-H0rBsU8AKwATYdex4YEYYL0SgWkyeDlzkC279JFsJb5oUXX9u8Qb3a6qXixyoGApcX5gOxxzSuTIJ6jL48I/s1600/_DSC3380malecalicopennant3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsN7AsxekFuc_HE-HrfeQUOF4Wm_KH8_wuiowNEfzHHfOhyphenhyphenOuLcs5fBnp-H0rBsU8AKwATYdex4YEYYL0SgWkyeDlzkC279JFsJb5oUXX9u8Qb3a6qXixyoGApcX5gOxxzSuTIJ6jL48I/s640/_DSC3380malecalicopennant3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Male Calico Pennant (notice the little "hearts" along his abdomen).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNxT2ifteonG41vhO6h7HT-bV3lreIe7LZTbouUYZR5v1LBFkQ1tM1Mh7j7I1O5QVWpIIwxjx-1tkyScrnKN5F_RGmqqRfz_TozSF4C9rklnM7qAx-swkuDL8eMO_lBKG8gbR4CxjL8Q/s1600/_DSC1577ruby+meadowhawksF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNxT2ifteonG41vhO6h7HT-bV3lreIe7LZTbouUYZR5v1LBFkQ1tM1Mh7j7I1O5QVWpIIwxjx-1tkyScrnKN5F_RGmqqRfz_TozSF4C9rklnM7qAx-swkuDL8eMO_lBKG8gbR4CxjL8Q/s640/_DSC1577ruby+meadowhawksF.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
Male and female Ruby Meadowhawks, mating.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXhT26URVi4i-pQVDARZA2WI3StHnq17i7bFPVTR1BtqaIrgbBC3zZS5GXgt_bbF9gLo9a9QOH9CBksFoJT7oN21jjZk54jHoRWvvSrzuQnrHnHHs4O7jYJ0t-O9uo3fmvL-CnpYX9-Y/s1600/_DSC5418copyF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXhT26URVi4i-pQVDARZA2WI3StHnq17i7bFPVTR1BtqaIrgbBC3zZS5GXgt_bbF9gLo9a9QOH9CBksFoJT7oN21jjZk54jHoRWvvSrzuQnrHnHHs4O7jYJ0t-O9uo3fmvL-CnpYX9-Y/s640/_DSC5418copyF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Damselfly (unknown species)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNziEh9GUDZfj4cA7qm2pB31XhJ_rB21GOV8sqvGNb3C80YPoIpNgByGi4dF0vOS-Y8o3YDYV72IfLDz0bK0_zxCf1CASIn9sE7ean08KChhXMmlcXZWnnBzgzqsaFXdT-5vsr3IWNN4/s1600/_DSC5982F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNziEh9GUDZfj4cA7qm2pB31XhJ_rB21GOV8sqvGNb3C80YPoIpNgByGi4dF0vOS-Y8o3YDYV72IfLDz0bK0_zxCf1CASIn9sE7ean08KChhXMmlcXZWnnBzgzqsaFXdT-5vsr3IWNN4/s640/_DSC5982F.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Damselfly (unknown species)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4myV4LiV_qLfPVuoWmCgCk5xiSYiPBalznJNaRbyMHodbKD5Rmflx0JlIHIO1LO5v30IPZfVLAZOZw9GASw0gWuZ_cqYFkqrkOQKqyD6QCd2yua4aqZVL4WAalVn6o52_p6o_UYMTV7I/s1600/_DSC5993F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4myV4LiV_qLfPVuoWmCgCk5xiSYiPBalznJNaRbyMHodbKD5Rmflx0JlIHIO1LO5v30IPZfVLAZOZw9GASw0gWuZ_cqYFkqrkOQKqyD6QCd2yua4aqZVL4WAalVn6o52_p6o_UYMTV7I/s640/_DSC5993F.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Same Damselfly as above, finishing up an insect he just caught.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7G63NhBIFSjIAOr90t9QDacdgZ6eIIjUpBq-hqdFW62donXimqNlUQ2_l_hcRDRfJ_lvg5hf8_INeaNh74hrZUmLkJEg0oQJXUnjws-NxgDmeWtyIj93C7Hl2NC6etve540q7PI-gY2Q/s1600/_DSC6515-3autumnmeadowhawkF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7G63NhBIFSjIAOr90t9QDacdgZ6eIIjUpBq-hqdFW62donXimqNlUQ2_l_hcRDRfJ_lvg5hf8_INeaNh74hrZUmLkJEg0oQJXUnjws-NxgDmeWtyIj93C7Hl2NC6etve540q7PI-gY2Q/s640/_DSC6515-3autumnmeadowhawkF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Yellow-legged Meadowhawk (possibly a female)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_oOeqO6DCMkEvNQWocFL9bVjtQAF3ibCHCJXBFRYvZWO1jVDD8F3L2g8gntoy27CQ4uQXGVUf8NYj1cCeua2TUWepvXgED5k-QxPWWtCVH1IgNmc19U1JOrVGR8q3kqF4t8pHdzBa9Q/s1600/_DSC6603damselflyF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="612" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_oOeqO6DCMkEvNQWocFL9bVjtQAF3ibCHCJXBFRYvZWO1jVDD8F3L2g8gntoy27CQ4uQXGVUf8NYj1cCeua2TUWepvXgED5k-QxPWWtCVH1IgNmc19U1JOrVGR8q3kqF4t8pHdzBa9Q/s640/_DSC6603damselflyF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Damselfly eating an insect (unknown species). You would be amazed at how lightening fast a damselfly or dragonfly can grab an insect out of the air. You would also be amazed at the audible crunching sound as it is consumed!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxdlhs2bFrzNjauB9drHfXwsKy0X3gnHSjIdw0BE4iETPdMUGjh52-PI5IffnklufPqC5aqZrKrBlKReMK4_64-xyL6XH_sqe6kvhFo8GKwIdFdykag8Wodfca7BwSixdH3NkqTKUEQo/s1600/_DSC6617F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxdlhs2bFrzNjauB9drHfXwsKy0X3gnHSjIdw0BE4iETPdMUGjh52-PI5IffnklufPqC5aqZrKrBlKReMK4_64-xyL6XH_sqe6kvhFo8GKwIdFdykag8Wodfca7BwSixdH3NkqTKUEQo/s640/_DSC6617F.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Same Damselfly as the photo above.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LN24RHZ_C96w7jlL1Q8M7PgQo_YgGia5YLI8ak5M145rUAdY_XuFgwuLXsbaKvtEqRF3F8ITURYdf_FlKb-edCliGjcXNR2mDSuUTXQI-RD23PFJtXqY-LnvN402ZfyDA56AX2Ut8gI/s1600/_DSC3546Uhler%2527s+SundragonF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LN24RHZ_C96w7jlL1Q8M7PgQo_YgGia5YLI8ak5M145rUAdY_XuFgwuLXsbaKvtEqRF3F8ITURYdf_FlKb-edCliGjcXNR2mDSuUTXQI-RD23PFJtXqY-LnvN402ZfyDA56AX2Ut8gI/s640/_DSC3546Uhler%2527s+SundragonF.jpg" width="602" /></a></div>
Uhler's Sundragon (This one is a rare find-it is on the Endangered list for Ohio!) I found this one while mushroom hunting in the woods early one spring morning. I was surprised to see a dragonfly in this particular area. I will be looking again as soon as the time is right, and maybe I'll get lucky again!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs05HdYuiMacD4_HNhyQQNeMMzRRHaLHGd0oHKE0p6HJOGqBmLeIM18Wwfbdb8H5G6_lyNSy29R6BRRj-l9jzPPHe-wer18aMr9d4Yr3bUXzGX9LurlbkfqWhPU_h34RdcJQlkLaZ4-4o/s1600/_DSC6635yellow+legged+meadowhawk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs05HdYuiMacD4_HNhyQQNeMMzRRHaLHGd0oHKE0p6HJOGqBmLeIM18Wwfbdb8H5G6_lyNSy29R6BRRj-l9jzPPHe-wer18aMr9d4Yr3bUXzGX9LurlbkfqWhPU_h34RdcJQlkLaZ4-4o/s640/_DSC6635yellow+legged+meadowhawk.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Yellow-legged Meadowhawk (possibly a female)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AVE1wnFvuRk6vhFPi1ULQJXT2AIN88aXu1jVwWzaJzDoPHKSiL33e6xPvwzHR0inC2N6mVkN3oKYCWzHszX7wT_uC62uTBBMTzXw0WFskIWsPQY6dEg6Sabxj-ure-N9v7tkHJIqk88/s1600/DSC_0171greendarner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AVE1wnFvuRk6vhFPi1ULQJXT2AIN88aXu1jVwWzaJzDoPHKSiL33e6xPvwzHR0inC2N6mVkN3oKYCWzHszX7wT_uC62uTBBMTzXw0WFskIWsPQY6dEg6Sabxj-ure-N9v7tkHJIqk88/s640/DSC_0171greendarner.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Green Darner<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TDr5N5n5f8ukT4e5lU3VatjNXsKEgN6KCIZa2gdAspAqx0IhwxEWX0AhYIIRfUGvmtfM-xV570pG36pBEggaZD69mXhcf1slMqZwkXuaVIS9Rd_mW0auay_LArAwlQtdvcnA5YQYDA4/s1600/DSC_0163greendarnerF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TDr5N5n5f8ukT4e5lU3VatjNXsKEgN6KCIZa2gdAspAqx0IhwxEWX0AhYIIRfUGvmtfM-xV570pG36pBEggaZD69mXhcf1slMqZwkXuaVIS9Rd_mW0auay_LArAwlQtdvcnA5YQYDA4/s640/DSC_0163greendarnerF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Green Darner (He blends in so perfectly with his surroundings)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7UJziY52AFmJ6NeZFIU-SoOEzlJazj3SHvAq7xae69CbnWDc2e0W6FGxF5MAf8mAJpP2AjRs9y7fopE0WykC-TyMa50lRdRnojVd4wdI0qcpoVt-U_T7vRRv-Q7xsOlxavXDnE696w0/s1600/DSC_8110bluedasherF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7UJziY52AFmJ6NeZFIU-SoOEzlJazj3SHvAq7xae69CbnWDc2e0W6FGxF5MAf8mAJpP2AjRs9y7fopE0WykC-TyMa50lRdRnojVd4wdI0qcpoVt-U_T7vRRv-Q7xsOlxavXDnE696w0/s640/DSC_8110bluedasherF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Blue Dasher<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkrhY0_Bg9fUnohHuV9ZvUraqGODYBAKk8UzorlwPZcs5GMHzbyLX7b7nmhrsHtyT0X3pKqjrZO3bIK15BJWVkIVQ3J0__Ng8xzurM2RUQ7NIOQRQ1El-KS0mo95iPMHXEI1O4OOU798/s1600/ruby+meadowhawk-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkrhY0_Bg9fUnohHuV9ZvUraqGODYBAKk8UzorlwPZcs5GMHzbyLX7b7nmhrsHtyT0X3pKqjrZO3bIK15BJWVkIVQ3J0__Ng8xzurM2RUQ7NIOQRQ1El-KS0mo95iPMHXEI1O4OOU798/s640/ruby+meadowhawk-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Ruby Meadowhawk. (I like the shadow and the yellow of his wings on the leaf)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-91VkW0Wf-C4y7NUZYuEeG1V68WGADZkZ4sIlEYKTiT7MT3Xzi9X5tvqqStBH00O04CSSkBu3JvWyw97Pjp4u9Z8FYrleAOitYIw5YPyVUl0UQGIi09X4jYaOYiWyPXWlDhEbAz9prA/s1600/DSC_7622damselfly+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-91VkW0Wf-C4y7NUZYuEeG1V68WGADZkZ4sIlEYKTiT7MT3Xzi9X5tvqqStBH00O04CSSkBu3JvWyw97Pjp4u9Z8FYrleAOitYIw5YPyVUl0UQGIi09X4jYaOYiWyPXWlDhEbAz9prA/s640/DSC_7622damselfly+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Damselfy (not sure of the species)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHfn5UGdhR6UcgKSDqc5ixWP4s6wR1QjUQOTi5p5PwtM78ttA4GAsvBG6vPUmXkJVirY6-1mV5yqnApYbVdkU18TQReccQiOIFPF0CCR8mtwg80-FuCFQpELu0K7HA00YwPS78ZDYxykI/s1600/DSC_0397Black+saddlebag+dragonfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHfn5UGdhR6UcgKSDqc5ixWP4s6wR1QjUQOTi5p5PwtM78ttA4GAsvBG6vPUmXkJVirY6-1mV5yqnApYbVdkU18TQReccQiOIFPF0CCR8mtwg80-FuCFQpELu0K7HA00YwPS78ZDYxykI/s640/DSC_0397Black+saddlebag+dragonfly.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Female Black Saddlebag. This species is a very fast patrolling dragonfly that seems to fly non-stop. They usually do not tolerate a close approach, so I feel fortunate to have gotten a few shots of her as she was warming her wings in the sun on a cool morning. There is also a Red Saddlebag that is very bright and beautiful, but I've yet to get a picture because they are always in constant motion!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhftauTHhTMDQZ-Sz-C1gH7iGQgL8QoPLq-sDJAoqbX3qr3RfE4xPG_GTcK-D9NlDl04Y03zd6CnyRNf66UkcuHHdgo3Pd2psQ00ao7Avj__UjeowrY67YG9RSufv1vHkmnVNpiUODoPr0/s1600/DSC_0397Black+saddlebag+dragonflycrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhftauTHhTMDQZ-Sz-C1gH7iGQgL8QoPLq-sDJAoqbX3qr3RfE4xPG_GTcK-D9NlDl04Y03zd6CnyRNf66UkcuHHdgo3Pd2psQ00ao7Avj__UjeowrY67YG9RSufv1vHkmnVNpiUODoPr0/s640/DSC_0397Black+saddlebag+dragonflycrop.jpg" width="460" /></a></div>
Close-up of the incredible texture and details of the wings!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsRTgvUzg_v8bw-EM_XtJVMpc50yTSrtQAPadwn-8MbmnVsrC7U_9OkW-4_GelsKW6bs6psBwfwbQUKPVsWcxfZcUpLb-Ie1VlZ3DQ0__TNnc-kF7cZueY3fmSJgdFFZizNKJeIdx4uLs/s1600/DSC_0404black+saddlebag+dragonfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsRTgvUzg_v8bw-EM_XtJVMpc50yTSrtQAPadwn-8MbmnVsrC7U_9OkW-4_GelsKW6bs6psBwfwbQUKPVsWcxfZcUpLb-Ie1VlZ3DQ0__TNnc-kF7cZueY3fmSJgdFFZizNKJeIdx4uLs/s640/DSC_0404black+saddlebag+dragonfly.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I always love to get shots looking right into the eyes! This is the same Black Saddlebag pictures right above.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwthPyI71oPa1dqwQRl4TmUXszVvto4WRxBnxb5vD9AGfU1G5jCnYiy7HiaZ1JPNi0e2yKtNFTetuBlEq2idCiZAziEb3FAD9h00P8-fxa3C5Z2Zh-5Pv7Apq2dCPF75ZDlYCgo5uGU8/s1600/DSC_0404blacksaddlebaguncrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwthPyI71oPa1dqwQRl4TmUXszVvto4WRxBnxb5vD9AGfU1G5jCnYiy7HiaZ1JPNi0e2yKtNFTetuBlEq2idCiZAziEb3FAD9h00P8-fxa3C5Z2Zh-5Pv7Apq2dCPF75ZDlYCgo5uGU8/s640/DSC_0404blacksaddlebaguncrop.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Love the play of light and color!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PauW0dNndaLUYx-h6XB8zO6Qw2eEEIJvpGa6ZYzvMC9AwB_ipQfiqE74sTQ3wkwv9qWE7W0v0B8uLMV8cDLLnJmY4dqddVOw5r39KudlzdnQRzJxinaTwAbPqWoY_QwHBtEu1ni71A0/s1600/DSC_6881damselfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PauW0dNndaLUYx-h6XB8zO6Qw2eEEIJvpGa6ZYzvMC9AwB_ipQfiqE74sTQ3wkwv9qWE7W0v0B8uLMV8cDLLnJmY4dqddVOw5r39KudlzdnQRzJxinaTwAbPqWoY_QwHBtEu1ni71A0/s640/DSC_6881damselfly.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Damselfly (unknown species)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWKLbTmKfgfQ8qrB5n48WjiHgwS9rDxrxaluHqQ4bsebfNn_537vFnHmrL1HZOxCkymSkYVZEJg99XF_sEQSjk2-hg9OnBPb9_kT69i9PPhnVp0wrggRpCZ3hjOFo83rC1Dn1MRaHhoo/s1600/DSC_7511ebony+jewelwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="612" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWKLbTmKfgfQ8qrB5n48WjiHgwS9rDxrxaluHqQ4bsebfNn_537vFnHmrL1HZOxCkymSkYVZEJg99XF_sEQSjk2-hg9OnBPb9_kT69i9PPhnVp0wrggRpCZ3hjOFo83rC1Dn1MRaHhoo/s640/DSC_7511ebony+jewelwing.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Male Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly. You can find lots of these guys amongst the foliage that line streams. They have a very beautiful, dainty flight pattern, somewhat different than other damselflies. The metallic appearance really catches your eye.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXM_OPI6AmCdk5LF4MAInvK8N0kmIkLg7h6xYoztp6RpSCdqWt9EQuMBV1wzO3Xivqf2ouA9ZvQVN87Zo9IX_IQmrjJ5p7za_QIfO_328jSLGXPdnjLl82VScrMxbKl95WKTN2BBSPzLU/s1600/female+spatterdock+darner5x7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXM_OPI6AmCdk5LF4MAInvK8N0kmIkLg7h6xYoztp6RpSCdqWt9EQuMBV1wzO3Xivqf2ouA9ZvQVN87Zo9IX_IQmrjJ5p7za_QIfO_328jSLGXPdnjLl82VScrMxbKl95WKTN2BBSPzLU/s640/female+spatterdock+darner5x7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
This beautiful, large dragonfly is the Spatterdock Darner. My husband took this picture-I walked right past him because of his camouflage. The perfect symmetrical markings make this dragonfly look like a hand-painted tree ornament!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3D6CyfSkRmg7gTGy7EItQQDclm8YR6P-_MXbb8W_h5Q7FvWIbSvBS8_gE2z9J5u_XjhZL_jQYJILXQNHh0TrZPFknnUh8bWcQM6a8uu9TZfINBaT8ZKnoYg-B-6vkiNNOGLmMz_VhDs/s1600/_DSC4709malebluedasherF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3D6CyfSkRmg7gTGy7EItQQDclm8YR6P-_MXbb8W_h5Q7FvWIbSvBS8_gE2z9J5u_XjhZL_jQYJILXQNHh0TrZPFknnUh8bWcQM6a8uu9TZfINBaT8ZKnoYg-B-6vkiNNOGLmMz_VhDs/s640/_DSC4709malebluedasherF.jpg" width="516" /></a></div>
Male Blue Dasher<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZYgNXkNDDzir-0iyytDdHx59U3F0PNvIO1sh0BZaJCPwPBeLnE4yjCIk5T2kOgjNZkV0v_jYeOUuKWKAe2C6DCDOTxh2F4dtY5RmNQZswXBZb2L-4RnUJ9iq8dOmp8qkT5dMH0R-9G8/s1600/Amerine+Farm+20070812+096copy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZYgNXkNDDzir-0iyytDdHx59U3F0PNvIO1sh0BZaJCPwPBeLnE4yjCIk5T2kOgjNZkV0v_jYeOUuKWKAe2C6DCDOTxh2F4dtY5RmNQZswXBZb2L-4RnUJ9iq8dOmp8qkT5dMH0R-9G8/s640/Amerine+Farm+20070812+096copy2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Male Blue Dasher (This is my favorite shot of this guy!)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpVlAX_Gvo04L-WZ1C1gwSUkz-np7duVOjuEniF93qmn4CXo7FTPGJXaIdflOCii4LuoHWUgXfIJCe8E0RUpEvnFjsmFHSlxGVzxU_PSxQ5L1LkVM1NrUKFi6-rU1EBMuSkcVDMmHHJY/s1600/_DSC9036female+eastern+amberwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpVlAX_Gvo04L-WZ1C1gwSUkz-np7duVOjuEniF93qmn4CXo7FTPGJXaIdflOCii4LuoHWUgXfIJCe8E0RUpEvnFjsmFHSlxGVzxU_PSxQ5L1LkVM1NrUKFi6-rU1EBMuSkcVDMmHHJY/s640/_DSC9036female+eastern+amberwing.jpg" width="474" /></a></div>
Female Eastern Amberwing. This is a very small dragonfly that I've seen in large numbers at the edge of ponds. The male of this species has beautiful, bright amber/orangy wings.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXl3IyvE-hR63PO7YjG4A6L_8rCAezcyqSNHQWC2w7FnG0M1VWnt7hfCnacSWHVRoDIMGioB90yM2ZyvgsEGzeuZ8AkqN1_lLPjGLhSUpHD_G0qeYeG8kns7zNGwcQLnlYsWbE-GP-K8/s1600/_DSC8670male+unicorn+clubtailF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXl3IyvE-hR63PO7YjG4A6L_8rCAezcyqSNHQWC2w7FnG0M1VWnt7hfCnacSWHVRoDIMGioB90yM2ZyvgsEGzeuZ8AkqN1_lLPjGLhSUpHD_G0qeYeG8kns7zNGwcQLnlYsWbE-GP-K8/s640/_DSC8670male+unicorn+clubtailF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Unicorn Clubtail. I love this dragonfly-he will let you approach fairly closely without fear. He gets his name from a small centrally located point situated on the vertex between the eyes.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5LatAWfNBqKeuAUqUP4CWJPYl8nliq9OkqEReiF5BjiG-fwhGI4T6PLpreMytEZoYDwyu7VlyO2AMAgiztQ7cr5iztIJ6x7nFSiA4GxXYFgLScr91IkNSAmjvrvyCO2i_OwbQ-NXRYE/s1600/_DSC8906dueling+darners2F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5LatAWfNBqKeuAUqUP4CWJPYl8nliq9OkqEReiF5BjiG-fwhGI4T6PLpreMytEZoYDwyu7VlyO2AMAgiztQ7cr5iztIJ6x7nFSiA4GxXYFgLScr91IkNSAmjvrvyCO2i_OwbQ-NXRYE/s640/_DSC8906dueling+darners2F.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I call this one "Dueling Darners"! These large, beautiful Green Darners are very aggressive and the male will jealously guard his mate as she dips her abdomen under the water, splits a plant stem and deposits her eggs. This behavior is referred to as "contact guarding", and it ensures that a female is only producing eggs with her mate's genetic donation. The males here were constantly fighting and ramming each other in competition.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiE82H5_lvH42iMND6cgZc4OnWP3A50xdmEtCJP-F4yrKDPj_d5S_O70zvQRjFo746w47CptBYK2K5QYVfxy5AvVwgZq25YzaXCe2ZmYEmRRsMdS_OHzyI0ZkyfvcH5fl3_DzWtRW7ldg/s1600/_DSC1031malerubymeadowhawkF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiE82H5_lvH42iMND6cgZc4OnWP3A50xdmEtCJP-F4yrKDPj_d5S_O70zvQRjFo746w47CptBYK2K5QYVfxy5AvVwgZq25YzaXCe2ZmYEmRRsMdS_OHzyI0ZkyfvcH5fl3_DzWtRW7ldg/s640/_DSC1031malerubymeadowhawkF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Male Ruby Meadowhawk. This species will sit very still even when you get close. They pick the most interesting places to perch.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQMpN82BuWJjsfKfSMVb_feia5KI-UHtsIziQRYTjUFkIQmkRmNV3N6w7uykLvvBhofyQTcsIjYsf4YhVRS54phQqQbr-YI7_TwL2ikx2Su4W3FF_k8tUpkgFtrRq4uszbcVCcEuR_e4/s1600/_DSC1112copyF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQMpN82BuWJjsfKfSMVb_feia5KI-UHtsIziQRYTjUFkIQmkRmNV3N6w7uykLvvBhofyQTcsIjYsf4YhVRS54phQqQbr-YI7_TwL2ikx2Su4W3FF_k8tUpkgFtrRq4uszbcVCcEuR_e4/s640/_DSC1112copyF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Another Male Ruby Meadowhawk, and another interesting perch! This is so "Zen-like"!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXQbVo7ufuPmQ8n6LJg660OvNmLwjcMXE3dTcgTZQ1UvRJp6vwnztaGoBpU4a_4v9kxWeqNK7NaZ1Q_r09oimfekRUth1y3qBnFssBYf5EPmhrpxinZ0s0zid_5Mzh2Z_MchxWWhATBNc/s1600/_DSC8502female+ruby+meadowhawk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXQbVo7ufuPmQ8n6LJg660OvNmLwjcMXE3dTcgTZQ1UvRJp6vwnztaGoBpU4a_4v9kxWeqNK7NaZ1Q_r09oimfekRUth1y3qBnFssBYf5EPmhrpxinZ0s0zid_5Mzh2Z_MchxWWhATBNc/s640/_DSC8502female+ruby+meadowhawk.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I think this is a female Ruby Meadowhawk, although could be a teneral male. I love to see the wings reflect the light!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pKgeSbeoW1AWWCiQitm95SKu7bNx7gH3BIQhLIrlbdPUbA5nXU9f0InYm3ShdixvCpx9OYH4KxjUv9OikyBtg8dtkzZGhdTliEVUQJlbOhuKynk3AfY02VGzNDgJo0ITNpxG_SmU6O8/s1600/_DSC8406lancet+clubtailF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pKgeSbeoW1AWWCiQitm95SKu7bNx7gH3BIQhLIrlbdPUbA5nXU9f0InYm3ShdixvCpx9OYH4KxjUv9OikyBtg8dtkzZGhdTliEVUQJlbOhuKynk3AfY02VGzNDgJo0ITNpxG_SmU6O8/s640/_DSC8406lancet+clubtailF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I believe this is the Lancet Clubtail<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIhNu6uDvCQjUQGtWRPqSDPoXYfrDoaMVBym-TSVjZe0uxSK2XKZjL2pKqaIfJCMIJZFLdstkjzoP2RPA35xfLXnJ7j8i2CCoHMgeGJDKayBbuDJRhR8MtC4eKhtN3Y5RSELmkcM90mPI/s1600/_DSC8248Lancet+Clubtail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIhNu6uDvCQjUQGtWRPqSDPoXYfrDoaMVBym-TSVjZe0uxSK2XKZjL2pKqaIfJCMIJZFLdstkjzoP2RPA35xfLXnJ7j8i2CCoHMgeGJDKayBbuDJRhR8MtC4eKhtN3Y5RSELmkcM90mPI/s640/_DSC8248Lancet+Clubtail.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
This is the same Lancet Clubtail above, eating a damselfly.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWv1Hvs8v2vcY4_uK9w-svtojH5RlXWIFfCEjVRXGMfxt5MBE5RTXa2a8eBn9Qbr6hE8kEZ-C8M9lAb4qKKSUncJtjHfx3p-yFIUXBP8LhabWCZ84HQnkFF8QPk-unhmdj-zFv22nYpoM/s1600/_DSC3781femaleblacksaddlebagcopy2x5x7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWv1Hvs8v2vcY4_uK9w-svtojH5RlXWIFfCEjVRXGMfxt5MBE5RTXa2a8eBn9Qbr6hE8kEZ-C8M9lAb4qKKSUncJtjHfx3p-yFIUXBP8LhabWCZ84HQnkFF8QPk-unhmdj-zFv22nYpoM/s640/_DSC3781femaleblacksaddlebagcopy2x5x7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Another shot of a female Black Saddlebag (or possibly immature male). The adult male's abdomen is duller in color.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Lisa Sellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11709548876839559933noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926910287628946860.post-13363241575954968742011-10-24T22:11:00.000-04:002011-10-24T22:11:10.124-04:00If You Light It They Will ComeI am referring to the lighting of a white sheet with a black light in my attempt to attract some of the night-flying moths. Although I have thoroughly enjoyed observing and photographing day-flying moths, I'm absolutely fascinated by what I've seen at night! The white sheet and black light work like a charm to beckon to all moths in the area to "come out, come out wherever you are!<br />
<br />
So, what influences a moth to fly toward a light? Well, not only are moths positively amazing, they are also <b>'positively phototactic'</b>. Phototaxis is a term meaning, "the movement of an organism toward or away from a light source". If an organism is positively phototaxic, it simply means it is attracted toward light. If an organism is <b>negatively phototactic, </b>it means it moves away from light. Scientists and entomologists have all sorts of theories as to why moths naturally fly toward an illumination. Maybe the moths intuitively consider light to be an escape route and gravitate toward it because they associate the light with safety. Some experts believe they use the light of the moon as a navigational aid, and other lights throw off their orientation system. Perhaps signals from certain wavelengths in lights are perceived as pheromones for sexual attraction? I have read many interesting hypotheses, but there really is no definitive answer. One thing is for sure, whatever the form of phosphorescence or speculation, the attraction is a guarantee!<br />
<br />
I've discovered I enjoy "moth watching" every bit as much as I enjoy bird watching! I had the opportunity to join a few folks at Wahkeena Nature Preserve over the summer, and was able to take advantage of participating in the art of attracting moths in a more professional manner. My circle of moth-loving friends included Tom Shisler (Wahkeena's Site Manager and Naturalist), Robyn Wright-Strauss (Wahkeena Naturalist), Dennis Profant (Entomologist and Natural Resources Instructor at Hocking College), Roger Grossenbacher (retired Physics Instructor, Lancaster, OH, and Nature and Astronomy Enthusiast), Mike Gilligan (retired Biology Instructor from Findlay, OH, and Butterfly and Moth Enthusiast), and Alex Webb (Hocking College Student and avid insect collector). I sure love being around so many people who all share such a passion for nature. It was also beneficial to be amongst a group of people who have such an adeptness for identifying so many species of moths and other insects that we were fortunate to observe. Maybe if I can hang out with them more, some of that knowledge will rub off onto me!<br />
<br />
The following moths are just a tiny sample of the dozens of little stealth flyers that "came to the light". Some only remained for a few seconds, making photography a real challenge, while others were content to hang around for much longer. Some moths landed on the sheet, while others preferred the nearby vegetation. It was interesting to see their many colors and textures, and appreciate how their uniqueness actually serves as a camouflage for their environment.<br />
<br />
<br />
Below is an Acrolophus Tubeworm Moth species. I'm not sure exactly which one. I thought it was a Clemens' Grass Tubeworm Moth (Acrolophus popeanella), but there are several that are very similar, making a positive ID next to impossible. These guys are very tiny!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIvK8iQg8Uft_szorujOALPAE1SEaGogTyoyb-ONLzOXquQnPTrUvLVlw4s82g8wa9HOAaMGejYG8SF1d-hmR1thD4-QeoXfnDWMuUovTAoPc6u26BaC8LqbtiI7s6agHIyPHKUe2OUQ/s1600/UnknownMoth4Crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIvK8iQg8Uft_szorujOALPAE1SEaGogTyoyb-ONLzOXquQnPTrUvLVlw4s82g8wa9HOAaMGejYG8SF1d-hmR1thD4-QeoXfnDWMuUovTAoPc6u26BaC8LqbtiI7s6agHIyPHKUe2OUQ/s400/UnknownMoth4Crop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOFQiv1bcm3BJJ8EO7Lr8wfq-D-0RzZ61nq5Lujt4-gKg846L9XwEHdEwl9O6iAyCUT9ATr5LZfiYGKRJR2m_dg6hspHrDAgoEtdZPagVHTdFKsSSy8oUp2Vd3b6J6eV4jYwNWkfjhck/s1600/Unknown+moth2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOFQiv1bcm3BJJ8EO7Lr8wfq-D-0RzZ61nq5Lujt4-gKg846L9XwEHdEwl9O6iAyCUT9ATr5LZfiYGKRJR2m_dg6hspHrDAgoEtdZPagVHTdFKsSSy8oUp2Vd3b6J6eV4jYwNWkfjhck/s400/Unknown+moth2.jpg" width="365" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6szhSaYnz86D9DJhhld-TjjXF8wn7MuryLZ8FATV7nnV2ooIVVdj8ioNp3tWoddPU9F5WllAdZ8ZttD6DUUqC53gLfgFoH_zj04YeMEe2pe11czn9u5YDMpkKwBaGrQU6oDc4xXIBig/s1600/Focus+Result+2Moth+%2528B%252C+2%252C+2%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6szhSaYnz86D9DJhhld-TjjXF8wn7MuryLZ8FATV7nnV2ooIVVdj8ioNp3tWoddPU9F5WllAdZ8ZttD6DUUqC53gLfgFoH_zj04YeMEe2pe11czn9u5YDMpkKwBaGrQU6oDc4xXIBig/s400/Focus+Result+2Moth+%2528B%252C+2%252C+2%2529.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><br />
Another Acrolophus Tubeworm Moth species<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrivZAVLCLSBLSKVO-E7KwR8tq17qZwcBTNlPJrIKc9jaxsMWvhAecPma-CP8GQCH3avQ2fO-AwZ0Bru7cZF7HQVE1MwV4llvs5aGKccYvXTzskg3nDzd1fnmsSzvLCudTvW5ttZ7bes/s1600/Clemens%2527+Grass+Tubeworm+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrivZAVLCLSBLSKVO-E7KwR8tq17qZwcBTNlPJrIKc9jaxsMWvhAecPma-CP8GQCH3avQ2fO-AwZ0Bru7cZF7HQVE1MwV4llvs5aGKccYvXTzskg3nDzd1fnmsSzvLCudTvW5ttZ7bes/s400/Clemens%2527+Grass+Tubeworm+Moth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjccmWv52YZOUUpzrLEJ3fAmzVOrjQskr088PgWfu5iaf4ERqqWjgJfW2bq2QwV1_aHeKe74mvs1i1T1XBcJha7SoryJXKJudE8aq8X1oJr2HloM0eTq7ceSmmeXe1PSNQdAbEiramwSvo/s1600/Clemens%2527+Grass+Tubeworm+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjccmWv52YZOUUpzrLEJ3fAmzVOrjQskr088PgWfu5iaf4ERqqWjgJfW2bq2QwV1_aHeKe74mvs1i1T1XBcJha7SoryJXKJudE8aq8X1oJr2HloM0eTq7ceSmmeXe1PSNQdAbEiramwSvo/s400/Clemens%2527+Grass+Tubeworm+Moth.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
Possible Common Tan Wave Moth (Pleuroprucha insulsaria)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExToELqBAS4XjSJwm33AQP5NZB-nSJLZBswEFuhGElSXj4nTU6VAvCL8wsKVSxOjVxIs0MAck_Hn2PeYINF7gksDdF938lSdxFiHusQwIN5qbwl8ZJrjf65wOpq48UxsZMoqytkmsGiE/s1600/Possible+Common+Tan+Wave+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExToELqBAS4XjSJwm33AQP5NZB-nSJLZBswEFuhGElSXj4nTU6VAvCL8wsKVSxOjVxIs0MAck_Hn2PeYINF7gksDdF938lSdxFiHusQwIN5qbwl8ZJrjf65wOpq48UxsZMoqytkmsGiE/s400/Possible+Common+Tan+Wave+Moth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
The next three are possible Eupithecia moth species, but there are too many that are similar to make positive ID.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCgLXFFnKEiMQKg23OrUmRH2J_fENSthBTQMhhC_O_RcTqNn4skH3_cZINIvMXkkWNwiAI29D-_y-32VG_ySjACy2XkYkjUzLgJxZbAvtKicZ0rkKQt46a_KV0j1egB6KtTjrT5gXMSFM/s1600/small+Unidentified+Moth-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCgLXFFnKEiMQKg23OrUmRH2J_fENSthBTQMhhC_O_RcTqNn4skH3_cZINIvMXkkWNwiAI29D-_y-32VG_ySjACy2XkYkjUzLgJxZbAvtKicZ0rkKQt46a_KV0j1egB6KtTjrT5gXMSFM/s400/small+Unidentified+Moth-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfbytUHpZs0BWCce911YQ5BzgogLWJFS6t-pMvxUiUI3jQVGoGUcgLmd_lJh_7DQ5eZmjnEewGABuB5V7BEHzmGyRMCD2J1Ots19nnduqi94Scbo-Pk30oBf0JUxEyTgFDw5i6o-FXmo/s1600/unidentified+moth+on+light.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfbytUHpZs0BWCce911YQ5BzgogLWJFS6t-pMvxUiUI3jQVGoGUcgLmd_lJh_7DQ5eZmjnEewGABuB5V7BEHzmGyRMCD2J1Ots19nnduqi94Scbo-Pk30oBf0JUxEyTgFDw5i6o-FXmo/s400/unidentified+moth+on+light.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpjH3y-LEj3gCWvXcw0Xg56llFxHnd0KTP0VzRndqig3FsvUIKfeRnLzEjknNj-Ca-gxemP6qLvFr91q4zHiPtU93WpeZdXZJeN1ykY44gqs4yClNat2wyN58emVwefuI3hjwf97HLdg/s1600/DSC_8628Eupithecia+Pug+Moth+Species.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpjH3y-LEj3gCWvXcw0Xg56llFxHnd0KTP0VzRndqig3FsvUIKfeRnLzEjknNj-Ca-gxemP6qLvFr91q4zHiPtU93WpeZdXZJeN1ykY44gqs4yClNat2wyN58emVwefuI3hjwf97HLdg/s400/DSC_8628Eupithecia+Pug+Moth+Species.jpg" width="370" /></a></div><br />
<br />
I believe the following two moths to be the Lesser Grapevine Looper Moth (Eulithis diversilineata). I love the woodgrain look to his wings.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGTyXc4BNDKNWvtuEf9PT9aXkq1yOzuqD0Uuol-NLXsczSeNrXev01718Sgkz0yh8zfpj1gj0jA3GCXHuM8LRuEppA0xdOENvI7lFFqHtblNi9kVFV3JOLobhVccI3r7GVE70ogCvkL0/s1600/Lesser+Grapevine+Looper+Moth-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGTyXc4BNDKNWvtuEf9PT9aXkq1yOzuqD0Uuol-NLXsczSeNrXev01718Sgkz0yh8zfpj1gj0jA3GCXHuM8LRuEppA0xdOENvI7lFFqHtblNi9kVFV3JOLobhVccI3r7GVE70ogCvkL0/s400/Lesser+Grapevine+Looper+Moth-2.jpg" width="345" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_1fWcPu8mXGtsSMoAj7ktfAGgNmekY3acuMN84647T8zxWp6jSJtwjuws8nsjes8wZXFoesgKpVVrqmWmcHxc0wQcfIUk0rBsXcK27zyPpk_HBcC0Z1bPO7qfaBasP49HMX6ZJVaWzw/s1600/DSC_8168lesser+grapevine+looper+moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_1fWcPu8mXGtsSMoAj7ktfAGgNmekY3acuMN84647T8zxWp6jSJtwjuws8nsjes8wZXFoesgKpVVrqmWmcHxc0wQcfIUk0rBsXcK27zyPpk_HBcC0Z1bPO7qfaBasP49HMX6ZJVaWzw/s400/DSC_8168lesser+grapevine+looper+moth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
I believe this next moth to be the Dark-spotted Palthis Moth (Palthis angulalis).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HIz6FE7z4abO68S_I2lJsutc4q6SNm6jwMjK1k-GcCndAZ2i5Fy1R8PClMRpi8Wt393pg6P5wsPk1pCL8Ga_5XUWOJv0I9sHJyQHYpyTH4wNFruXftxdkzK8kLw3Sen1geEgJdA-lRM/s1600/dark+spotted+palthis+moth-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HIz6FE7z4abO68S_I2lJsutc4q6SNm6jwMjK1k-GcCndAZ2i5Fy1R8PClMRpi8Wt393pg6P5wsPk1pCL8Ga_5XUWOJv0I9sHJyQHYpyTH4wNFruXftxdkzK8kLw3Sen1geEgJdA-lRM/s400/dark+spotted+palthis+moth-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Close-up of Dark-spotted Palthis Moth<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-zS9MyYtZHv1zXZPJLSN52eBHx4RlpgHu70YjmMihY9jU-cWdTewzpFUWsBPP2Auhof_L-9J_JmKD0A-iMZXD9o2EVxqzKIe5Ta-uAAj0frIAnFk2E21rkalZn-eQD9nuK5jxLhNzsw/s1600/Dark+Spotted+Palthis+Moth2crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-zS9MyYtZHv1zXZPJLSN52eBHx4RlpgHu70YjmMihY9jU-cWdTewzpFUWsBPP2Auhof_L-9J_JmKD0A-iMZXD9o2EVxqzKIe5Ta-uAAj0frIAnFk2E21rkalZn-eQD9nuK5jxLhNzsw/s400/Dark+Spotted+Palthis+Moth2crop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
White-streaked Prominent Moth (Oligocentria lignicolor)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYTX5_abPU_imadjX0aiwOCs2FjyCDcNPcEeHTZPPNhezwm5uIS3f-w9LU8PcW4D20JFUk0KAq0a0AvDnp7PWVDU7Sss83zcEALrMjXqV18Ahlf94CJ1ooFCwHeSq0pNg2gatKI1V3iY/s1600/white+streaked+prominent+moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYTX5_abPU_imadjX0aiwOCs2FjyCDcNPcEeHTZPPNhezwm5uIS3f-w9LU8PcW4D20JFUk0KAq0a0AvDnp7PWVDU7Sss83zcEALrMjXqV18Ahlf94CJ1ooFCwHeSq0pNg2gatKI1V3iY/s400/white+streaked+prominent+moth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Barberry Geometer Moth (Coryphista meadii)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPP8VsFoHWJWj2d5h5emZgkLnB2xiYREVWFkKfOwIL2qcC08-kRDDV3zP_3LQGlTVQwsE2R5BPiz54AARw9ltVDsK_iKvKIwD0OCQGxUK8xDkTQt3_OUrKiotU_9KEwV1kkcgZu0Blu-M/s1600/DSC_8171Barberry+Geometer+MothFEdit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPP8VsFoHWJWj2d5h5emZgkLnB2xiYREVWFkKfOwIL2qcC08-kRDDV3zP_3LQGlTVQwsE2R5BPiz54AARw9ltVDsK_iKvKIwD0OCQGxUK8xDkTQt3_OUrKiotU_9KEwV1kkcgZu0Blu-M/s400/DSC_8171Barberry+Geometer+MothFEdit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Three views of the Green Cloverworm Moth (Hypena scabra)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg210oHTaG56jqKb8m9VuveiNkbaX_ehH7kXORmcxWSrn3nVvqP_CzAyOngvqsbXyz5Ke5AlYgvOuGispfs_nOdiFmmjoOrN-UKDz46LZtOZDJiEkGmU1D8F37Qc7dYk9beqAVo2nRMYfI/s1600/Unidentified+mothF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg210oHTaG56jqKb8m9VuveiNkbaX_ehH7kXORmcxWSrn3nVvqP_CzAyOngvqsbXyz5Ke5AlYgvOuGispfs_nOdiFmmjoOrN-UKDz46LZtOZDJiEkGmU1D8F37Qc7dYk9beqAVo2nRMYfI/s400/Unidentified+mothF.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjeeUGFFE-1hHuQXrMmCX3hGYWUqqhALLYNmLS4Vz_DZo_fJhkL4ujSmUEafwr-mPWHvIoye0WdIg2_bB-njLoBKvL_0W_hxVhiG21JtYO1_vpkViMAa6QvR5-wTJl7gHGHJu9ks9uuM/s1600/possible+Green+Cloverworm+Moth-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjeeUGFFE-1hHuQXrMmCX3hGYWUqqhALLYNmLS4Vz_DZo_fJhkL4ujSmUEafwr-mPWHvIoye0WdIg2_bB-njLoBKvL_0W_hxVhiG21JtYO1_vpkViMAa6QvR5-wTJl7gHGHJu9ks9uuM/s400/possible+Green+Cloverworm+Moth-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkQMiP6rj-pj-ZzZ372ga_slHHXaMdXt4eKUcSkPX8DWQ4l2fMOHomwTNzYr57dFTnBnRBYcKtyUkB4x4e56wAqS4j4mIPxJlMSB8OfQAe9dtoLNlHEvtqQRTJYOjeqsgFMNYhzaVaWg/s1600/possible+Green+Cloverworm+Moth2-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkQMiP6rj-pj-ZzZ372ga_slHHXaMdXt4eKUcSkPX8DWQ4l2fMOHomwTNzYr57dFTnBnRBYcKtyUkB4x4e56wAqS4j4mIPxJlMSB8OfQAe9dtoLNlHEvtqQRTJYOjeqsgFMNYhzaVaWg/s400/possible+Green+Cloverworm+Moth2-2.jpg" width="393" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
The following two are the Bristly Cutworm Moth (Lacinipolia renigera)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfYVz77c3A3tqj5rwslHMda8p0BQY04yEQBRZ5LCfnE5uQEzoIacIp_Sw93Dg_UM9KwuleF8iMPPJFWCxhlp461UtBUUFyfe5sjv_X3outqdr6pkFcRoag80o_c6v5UNTcDX8dgHcuPE/s1600/Bristly+Cutworm+Moth4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfYVz77c3A3tqj5rwslHMda8p0BQY04yEQBRZ5LCfnE5uQEzoIacIp_Sw93Dg_UM9KwuleF8iMPPJFWCxhlp461UtBUUFyfe5sjv_X3outqdr6pkFcRoag80o_c6v5UNTcDX8dgHcuPE/s400/Bristly+Cutworm+Moth4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLctMrmZv4oV2vo6NfeWx1HJos8xe50gZTgjUjvzwip7k-ZB26uCY7fsnfGUCknTck92gWRh_Okb0SLd_YpvxkXC89sc5lNZ1FcW5ctpmpyRqK0YiGOhfITw75SXoyRhQCm4xs6hawX0/s1600/Bristly+Cutworm+Moth1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLctMrmZv4oV2vo6NfeWx1HJos8xe50gZTgjUjvzwip7k-ZB26uCY7fsnfGUCknTck92gWRh_Okb0SLd_YpvxkXC89sc5lNZ1FcW5ctpmpyRqK0YiGOhfITw75SXoyRhQCm4xs6hawX0/s400/Bristly+Cutworm+Moth1.jpg" width="382" /></a></div><br />
<br />
This is one of my favorites-the Boxwood Leaftier Moth (Galasa nigrinodis). He is such a cool looking moth that really can look like a tiny leaf. Actually I think his body shape resembles a tiny cello! I took a few different angles because he was so darn interesting!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcUguLhloauNngwwoiulHx1I-y6dZPK_mF8o20mUHlgDWGD6UD8pnHb4b2sZreK6pYAOf9oIMvTJF-OgQXH1-P2z4PGRkO2liIsFc6Xt1NARHdORkGSX_tI5gYsDS67tJbLJKZ_ieViU/s1600/Boxwood+Leaftier+Moth6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcUguLhloauNngwwoiulHx1I-y6dZPK_mF8o20mUHlgDWGD6UD8pnHb4b2sZreK6pYAOf9oIMvTJF-OgQXH1-P2z4PGRkO2liIsFc6Xt1NARHdORkGSX_tI5gYsDS67tJbLJKZ_ieViU/s400/Boxwood+Leaftier+Moth6.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NvZS7tThbtcArIBs012rh81nqzeK_5hvqibp8ZVuGBqoosI9yDUsCMMgIGXn0EQh6Cqo15kUHFVrzUb9cbsNB0Uvg8rE39cq12Wl8tfAcxWcHmFrHgmV078NNzu9ACUmNfKNyyjI3nw/s1600/Boxwood+Leaftier+Moth3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NvZS7tThbtcArIBs012rh81nqzeK_5hvqibp8ZVuGBqoosI9yDUsCMMgIGXn0EQh6Cqo15kUHFVrzUb9cbsNB0Uvg8rE39cq12Wl8tfAcxWcHmFrHgmV078NNzu9ACUmNfKNyyjI3nw/s400/Boxwood+Leaftier+Moth3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWiLvlxjUKts5amoWzioEck11lEnLFIPR4lvNNq9_BkNlYcS998Lq1-H6IiE1UYqWhhP_ON6c4yawVhDWJ3CwQ9boxA7IxhsONqjLGJ9MQg8TY5gRb3pr0gX5v0Gp_wIDA6UnivYFasQ/s1600/Boxwood+Leaftier7edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWiLvlxjUKts5amoWzioEck11lEnLFIPR4lvNNq9_BkNlYcS998Lq1-H6IiE1UYqWhhP_ON6c4yawVhDWJ3CwQ9boxA7IxhsONqjLGJ9MQg8TY5gRb3pr0gX5v0Gp_wIDA6UnivYFasQ/s400/Boxwood+Leaftier7edit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19sFI7Ak6GhyphenhypheneltQeyy3fhhylfKhqXC0Kx2BxdkrqhgRhYcnoHsjt5Lv6ZheNHBSRljnAZyZjLHXx7heKx_wIi6CaiCjXaHZSXU4-Bzw9IMGnfuz8qLqenjDz6_RiYXe-8sIQcC63a_E/s1600/Boxwood+Leaftier+Moth2-2editF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19sFI7Ak6GhyphenhypheneltQeyy3fhhylfKhqXC0Kx2BxdkrqhgRhYcnoHsjt5Lv6ZheNHBSRljnAZyZjLHXx7heKx_wIi6CaiCjXaHZSXU4-Bzw9IMGnfuz8qLqenjDz6_RiYXe-8sIQcC63a_E/s400/Boxwood+Leaftier+Moth2-2editF.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGu5iPwt5wXN2iIvMqvtoqCOk0cmXusvlvtKU2H3UmATtRgJYo9q1GH2Cr8SWJ3d_Qbyvorj7vWkV4hyGg1sisgnup_FTTSlH1J0Hb_Al1S4ZTBSOZkqjqzCRWs2Uc8YZKo67BjLCv11A/s1600/Boxwood+Leaftier+Moth-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGu5iPwt5wXN2iIvMqvtoqCOk0cmXusvlvtKU2H3UmATtRgJYo9q1GH2Cr8SWJ3d_Qbyvorj7vWkV4hyGg1sisgnup_FTTSlH1J0Hb_Al1S4ZTBSOZkqjqzCRWs2Uc8YZKo67BjLCv11A/s400/Boxwood+Leaftier+Moth-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Spotted Grass Moth (Rivula propinqualis)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3pnsN7r0IG5cH0f4TMUMtT0ZtYumgK-WqGR5XXCvk5JIj2HKZJNV5beDVU1NcWIrJWI9nvx18neXnjab_z00BMj5RdMyc1MYkN5s1R1xf2x_Izw4M6x75k6Uqa49Tm0UF0IctzG_0fo/s1600/spotted+grass+moth-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3pnsN7r0IG5cH0f4TMUMtT0ZtYumgK-WqGR5XXCvk5JIj2HKZJNV5beDVU1NcWIrJWI9nvx18neXnjab_z00BMj5RdMyc1MYkN5s1R1xf2x_Izw4M6x75k6Uqa49Tm0UF0IctzG_0fo/s320/spotted+grass+moth-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
The following two moths are very similar, but I'm not sure of the ID. Possible Renia Moths, although I can't even guess the species. There are so many with similar markings.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievtpBNC04AfwtO3NldY_en2hIJ_mt5Kyn60S7-WN9EIf4sJQauhu_Ujo3oTBOm7HCqizwk-W4pyiK2XzpDq1y-mi_Gn6p0G1WHkj0PdxiXnaQiPkTMI60C3SvcOersWTSAzSXG6bpGVM/s1600/possible+renia+moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievtpBNC04AfwtO3NldY_en2hIJ_mt5Kyn60S7-WN9EIf4sJQauhu_Ujo3oTBOm7HCqizwk-W4pyiK2XzpDq1y-mi_Gn6p0G1WHkj0PdxiXnaQiPkTMI60C3SvcOersWTSAzSXG6bpGVM/s400/possible+renia+moth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvjFephvnnsNJdKxMqdUH-MouXww-t4j0ovwFfG1xH_c0AaxZ_6EFVodt-AIKaY4_DW_VUs1YbEXqcfHtJ-E6jHrmEZFztuo9Tr7-rUk6-10BJKYLeMa0Scx8J_hfFu1gtrqYYFxLC9k/s1600/Sociable+Renia+MothF+%2528possible%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvjFephvnnsNJdKxMqdUH-MouXww-t4j0ovwFfG1xH_c0AaxZ_6EFVodt-AIKaY4_DW_VUs1YbEXqcfHtJ-E6jHrmEZFztuo9Tr7-rUk6-10BJKYLeMa0Scx8J_hfFu1gtrqYYFxLC9k/s400/Sociable+Renia+MothF+%2528possible%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Splendid Palpita Moth (Palpita magniferalis). Very pretty!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81Z-yYPiYqAJa7qMpSSWrvLU8_c3p7FbRODE9t66QW4DvTKUOfhCmqQ31YqTfCeUGBr9h7aDEYkcjyAGx1BjF5GASphOhvex5gHkiO1KAVyOEugSBVdtc8D1z-M0EaRl2TNRbUjqx0z4/s1600/Splendid+Palpita+Moth-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81Z-yYPiYqAJa7qMpSSWrvLU8_c3p7FbRODE9t66QW4DvTKUOfhCmqQ31YqTfCeUGBr9h7aDEYkcjyAGx1BjF5GASphOhvex5gHkiO1KAVyOEugSBVdtc8D1z-M0EaRl2TNRbUjqx0z4/s400/Splendid+Palpita+Moth-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Possible Signate Melanolophia (Melanolophia signataria)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmLTKNlV6XfLBsnTdeUqYD_Z9m3qZ1_HhieU7TeQ1w2mgRpWsIvubAgMwMVS-9MiHFPkym3-8S1ZRPLpNwUZ1qjl9muZNcfZHkuLI1bMpgzHeN9yrHwQ38pzX2RIZNyl5MKoKTS7ZNxs/s1600/Unknown+moth2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmLTKNlV6XfLBsnTdeUqYD_Z9m3qZ1_HhieU7TeQ1w2mgRpWsIvubAgMwMVS-9MiHFPkym3-8S1ZRPLpNwUZ1qjl9muZNcfZHkuLI1bMpgzHeN9yrHwQ38pzX2RIZNyl5MKoKTS7ZNxs/s400/Unknown+moth2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Closeup</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZqUivPoS8QDhCP0rlDgCAS52rUJqsoPtQQ_2u6RWYnJ_B2PS4jZ8liKb5LWIAOxqPE9hIX1k4_GS7y6-98PiVsL9bZoiwzUZ05VDxMyi8D6f2sl8sQxKOAAMAVQUCwiKLAi9nliAGtw/s1600/DSC_8548moth+closeup2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZqUivPoS8QDhCP0rlDgCAS52rUJqsoPtQQ_2u6RWYnJ_B2PS4jZ8liKb5LWIAOxqPE9hIX1k4_GS7y6-98PiVsL9bZoiwzUZ05VDxMyi8D6f2sl8sQxKOAAMAVQUCwiKLAi9nliAGtw/s400/DSC_8548moth+closeup2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Possible Renia Moth species (notice the tiny mite attached to the antenna).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZrI2CujoN2riNl4T4E8TFM5aegi1pZUDE-I4xFOa4KWNo0_iw0Nc_34LMaaOjsc8YM5Ku0Evy3-ozS3xSx972C5Qo8Ll3xdl9VFGy0OVoKvbQFIpnkBXAyDTY5DYeXGKLexkzIfvEJo/s1600/DSC_8458moth+with+mite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZrI2CujoN2riNl4T4E8TFM5aegi1pZUDE-I4xFOa4KWNo0_iw0Nc_34LMaaOjsc8YM5Ku0Evy3-ozS3xSx972C5Qo8Ll3xdl9VFGy0OVoKvbQFIpnkBXAyDTY5DYeXGKLexkzIfvEJo/s400/DSC_8458moth+with+mite.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_sIhkEzT0Nm83dSykC8kmz892DClq4u7Wr6VHwuvRPPhyphenhyphen6dgP7c46aNc5yFZeDfJ2ogZoEsmrKxrRRIB4J52GmYkifxI3deAe6c_m0SvMxaAChS2AUOn4lW39Hkr0-Y_FC6A0tCfRC4/s1600/DSC_8458moth+with+miteCrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_sIhkEzT0Nm83dSykC8kmz892DClq4u7Wr6VHwuvRPPhyphenhyphen6dgP7c46aNc5yFZeDfJ2ogZoEsmrKxrRRIB4J52GmYkifxI3deAe6c_m0SvMxaAChS2AUOn4lW39Hkr0-Y_FC6A0tCfRC4/s400/DSC_8458moth+with+miteCrop.jpg" width="346" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Squash Vine Borer Moth (Melittia cucurbitae)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMBzAldDWOKkbfrxw2HUhkqXeFSloCtfEfk-9zjEdneFjt1cPOlOzTRrMdunRKdJM3HyBerd6W14QI7Z9CCCBD2Z5P2M68yYwomvVBoEF8gJyxI3mU6e_lummtARdbTdoIVD30PbTF1Y/s1600/DSC_8611squash+vine+borer+moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMBzAldDWOKkbfrxw2HUhkqXeFSloCtfEfk-9zjEdneFjt1cPOlOzTRrMdunRKdJM3HyBerd6W14QI7Z9CCCBD2Z5P2M68yYwomvVBoEF8gJyxI3mU6e_lummtARdbTdoIVD30PbTF1Y/s400/DSC_8611squash+vine+borer+moth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Gem Moth (Orthonama obstipata)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCOk1nlHVY1kOv8lT3xCXYreDz3dGbmkEFuHQ1-lhA15IkJ3l9d-Ngx5p2fgHmjUydh6ArJ4CKv-seTS6_chgpza9rysDWh1BQiQIwpSPRTnPSlPcqw95M3Twm5t1bJJOPiphgt31TKM/s1600/The+Gem+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCOk1nlHVY1kOv8lT3xCXYreDz3dGbmkEFuHQ1-lhA15IkJ3l9d-Ngx5p2fgHmjUydh6ArJ4CKv-seTS6_chgpza9rysDWh1BQiQIwpSPRTnPSlPcqw95M3Twm5t1bJJOPiphgt31TKM/s400/The+Gem+Moth.jpg" width="311" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yellow-Striped Army Moth (Spodoptera ornithogalli)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8483MkYIselZnOp9ILggym-nve2FfM6NAlut45jOUiLSgZ_AzVxd5nRUyLWvQF3V3IFNGjbzOluEaL5jhQEnadQFmrujKFoxgb-NgmYtNLOu1DEmiI1xSGCZD-wHzFGU64CPN95U2s5w/s1600/DSC_8651yellow+striped+army+moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8483MkYIselZnOp9ILggym-nve2FfM6NAlut45jOUiLSgZ_AzVxd5nRUyLWvQF3V3IFNGjbzOluEaL5jhQEnadQFmrujKFoxgb-NgmYtNLOu1DEmiI1xSGCZD-wHzFGU64CPN95U2s5w/s400/DSC_8651yellow+striped+army+moth.jpg" width="330" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Unidentified Moth (Possibly an Acrolophus species)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDwu9ANcpTjWRfo0SsDQuB2kwyfjMDuIIHyG6hZXUdIwGbCY8JU6aTnxjRyu5oSzu9nvsKSP3RlNnrTzy3qKMhdDn6tkdCk32Lf0yC2nnYnOYzsMtEsrh52e9IIZGGSxYPuCZCUYwGX4/s1600/unknown+moth-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDwu9ANcpTjWRfo0SsDQuB2kwyfjMDuIIHyG6hZXUdIwGbCY8JU6aTnxjRyu5oSzu9nvsKSP3RlNnrTzy3qKMhdDn6tkdCk32Lf0yC2nnYnOYzsMtEsrh52e9IIZGGSxYPuCZCUYwGX4/s400/unknown+moth-2.jpg" width="321" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Colliurus pensylvanicus. An interesting visitor that was attracted to the black light. This insect, along with the Long Necked Seed Bug (below) were so tiny you couldn't really appreciate their beauty. A little magnification allowed a much better view.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY32q6uFK1ceJXFvZKzx_wE1Q9641lsPNJZszSQzMHJoC0PKaHdfPpGCoBlzXECXCNbHEYYfjeMnnmsKBkBhTzf1-i6Ks_P6VeT6MR8nQDJO8ry3VNETTGtNChyIhfeDHzoHJ1U-2U60A/s1600/colliurus+pensylvanicus2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY32q6uFK1ceJXFvZKzx_wE1Q9641lsPNJZszSQzMHJoC0PKaHdfPpGCoBlzXECXCNbHEYYfjeMnnmsKBkBhTzf1-i6Ks_P6VeT6MR8nQDJO8ry3VNETTGtNChyIhfeDHzoHJ1U-2U60A/s400/colliurus+pensylvanicus2.jpg" width="266" /></a></div> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Long-Necked Seed Bug (Myodocha serripes). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExOf3GzulR3HGzyOCJ0r15y5__EHnyK4wbwhsBOSUG3DjSnd3kiUUZv-Q4i9rE7Mc1stfvkxEgyd_FHlAtbtfMrg7lc2pHAhOSOSmnkJgcCrhpg90viC7-fbwWOMDnnQMoNCef7x-WaY/s1600/Long+Necked+Seed+Bug2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExOf3GzulR3HGzyOCJ0r15y5__EHnyK4wbwhsBOSUG3DjSnd3kiUUZv-Q4i9rE7Mc1stfvkxEgyd_FHlAtbtfMrg7lc2pHAhOSOSmnkJgcCrhpg90viC7-fbwWOMDnnQMoNCef7x-WaY/s400/Long+Necked+Seed+Bug2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4-K7hqeyMIk7BKdrwuvGDFGkoTsfwVM-iQzeKe4Nx7FlUo9waW4ygnv9F9yPPXEZN5ht4PxwSiWMLzGwQTGFusZs7vHQZ347Is3D0eRs-jUaXFTQLbp76gXnbPf9o7FpV9FNPNC2ZKo/s1600/DSC_8752long+necked+seed+bug3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4-K7hqeyMIk7BKdrwuvGDFGkoTsfwVM-iQzeKe4Nx7FlUo9waW4ygnv9F9yPPXEZN5ht4PxwSiWMLzGwQTGFusZs7vHQZ347Is3D0eRs-jUaXFTQLbp76gXnbPf9o7FpV9FNPNC2ZKo/s400/DSC_8752long+necked+seed+bug3.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXkXXUsjhO5d2wufl872UBiW5cyVLbufWKmnqlIjSVEyuBWDVLYzzCyvm_dcaT_AjScWVDv9nwkuSUspGuPbHJkb_HtCZZ0w0v80C5mvMOeU5kj3cDB4ryP1ZqIqgvitYwdYAnS7QpfL4/s1600/DSC_8773long+necked+seed+bug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXkXXUsjhO5d2wufl872UBiW5cyVLbufWKmnqlIjSVEyuBWDVLYzzCyvm_dcaT_AjScWVDv9nwkuSUspGuPbHJkb_HtCZZ0w0v80C5mvMOeU5kj3cDB4ryP1ZqIqgvitYwdYAnS7QpfL4/s400/DSC_8773long+necked+seed+bug.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Four views of The Wedgeling Moth (Galgula partita)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYbhFT4dsjU9A-VCw9Us0hSAingz0ksyOd24qkILSwrlj_9GuCTLqEd48d_tRVank6Wy5FVu3ZwcP7H5kdV1T5X39zDTf1bnAl4dTCUU3Xi2QVK3p3O1Mcya0hQhtG_CGeRG8P0Kbhnw/s1600/The+Wedgeling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYbhFT4dsjU9A-VCw9Us0hSAingz0ksyOd24qkILSwrlj_9GuCTLqEd48d_tRVank6Wy5FVu3ZwcP7H5kdV1T5X39zDTf1bnAl4dTCUU3Xi2QVK3p3O1Mcya0hQhtG_CGeRG8P0Kbhnw/s400/The+Wedgeling.jpg" width="386" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmo67-j774o4w_5iOwkvTBOMJ9In1ztW9YOPAuNtcG3oqrN_91JoEj6uGzJgUHJHz3p7LZehXD7CCLhnwLJyORvc70_CDBxMXG3xkgazy4x1sW_R8OlkEYHESZrqH8aTmi-49zJoIp5dE/s1600/The+Wedgeling2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmo67-j774o4w_5iOwkvTBOMJ9In1ztW9YOPAuNtcG3oqrN_91JoEj6uGzJgUHJHz3p7LZehXD7CCLhnwLJyORvc70_CDBxMXG3xkgazy4x1sW_R8OlkEYHESZrqH8aTmi-49zJoIp5dE/s400/The+Wedgeling2.jpg" width="353" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCBIBQ00BrTu6tdIVKwm_nimGAE-cjAPkGxqAZW9qWSLI9P9g6440KmzIj4DXCzBKn1B8_Efo573Mwq17Wh2Me2r_43P7-x9XikIL3Yq0V7qMeGKnzf4YPn1nTz5zB-kTStNpUIl7YoA/s1600/The+Wedgeling3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCBIBQ00BrTu6tdIVKwm_nimGAE-cjAPkGxqAZW9qWSLI9P9g6440KmzIj4DXCzBKn1B8_Efo573Mwq17Wh2Me2r_43P7-x9XikIL3Yq0V7qMeGKnzf4YPn1nTz5zB-kTStNpUIl7YoA/s400/The+Wedgeling3.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqjRNnQStWH2WSPlH32DLzWw7MBq1O46WMzriVlbZuZNIGWWsGDH2bvkpt1rmAydY3-QCMSra4s4yfYT6iPLCRX0kuILP0P-PiVr4Lds18sebHM6aj8kJlURpKu7gbeFX1MfjBIUD_bw/s1600/The+Wedgeling4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqjRNnQStWH2WSPlH32DLzWw7MBq1O46WMzriVlbZuZNIGWWsGDH2bvkpt1rmAydY3-QCMSra4s4yfYT6iPLCRX0kuILP0P-PiVr4Lds18sebHM6aj8kJlURpKu7gbeFX1MfjBIUD_bw/s400/The+Wedgeling4.jpg" width="313" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Four views of the Double-humped Pococera Moth (Pococera expandens). Wow, what a little beauty!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAMxrk_PWo0i0T7h7CDmjvDs7lAOajqKHCvcIOJYr4Njc3IfrhKdbeVL8Lq0PzCJwLh-l_mQPP5y0nTMrU9xfzrkihyGYSZBhQu8kN4UfP3nnZEeyJ24wiiF8dpCwEC-G9iEHNDXfThU/s1600/Double+Humped+Pococera+Moth4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAMxrk_PWo0i0T7h7CDmjvDs7lAOajqKHCvcIOJYr4Njc3IfrhKdbeVL8Lq0PzCJwLh-l_mQPP5y0nTMrU9xfzrkihyGYSZBhQu8kN4UfP3nnZEeyJ24wiiF8dpCwEC-G9iEHNDXfThU/s400/Double+Humped+Pococera+Moth4.jpg" width="386" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-XxH6Z6Sh6AVEyd0pclIXBgVLNX9UbKYYlXwwcM6qnlJHD4E8uKfGVKMKQOFstOGswyG-5A6hvr0i643BXgFx0xrfRJ1Db5morcv0PETNi7g1rC75GDlejhm_IZ1bJv3pmKlAwaI8NI/s1600/Double+Humped+Pococera+Moth2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-XxH6Z6Sh6AVEyd0pclIXBgVLNX9UbKYYlXwwcM6qnlJHD4E8uKfGVKMKQOFstOGswyG-5A6hvr0i643BXgFx0xrfRJ1Db5morcv0PETNi7g1rC75GDlejhm_IZ1bJv3pmKlAwaI8NI/s400/Double+Humped+Pococera+Moth2.jpg" width="361" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfd5gA2Eb-8_oi8Fai65Fi66F675hjvXhY8t-8iK7-wG03alI_qsbpM12re6isQ2cKSa9Jtnf49cziN4O9HoqJpRQTYl5k2pfIH6wH7Z9AsniZWMeJhyphenhyphen_6GVHLVS94yF937qIiVDIXK4/s1600/Double+Humped+Pococera+Moth3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfd5gA2Eb-8_oi8Fai65Fi66F675hjvXhY8t-8iK7-wG03alI_qsbpM12re6isQ2cKSa9Jtnf49cziN4O9HoqJpRQTYl5k2pfIH6wH7Z9AsniZWMeJhyphenhyphen_6GVHLVS94yF937qIiVDIXK4/s400/Double+Humped+Pococera+Moth3.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilp2IujkON8gGqlbjqCWE5zUQ3Wv_zkkqs-cAJOq9wNaVgIa_H0yLIVUwWOO91rMjCIRPg0ROekma2Iuf9UQGE0UPmtBDpZqkLuBJa1tyMJnikFGnB6KjjfGY6Z7vtbKwxl7I0nyxTX3Q/s1600/Double+Humped+Pococera+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilp2IujkON8gGqlbjqCWE5zUQ3Wv_zkkqs-cAJOq9wNaVgIa_H0yLIVUwWOO91rMjCIRPg0ROekma2Iuf9UQGE0UPmtBDpZqkLuBJa1tyMJnikFGnB6KjjfGY6Z7vtbKwxl7I0nyxTX3Q/s400/Double+Humped+Pococera+Moth.jpg" width="313" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Possible Common Gray Moth (Anavitrinella pampinaria)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGSHAmAH1cM2SCMQYPu-KZLAcKwTJ5eSx5AtMsOCU3rHAbKutwsOl00GO30qd0FUYJzxc9cwaHpxka1ddRwB0v11aaiODQ-DbcuIbe55fKpl2X1YP2okpRwQgHWY-DE9LPA7lg3IIdTE/s1600/Common+Gray+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGSHAmAH1cM2SCMQYPu-KZLAcKwTJ5eSx5AtMsOCU3rHAbKutwsOl00GO30qd0FUYJzxc9cwaHpxka1ddRwB0v11aaiODQ-DbcuIbe55fKpl2X1YP2okpRwQgHWY-DE9LPA7lg3IIdTE/s400/Common+Gray+Moth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dark-banded Owlet Moth (Phalaenophana pyramusalis)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5gFZWR9XEZpNak5F_T6BQXKo_nJo6CgCIWlF8e-u5OsPmtgqRztYpwWK1O-BSnkdaTe0pJkMNORPIW4fLE5T1Kd7jUW5knSuWWiz7NLsE7l50kEhNUwHZVqWf7-_rCwaMqCFocML634/s1600/DSC_8751Dark-Banded+Owlet+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5gFZWR9XEZpNak5F_T6BQXKo_nJo6CgCIWlF8e-u5OsPmtgqRztYpwWK1O-BSnkdaTe0pJkMNORPIW4fLE5T1Kd7jUW5knSuWWiz7NLsE7l50kEhNUwHZVqWf7-_rCwaMqCFocML634/s400/DSC_8751Dark-Banded+Owlet+Moth.jpg" width="388" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Striped Blister Beetle (Epicauta vittata)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiia5vjGQFuEJqxZonVNtfy7zh-FPKyLKhC9nal8MvaXc49dozRvLQcbkKTtkV0f0wfO7MN4dmCfF858t862Yd_Jeu9_CO4GSeGBNXjEgwrJyRTkYbHIjjZ-Q2I6lWrlp4G3rHiD-UVAZM/s1600/DSC_8920Blister+BeetleWV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiia5vjGQFuEJqxZonVNtfy7zh-FPKyLKhC9nal8MvaXc49dozRvLQcbkKTtkV0f0wfO7MN4dmCfF858t862Yd_Jeu9_CO4GSeGBNXjEgwrJyRTkYbHIjjZ-Q2I6lWrlp4G3rHiD-UVAZM/s400/DSC_8920Blister+BeetleWV.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Peppered Moth (Biston betularia)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2n9odzHhbJXiKwcdbyCCUgEnFijHWT8qNNk0yXv9b0ykGhPBzmqOYxuxO31VV5uZ7tOXEJByrF6vZWXvCdLXGYhoHCUMJsBvSYNwTtEXPuzbXJeMNsN4AbSYzGIslBCXLLSTukRWuK9U/s1600/PEPPERED+MOTHwv-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2n9odzHhbJXiKwcdbyCCUgEnFijHWT8qNNk0yXv9b0ykGhPBzmqOYxuxO31VV5uZ7tOXEJByrF6vZWXvCdLXGYhoHCUMJsBvSYNwTtEXPuzbXJeMNsN4AbSYzGIslBCXLLSTukRWuK9U/s400/PEPPERED+MOTHwv-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mint-loving Pyrausta Moth (Pyrausta acrionalis)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvvjss1sgaI2dPXX7IkRXRgXIBkRwhN75rgTy5vc3LFghMG7TLeiWnEsHA4w1jfk3_fZ3Xw2opXh8enqL226uBgD-2RDa-bEkaSQ0UZ3R9rpAMf9CqQTwyDTTXHiln5x5zmFGwjjG9nA/s1600/Mint-loving+Pyrausta+Moth-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvvjss1sgaI2dPXX7IkRXRgXIBkRwhN75rgTy5vc3LFghMG7TLeiWnEsHA4w1jfk3_fZ3Xw2opXh8enqL226uBgD-2RDa-bEkaSQ0UZ3R9rpAMf9CqQTwyDTTXHiln5x5zmFGwjjG9nA/s400/Mint-loving+Pyrausta+Moth-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are a couple of Underwing Moths...I really love them and hope to photograph more!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This one is the Ultronia Underwing (Catocala ultronia).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RGI9WzjP4PWPRjiB3LX6MwOripZJrdhiDGnGtR5pot7rPvPP7XLdZcTQMIS_lqww555NXWBGkqh1LO3cRPMOlTGCfBs9hnif9JYBBu9TuICJALsnZ_ptW-LVlu5a64RUHlo10jcnj9A/s1600/Ultronia+Underwing+MothWV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RGI9WzjP4PWPRjiB3LX6MwOripZJrdhiDGnGtR5pot7rPvPP7XLdZcTQMIS_lqww555NXWBGkqh1LO3cRPMOlTGCfBs9hnif9JYBBu9TuICJALsnZ_ptW-LVlu5a64RUHlo10jcnj9A/s400/Ultronia+Underwing+MothWV.jpg" width="387" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The underwings of the Ultronia:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEkRsv2DTz0X2KjKbCiQfuTWW3Fv6HG6yF1B-qTflJfQmKqCinyrj-7Nx-xLfTvkAGjwEzZmN0OHpqveb3_kMvawqvoGN-BQRbFczCIa8ScKtpziNWFafSLVkDdhoVn1L1a25Atu3Y0c/s1600/DSC_8968Ultronia+Underwing+MothWV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEkRsv2DTz0X2KjKbCiQfuTWW3Fv6HG6yF1B-qTflJfQmKqCinyrj-7Nx-xLfTvkAGjwEzZmN0OHpqveb3_kMvawqvoGN-BQRbFczCIa8ScKtpziNWFafSLVkDdhoVn1L1a25Atu3Y0c/s400/DSC_8968Ultronia+Underwing+MothWV.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Penitent Underwing Moth (Catocala piatrix)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAAEOTZIlhz8BpbGMkvDyvPn-Z6YGjCNeHHjFTp4fqTjww4czdfNz_1suYCBvcrQGNH7nQfAv-DdXOoM5dXw7rl1tR41Y3UXnx4UTp_HPiA8B3RJ2DuYkhwjBfOS8mXW4fSlK21c8cE0/s1600/DSC_0702The+Penitent+Underwing+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAAEOTZIlhz8BpbGMkvDyvPn-Z6YGjCNeHHjFTp4fqTjww4czdfNz_1suYCBvcrQGNH7nQfAv-DdXOoM5dXw7rl1tR41Y3UXnx4UTp_HPiA8B3RJ2DuYkhwjBfOS8mXW4fSlK21c8cE0/s400/DSC_0702The+Penitent+Underwing+Moth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWeDr2buTKJnui8Z9tbzcaNREVLMtq-iLcSLiog7jqoww09lpTNyKfVDP2FUN_u3-4_XqqkSpS3CJ9nBTh3x5p-ULH_ibuGlXk2kgTU4wwpoVdiIVwjKazmojtpwKjsazkgL-S5hOgNY/s1600/DSC_0704Penitent+Underwing+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWeDr2buTKJnui8Z9tbzcaNREVLMtq-iLcSLiog7jqoww09lpTNyKfVDP2FUN_u3-4_XqqkSpS3CJ9nBTh3x5p-ULH_ibuGlXk2kgTU4wwpoVdiIVwjKazmojtpwKjsazkgL-S5hOgNY/s400/DSC_0704Penitent+Underwing+Moth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I believe these to be the Penitent also. They were taken early in the summer, while the ones above were taken late Fall.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These closeups really let you appreciate the beauty and textures!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjlulbnavIcLNxJugwUsiHQxfk9Z1MTy-qVzenONZxT-cLYG3E7rSXUE3fMupelr2gq5HhdaGrRaF48rLzrtZRijS5GGt_VXoX7OE0I4rGpiLUiJmnhUR_Q0zbmjlnLv4gjZ0nsdLeVmc/s1600/The+Penitent+Underwing+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjlulbnavIcLNxJugwUsiHQxfk9Z1MTy-qVzenONZxT-cLYG3E7rSXUE3fMupelr2gq5HhdaGrRaF48rLzrtZRijS5GGt_VXoX7OE0I4rGpiLUiJmnhUR_Q0zbmjlnLv4gjZ0nsdLeVmc/s400/The+Penitent+Underwing+Moth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1lpwk_LfVGf_BJgIR6lM4vWsSzWwg2Yb0olb3wBr6ua0pivCk4R2jkuYKHN11u5ESLtp00pV1gDgJkcR7mRVCLUzUySFJV104sono0kvwrfWG7HSl2QjJgw7eVBERBkwdYxr6JqaKX0/s1600/The+Penitent+Underwing+Moth3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1lpwk_LfVGf_BJgIR6lM4vWsSzWwg2Yb0olb3wBr6ua0pivCk4R2jkuYKHN11u5ESLtp00pV1gDgJkcR7mRVCLUzUySFJV104sono0kvwrfWG7HSl2QjJgw7eVBERBkwdYxr6JqaKX0/s400/The+Penitent+Underwing+Moth3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivffAwPD9YwexwY6ggx9B8CJzvSfZajVM_SPsBTAwE-jM-AD3PwgwONYey3Z0nH0A8QegdgvzQSx484YU-IAPkHNLNTYN-zO419OAKW8saEooniz6Zx5sWj6UK0IjvvlcZNLZi1Na6zcY/s1600/The+Penitent+Underwing5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivffAwPD9YwexwY6ggx9B8CJzvSfZajVM_SPsBTAwE-jM-AD3PwgwONYey3Z0nH0A8QegdgvzQSx484YU-IAPkHNLNTYN-zO419OAKW8saEooniz6Zx5sWj6UK0IjvvlcZNLZi1Na6zcY/s400/The+Penitent+Underwing5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCs4ef2vhTP1E-vp8jok7nsZI1oZ6tUKJH8bPq9LcEyGHJOZfOJAORWWttB72odZ4QCIN2YdXhDTfBk7689s4EapD_hT9C65ViCCyNG4qqGMevsndDtweZNgcqgGT7cY0k7iaWD3MlAY/s1600/The+Penitent+Underwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCs4ef2vhTP1E-vp8jok7nsZI1oZ6tUKJH8bPq9LcEyGHJOZfOJAORWWttB72odZ4QCIN2YdXhDTfBk7689s4EapD_hT9C65ViCCyNG4qqGMevsndDtweZNgcqgGT7cY0k7iaWD3MlAY/s400/The+Penitent+Underwing.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18nc7_HlGcE3ZkgTwf8KNq7lH4PsHideRE0UZx8SeERpBf431_bO7IeN8UxEygfVSxqqPUGhhwUF3XGKSmGLnbrco3jZf9rIpIPg5eaSCSD72gp8NolIN4s9z8Ibr9PSORFPhzfpU1GM/s1600/Penitent+Underwing+moth2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18nc7_HlGcE3ZkgTwf8KNq7lH4PsHideRE0UZx8SeERpBf431_bO7IeN8UxEygfVSxqqPUGhhwUF3XGKSmGLnbrco3jZf9rIpIPg5eaSCSD72gp8NolIN4s9z8Ibr9PSORFPhzfpU1GM/s400/Penitent+Underwing+moth2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofME4pU-0lYjRffF5ZL1C8Hi6QGB-YNoTKoEfRQxG5b4P277Wp6o5XWQqP6sfu3Dp33oUDu3-CEeZlun7GrOjl6PkakNTBTSKrh9jlLUVhFmttNBage9LlWP7U6G8qjxyNNP69Yy7G_I/s1600/Penitent+Underwing+moth-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofME4pU-0lYjRffF5ZL1C8Hi6QGB-YNoTKoEfRQxG5b4P277Wp6o5XWQqP6sfu3Dp33oUDu3-CEeZlun7GrOjl6PkakNTBTSKrh9jlLUVhFmttNBage9LlWP7U6G8qjxyNNP69Yy7G_I/s400/Penitent+Underwing+moth-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is a possible Dart Moth Species. Moth portraiture is so interesting!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkivcW42bfDlAXCIUbQUBrsGQel9sbNP86f5xEJIjcPd5tIG7D9UbqqEv__iAYhwX3vcpnIenowtxptTM4u13VGTLcMA-J-dtpOxEbjvTQf20w3hAoqYyzSIE5WLUUE3OTygyLWB0cUk/s1600/Dart+moth+species+maybe3crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkivcW42bfDlAXCIUbQUBrsGQel9sbNP86f5xEJIjcPd5tIG7D9UbqqEv__iAYhwX3vcpnIenowtxptTM4u13VGTLcMA-J-dtpOxEbjvTQf20w3hAoqYyzSIE5WLUUE3OTygyLWB0cUk/s400/Dart+moth+species+maybe3crop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Unspotted Looper Moth (Allagrapha aerea). So unique! Looks like a tiny Egyptian Pharoah!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcJS0YBMEYa4Slgg75xR0GDPX3jeEFo5v3kHdBa5nnXx8JlRH9amh8evB5hyrB6yji3fcn3cSMiHfBRIEnrj1iBw_pNdTvM1hifQbFzyWifwe7zIMFT6bChyphenhyphen5C0eTEdgg0qLigjF3_hg/s1600/Unspotted+Looper+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcJS0YBMEYa4Slgg75xR0GDPX3jeEFo5v3kHdBa5nnXx8JlRH9amh8evB5hyrB6yji3fcn3cSMiHfBRIEnrj1iBw_pNdTvM1hifQbFzyWifwe7zIMFT6bChyphenhyphen5C0eTEdgg0qLigjF3_hg/s320/Unspotted+Looper+Moth.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Red-crossed Button Slug Moth (Tortricidia pallida) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5aGXVWjW9Ova0MU6Twu3odvk4Km8fpby4OOXvr2ppSwZSvHu7vp7ld0eyrx74erOifRQwAG_sUQKwljsIrakNSCD1BDsGiWxoUcp6hMzd0FQXL7ZRUR9fIjJatcPqKCVBwn51kCsBrvk/s1600/Red-crossed+Button+Slug+Moth-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5aGXVWjW9Ova0MU6Twu3odvk4Km8fpby4OOXvr2ppSwZSvHu7vp7ld0eyrx74erOifRQwAG_sUQKwljsIrakNSCD1BDsGiWxoUcp6hMzd0FQXL7ZRUR9fIjJatcPqKCVBwn51kCsBrvk/s400/Red-crossed+Button+Slug+Moth-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Possible Mottled Euchlaena Moth (Euchlaena tigrinaria)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqbgP4JCilTm2eKV53a4MpUvd7xw2X53CQAGSqp9Z1_j3g1WhfiScTPm9jdBvReqI32itcLM1402DfUUdfeA9kvZDo8DAITeFOLNnJ5fIKwO0rKbRtL1hqzOKpsNb02ybXzx2mFLL_zE/s1600/euchlanea+moth+species+maybe-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqbgP4JCilTm2eKV53a4MpUvd7xw2X53CQAGSqp9Z1_j3g1WhfiScTPm9jdBvReqI32itcLM1402DfUUdfeA9kvZDo8DAITeFOLNnJ5fIKwO0rKbRtL1hqzOKpsNb02ybXzx2mFLL_zE/s400/euchlanea+moth+species+maybe-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Obtuse Yellow Moth (Azenia obtusa)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3afVqVTeW3OkdKGWbiKpr4qgq9QcqYOLunaU6Jr_qoXd4LZ9T8n8Pp9VOM9ibQX8z-N2VXDlIcT-EA-G89Km0vwLtKWr9jgkWLXmYUtQcZfN-ANDiThAs3TAmUt1pWTYZApQT3YHxNJ4/s1600/Obtuse+Yellow+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3afVqVTeW3OkdKGWbiKpr4qgq9QcqYOLunaU6Jr_qoXd4LZ9T8n8Pp9VOM9ibQX8z-N2VXDlIcT-EA-G89Km0vwLtKWr9jgkWLXmYUtQcZfN-ANDiThAs3TAmUt1pWTYZApQT3YHxNJ4/s400/Obtuse+Yellow+Moth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">I thought this to be a Paler Diacme Moth (Diacme elealis), but the Darker Diacme Moth species</span> (Diacme adipaloides) <span class="Apple-style-span">is also very similar. I'm not certain which one it is.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPXnaBisxAi1iJ3jmKhf107vg9MkG1sJzwyupv1lLuPFadmN4HyoF9icfKy2oy0t21skx_rIlLEx5G7m33jpbSK6-nMReLVMam6kxH3NU6YT-iNQx-uNDTh3kLC48JUiGX3Ez8MWxmro/s1600/Possible+Paler+or+Darker+Diacme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPXnaBisxAi1iJ3jmKhf107vg9MkG1sJzwyupv1lLuPFadmN4HyoF9icfKy2oy0t21skx_rIlLEx5G7m33jpbSK6-nMReLVMam6kxH3NU6YT-iNQx-uNDTh3kLC48JUiGX3Ez8MWxmro/s400/Possible+Paler+or+Darker+Diacme.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Possible Arched Hook-tip Moth (Drepana arcuata)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUlGVQt0XEPGMgEs9kZ54zljB-_oWHYY-skPvBxoU1Wa8wX1R-T_fjXY7XJdeSm3ZBBLVmMyQIdFIKcN8_imxuAVpIiEw7o0Ryf1yx1fvASkddN1I_SYVK8H5wGhyphenhyphenHWz32C_yQo4rIJM/s1600/DSC_9522possible+arched+hooktip++moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUlGVQt0XEPGMgEs9kZ54zljB-_oWHYY-skPvBxoU1Wa8wX1R-T_fjXY7XJdeSm3ZBBLVmMyQIdFIKcN8_imxuAVpIiEw7o0Ryf1yx1fvASkddN1I_SYVK8H5wGhyphenhyphenHWz32C_yQo4rIJM/s400/DSC_9522possible+arched+hooktip++moth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Gray Spruce Looper Moth (Caripeta divisata) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfckNbx23V8Qn25JpiZ8YDKFSWEDlgdg20UzQGjz9Iunu8_9gtsDwJQpM1uUTEJK1WYzQjfmWVJZnnP2zplnG1Lk1cYWqRIlhWVy4s8v5qekfgOpElL42LgfuekfAwfPiFOIrTxHPI764/s1600/Unidentified+moth+WahkeenaF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfckNbx23V8Qn25JpiZ8YDKFSWEDlgdg20UzQGjz9Iunu8_9gtsDwJQpM1uUTEJK1WYzQjfmWVJZnnP2zplnG1Lk1cYWqRIlhWVy4s8v5qekfgOpElL42LgfuekfAwfPiFOIrTxHPI764/s320/Unidentified+moth+WahkeenaF.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Pink-Bordered Yellow Moth (Phytometra rhodarialis)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91esTKZtKtuo9_CqsWYtTQ1ZK1EMOPTQkN39XDUKTD2FU7hrh4Wu8oQsxV6nEJiVq-QvJoFu8zt9nVhv67DO6rXfF0bDW60KVXK6z6jvU9-zYCgxPFdRBilcWZT6lJemlR0VAxTDY-Bk/s1600/DSC_9532Pink-bordered+Yellow+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91esTKZtKtuo9_CqsWYtTQ1ZK1EMOPTQkN39XDUKTD2FU7hrh4Wu8oQsxV6nEJiVq-QvJoFu8zt9nVhv67DO6rXfF0bDW60KVXK6z6jvU9-zYCgxPFdRBilcWZT6lJemlR0VAxTDY-Bk/s400/DSC_9532Pink-bordered+Yellow+Moth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Common Glusiphia Moth (Glusiphia septentrionis)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6KPg4WlvOu8gFYkoEPWOTqxd2b9HgFkrXkWwVz7SEEJSj5QBxBr2x2z6l0EOG0-Faj583D9vpUXy-KZvF0_HpLlYle1UsbODME0TKBW66uhpASD8MLLYFdq7JnrbFUUf6pT9DrRW6lo/s1600/DSC_9552Common+Glusiphia+Mothjpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6KPg4WlvOu8gFYkoEPWOTqxd2b9HgFkrXkWwVz7SEEJSj5QBxBr2x2z6l0EOG0-Faj583D9vpUXy-KZvF0_HpLlYle1UsbODME0TKBW66uhpASD8MLLYFdq7JnrbFUUf6pT9DrRW6lo/s400/DSC_9552Common+Glusiphia+Mothjpg.jpg" width="363" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Stained Lophosis Moth (Lophosis labeculata)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazg7jpNsnDn0MNwRXm1yjDRQ28pElMNg_Aewk4eAyAS9itMoOREAtgxJq155lX1Phch65vCZsOqxs_Jbj7uBwnaSRuX6cBOYaFqOPHkre9LxDHwAFtD0fhmJYsdAutP3YZlBGUOcCS9o/s1600/DSC_9534Stained+Lophosis+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazg7jpNsnDn0MNwRXm1yjDRQ28pElMNg_Aewk4eAyAS9itMoOREAtgxJq155lX1Phch65vCZsOqxs_Jbj7uBwnaSRuX6cBOYaFqOPHkre9LxDHwAFtD0fhmJYsdAutP3YZlBGUOcCS9o/s400/DSC_9534Stained+Lophosis+Moth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">This is a Geometrid Moth, although I am not sure which species.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLECLDojsZpEhHBbLIP2C0Ubonm-QaaEJrrwWXxw9bq9g-ds_XWkFtzXOf-iIDV2q78-ZR8r0kD5X96RJN-ZhQmo3zWE2hJ2KtYCBWfrdWZmzcSTARHjs66LHPpxbDZ0u767TaNG4wUDM/s1600/DSC_9537UnknownMoth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLECLDojsZpEhHBbLIP2C0Ubonm-QaaEJrrwWXxw9bq9g-ds_XWkFtzXOf-iIDV2q78-ZR8r0kD5X96RJN-ZhQmo3zWE2hJ2KtYCBWfrdWZmzcSTARHjs66LHPpxbDZ0u767TaNG4wUDM/s400/DSC_9537UnknownMoth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">This one is most likely a White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3H4dBBzJC4lno-yzy4OCWUkLolnk125UuF_IhKEFSsQh9YZtKJWxNhZBJx0m2UOfzpuB2ElVhCuyl2yDG-6pQ9rDyrGVf_pV1ne_0S60x8umCBm0gpVxwoGO6Snwyzc0zE2cFuPXHquA/s1600/DSC_9580Possible+white+marked+tussock+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3H4dBBzJC4lno-yzy4OCWUkLolnk125UuF_IhKEFSsQh9YZtKJWxNhZBJx0m2UOfzpuB2ElVhCuyl2yDG-6pQ9rDyrGVf_pV1ne_0S60x8umCBm0gpVxwoGO6Snwyzc0zE2cFuPXHquA/s400/DSC_9580Possible+white+marked+tussock+Moth.jpg" width="321" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Datana Moth species... impossible to determine which one just from a photo. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyyDotFq3huaWAAPZZEQBnj_tVI74ang81-MO__ozMN9LLZJGEOD6RlbG_rfOkK-3zgu16uF4EHB-WNbC9FwQ1wB8Wm5jEKs5wqLOU7JK38yPu8zgUciRzFf-ncCAtA1NOV3IEDuER8pw/s1600/DSC_9584copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyyDotFq3huaWAAPZZEQBnj_tVI74ang81-MO__ozMN9LLZJGEOD6RlbG_rfOkK-3zgu16uF4EHB-WNbC9FwQ1wB8Wm5jEKs5wqLOU7JK38yPu8zgUciRzFf-ncCAtA1NOV3IEDuER8pw/s400/DSC_9584copy.jpg" width="332" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Waved Sphynx Moth (Ceratomia undulosa). This was the largest moth I've ever seen to date! He was gorgeous!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqB_emLflUBRqV-xB7uIKgJCWF9eqqrOKG7_eRA5mj8fJ3eHZXtaWGXbVP1lLo9FYKoiM1zuC4CMmtcD6J9KGZ3zBL9bg9Vigz0XDh4hUzIzMfBy3NPs_Tu1HGmoSI9Mgu4fIk9aCYLU/s1600/DSC_9550Waved+Sphynx+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqB_emLflUBRqV-xB7uIKgJCWF9eqqrOKG7_eRA5mj8fJ3eHZXtaWGXbVP1lLo9FYKoiM1zuC4CMmtcD6J9KGZ3zBL9bg9Vigz0XDh4hUzIzMfBy3NPs_Tu1HGmoSI9Mgu4fIk9aCYLU/s400/DSC_9550Waved+Sphynx+Moth.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris). This moth is also known as the Pale Tiger Moth. How can one not marvel at the exquisite beauty and colors of this moth?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWR2V1KOdiO5XhZsiVByEyKMC7X8JUmsFWzSc3c51Z_IMLvBIfIObo0UNNC5B2vRZYrvjDirB7FtFsboYVtZfC5bjLAQuXuAPbQBaYFrMJTkS9eAvedzHJ60IWkJO-y_JGiMQqDADeI4/s1600/Banded+Tussock+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWR2V1KOdiO5XhZsiVByEyKMC7X8JUmsFWzSc3c51Z_IMLvBIfIObo0UNNC5B2vRZYrvjDirB7FtFsboYVtZfC5bjLAQuXuAPbQBaYFrMJTkS9eAvedzHJ60IWkJO-y_JGiMQqDADeI4/s400/Banded+Tussock+Moth.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DyS508hXPOb1bQt-gHZQ1L9OWmqAJco9mDnDJnDA_wmgo17N_z_KvtM0wnGc98z7OtGTwvt0PPCQRFEyW6embCUVP_Gw8mxkW5oCNf1Lt78hB5qIT3hmgYH1nVqoL9MNOLCQHIbDMSU/s1600/Banded+Tussock+MothF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DyS508hXPOb1bQt-gHZQ1L9OWmqAJco9mDnDJnDA_wmgo17N_z_KvtM0wnGc98z7OtGTwvt0PPCQRFEyW6embCUVP_Gw8mxkW5oCNf1Lt78hB5qIT3hmgYH1nVqoL9MNOLCQHIbDMSU/s400/Banded+Tussock+MothF.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLrBYuKQPF3PRqoU21d0rKN7pGYE92sfo17Qifdh68FgkYH9oSlnPLtDLJ7mU2WblqcD77t3prOFTTdBm2w6gbLhU8d66tetf64GVEm6-MWZGx_1xyp6RfV0Ssi0J5BqtHyF9hDmRCu0/s1600/Banded+Tussock+MothFcrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLrBYuKQPF3PRqoU21d0rKN7pGYE92sfo17Qifdh68FgkYH9oSlnPLtDLJ7mU2WblqcD77t3prOFTTdBm2w6gbLhU8d66tetf64GVEm6-MWZGx_1xyp6RfV0Ssi0J5BqtHyF9hDmRCu0/s400/Banded+Tussock+MothFcrop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Possible Baltimore Bomolocha Moth (Hypena baltimoralis)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwXM4AqlTbfZ5J3JYlBt-g-WNCJB8GbSeCV4j1Y7ZbhyGfG1X2PaIqLVvZAUG5BSHK5aR1LJE1hnAVqcfVOBJqcMo75-gxIUja44sdgwwWU2TaYyK-esY8Lp_P_d_OaIyoLE4LvNn53I/s1600/DSC_9587possible+Baltimore+Bomolocha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwXM4AqlTbfZ5J3JYlBt-g-WNCJB8GbSeCV4j1Y7ZbhyGfG1X2PaIqLVvZAUG5BSHK5aR1LJE1hnAVqcfVOBJqcMo75-gxIUja44sdgwwWU2TaYyK-esY8Lp_P_d_OaIyoLE4LvNn53I/s400/DSC_9587possible+Baltimore+Bomolocha.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">I would guess this is also a Baltimore Bomolocha (Hypena baltimoralis), but very worn and faded.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCgAL6OQsU3fvlrI6vUtcLsSM1nQfIo0B78Ti1O2Kuyt3IUASv1mk0l7-8D-ZOMs0zjRH7HANV3TXdSX_TeNEkoI-Qj8gh02rb2VrVwm8ARd6n8BEDRpnLPxoLofQ3ng0nJcsfKEqSTk/s1600/DSC_9558moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCgAL6OQsU3fvlrI6vUtcLsSM1nQfIo0B78Ti1O2Kuyt3IUASv1mk0l7-8D-ZOMs0zjRH7HANV3TXdSX_TeNEkoI-Qj8gh02rb2VrVwm8ARd6n8BEDRpnLPxoLofQ3ng0nJcsfKEqSTk/s320/DSC_9558moth.jpg" width="293" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">I would say this is a Gray-edged Bomolocha (Hypena madefactalis). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJlvCrye7NBWJrsAB0YMRfdOvUb8GZFQYzWAits4YJoP_AtXIAmZWYBeQgkZcG-DNj8uzxUBZLbzFSsPDPUGdT3BbBew2fwmsFDFZDdKXCXCUQuY_BpmCiuZOL9u1R7PKprGm7wZtBf4/s1600/DSC_9586moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJlvCrye7NBWJrsAB0YMRfdOvUb8GZFQYzWAits4YJoP_AtXIAmZWYBeQgkZcG-DNj8uzxUBZLbzFSsPDPUGdT3BbBew2fwmsFDFZDdKXCXCUQuY_BpmCiuZOL9u1R7PKprGm7wZtBf4/s400/DSC_9586moth.jpg" width="397" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">I thought this little moth was very interesting, but I have no idea what species it may be. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixULfyvmMBNE6oGgUnL3Lymvj_YCJOR6BGdmNveLDaKrPEIsKGOa7oBXiJO6p1z3165kWwxc5DYemMn5CMDMIkizSnXhaRvqLL5UKc8_dEGUu8H_brW2Od9UXcUNPshLn_RWo-yixRE7U/s1600/DSC_9577copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixULfyvmMBNE6oGgUnL3Lymvj_YCJOR6BGdmNveLDaKrPEIsKGOa7oBXiJO6p1z3165kWwxc5DYemMn5CMDMIkizSnXhaRvqLL5UKc8_dEGUu8H_brW2Od9UXcUNPshLn_RWo-yixRE7U/s400/DSC_9577copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZX2sIGVZyqC69DAN2MKiZZ5Rt0LtJ2232rGRddypw-HuAmdiXsZcwrlBzYOXIhpwhfyrV-UVKpUuox9JqR1cksIg3Nv-bl9fDC5ptywvURj9pJF3d6l_NiOaO_SliZO_0Ftd_QFZNrz0/s1600/DSC_9572copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZX2sIGVZyqC69DAN2MKiZZ5Rt0LtJ2232rGRddypw-HuAmdiXsZcwrlBzYOXIhpwhfyrV-UVKpUuox9JqR1cksIg3Nv-bl9fDC5ptywvURj9pJF3d6l_NiOaO_SliZO_0Ftd_QFZNrz0/s400/DSC_9572copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">I am already looking forward to next year, so I can once again enjoy the challenge of capturing many more images of many more species. It is exciting and rewarding to observe these astonishingly beautiful night-flyers. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div>Lisa Sellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11709548876839559933noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926910287628946860.post-82081148063687627212011-06-23T23:10:00.005-04:002011-07-02T21:12:19.139-04:00Bizarre Bugs in the Boonies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On a recent walkabout along a deeply forested trail, I found myself drawn to several bizarre and unusual critters. I guess most of the inhabitants of the insect world are rather extraordinary to say the least, but I believe that some of the stars of this post deserve special recognition.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This first long-limbed oddity is the <b>Phantom Crane Fly (Bittacomorpha clavipes).</b> It is a most fascinating sight to watch one of these fragile creatures move about. The body kind of resembles a damselfly or skinny dragonfly, but it is the way they fly with their legs all splayed out that looks unlike anything else! They are black, but have bright white markings along their abdomen and legs, and when they fly in and out of the shadows, all you notice are those white spots. If you look at the picture and squint your eyes, you will see what I mean! He really does look like a phantom that appears and disappears! His uniqueness gets better...He has a flared area on each of his tibia (lower portion of his legs) that he utilizes to catch a light breeze, so he really actually "drifts" instead of flying in a specific direction like most winged insects. He really is a beautiful sight to behold, but if you see one, don't take your eyes off him or he will "disappear"!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The phantom crane fly prefers dark, shadowy environments that are around water. I spotted this one wafting between clumps of vegetation and foliage along a creek bank. I saw him several times, but kept losing sight of his "barely there" body. Then he hooked one of his tiny tarsals on a leaf, so I was able to get a couple of pictures as he hung and spun from the leaf edge! I'm not sure if he caught the leaf deliberately or if it just happened by chance, but it was a stroke of luck for me!! See how his legs are positioned? That is just how they remain when he is in flight. He resembles a tiny UFO as he floats about!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7604w68fi3eGhwipddhavzwbhZ2poL1_IqkaP8Rx7MVNg_6SK0loIYyzmsgMmbUIRmT6aVPA08IS9DDEGIAGC8qJrGo86EIQe_GzdR-YNcwgi4uJOgfnsnn7V9aIR1TNeljkHn-jyxes/s1600/DSC_7538phantom+crane+fly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="582px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7604w68fi3eGhwipddhavzwbhZ2poL1_IqkaP8Rx7MVNg_6SK0loIYyzmsgMmbUIRmT6aVPA08IS9DDEGIAGC8qJrGo86EIQe_GzdR-YNcwgi4uJOgfnsnn7V9aIR1TNeljkHn-jyxes/s640/DSC_7538phantom+crane+fly.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can see a little more detail in this one. Notice the flared portions on the legs. The phantom crane fly really is beautiful and unusual-looking!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLW7YuzmMOIV67J9MNRyw2hfLOIZT-DtvuNb_y78QPCCaSsewgfUKJbVq8BD9QAIpk0Bkgv_H1ACdSRwjH9ejrf2vUySUlkMmiVHvvIbcuklOPEDYYW6X7AskLnKD690_-KjtVKOIKsdk/s1600/DSC_7540Phantom+Crane+Fly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLW7YuzmMOIV67J9MNRyw2hfLOIZT-DtvuNb_y78QPCCaSsewgfUKJbVq8BD9QAIpk0Bkgv_H1ACdSRwjH9ejrf2vUySUlkMmiVHvvIbcuklOPEDYYW6X7AskLnKD690_-KjtVKOIKsdk/s640/DSC_7540Phantom+Crane+Fly.jpg" width="518px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Phantom Crane Flies mating</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9hjl07J3h1j-54-b09NgJczACFdGDn0Evao4UHJrC12dF8NkUtws-eoApULVzTW2dcrGo2OLQRddBr67OWjHRvCeaXbXBfHkVEk4HY31mAPw5EfKjO-dFPQmxZ6LQiiIa6RIZBfSobc/s1600/DSC_7733phantom+crane+flies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9hjl07J3h1j-54-b09NgJczACFdGDn0Evao4UHJrC12dF8NkUtws-eoApULVzTW2dcrGo2OLQRddBr67OWjHRvCeaXbXBfHkVEk4HY31mAPw5EfKjO-dFPQmxZ6LQiiIa6RIZBfSobc/s640/DSC_7733phantom+crane+flies.jpg" width="520" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GjXrgzj2Yn9ZFBMm1lKJSwj2-kQZKGaTjHzPzE9dYdwkato6hUWIaO_6grIoGGZH0bV2UmTwWYc8_pNqabG-Abs5h4hBFbRpKXYAsE4LTQbeUmJZLeEes9XcDCiLKRraOiqydgDDNn8/s1600/DSC_7764phantom+crane+flies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GjXrgzj2Yn9ZFBMm1lKJSwj2-kQZKGaTjHzPzE9dYdwkato6hUWIaO_6grIoGGZH0bV2UmTwWYc8_pNqabG-Abs5h4hBFbRpKXYAsE4LTQbeUmJZLeEes9XcDCiLKRraOiqydgDDNn8/s640/DSC_7764phantom+crane+flies.jpg" width="434" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A look through my lens showed this tiny dried speck to be an exoskeleton of a very small insect. The strange part is that its back was "glued" to the surface of a leaf, and I mean it is really stuck there! It wouldn't let lose when I tried to pull it off. I don't know which insect shed this skin-It resembles a lady bug, but I am just not sure! It will probably always be a mystery! Pretty cool though!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5-BKJ7voulG4x9SsK5pWSZEMxTr5MGvwNTOsBe3IiLGFSD5P3zEJTpZyFGEByRCxBp0uPsljdOuHgvOQpABfUSHtSXkIkBue_sn5yH4rSJJ7D3WrpU1aCLB2rfEUk6G3RLujVWaGHWM/s1600/DSC_6873copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="504px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5-BKJ7voulG4x9SsK5pWSZEMxTr5MGvwNTOsBe3IiLGFSD5P3zEJTpZyFGEByRCxBp0uPsljdOuHgvOQpABfUSHtSXkIkBue_sn5yH4rSJJ7D3WrpU1aCLB2rfEUk6G3RLujVWaGHWM/s640/DSC_6873copy.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Jiminy Crickets! Look at those long legs! This is the <b>Camel Cricket (family Rhaphidophoridae). </b><br />
<b></b>This very lanky-legged cricket gets its name from the humped appearance of its back. His long legs make him look like a spider. This is a very unusual looking cricket, especially to me, since the only ones I've ever seen are the small black ones that fill the night air with song. Speaking of song, this particular species couldn't carry a tune in a bucket! Well, actually he cannot "sing" or chirp like regular crickets. Not only can he not sing, but he can't fly either. He is wingless!<br />
You will usually only find this cricket in dark, moist places such as in wells, under logs or boards, in basements, caves, etc. They are also called Cave Crickets. I was shocked at how large this guy was. When I saw him crawling toward me, I really didn't know what it was at first. The camel cricket will actually jump out at anything in an attempt to intimidate something he feels threated by. Thank goodness he didn't do that to me! I would have jumped out of my boots! Actually, they are completely harmless to humans. Since they live in dark, moist places, food may be scarce at times. For survival they are known to consume their own limbs, and they will eat each other if necessary!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEs_8yzT88IpjDRaV1f7ctk6wQbqSobm_fynDfNbzzeY2K5eMzDRJ5IpyD5kgYM0MT2-RweBB8dkkIsudoCmh8Stge5aVA9bjMvvo3KMSoL_C3eGjtRdPEB2Wlu0i_1CRsr3jjKd_phs/s1600/DSC_7073camel+cricket2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEs_8yzT88IpjDRaV1f7ctk6wQbqSobm_fynDfNbzzeY2K5eMzDRJ5IpyD5kgYM0MT2-RweBB8dkkIsudoCmh8Stge5aVA9bjMvvo3KMSoL_C3eGjtRdPEB2Wlu0i_1CRsr3jjKd_phs/s640/DSC_7073camel+cricket2.jpg" width="502px" /></a><br />
<br />
A closer view shows their pretty patterns and colors.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqLjmURfQ3yoLI01lPUUMC4Tb9DjAgUlUs3BVKB2fHXhSI3beUqVBLOqtxYM-VGCI6taVHpRw3smKIL3NdzmBnEiBuUJY70tUaDyhEFyernu72s7hoOQvWt6058hzcf_-KX1-m93Q9BY/s1600/DSC_7073camel+cricket+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqLjmURfQ3yoLI01lPUUMC4Tb9DjAgUlUs3BVKB2fHXhSI3beUqVBLOqtxYM-VGCI6taVHpRw3smKIL3NdzmBnEiBuUJY70tUaDyhEFyernu72s7hoOQvWt6058hzcf_-KX1-m93Q9BY/s640/DSC_7073camel+cricket+crop.jpg" width="568px" /></a></div><br />
<br />
This is a cocoon I found-I'm not sure what it is. I was hoping it was a moth, but I have no clue. I thought the shape and the way that hung from the stalk was interesting.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZplcbDXlZeJfJ6a2nKRXVcOflAZmincGM0f9IuEy79YaHWKTchUTeiIYAaTxSxsH9oqBINh58U9MJEOaNKFUflpftpiAxtUAcqxgJ-29AHOnPxgT4cw8U9-tZFGUMwMRIRCf_EpMOz18/s1600/DSC_7271coccoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZplcbDXlZeJfJ6a2nKRXVcOflAZmincGM0f9IuEy79YaHWKTchUTeiIYAaTxSxsH9oqBINh58U9MJEOaNKFUflpftpiAxtUAcqxgJ-29AHOnPxgT4cw8U9-tZFGUMwMRIRCf_EpMOz18/s640/DSC_7271coccoon.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
<br />
This large scarab beetle is the <b>Grapevine Beetle (Pelidnota punctata). </b>The beetle is quite boisterous and is drawn to lights at night. I didn't find him along the path with the others, but actually heard him hitting the siding of the house the other evening. He was flying totally out of control and his hard shell was making quite a racket as he continued to fly in circular patterns, occasionally crashing into the siding near the porchlight. He landed upside-down at one point and I thought he killed himself, but when I turned him over, off he went again. This time landing on the porch ceiling (pictured). He has beautiful, reflective bluish eyes and bright orange antennas. The antennae are clubbed, and can fan out to serve as receptors that gather certain stimuli in the environment. Interestingly, he would completely retract the antennae and hide them from view whenever I would shine a flashlight on him. This large beetle feeds on grape leaves and other foliage. I always find scarab beetles to be very interesting and beautiful! There are hundreds of different species of all sizes and colors.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwFVy45uwHqfh_Kmz_pgOn8zewR4dGZf7Gj8Tv8ZgOg9CcYIkoU4fFzxF23tx71xuI7HSQPqdmHm5r0SIPo0u8yYfddAMXp57LjCqi0X0O62SHfU2nalgKKZUEAZkehH6U-i9Mi7ocq0/s1600/DSC_7594Pelidnota+punctata+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="562px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwFVy45uwHqfh_Kmz_pgOn8zewR4dGZf7Gj8Tv8ZgOg9CcYIkoU4fFzxF23tx71xuI7HSQPqdmHm5r0SIPo0u8yYfddAMXp57LjCqi0X0O62SHfU2nalgKKZUEAZkehH6U-i9Mi7ocq0/s640/DSC_7594Pelidnota+punctata+cropped.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
<br />
These two love bugs are known as <b>Red Milkweed Bugs (Tetraopes tetraophthalmus). </b>They belong to the Long-horned beetle family. Notice how the antennae split the eyes into two. They actually have 2 eyes on each side of their head! (check out the arrows below).<br />
<br />
These insects feed on the milkweed plant, which contains a poisonous chemical. The Red Milkweed Bug ingests this chemical, and stores it as defense against predators. Whatever tries to eat the bug will become sick. Most birds or other predators won't likely even try though because the loud red coloration screams out "IF YOU EAT ME, YOU'LL BE SORRY!" Birds or other predators instinctively know that this is a warning color. If they don't, they will learn very quickly and will avoid all prey with bright oranges, reds and blacks in the future. Other insects who share this same diet and coloration include the monarch butterfly, viceroy butterfly, and small and large milkweed bug. <br />
I saw several of these insects, and most of them were mating.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbVovjXmcpYx5EOb-i07_zIfQ682Jfmzu3bxPWhP2gX_UnioQ19YZ8-kDfgDLLfLYxvyLLEhTXTAQX_if05-AfNIwF4Z-OeQhyphenhyphenVwLC_beA9LAAp6Ce8vdLN1aCq11OP-Exc9q8beWGBmk/s1600/DSC_7449red+milkweed+beetle2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbVovjXmcpYx5EOb-i07_zIfQ682Jfmzu3bxPWhP2gX_UnioQ19YZ8-kDfgDLLfLYxvyLLEhTXTAQX_if05-AfNIwF4Z-OeQhyphenhyphenVwLC_beA9LAAp6Ce8vdLN1aCq11OP-Exc9q8beWGBmk/s640/DSC_7449red+milkweed+beetle2.jpg" width="528px" /></a></div>Closeup of eyes that have been split into two because of the placement of the antennae.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXWt1eompPR6BVzXjx1CLL5QSZLjiKgAR89CxbUMmruC9XPeCoJXGTjlZexHyEE_vdAQ-M1ZcmKaLfzJwvcOpx2fDl4c4uS_E43KbDABcVzOxRf3tLbi-guHJ2WNx5F8cJKh2XNyxiDk/s1600/DSC_7449red+milkweed+beetle3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="408px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXWt1eompPR6BVzXjx1CLL5QSZLjiKgAR89CxbUMmruC9XPeCoJXGTjlZexHyEE_vdAQ-M1ZcmKaLfzJwvcOpx2fDl4c4uS_E43KbDABcVzOxRf3tLbi-guHJ2WNx5F8cJKh2XNyxiDk/s640/DSC_7449red+milkweed+beetle3.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<b>Ebony Jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata)</b><br />
I love all dragonflies and damselflies, but this damselfly is particularly beautiful! The deep metallic blues and greens are gorgeous! The Jewelwings definitely seem to possess a certain charm! They have a very pretty, fluttery flight pattern, and when they land they seem to actually look at you. I have found them to be very tolerant and will usually hold very still while you observe them! They are very beneficial, as are all dragonflies and damselflies, because of the large numbers of flies, mosquitos, gnats, aphids and other small insects that they consume daily. The one pictured is a male - he has solid black wings, while the female has a white spot on her wings. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHncbBGYx317xhyP9v5cDssIWXTwUpMx0ybt3s957Oh14Zcee-YUaX06j42MLoJfSS4veSCGzD4uosPRtNPWgDt-k6Bz_qJ_zpKcsRogHWN0TeW73NisGiHMysqq605g3wXx8jcQQRAQY/s1600/DSC_7511ebony+jewelwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="612px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHncbBGYx317xhyP9v5cDssIWXTwUpMx0ybt3s957Oh14Zcee-YUaX06j42MLoJfSS4veSCGzD4uosPRtNPWgDt-k6Bz_qJ_zpKcsRogHWN0TeW73NisGiHMysqq605g3wXx8jcQQRAQY/s640/DSC_7511ebony+jewelwing.jpg" width="640px" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
The deep blues of this very reflective beetle is equally as intense as the Ebony Jewelwing, above. This handsome little guy (and he really is tiny), is the <strong>Flea Beetle.</strong> He is in the leaf beetle family <strong>(Chrysamelidae).</strong> There are several different species, so I'm not sure which one this is. They are all very tiny, and have enlarged hind legs that allow for quick springing action when disturbed. Even though they are well equipped to jump out of sight in a flash, they can also walk normally or fly. This one was perfectly content to walk around this leaf while I took pictures. Even though this picture shows fair representation of his beauty, I still couldn't capture the true reflectivity of the colors. He is almost as pretty as the Dogbane Leaf Beetle I showed in an earlier post. The Dogbane Leaf Beetle seems to reflect several colors, including reds, golds, blues, purples, etc., while flea beetles mainly display deep hues of blues and greens with a hint of lavender. Some of these beetles are beneficial, while others can be pests.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoRSW3ZN3M6d9iV8pXQ5xJQZfnQBnINIeQL3QbNW33OUiYi12o_O7YtOZ2SRlfK3xToRs0nWaJ63i0wHaiog2OeFOoCO4LmBHDOGaf8zO6XTf425Z1f4hQ82_NdMLbc4k8m-kph5064U/s1600/DSC_7569flea+beetle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="502px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoRSW3ZN3M6d9iV8pXQ5xJQZfnQBnINIeQL3QbNW33OUiYi12o_O7YtOZ2SRlfK3xToRs0nWaJ63i0wHaiog2OeFOoCO4LmBHDOGaf8zO6XTf425Z1f4hQ82_NdMLbc4k8m-kph5064U/s640/DSC_7569flea+beetle.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
Here is another scarab beetle known as the <strong>Rose Chafer (Macrodactylus subspinosus).</strong> Their bodies are covered in light yellow hairs. The hairs can wear off over time with age and activity, so it appears this particular one is obviously young. They have clubbed antennae that can spread out and "smell" the air (like the Grapevine Beetle, above). The Rose Chafer possesses sensitive receptors on the clubbed antennae that can detect the pheremones from both plants and other beetles. These pheremone signals are important for survival and mating purposes. In fact all insects possess this elaborate system for communication, protection, direction, to locate food sources, etc. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hiGxiCFJPhTTg09VPL3gMZip34SLTp9y1-0m00815df6Op5msoImA27pVmPtu0Ke8LMUKNCcwE9lbae8jqM8_w2LUYkBIFB8dH41fqRCULRmLampJu8KR9ffIaZKYiJ0pJRN-KDh-ys/s1600/DSC_7536Rose+Chafer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="486px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hiGxiCFJPhTTg09VPL3gMZip34SLTp9y1-0m00815df6Op5msoImA27pVmPtu0Ke8LMUKNCcwE9lbae8jqM8_w2LUYkBIFB8dH41fqRCULRmLampJu8KR9ffIaZKYiJ0pJRN-KDh-ys/s640/DSC_7536Rose+Chafer.jpg" width="640px" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
I don't like spiders, but I don't mind these guys at all. They are not spiders, but are a close relative. Most people know them by their nickname: Daddy Longlegs, but the actual common name is <b>Harvestman (Phalangium opilio).</b><br />
<br />
They are just about everywhere, and in great numbers. While walking along paths or through the weeds, they can be seen poised in dry, curled-up leaves or sitting or crawling along the foliage. In fact, sometimes I've seen dozens of them just sitting on leaves and weeds as if lying in wait! Some people may think they are venomous like spiders, but they actually are totally harmless and even beneficial to humans, due to the fact that they can consume very large numbers of insects and pests. I find them beautiful and elegant in their own way.<br />
<br />
Here are a few interesting facts about them: They only live for one year (they cannot survive the winter); they are mainly nocturnal; they have an eye on each side of a knob on their head (known as a turret); they have sensitive tips on their legs that they utilize to explore, search for food and warn others of danger; they can regenerate new legs if they become injured or missing.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLQDfn4ykkFnCoO-o2CsLqepoe8eRLWCHv6Cw4e0OyU_6U7bDd-KNHDv-Tti67GiPK_3poacPU-MDz7tOC_82VrNmCelA-lwfXOL75baiZfO__oqwHZ9OR37KgQJ-Zs_CvYJxlFNodzA/s1600/DSC_6644harvestman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLQDfn4ykkFnCoO-o2CsLqepoe8eRLWCHv6Cw4e0OyU_6U7bDd-KNHDv-Tti67GiPK_3poacPU-MDz7tOC_82VrNmCelA-lwfXOL75baiZfO__oqwHZ9OR37KgQJ-Zs_CvYJxlFNodzA/s640/DSC_6644harvestman.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
This harvestman was finishing up what looked like to be the remains of a caterpillar.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQz7QUW9F94bNU-Ckcxei1r3q8lnsdD_cFLem47M7Hbtde2DRH_mScb4qJNxUOMdctwmFMlrfIALkXfg_-1KuFDmie0pUu3vtOuJc3y3LAKoOnWK87BkYXrbcMiXD1SqYVcajuF_PRC3I/s1600/DSC_6732harvestman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="586px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQz7QUW9F94bNU-Ckcxei1r3q8lnsdD_cFLem47M7Hbtde2DRH_mScb4qJNxUOMdctwmFMlrfIALkXfg_-1KuFDmie0pUu3vtOuJc3y3LAKoOnWK87BkYXrbcMiXD1SqYVcajuF_PRC3I/s640/DSC_6732harvestman.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
This one seemed to be relaxing in a leaf "hammock".<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrVGQM55EWZSO9uSuvDf00oO_SRO6_MLHoFC0g-Ct2klSHk4xJtCDArdmzuxPo5bCh-FFsxRDWdAsSM7ZoMJqoonayADDwlOYXmEWmaN3HbXnrBYJ580EzKoeNLu_CsVzgHXLbtl4o8sI/s1600/DSC_6495harvestman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrVGQM55EWZSO9uSuvDf00oO_SRO6_MLHoFC0g-Ct2klSHk4xJtCDArdmzuxPo5bCh-FFsxRDWdAsSM7ZoMJqoonayADDwlOYXmEWmaN3HbXnrBYJ580EzKoeNLu_CsVzgHXLbtl4o8sI/s640/DSC_6495harvestman.jpg" width="460px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Lisa Sellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11709548876839559933noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926910287628946860.post-6426015999617885392011-06-17T23:38:00.002-04:002011-06-20T22:50:12.863-04:00Friends in Low PlacesEvery time I stop by Clear Creek Metro Park I find new and fascinating creatures. I guess it is a good thing I am rather short, because I find the most interesting life forms among the low-growing foliage or at ground level! As I walk along the beautiful trails, I keep my head down and finger on the shutter of my camera because I am ALWAYS surprised at what I see and there is a photographic opportunity just about anywhere. There are so many beautiful species of plants, insects, animals and birds throughout this area. As I meander along my favorite trails, I always leave with photographic captures of little wild things that instill in me a sense of wonder. My insatiable appetite to learn more about nature continues to grow as I make new discoveries along the footpaths of this beautiful and peaceful area. The following are just a few of the many wildlife encounters I've had the privilege to photograph at Clear Creek Metro Park.<br />
<br />
I was so excited to have this five-lined skink come out of hiding and inch his way right up to my feet, looking me right in the eye as if he was as curious of me as I was of him! This was the first time I've seen one of these lizards, and you can bet I was impressed by his bright orange head!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbgunMK1deguC8aLlZCu0UALSVUXjHzlLU06ixPJAlrQYHqe22oIxmBRXEWNOY7dbTpPCzzuxO7l9FWr4tMsXwqoJmACWOSFTQerZtE-yuilqcnrjmEdC4N8pCzcno-2WhqWr0SGUPr4/s1600/DSC_6998five+lined+skink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbgunMK1deguC8aLlZCu0UALSVUXjHzlLU06ixPJAlrQYHqe22oIxmBRXEWNOY7dbTpPCzzuxO7l9FWr4tMsXwqoJmACWOSFTQerZtE-yuilqcnrjmEdC4N8pCzcno-2WhqWr0SGUPr4/s640/DSC_6998five+lined+skink.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
I was pleasantly surprised how at ease he seemed to be as I observed him and took pictures. He even scurried up a tree stump beside me and relaxed for a bit, never taking his eyes off me.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYOitJiQNLHDEgarxYbWmtJ6CCAeQg85B7qMRFwx4cNPEfytSFNKRiCzqpRCLxs6Y3ReoOqLJi5LMhxWKYbBeQEYrbQliWC7BzVaWQlSo6yHcbVsINzfGSuA4qwTvRXMH8dyu5JUh71w/s1600/DSC_7008five+lined+skink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYOitJiQNLHDEgarxYbWmtJ6CCAeQg85B7qMRFwx4cNPEfytSFNKRiCzqpRCLxs6Y3ReoOqLJi5LMhxWKYbBeQEYrbQliWC7BzVaWQlSo6yHcbVsINzfGSuA4qwTvRXMH8dyu5JUh71w/s640/DSC_7008five+lined+skink.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
After a few minutes, I guess he decided to retire for the evening, and he ran down the stump and crossed the little footpath I was standing in, and quickly disappeared into a crack in the side of an old abandoned cabin. A few seconds later, he popped his head up one last time, looked at me, then disappeared again! It was my birthday that day, and I couldn't have received a better gift than sharing those few minutes with that beautiful creature!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgYPEPrq2ENFFLuxNCNkBaPTu4RRxFesMfxrbOslxN4SWqb26WmDby99A-tqQ-7jm5iLev8rbgA-MUlT_sUQDyThCVP8cLGPPAnNjWJGQM0XouejHRoH5swysFumV3vHn_0i3RuYRRvM/s1600/DSC_7011five+lined+skink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgYPEPrq2ENFFLuxNCNkBaPTu4RRxFesMfxrbOslxN4SWqb26WmDby99A-tqQ-7jm5iLev8rbgA-MUlT_sUQDyThCVP8cLGPPAnNjWJGQM0XouejHRoH5swysFumV3vHn_0i3RuYRRvM/s640/DSC_7011five+lined+skink.jpg" width="634" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Now here is a tiny insect that I just love...the Tortoise Beetle. This particular one is the <b>Clavate Tortoise Beetle (Plagiometriona clavata (Fabricius)</b>. I did an earlier post (There's Gold in Them Thar Weeds) that featured another tortoise beetle called the Mottled Tortoise Beetle that has a gold metallic sheen. They stay really, really low and they are very skittish, so it is a challenge getting a picture. They really do look like tiny turtles with little see-through shells, and they pull in their antennas and legs just like a turtle when they feel threatened.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmf1W1LyZgYmTm-6Pojiy4vWcHaydgdPm1_gGAwCzFgkvtH8PQAUBYn55WQRDlqHVvSJCuG2voSJtaZkS1wnwf8cDRpHH3tAt62vBO7Qt4zTU1opggPSTl82nis_xdfGEu8wHTikE6Co/s1600/DSC_6624clavate+tortoise+beetle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmf1W1LyZgYmTm-6Pojiy4vWcHaydgdPm1_gGAwCzFgkvtH8PQAUBYn55WQRDlqHVvSJCuG2voSJtaZkS1wnwf8cDRpHH3tAt62vBO7Qt4zTU1opggPSTl82nis_xdfGEu8wHTikE6Co/s640/DSC_6624clavate+tortoise+beetle.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
This particular species has more of dull appearance, and he actually looked like a tiny rotten spot on the vegetation, making him very inconspicuous. Some species of tortoise beetles are very brightly colored or have a very bright metallic coloration. They will, however, quickly fade if they are threatened, which is a defense tactic. They will also lose their bright coloration if collected. I sure hope to be able to find and photograph some of the other species throughout the rest of the summer.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNzZcpLJfbSJfgmEEdHY4_vP2Ieupf85S75Ik-FeZlSdZlIHzUPjoABDp8Ct2lt9x7W6xGwaGh43KzCmvRAvfhxwG9LJnULX0h3TzkEfdEUNJndefE5RiLUqJqIf0lYoYD8-woLx-yCL8/s1600/DSC_6627Clavate+tortoise+beetle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNzZcpLJfbSJfgmEEdHY4_vP2Ieupf85S75Ik-FeZlSdZlIHzUPjoABDp8Ct2lt9x7W6xGwaGh43KzCmvRAvfhxwG9LJnULX0h3TzkEfdEUNJndefE5RiLUqJqIf0lYoYD8-woLx-yCL8/s640/DSC_6627Clavate+tortoise+beetle.jpg" width="532" /></a></div><br />
The following photo is that of the Baltimore Checkerspot caterpillar. They are very beautifully colored and very spiny. There were a couple of entomologists that told me the Checkerspot liked this particular small meadow at Clear Creek because it contains the plants they like to feed on. The entomologists were pretty interested in keeping track of them because they are fairly uncommon in our area.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZve5uhVTfq-LkaG1qfY0snrVuorqsSH0TEfzxHXQIFhgmwSIwMdzzwima-ajRVQs42hkAwWDmBM4hyyAE2j6akvdUdQ7PMuDeg_35XAtXA_cuBcZXkII43f8xnGnMA8yaUDfz7KOg7jk/s1600/DSC_5641baltimore+checkerspot+caterpillarcrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZve5uhVTfq-LkaG1qfY0snrVuorqsSH0TEfzxHXQIFhgmwSIwMdzzwima-ajRVQs42hkAwWDmBM4hyyAE2j6akvdUdQ7PMuDeg_35XAtXA_cuBcZXkII43f8xnGnMA8yaUDfz7KOg7jk/s640/DSC_5641baltimore+checkerspot+caterpillarcrop.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
About three weeks later, the transformation had taken place, and this small meadow became home to the very pretty Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly! They are poisonous to birds, so the butterflies are not particularly worried about being eaten. Because of this, they can be easily approached without feeling threatened, and will even crawl onto your finger or land on your shirt! I just love them!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCDLrbjd3E9sYQ7j8aJTuHWPJymKd3s53txGu1kdbZoL1VF6jxmRe7aSKEaTGjBjbFk4OaxNbfF4HxzvWBbCimHbnfUVsn9KLqcsumxrgvnAANJ13nAuEz35Yr3atN2_YuVxIWffyAic/s1600/DSC_7353baltimore+checkerspot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCDLrbjd3E9sYQ7j8aJTuHWPJymKd3s53txGu1kdbZoL1VF6jxmRe7aSKEaTGjBjbFk4OaxNbfF4HxzvWBbCimHbnfUVsn9KLqcsumxrgvnAANJ13nAuEz35Yr3atN2_YuVxIWffyAic/s640/DSC_7353baltimore+checkerspot.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8njkW2o0iXCdnBZICBGDhancRCBjnJM70n8d90t-hCP_Q9B6hYPZNdo_SLeaAIJ_NO6uWMFDCJUaZYpP38fOeTmTg9dPYl0sbiOqcAhZTlbh7pMnJhaDGF_Pn1o-Ec088MNIndis1ln0/s1600/DSC_7357Baltimore+Checkerspot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8njkW2o0iXCdnBZICBGDhancRCBjnJM70n8d90t-hCP_Q9B6hYPZNdo_SLeaAIJ_NO6uWMFDCJUaZYpP38fOeTmTg9dPYl0sbiOqcAhZTlbh7pMnJhaDGF_Pn1o-Ec088MNIndis1ln0/s640/DSC_7357Baltimore+Checkerspot.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2aNa-CZ-UOyGpPgDr0vOSZQF1cEOpeEC7UuClc5Valpn7V1Do_CiifwRC3jy6zeDTKs0InkbxnFCN5HIP5iBZu9QDAmoYoy5h0euWIpm7Nxl66RF6YmmsEamvh9nEfpxnKoBAahKOkw8/s1600/DSC_7318Baltimore+Checkerspot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2aNa-CZ-UOyGpPgDr0vOSZQF1cEOpeEC7UuClc5Valpn7V1Do_CiifwRC3jy6zeDTKs0InkbxnFCN5HIP5iBZu9QDAmoYoy5h0euWIpm7Nxl66RF6YmmsEamvh9nEfpxnKoBAahKOkw8/s640/DSC_7318Baltimore+Checkerspot.jpg" width="540" /></a></div><br />
<br />
This tiny butterfly is the<b> Azure</b>. There is a Summer Azure and a Spring Azure that are almost indistinguishable, so I am not certain which one this is. They are very common in Ohio. They will frequent muddy areas--in fact this one kept landing in a muddy area right alongside the road where I was parked.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2jGzLvs_akELK2ow4liCx2Mna4jQoQW2MK7maNju1uQt653E_nh-CS93QOmQTyj1afxvrClVlmuHY910CrQRyifd7aGHBCLiynnIwGyFHv1rCdlod3EX46kBHVshTBuci1LyQVKuw90/s1600/DSC_7378azure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2jGzLvs_akELK2ow4liCx2Mna4jQoQW2MK7maNju1uQt653E_nh-CS93QOmQTyj1afxvrClVlmuHY910CrQRyifd7aGHBCLiynnIwGyFHv1rCdlod3EX46kBHVshTBuci1LyQVKuw90/s640/DSC_7378azure.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
This is also a tiny butterfly that is very common in Ohio. It is the <b>Banded Hair Streak (Satyrium calanus).</b> I love watching this delicate little beauty.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCm4_sebJ2HxT2Y7GBIpBJvC7VG0z8Ff86TqTJFvAbegHiU-5-I0aTxNaXk1qH0WVUSq39dKu1Puu2HY8Jcp6E_4nwwwQxZ32RXba7FJNIOSUAFiaVMXHdRLCxbHNewsYIxYEFNY0CkVk/s1600/DSC_7441banded+hairstreak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCm4_sebJ2HxT2Y7GBIpBJvC7VG0z8Ff86TqTJFvAbegHiU-5-I0aTxNaXk1qH0WVUSq39dKu1Puu2HY8Jcp6E_4nwwwQxZ32RXba7FJNIOSUAFiaVMXHdRLCxbHNewsYIxYEFNY0CkVk/s640/DSC_7441banded+hairstreak.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Here was an exciting find...a <b>Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar</b>! He was in the same location as the 5-lined skink. Those eye spots are just amazing!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xj9cbtlx_1gAd0j8wpUB7OUegpT1AUlz1E4Y05y9F1ZyHMMrfr2zawHCy6xPL2MVal96ZfRk-6Ieozjgbc4F5RlcvbRNS1KF8je95SV86CFuXTXZVDLoPbHxQ868ri6Y762sxhxSwxk/s1600/DSC_7408tiger+swallowtail+caterpillar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xj9cbtlx_1gAd0j8wpUB7OUegpT1AUlz1E4Y05y9F1ZyHMMrfr2zawHCy6xPL2MVal96ZfRk-6Ieozjgbc4F5RlcvbRNS1KF8je95SV86CFuXTXZVDLoPbHxQ868ri6Y762sxhxSwxk/s640/DSC_7408tiger+swallowtail+caterpillar.jpg" width="466" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodOy11nSfsvNcvuEywCupz7X0d8OVDaxd_YsSgK9cfVoYNKKZRxM3Tj1rYRgpsjo7oBXtIEKRQPW1YlE6ZVtpfYSvx47rOrYaDWBVPLPk6aq0IN7z1_x9VJQmBQcVc74vz9wqqxXq7ec/s1600/DSC_7408tiger+swallowtail+caterpillar+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodOy11nSfsvNcvuEywCupz7X0d8OVDaxd_YsSgK9cfVoYNKKZRxM3Tj1rYRgpsjo7oBXtIEKRQPW1YlE6ZVtpfYSvx47rOrYaDWBVPLPk6aq0IN7z1_x9VJQmBQcVc74vz9wqqxXq7ec/s640/DSC_7408tiger+swallowtail+caterpillar+crop.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><br />
One very pretty damselfly!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5eHiLEkke4AJNG972IfGnv8CC3xRiAen92pi5RNOLfH5n7CEVEDAhAOVnhxT5jvpNCtnIKnqQo4vxJGVHcxp9eVB6DOwWvzw4KgFahCCj8YjaLxIuEG2TRonT4aT5vUKnouGFrSmFKI/s1600/DSC_6881damselfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5eHiLEkke4AJNG972IfGnv8CC3xRiAen92pi5RNOLfH5n7CEVEDAhAOVnhxT5jvpNCtnIKnqQo4vxJGVHcxp9eVB6DOwWvzw4KgFahCCj8YjaLxIuEG2TRonT4aT5vUKnouGFrSmFKI/s640/DSC_6881damselfly.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Clear Creek is always full of surprises, and most of them may be found below knee level, but this next experience was the highlight of my evening and about 15 feet higher up. Here is a picture of a barred owl that was taken at the very same spot where I saw the skink and the tiger swallowtail caterpillar. I heard his familiar "who cooks for you" call and I answered back with my best barred owl impression, and he landed on a branch to check me out! Within a few minutes there were 3 barred owls in the branches right above my head, and we all took turns calling to each other! It was a true caterwauling fest! Yes, Clear Creek is an enchanted place!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6FTTbdPPRp1tBcRUgnrMR7ogYtc6fLoi4-TKqVZiMph63bSno5pLMOv_YtUu5eZ4UvPSdGD9wvx9Tu8Tqwb_ohymzzdWtbst0RktGjltjToNut4FVvMmfM50g8H89DHDjeVsuGBmMmY/s1600/DSC_5529barred+owl6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6FTTbdPPRp1tBcRUgnrMR7ogYtc6fLoi4-TKqVZiMph63bSno5pLMOv_YtUu5eZ4UvPSdGD9wvx9Tu8Tqwb_ohymzzdWtbst0RktGjltjToNut4FVvMmfM50g8H89DHDjeVsuGBmMmY/s640/DSC_5529barred+owl6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Lisa Sellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11709548876839559933noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926910287628946860.post-16111705192976455992011-06-12T00:32:00.000-04:002011-06-12T00:32:00.890-04:00Cute as a Bug!Still in moth mode, I was scanning the weeds, shrubs, tree bark, flowers, and just about anything else that may have a moth resting on it, when I was immediately drawn to this cute little devil on a daisy! Meet the <b>Flower Weevil (Odontocorynus umbellae)! </b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
I took several pictures because I just couldn't quit observing him. He was so flippin' adorable and such a little busy body. I found some interesting information about him in the Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America (the ultimate resource if you are one of those bug people)! The weevil is in the family Curculionidae (true weevils). This particular family is recognized by its elbowed and clubbed antennae. You can clearly see this very distinct antenna on the very long snout of this insect. The antennae would constantly move and touch everything, acting as a receptors, relaying important information about the immediate environment. He was quite interesting to watch and so tiny! My macro lens was the only way I could really view him in detail!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBS0aTGGXdP0xB2I2Cxc7u57r7sBZ6SY6aaE58WzLcradZlfARJpmUQ3zZDbge52mn_VbOhKp8tJpiLa45P6UlvFNMBs0VsaOzBlVaSNvNRLIaBTR0w57YZ7u0eYyhc_lUC4pXZ7jynoo/s1600/DSC_7297flower+weevil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBS0aTGGXdP0xB2I2Cxc7u57r7sBZ6SY6aaE58WzLcradZlfARJpmUQ3zZDbge52mn_VbOhKp8tJpiLa45P6UlvFNMBs0VsaOzBlVaSNvNRLIaBTR0w57YZ7u0eYyhc_lUC4pXZ7jynoo/s640/DSC_7297flower+weevil.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">There are several thousand different species of weevils worldwide, and they are all plant eaters. Certain weevils will feed exclusively on specific plants, and some weevils can be very damaging. The boll weevil, for example, is responsible for causing millions of dollars of damage to cotton crops every year. I couldn't find anywhere that said the flower weevil is considered a pest or harmful. They are just happy to feed on the sugar-rich liquids found in a variety of flowers, including many daisies and sunflowers. </span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIVuWfK-um1YQy8jo80sqkQzREcvUKu7NWqLVKyWyjtRPra9R4IC-vVmRR7IfvsIlkf3oBMfpUdpeDHWKjNoF3wrSWbvmg31XmK2iG0FUh9UeGlLyGPhtfwsToIxblEMrBXxKGaNn7e0/s1600/DSC_7291flower+weevil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIVuWfK-um1YQy8jo80sqkQzREcvUKu7NWqLVKyWyjtRPra9R4IC-vVmRR7IfvsIlkf3oBMfpUdpeDHWKjNoF3wrSWbvmg31XmK2iG0FUh9UeGlLyGPhtfwsToIxblEMrBXxKGaNn7e0/s640/DSC_7291flower+weevil.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">The next few pictures are of different angles as he continued to go around and around the center of this daisy feeding on the pollen and nectar. Yea, I took a lot of pictures of this winsome little weevil!</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoRSME0EmjhVpad3bDv_Fqmz0NjJexO6OfWIPf1a-jJrtrjNBCqy9pWVhkP-dFx7T1OCpDy2tFNJ5yENNvV9-UHLfecE_5dDwmKynUgM6h_BAdGbNHsEqMnf9pyApvcvnWpphWTQ9K1o/s1600/DSC_7286flower+weevil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoRSME0EmjhVpad3bDv_Fqmz0NjJexO6OfWIPf1a-jJrtrjNBCqy9pWVhkP-dFx7T1OCpDy2tFNJ5yENNvV9-UHLfecE_5dDwmKynUgM6h_BAdGbNHsEqMnf9pyApvcvnWpphWTQ9K1o/s640/DSC_7286flower+weevil.jpg" width="416" /></a></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSUUKrVO5Vp6TJS27EGnCutDq6aO7gFOWAQkcUldL-QLGmZrs3iVyEjCX0CILY4GBIrG4KythG32gyR-3mMcCmoZQ3FipqPe8NA2vKMXASiTK2vY5n7_67x4CqWUU9zMsmrleuVZRpZ0/s1600/DSC_7292flower+weevil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSUUKrVO5Vp6TJS27EGnCutDq6aO7gFOWAQkcUldL-QLGmZrs3iVyEjCX0CILY4GBIrG4KythG32gyR-3mMcCmoZQ3FipqPe8NA2vKMXASiTK2vY5n7_67x4CqWUU9zMsmrleuVZRpZ0/s640/DSC_7292flower+weevil.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7G-Hf7qCwtJOW6t6RdXjs3prH_ZrWkjVOWMKE7pisXJd9DFBbfh4imrv9tGN42ggFppuL-FLkTfZxcIVkpvj3IT9BIDBVtQQeQWrhLfFKBnumBk5fGG9uf7mgw2BcjGeprdLxys0p4k/s1600/DSC_7298flower+weevil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7G-Hf7qCwtJOW6t6RdXjs3prH_ZrWkjVOWMKE7pisXJd9DFBbfh4imrv9tGN42ggFppuL-FLkTfZxcIVkpvj3IT9BIDBVtQQeQWrhLfFKBnumBk5fGG9uf7mgw2BcjGeprdLxys0p4k/s640/DSC_7298flower+weevil.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">This little guy would bury his snout (actually called a rostrum) way down into the flower. Here you can see he is eyeball-deep in the lush, succulent sweetness of this pretty daisy.</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXR-ojyckjE5Guu59BwGIDixJYzEQ3tcMCWOto0TrIC_ZCZy6oAlp_clEN1gQMhHOWzSld3mchCJC5IElu02rheU61sYEqyVnhaIFCm-xXKLsKt8F5AKDHqci86CuzODYywoHR90IWzPg/s1600/DSC_7287flower+weevil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXR-ojyckjE5Guu59BwGIDixJYzEQ3tcMCWOto0TrIC_ZCZy6oAlp_clEN1gQMhHOWzSld3mchCJC5IElu02rheU61sYEqyVnhaIFCm-xXKLsKt8F5AKDHqci86CuzODYywoHR90IWzPg/s640/DSC_7287flower+weevil.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b><br />
It is important to move as slowly and stealthily as possible when photographing insects (or any wildlife for that matter) so as not to be intimidating or threatening. I must have been doing a great job of not being noticed because I spent about 10 minutes taking pictures. <b>BUT</b>, suddenly the tiny insect actually looked up at me and immediately fell over on his side...seriously just collapsed against the white petal and wouldn't move a muscle! I actually bent over him and asked him if he was playing dead! Well, I was not imagining things! The Kaufman Field Guide states that the weevil will play dead whenever he feels it is necessary! As I continued to watch his "fake death" for a few seconds, he lifted his head as if to see if the coast was clear, saw me again, and once again resumed his corpse-like pose! Take a look at the final picture...it is the old "weevil playing dead" trick! So flippin' awesome! I love nature!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93Z5_WGNB_-vcZiuoi4HZQcEvoIoSBL066BMo9u8s9X2l8ZecXFEnrY6PwpYKWQgERLwy8nJs-k8nFmjjSPXOfGg-okavbfbtmnZpyvmt0E_HvnwsBelY6XRULOW5f3mux2w_WLUumRA/s1600/DSC_7301flower+weevil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93Z5_WGNB_-vcZiuoi4HZQcEvoIoSBL066BMo9u8s9X2l8ZecXFEnrY6PwpYKWQgERLwy8nJs-k8nFmjjSPXOfGg-okavbfbtmnZpyvmt0E_HvnwsBelY6XRULOW5f3mux2w_WLUumRA/s640/DSC_7301flower+weevil.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Lisa Sellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11709548876839559933noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926910287628946860.post-31584178067890688782011-05-26T21:48:00.041-04:002011-07-04T19:43:18.225-04:00Marvelous MothsAs I was walking along a path in the woods the other evening, I discovered a very pretty brown moth that was destined to be the spotlight of my next blog. He had fluttered silently past me and seemed to disappear. Upon closer inspection I found he had simply landed on the bark up under a fallen log, blending perfectly into his surroundings. I tried many different painful positions to get a good angle for a picture, and finally ended up just lying on my belly, lens pointing up. Now comes the funny story...As I was taking pictures, while simultaneously swatting mosquitoes, I heard some strange noises. As I looked behind me I could see three very wide-eyed, curious deer watching me through the brush. I'm sure they were trying to figure out what in the world I was doing wallowing around in the leaves and sticks, muttering to myself! Then, over my right shoulder, I caught sight of the biggest fox squirrel I've ever seen stretched out on a limb, also watching me and appearing amused. The sounds he was making almost sounded like he was chuckling. I swear, for a minute I felt just like Snow White in the enchanted forest! I would not have been surprised if 7 dwarfs would have come skipping down the path! The deer and squirrel remained close by as I continued my moth photo shoot.<br />
<br />
I am pretty this moth is a <b>Barberry Geometer (Coryphista Meadii),</b> family Geometridae. He is definitely a realy beauty with the deep, rich browns, wavy patterns and deeply scalloped wing edges.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiohD1keJq_i_8sMlYNLj3Pn9heYIpAmnnZ_u-rAn1CwD25RML7DcAWjbGfxSPbH0TB0KIjIqUpygM1Xp2ZFFYoBeMR1cgzQEEua4PJbDjHT1Bp59GmHf7Ttb6L44D530bki4JCtnjUJI/s1600/DSC_5285Barberry+geometer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="354px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiohD1keJq_i_8sMlYNLj3Pn9heYIpAmnnZ_u-rAn1CwD25RML7DcAWjbGfxSPbH0TB0KIjIqUpygM1Xp2ZFFYoBeMR1cgzQEEua4PJbDjHT1Bp59GmHf7Ttb6L44D530bki4JCtnjUJI/s640/DSC_5285Barberry+geometer.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<br />
This next little beauty is a <b>Yellow Slant-lined Moth (Tetracis-crocallata)</b>, also in the family Geometridae. This particular one is more of a buff color, with tiny brown speckles and a brown line on the forewing that continues onto the hindwing. He was on a leaf amongst some low-growing foliage and his shape and color contrast caught my eye. Very pretty!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgKRC8GFGN_1tR6D7_SbpENW6BM-mbQMUqw9W8YYDFZ6CNI4n_Puq8My-UxND9OzCEMNwqfCoTa_RI83_BX8XxC7PCO5p3RfqLAsxuYSs6oSEfj9VFxEQdaQK2LJrcfTuBAfHazJHYD4/s1600/DSC_6212yellow+slant-line+moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="466px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgKRC8GFGN_1tR6D7_SbpENW6BM-mbQMUqw9W8YYDFZ6CNI4n_Puq8My-UxND9OzCEMNwqfCoTa_RI83_BX8XxC7PCO5p3RfqLAsxuYSs6oSEfj9VFxEQdaQK2LJrcfTuBAfHazJHYD4/s640/DSC_6212yellow+slant-line+moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
This next moth is so cool! It is the <b>Plume Moth (family Pterophoridae)</b>. This family is very distinctive and easily recognized, but individual species can be very challenging since there are over 140 different ones. This moth has a characteristic "T-shape" or "airplane posture". They actually resemble the grasses that they are hiding in, and can go unnoticed. This particular one never moved as I took pictures. I think he looks kind of comical!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-v92UQ32DARrpXPC2hih6NOn147iMa_F6H6t-w5WVtxE5ugeRO0g1AriycAW9JEkSxZBEfOq7ik7IxZA49iTph0wmH0XT16kndFp932Q6ijRSjph-1VWpAOfPK9KAqT2nOdXaadKf-0/s1600/DSC_6445Plume+moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="390px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-v92UQ32DARrpXPC2hih6NOn147iMa_F6H6t-w5WVtxE5ugeRO0g1AriycAW9JEkSxZBEfOq7ik7IxZA49iTph0wmH0XT16kndFp932Q6ijRSjph-1VWpAOfPK9KAqT2nOdXaadKf-0/s640/DSC_6445Plume+moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBdFQ_sgA5i94fTDt83_5zzzKYYFNmYWayirEFhiXsyjeea8L1-xWYt_THxhdzuZPD5KudJHi_qatKFW2CniZfsKjJXBgJzi5F0dvAHg2aU64sjyGWy0bjFGEriimLGD5cT21btXBNSqo/s1600/DSC_6449plume+mothcrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="368px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBdFQ_sgA5i94fTDt83_5zzzKYYFNmYWayirEFhiXsyjeea8L1-xWYt_THxhdzuZPD5KudJHi_qatKFW2CniZfsKjJXBgJzi5F0dvAHg2aU64sjyGWy0bjFGEriimLGD5cT21btXBNSqo/s640/DSC_6449plume+mothcrop.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gH_d7fKP6voG8N9HYgMxsLmk5nQgqbqof7-aKRWAGnqQWWC6JpK43llffaChTrXkVzGb6R5gjnTI52TYDMzMsDn0NK9VKjXUtjBsW9sAlxgf4wVFnhbzLMtT9amr2BfkbpXIDJfqZkY/s1600/DSC_6449plume+mothcrop2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gH_d7fKP6voG8N9HYgMxsLmk5nQgqbqof7-aKRWAGnqQWWC6JpK43llffaChTrXkVzGb6R5gjnTI52TYDMzMsDn0NK9VKjXUtjBsW9sAlxgf4wVFnhbzLMtT9amr2BfkbpXIDJfqZkY/s640/DSC_6449plume+mothcrop2.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is a different plume moth-I love these guys!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7-Tr4xAqNmlsI96nXs9rUmkgDKW5SISM2nn2EkcEY5hz5CgtfvpHy3VypOku_OPocUzAdMWo_U_jiN6kQ8jl1UKM24jfyVxfxXh0dMGI-GDmpXgpKT7KEZyq7bS80xvHMMZ5w6uEvWQ/s1600/DSC_7515Plume+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="514px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7-Tr4xAqNmlsI96nXs9rUmkgDKW5SISM2nn2EkcEY5hz5CgtfvpHy3VypOku_OPocUzAdMWo_U_jiN6kQ8jl1UKM24jfyVxfxXh0dMGI-GDmpXgpKT7KEZyq7bS80xvHMMZ5w6uEvWQ/s640/DSC_7515Plume+Moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GBJMV8zciCZqq9TtpnW3tLbPNsu51Pe3aTy1wqCk7l-pGI9HlXfXFAmOIdcJgxtO103ULMexxbPjnWhrcb9rBAu7cyGJwoJ1q2owEiYq48ISJiOfFRxi5DVISLq-XRJnUdLDooIxu-A/s1600/DSC_7527Plume+moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GBJMV8zciCZqq9TtpnW3tLbPNsu51Pe3aTy1wqCk7l-pGI9HlXfXFAmOIdcJgxtO103ULMexxbPjnWhrcb9rBAu7cyGJwoJ1q2owEiYq48ISJiOfFRxi5DVISLq-XRJnUdLDooIxu-A/s640/DSC_7527Plume+moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is a moth I saw resting on a rock formation that I can't identify. I just don't know enough about the field marks to make a positive ID. I'll keep researching. He is very pale and very pretty-very good camouflage on the texture of the rock.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTjcVyHxTs6bLlCAIwtznDxFNcCy3iyDk15yvMqWViznYgmszIcjeIEZEC4chns8WcSUIETCEma7H0UtVRsRne1JDKYxmx5rE4LOAhyfAHMYQUwroZHJt_VE0G-8rfjuJk4zFqJsWM28g/s1600/DSC_6478copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="542px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTjcVyHxTs6bLlCAIwtznDxFNcCy3iyDk15yvMqWViznYgmszIcjeIEZEC4chns8WcSUIETCEma7H0UtVRsRne1JDKYxmx5rE4LOAhyfAHMYQUwroZHJt_VE0G-8rfjuJk4zFqJsWM28g/s640/DSC_6478copy.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Large Lace Border Moth (Scopula limboundata) </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The common name perfectly describes the pretty markings on this moth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8z8PoSu6w1351B_KEvCuYGftyMlfgHYJVpzMdooDgenQg7WL6paoVolMsu891MEu9lIGdHnSQAO8Z8LpOZ8iGIgbf3Ep4hlYhWLv3Pht7V1CXbMW8zLyzXSdhpMo8Rc4dH-oLp26kBo/s1600/DSC_7784Large+Lace+Border+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8z8PoSu6w1351B_KEvCuYGftyMlfgHYJVpzMdooDgenQg7WL6paoVolMsu891MEu9lIGdHnSQAO8Z8LpOZ8iGIgbf3Ep4hlYhWLv3Pht7V1CXbMW8zLyzXSdhpMo8Rc4dH-oLp26kBo/s640/DSC_7784Large+Lace+Border+Moth.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm trying my hand at hanging a sheet with a black light to attract moths. We are in the middle of town, but I've gotten a few interesting moths (at least to me since I am new to this hobby). I believe this one is the <b>Common Armyworm Moth ( Mythimna unipuncta).</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJDgBwCwTCdlbRsA2qmGZRR4FdVCCmJkrK1Nwb1IYv_L2T6HXG6mIvgJMyaSbpOb_VmW0QQi57odU45CDQGFNpzqIzTEYMznbdLVgLh_qB7uxbvf-0siMuXthKkuoBphd2mtZJmHpkBk/s1600/Focus+ResultArmyworm+moth+1+%2528B%252C+3%252C+2%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJDgBwCwTCdlbRsA2qmGZRR4FdVCCmJkrK1Nwb1IYv_L2T6HXG6mIvgJMyaSbpOb_VmW0QQi57odU45CDQGFNpzqIzTEYMznbdLVgLh_qB7uxbvf-0siMuXthKkuoBphd2mtZJmHpkBk/s640/Focus+ResultArmyworm+moth+1+%2528B%252C+3%252C+2%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I really love the pattern on this <b>Pale Tiger Moth (Halysiodata tessellaris). </b>The coloration is so beautiful and the texture of his wings resembles linen. One thing I dislike about taking pictures at night with a light and sheet are that you cannot capture the beauty of the moth from the front. I always love to get an angle that captures the amazing beauty of the eyes and face.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpYI4OZqiw17x-Af__cCZqr8NG8jXb9p1n7H42ODj-ILEnZ93Tl0BRux9WNzOcai0NqXOti-cHsHJo4SrC8p3SOTqQxIIe16B9M0_ewDvt1_rttSYCkICoOVpVe3C-1eUbiLtcvN1JG8/s1600/Focus+Result+1mothF+%2528B%252C+3%252C+2%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpYI4OZqiw17x-Af__cCZqr8NG8jXb9p1n7H42ODj-ILEnZ93Tl0BRux9WNzOcai0NqXOti-cHsHJo4SrC8p3SOTqQxIIe16B9M0_ewDvt1_rttSYCkICoOVpVe3C-1eUbiLtcvN1JG8/s640/Focus+Result+1mothF+%2528B%252C+3%252C+2%2529.jpg" width="556" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A closeup of the <b>Ipsilon Dart Moth (Agrotis ipsilon). </b>I was not able to get a good shot of the wings from above, but I'm sure he will be back soon. I love his color and texture!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrX0cNAmFxOiVOx6JE7L_QAgfbpyysLXhLF-OcInr_gZqtg0nJhR51_lPk72zY6NhbXOU8EOcL47yw4PY2blRlKMXSPdBy1Pf41eFUNpBd6Hr52iV6Da5nor4LM9qSiDZEykaqP7u-nEo/s1600/Ipsilon+Dart+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrX0cNAmFxOiVOx6JE7L_QAgfbpyysLXhLF-OcInr_gZqtg0nJhR51_lPk72zY6NhbXOU8EOcL47yw4PY2blRlKMXSPdBy1Pf41eFUNpBd6Hr52iV6Da5nor4LM9qSiDZEykaqP7u-nEo/s640/Ipsilon+Dart+Moth.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszq-UGEcwzAG-H2WbzuP66DkC2MDgJCa7qwinEhE2VZBuhzDNp-ZOShGKq8l6phRLtPjoT-IGlQSBQllXSBOmKLRF8NsV-WNLSGNl1MDymSQ5uil5DIagPIDntr94NhPldIIo7poWcsw/s1600/Ipsilon+Dart+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszq-UGEcwzAG-H2WbzuP66DkC2MDgJCa7qwinEhE2VZBuhzDNp-ZOShGKq8l6phRLtPjoT-IGlQSBQllXSBOmKLRF8NsV-WNLSGNl1MDymSQ5uil5DIagPIDntr94NhPldIIo7poWcsw/s640/Ipsilon+Dart+Moth.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Dot-lined White Moth (Artace cribraria)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSJYR_tEf09Evg44NMZME7O_eYYRHnSxItH31lsVKvHGo20WmMZhJ7wVFn3pqtUoFfZri5BlzWiUJE69adUacqHQmMTgwa5_qUs_ScHz6FC_B8xxMnmKnvO7wwyWkrlglhyQ8xle3XYc/s1600/Dot-lined+White+Moth1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSJYR_tEf09Evg44NMZME7O_eYYRHnSxItH31lsVKvHGo20WmMZhJ7wVFn3pqtUoFfZri5BlzWiUJE69adUacqHQmMTgwa5_qUs_ScHz6FC_B8xxMnmKnvO7wwyWkrlglhyQ8xle3XYc/s640/Dot-lined+White+Moth1.jpg" width="618" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After tucking in his antennae...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ubHPJOsv2atxKJ9lIrMGsuahKlnY7zmdg4tyvwLm02MBp757-c15_JkJ7ozh3XUG2dSFwQ4-GntNtFS-tiSZg8hJuKwBGF9OGe4urAby3IBZCGrR8fdvYUaaF10aWCWEhikvPea-5EY/s1600/Dot-lined+White+Moth2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ubHPJOsv2atxKJ9lIrMGsuahKlnY7zmdg4tyvwLm02MBp757-c15_JkJ7ozh3XUG2dSFwQ4-GntNtFS-tiSZg8hJuKwBGF9OGe4urAby3IBZCGrR8fdvYUaaF10aWCWEhikvPea-5EY/s640/Dot-lined+White+Moth2.jpg" width="564" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This little golden one is the<b> Beggar Moth (Eubaphe mendica)</b>. Such a delicate creature! The ones I've seen seem to be very skittish.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYdRUI3bLxl_5EVkNy5qBMdmDmLqVatHzJrVldrnnXZU5VSNn7w9MjqQ8SXrP3jCM-GezDe3fgIgQpomvONZrsMMpR57f80WbaKU6JNlxTHs5EPOcFjO4qq_8xBerDCOg9S_h9dTFjuGM/s1600/DSC_6460Begger+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="622px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYdRUI3bLxl_5EVkNy5qBMdmDmLqVatHzJrVldrnnXZU5VSNn7w9MjqQ8SXrP3jCM-GezDe3fgIgQpomvONZrsMMpR57f80WbaKU6JNlxTHs5EPOcFjO4qq_8xBerDCOg9S_h9dTFjuGM/s640/DSC_6460Begger+Moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXLx8JamLdjcV0nmTfivg4NluKPGMs_GsyKiJz-qdeh7BsHdS9yJZ4NXYSRUVpGNRT0iXhaOSgCtrFfOVCWoXRF7Yf18ZpjBsaTXJZQsoYszkRAPXOWytY9bslU15TXcLGN7XdO_VroY/s1600/DSC_6740Beggar+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="584px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXLx8JamLdjcV0nmTfivg4NluKPGMs_GsyKiJz-qdeh7BsHdS9yJZ4NXYSRUVpGNRT0iXhaOSgCtrFfOVCWoXRF7Yf18ZpjBsaTXJZQsoYszkRAPXOWytY9bslU15TXcLGN7XdO_VroY/s640/DSC_6740Beggar+Moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This one is the <b>Three-spotted Fillip Moth (Heterophleps triguttaria). </b>I've seen lots of these throughout the foliage along the paths in the woods.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOUNzdP6wES7QA5UgUMrl8Urrvg_qK42GG_0qX_8BL3ptB88a7eUfLY_xElCc1w8xXafNSZSe7ljDaIMQR-CYniC3Vrlmy6ViEfNnCCSXyiP8yph7lqv2u8ClvINOup0xJlNlCGuuyvk/s1600/DSC_6331Three-spotted+Fillip+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="506px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOUNzdP6wES7QA5UgUMrl8Urrvg_qK42GG_0qX_8BL3ptB88a7eUfLY_xElCc1w8xXafNSZSe7ljDaIMQR-CYniC3Vrlmy6ViEfNnCCSXyiP8yph7lqv2u8ClvINOup0xJlNlCGuuyvk/s640/DSC_6331Three-spotted+Fillip+Moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This <b>Pale Gray Bird Dropping Moth (Antaeotricha schlaegeri)</b> has an excellent camouflage! I seriously would have overlooked it as tiny bird doo doo, but I am getting better at spotting these clever little critters! This one seemed to be resting quite comfortably. There is also an almost identical species, Antaeotricha leucillana. The leucillana's tuft is usually more of a paler brown instead of dark, and it is also about a third smaller than the schlaegeri. I guess this could be either, but I'm only going by the tuft color, which was very dark. This is the first one I've seen so I cannot make a comparison either by size or color of tuft. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnzr0tCjvzSoH2f9qeE9VlQcH1ZAjKdIEcJIx_ywX3ndVK0jEYOavn58UgkYk_Ak01xEel6byieEH9hkjFtSimnJXnEstmE67CdNkh7ZlXJWJo2RxyCPsXJ16G207Y_hgxqX8NQ82zOs/s1600/DSC_6619pale+gray+bird+dropping+moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnzr0tCjvzSoH2f9qeE9VlQcH1ZAjKdIEcJIx_ywX3ndVK0jEYOavn58UgkYk_Ak01xEel6byieEH9hkjFtSimnJXnEstmE67CdNkh7ZlXJWJo2RxyCPsXJ16G207Y_hgxqX8NQ82zOs/s640/DSC_6619pale+gray+bird+dropping+moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The <b>Long-horned Fairy Moth (Adela caeruleella)</b> is quite small, but with very long antennaes. Depending on the angle of light, the wings can appear dark, or with very colorful metallic accents. I only had a brief second for a couple of photos, then *poof* she was gone, just like Tinkerbell!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixN-Wqiwek-EhX870UR0001riL0W5Ll_fnAiXZrp9HUXtbobPGMFTSghJakGB-I8aUAjaLP0Y98zpYqYwIS_xqFqjho4HhndZHtgtk99m0dAqH1J_jg4wlFOzeDqBOOTpvn_joXhcyMhQ/s1600/DSC_6686fairy+moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixN-Wqiwek-EhX870UR0001riL0W5Ll_fnAiXZrp9HUXtbobPGMFTSghJakGB-I8aUAjaLP0Y98zpYqYwIS_xqFqjho4HhndZHtgtk99m0dAqH1J_jg4wlFOzeDqBOOTpvn_joXhcyMhQ/s640/DSC_6686fairy+moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWInAFTx-qj7LCnyeFE-vA5eFiGy1d8jWNAkScWY8Zj5pTg7M2VboEJFnKPaJUijVhSf20MT3dmvVK-DNYwUEgzQ0qWR5CPS5k8Q2e7voF2y9GzBmyRozrfUXCEhYwuSg2VZO9Uke424/s1600/DSC_6690fairy+moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWInAFTx-qj7LCnyeFE-vA5eFiGy1d8jWNAkScWY8Zj5pTg7M2VboEJFnKPaJUijVhSf20MT3dmvVK-DNYwUEgzQ0qWR5CPS5k8Q2e7voF2y9GzBmyRozrfUXCEhYwuSg2VZO9Uke424/s640/DSC_6690fairy+moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ahhh, such a beauty to the human eye, although to a predator this is another moth whose camouflage is to roll up his wings to make himself look like bird droppings! The actual name of this moth is the <b>Beautiful Wood-nymph Moth (Eudryas grata)</b>. It is in the Family Noctuidae, the largest family in the Lepidoptera. This one is at rest and he really didn't mind my walking around him taking a few photos. He will most likely not move from this resting spot until after dark, when this species becomes active. I would love to see one with the wings spread out; they have such beautiful colors and patterns.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfx8gMPKQFyfhlPY3CH3NY7XefITNr7MZKmS6hOE2B9Y4WMqjpqANnvld-1wd_FPKHokMN0lzOlzQZ28BJ1wBCLzCxIP85Qkm8Uv3UBmPGbfnCVfJeROIrQGHf-_FnfX9Vq8vMdhYMo8/s1600/DSC_6903Beautiful+Wood-nymph+Moth+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="550px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfx8gMPKQFyfhlPY3CH3NY7XefITNr7MZKmS6hOE2B9Y4WMqjpqANnvld-1wd_FPKHokMN0lzOlzQZ28BJ1wBCLzCxIP85Qkm8Uv3UBmPGbfnCVfJeROIrQGHf-_FnfX9Vq8vMdhYMo8/s640/DSC_6903Beautiful+Wood-nymph+Moth+crop.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5A1BEszzaYGyFem6jMS0inL5EBLlf5tgCzfDCvAbHv8F914gSjSOleRn2RGjloQBadOQHeOjaSwcwsLZAhjDZ8Ci3HhZDg_TdcOFYRII_wfrGQ6B1Su9gAJnUc8JQnV6C8rCekuP7tE/s1600/DSC_6909beautiful+wood-nymph+moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5A1BEszzaYGyFem6jMS0inL5EBLlf5tgCzfDCvAbHv8F914gSjSOleRn2RGjloQBadOQHeOjaSwcwsLZAhjDZ8Ci3HhZDg_TdcOFYRII_wfrGQ6B1Su9gAJnUc8JQnV6C8rCekuP7tE/s640/DSC_6909beautiful+wood-nymph+moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEu9Ysg8clCwr5XbW9PVYyB671M5bbN7E6ojP2ekVcbA5anf15sTEy-YBQiNteFQWH2mwxOf_uWDGUvX_Ba7sOEO2asiA9FGJPJpVHoWs4qQaZtQXPrpOGKGPklf6LutXf6Qbb_DPD6DU/s1600/DSC_6919beautiful+wood+nymph+moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="446px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEu9Ysg8clCwr5XbW9PVYyB671M5bbN7E6ojP2ekVcbA5anf15sTEy-YBQiNteFQWH2mwxOf_uWDGUvX_Ba7sOEO2asiA9FGJPJpVHoWs4qQaZtQXPrpOGKGPklf6LutXf6Qbb_DPD6DU/s640/DSC_6919beautiful+wood+nymph+moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This moth is in the Family geometridae. It is most likely the <b>Promiscuous Angle Moth (Macaria promiscuata)</b> Thank you, Roger, for correcting me! . They have an interesting dark brown spot pattern on each wing that reminds me of a paw print of a cat! I'll have to watch for them and get more pictures in the future to note the differences between the Promiscuous and the Common Angle Moth (Macaria aemulataria).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxinBXYQeN_nZzYBYIa1EtktrSTMKQLzfBW5v2OK2kbLlLWa4a95QLwKcUmeVFKD-S8e7HguTndpiVYW1vvZHVnEMEuvZQqmBUE5xWujuGCMDiv0iCgTnFQxRZHCcM87J6Mv1tsdB4UlA/s1600/DSC_6872Bicolored+Angle+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxinBXYQeN_nZzYBYIa1EtktrSTMKQLzfBW5v2OK2kbLlLWa4a95QLwKcUmeVFKD-S8e7HguTndpiVYW1vvZHVnEMEuvZQqmBUE5xWujuGCMDiv0iCgTnFQxRZHCcM87J6Mv1tsdB4UlA/s640/DSC_6872Bicolored+Angle+Moth.jpg" width="534px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Below is the very secretive <b>Leaf Folder Moth (Desmia maculalis)</b>. This micro moth is tiny and always wants to land upside-down on the underside of leaves. I've only seen a few of these little guys and always lose sight of them during the chase through the foliage. I see them flying low, fluttering around the grasses and leaves. The coloration of the white spots against the dark wings always catches my eye.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVrwgFW2QRTT-EZBAOxdFg61lyksnC5I_4pF67nETUaomumgr0uBwnFnPZfZ37hyRokN_ffGuWnxLPNbyTVZm9DPMLX7pJzJZ85G6HmzzSzyF8PhncgjK-qa1-Q5NvIVreONpSRkXqDk/s1600/DSC_7043grape+leaf+roller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVrwgFW2QRTT-EZBAOxdFg61lyksnC5I_4pF67nETUaomumgr0uBwnFnPZfZ37hyRokN_ffGuWnxLPNbyTVZm9DPMLX7pJzJZ85G6HmzzSzyF8PhncgjK-qa1-Q5NvIVreONpSRkXqDk/s640/DSC_7043grape+leaf+roller.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3n1oKSvfgEq9icH4EOlWX0faO-qTqFD6ZKjm224PoFhElXDvVVv9JMZgAGzvxtputcdgnJ03URN3VJC0JLQRWUZy-GPqbnnMrnQ-d3gKdAkRZXI0gRwcxjoSfmt87BrDGFL3CeDAxYA/s1600/DSC_6522grape+leaffolder+moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="530px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3n1oKSvfgEq9icH4EOlWX0faO-qTqFD6ZKjm224PoFhElXDvVVv9JMZgAGzvxtputcdgnJ03URN3VJC0JLQRWUZy-GPqbnnMrnQ-d3gKdAkRZXI0gRwcxjoSfmt87BrDGFL3CeDAxYA/s640/DSC_6522grape+leaffolder+moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
<br />
False Crocus Geometer Moth (Xanthotype urticaria). The pattern on this one is lighter and a bit harder to distinguish than normal. These are very pretty moths!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJGHuUYlo2QdLfbF80RwtAsiJNcCSnoVKtgu_y2orEq9wD1L6uJl6-HX2cEKbiW86-UfP-vyANekAFLrWQwNRMNtJLv7GtgBvt4ZitMiSGNvZTyE1FdoMsXrSDdCHa-2G8Qqg0vS-ku8/s1600/DSC_7250false+crocus+geometer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJGHuUYlo2QdLfbF80RwtAsiJNcCSnoVKtgu_y2orEq9wD1L6uJl6-HX2cEKbiW86-UfP-vyANekAFLrWQwNRMNtJLv7GtgBvt4ZitMiSGNvZTyE1FdoMsXrSDdCHa-2G8Qqg0vS-ku8/s640/DSC_7250false+crocus+geometer.jpg" width="624px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The False Crocus Geometer Moth below, has a pattern that is much more distinguishable for this species.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYGFzMBZYntNvSHuSGdzXspYLeDzgL4bzRVKZsohjPWfH1G0rltjP4y2OOdpLSbb_FBsqOhRzQWT254EpzOdr6k4-CIzCWYzw-EvaxwoiazGI0k0pccCDnvk9aviuSLorGI6st7wQRfk/s1600/DSC_7495False+Crocus+Geometer+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYGFzMBZYntNvSHuSGdzXspYLeDzgL4bzRVKZsohjPWfH1G0rltjP4y2OOdpLSbb_FBsqOhRzQWT254EpzOdr6k4-CIzCWYzw-EvaxwoiazGI0k0pccCDnvk9aviuSLorGI6st7wQRfk/s640/DSC_7495False+Crocus+Geometer+Moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqC1dem-z4ylmgA-EwG2EZlv_2BNtH85wXmzpAqd5psjIvmLK5vuRbhv7-DeSaFfIUfQc4MU4YTed1DE3FdunOSolxUuK2myNsxxs8AyYyHY4MvBeyWBxgtyzlNcFb5YGcbzWe_og6Ek/s1600/DSC_7495False+Crocus+Geometer+Moth+cropjpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqC1dem-z4ylmgA-EwG2EZlv_2BNtH85wXmzpAqd5psjIvmLK5vuRbhv7-DeSaFfIUfQc4MU4YTed1DE3FdunOSolxUuK2myNsxxs8AyYyHY4MvBeyWBxgtyzlNcFb5YGcbzWe_og6Ek/s640/DSC_7495False+Crocus+Geometer+Moth+cropjpg.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This moth is in the family, Tortricidae. The rounded shoulders and squared tips of the forewings are a trait of this family of moths. This particular one is the <b>Three-lined Leaf Roller Moth (Pandemis limitata).</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyANDS9Fy3f6b5XUf2-RLuhdcUTMEbENA-cBV-gIQgANVep_xAYqgAHkf1V1bheS1LYKmmfi6lw8Btfgz8DG8yest7o17nbokzhEOssmV15X5uLtWRrLzhkvGfTBDbthEvARS4OprveE/s1600/DSC_7186tortricid+moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyANDS9Fy3f6b5XUf2-RLuhdcUTMEbENA-cBV-gIQgANVep_xAYqgAHkf1V1bheS1LYKmmfi6lw8Btfgz8DG8yest7o17nbokzhEOssmV15X5uLtWRrLzhkvGfTBDbthEvARS4OprveE/s640/DSC_7186tortricid+moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Jw0Q4OC08gac7U7533z24VBOFej9sksIM-fp2lOzZDI-oazH5z2TYueluiVA-BBI6GNs4xw5pfTdZCAFGnKcwoUp8VXphGGrKV9S5Scih099DR3O4oCuBjeXJ180-fygMQ6CBZz_gOQ/s1600/DSC_7189Tortricid+moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Jw0Q4OC08gac7U7533z24VBOFej9sksIM-fp2lOzZDI-oazH5z2TYueluiVA-BBI6GNs4xw5pfTdZCAFGnKcwoUp8VXphGGrKV9S5Scih099DR3O4oCuBjeXJ180-fygMQ6CBZz_gOQ/s640/DSC_7189Tortricid+moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This striking little moth is the <strong>Snowy Urola Moth (Urola nivalis). </strong>I found </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">him resting on a plant right alongside the Delicate Cycthnia Moth (pictured below the photos of the Snowy Urola Moth.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHA8Dj5D6dvO5HJ-lQWUzDfGrdGL67EXSqubhEIKIBYOgILow6ZbtOEmpy7rc2ho1-duUCz7FjhA3sXDlKrXwkdT0AQaq5ytU-ngnJBG8MF-H3L1K2NAH-JoHKeM8KmOwW2yr8wJN0Q4/s1600/DSC_7216moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHA8Dj5D6dvO5HJ-lQWUzDfGrdGL67EXSqubhEIKIBYOgILow6ZbtOEmpy7rc2ho1-duUCz7FjhA3sXDlKrXwkdT0AQaq5ytU-ngnJBG8MF-H3L1K2NAH-JoHKeM8KmOwW2yr8wJN0Q4/s640/DSC_7216moth.jpg" width="476px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A closer view of his face...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvJQyZuRKl5wUlATQpltraa51T2qfNIvfCRlOlyiMT20jeLADYuy35QFpa_sxNI4KUSLkoZmbi4-gN2-VqLSJDmL3j-eW0tdsXoJCwnFGv4y2m4wO9RNjZF7CPY4gHomGLB7Ir8xcBmw/s1600/DSC_7232moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvJQyZuRKl5wUlATQpltraa51T2qfNIvfCRlOlyiMT20jeLADYuy35QFpa_sxNI4KUSLkoZmbi4-gN2-VqLSJDmL3j-eW0tdsXoJCwnFGv4y2m4wO9RNjZF7CPY4gHomGLB7Ir8xcBmw/s640/DSC_7232moth.jpg" width="558px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is a very pretty moth with creamy white wings and creamy yellow along the outer borders of wings and head. Thanks again to Roger Grossenbacher for helping me with the identification. This is a <b>Delicate Cycthnia Moth (Cycnia tenera). </b>BugGuide.Net states that the word "tenera" is a Latin word meaning "soft, tender, delicate". Such an accurate description of this beautiful creature!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WRSL4JfyGrFp6CFeWeujJRD_yXbfKXYV0YAQKVvdO8HKIhoifOdaoRXwn_FaoqAEpI4Kj2aCi3tp6Z3U9JZubHhVhdtx8z_jghLUS0r0i8WbFr6KA1UdUidGxlyPZgGOg04CSZ2q_0w/s1600/DSC_7215moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WRSL4JfyGrFp6CFeWeujJRD_yXbfKXYV0YAQKVvdO8HKIhoifOdaoRXwn_FaoqAEpI4Kj2aCi3tp6Z3U9JZubHhVhdtx8z_jghLUS0r0i8WbFr6KA1UdUidGxlyPZgGOg04CSZ2q_0w/s640/DSC_7215moth.jpg" width="560px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A closer view of his face...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3codJ7tPn8hqc6iz2toHNc4Q2M26AJXxVrxOJoQbBalwHw0OKA9W4ds60H-JsoYywpcEyTPFQPVBPTUUDhMgM5a4MWCtyHYVvnk2cWgoedzh11Ea6Qg4zBeRpyzKp7LNt2Yk-AujZTw8/s1600/DSC_7218moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3codJ7tPn8hqc6iz2toHNc4Q2M26AJXxVrxOJoQbBalwHw0OKA9W4ds60H-JsoYywpcEyTPFQPVBPTUUDhMgM5a4MWCtyHYVvnk2cWgoedzh11Ea6Qg4zBeRpyzKp7LNt2Yk-AujZTw8/s640/DSC_7218moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the <b>Hollow-spotted Blepharomastix Moth (Blepharomastix ranalis)</b>...Looks like he has Hershey's syrup drizzled over his wings. Well, that is not very scientific, but it may help me remember this moth in the future!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQW5496VvY-lejcZ_uxNQ5qBMVsG4OBcLRanE0cgL_S7LRz9YXpLdhjwp0ofY5YksgOjhAaAhcIodOU0VigtvW76i1CtuIMo6_45VY70hU5oZLH9-kPBt-HzDES7XKbt105LDYpY_nt8/s1600/DSC_7122moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQW5496VvY-lejcZ_uxNQ5qBMVsG4OBcLRanE0cgL_S7LRz9YXpLdhjwp0ofY5YksgOjhAaAhcIodOU0VigtvW76i1CtuIMo6_45VY70hU5oZLH9-kPBt-HzDES7XKbt105LDYpY_nt8/s640/DSC_7122moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Unidentified micro moth....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggbGHKhjbrDxGryWaAVvcVoo7fJ6K3fx5xzQiy_LnjYRvDrFWNg-UDRX1La1UKV9sX3CUmcamTKDRK1F6wuqDfSnSexnMbNxtxjs0oszBX466cYgwlMVigMwuh6lShuDN7uwtZGLDMTs/s1600/DSC_7130moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggbGHKhjbrDxGryWaAVvcVoo7fJ6K3fx5xzQiy_LnjYRvDrFWNg-UDRX1La1UKV9sX3CUmcamTKDRK1F6wuqDfSnSexnMbNxtxjs0oszBX466cYgwlMVigMwuh6lShuDN7uwtZGLDMTs/s640/DSC_7130moth.jpg" width="558px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRl2aE5xIqrdik88nRuBPDADeplqjwGoxbtFNoipoZXcxrC7QrxYmAlh94IA2qWOUTADtJHI_OV2mmC0troMZKpVy1J_Zc3VygniZFZaSpw0k-ri2yEnGRtkFfCON0l1xppBzOb5N8OH8/s1600/DSC_6896moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRl2aE5xIqrdik88nRuBPDADeplqjwGoxbtFNoipoZXcxrC7QrxYmAlh94IA2qWOUTADtJHI_OV2mmC0troMZKpVy1J_Zc3VygniZFZaSpw0k-ri2yEnGRtkFfCON0l1xppBzOb5N8OH8/s640/DSC_6896moth.jpg" width="490px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is a neat micro moth-He was really tiny and while observing him I noticed he constantly worked his tail, which actually fooled you into thinking that end was the head! So cool to watch. He had very unique markings and from above, almost looks like a happy face! This is a <b>Sedge Moth</b>-most likely <b>Glyphipterix circumscriptella</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvh0yE-7AVA9O8DE1N_ZKJowv1UVjwyWMBvfzFl5UMNk9xvKodE6For7TKOK7wCM2CBCQJbgQMos57IztC9qc8JeBlGfExNlIYeYRlT8NPuwpdOJn589v_jmOV22WwfADt4rAsTfFW7bQ/s1600/DSC_7346micro+moth2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="344px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvh0yE-7AVA9O8DE1N_ZKJowv1UVjwyWMBvfzFl5UMNk9xvKodE6For7TKOK7wCM2CBCQJbgQMos57IztC9qc8JeBlGfExNlIYeYRlT8NPuwpdOJn589v_jmOV22WwfADt4rAsTfFW7bQ/s640/DSC_7346micro+moth2.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A little closer view...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZ7mmex2b4Ju3JAdTmjU12PxWqrJORTo2ato_VJaekO3Gibj4WBTdUXuMdqYMzK0A80toRZamOOOiIxtOf50kEMJhDYvMvoW2VQ6217kM-GQ1HrWShZ6FaojPa8MG0c2rqUclC2kxXBI/s1600/DSC_7346micro+moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZ7mmex2b4Ju3JAdTmjU12PxWqrJORTo2ato_VJaekO3Gibj4WBTdUXuMdqYMzK0A80toRZamOOOiIxtOf50kEMJhDYvMvoW2VQ6217kM-GQ1HrWShZ6FaojPa8MG0c2rqUclC2kxXBI/s640/DSC_7346micro+moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Below, a unique bird's eye view that resembles a face...most likely a coloration that works to deter or confuse a predator.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JJux_6jnaxXGifMkDJZMAL5yPMYfb8qF4N35bSaKG8iIRsaPNfQ7QdzYcUQx_VKMjJPrfr3xnhtMl3AJQR6jX5ijIIuEr-1O5KimIgM7rUcDIJ1ahqNdVOpK3WXwzAIfGsKJ7ddgYtk/s1600/DSC_7347Sedge+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JJux_6jnaxXGifMkDJZMAL5yPMYfb8qF4N35bSaKG8iIRsaPNfQ7QdzYcUQx_VKMjJPrfr3xnhtMl3AJQR6jX5ijIIuEr-1O5KimIgM7rUcDIJ1ahqNdVOpK3WXwzAIfGsKJ7ddgYtk/s640/DSC_7347Sedge+Moth.jpg" width="518px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the <b>Spotted Thyris Moth (Thyris maculata). </b>I'm amazed at their beauty, grace and tiny size!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03R-w6eO-7aq9jxrtAc0ox8MbTEbiwn4LYpeJyEtVzzoMyua2hn9LhpJzlA9eCf5egzNhD4v7ps7T7IKBaKa0J1FoVzll-dJ60JvfKPBdikYUI2CO7r8tkj3aahKw_2iZmhsGcVZ1Ytc/s1600/DSC_7333moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="574px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03R-w6eO-7aq9jxrtAc0ox8MbTEbiwn4LYpeJyEtVzzoMyua2hn9LhpJzlA9eCf5egzNhD4v7ps7T7IKBaKa0J1FoVzll-dJ60JvfKPBdikYUI2CO7r8tkj3aahKw_2iZmhsGcVZ1Ytc/s640/DSC_7333moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNo1HQX3DUpdCAnIbE_IkuwUenas8ImZVRuJpRq-CE4JlVr3zUeS3ZcHQO-GPF_ZJrYdTuBb2nQi4ZCFtqmQywmlUo4TDadGJaUBhjsy34-YHbPNqcoseRlchZEofPgnGXnLzjeJWO5Y/s1600/DSC_7333moth+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="524px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNo1HQX3DUpdCAnIbE_IkuwUenas8ImZVRuJpRq-CE4JlVr3zUeS3ZcHQO-GPF_ZJrYdTuBb2nQi4ZCFtqmQywmlUo4TDadGJaUBhjsy34-YHbPNqcoseRlchZEofPgnGXnLzjeJWO5Y/s640/DSC_7333moth+crop.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Different angle...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIZh2UTDFjbEWXkmXme_A3ldUDEHpfcCQthHcaupxesLenQqK7OWxeohN9TZP5uKVkXkjb8G1iL5RoQ0X7VB4YGxjJP3vl-lxdKjOg6u-iBStmpcqGAolQRT7-lVb7YbwdsHlnreW2sw/s1600/DSC_7340moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="530px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIZh2UTDFjbEWXkmXme_A3ldUDEHpfcCQthHcaupxesLenQqK7OWxeohN9TZP5uKVkXkjb8G1iL5RoQ0X7VB4YGxjJP3vl-lxdKjOg6u-iBStmpcqGAolQRT7-lVb7YbwdsHlnreW2sw/s640/DSC_7340moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The next two pictures below are the <b>Grayish Zanclognatha Moth (Zanclognatha pedipilalis)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPOkkIitlo6ocbOQk99IealFS6dSE9qGy3muHlVSolEEOuM0_EzOweLq2LO5Be6nqDGmofR4dy1Ynym6J_D2FXZsSlhVAb5PkhNnQhIBR_PUx9diGJ_ch1MlePoQptBo4P4kqy8VsoyQ/s1600/DSC_6788copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPOkkIitlo6ocbOQk99IealFS6dSE9qGy3muHlVSolEEOuM0_EzOweLq2LO5Be6nqDGmofR4dy1Ynym6J_D2FXZsSlhVAb5PkhNnQhIBR_PUx9diGJ_ch1MlePoQptBo4P4kqy8VsoyQ/s640/DSC_6788copy.jpg" width="486px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0vQuRIx0vt4il-1DV-Mxr1CKi2BExRgfZyJKvJt2uVq0QXfbJOccFXrTAgsewDB2MFRpqfMmr2Qv7quw3Fk5n5Iu-AgC39zIcWRjpyr62HLmEnjtq1uuUHGFEd-gGzbEpVqSIep_Ltk/s1600/DSC_6197moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="536px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0vQuRIx0vt4il-1DV-Mxr1CKi2BExRgfZyJKvJt2uVq0QXfbJOccFXrTAgsewDB2MFRpqfMmr2Qv7quw3Fk5n5Iu-AgC39zIcWRjpyr62HLmEnjtq1uuUHGFEd-gGzbEpVqSIep_Ltk/s640/DSC_6197moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Unidentified...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6_bstu53vklrhIEZlPpzpUQcWmb4IUdHqGxao1ns9gUq0HYTLqcCL7vHZzMj3P0BmH4ZQdZ79fkuCpTuJWALGOKCTVIc7OpAffhWlAUlI5oA87g8k3K9jY0nYqYJzBAOF0H1JxI2Pvg/s1600/DSC_6827copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6_bstu53vklrhIEZlPpzpUQcWmb4IUdHqGxao1ns9gUq0HYTLqcCL7vHZzMj3P0BmH4ZQdZ79fkuCpTuJWALGOKCTVIc7OpAffhWlAUlI5oA87g8k3K9jY0nYqYJzBAOF0H1JxI2Pvg/s640/DSC_6827copy.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Below is the <b>Confused Eusarca (Eusarca Confusaria)</b>. In my opinion, this moth resembles the Slant-line Moth except the Confused Eusarca has semi-circle markings on its shoulders. I think the Confused Eusarca is also similar in appearance to the Least Marked Euchlaena. There are so many species of moths that closely resemble other species--one of the challenges I enjoy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOXIM9GAB4I8F-Y8utLt5W2k99LFaxAcMWYmJTJ945D5M7Rx_aRyqJvlCxDmfNh106RDSneRSEx_DQK10gEs_HojJLCuinzDNkD32vt9Kw7vOx9ybifg3zINVwjeUTtrnn1HIgj_OCCQ/s1600/DSC_7262confused+eusarca+moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOXIM9GAB4I8F-Y8utLt5W2k99LFaxAcMWYmJTJ945D5M7Rx_aRyqJvlCxDmfNh106RDSneRSEx_DQK10gEs_HojJLCuinzDNkD32vt9Kw7vOx9ybifg3zINVwjeUTtrnn1HIgj_OCCQ/s640/DSC_7262confused+eusarca+moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz76wt7JpY87r8wl5Un5cQ4sjQXvAIvbQd_SHga8Un2l-Keabdeu338jxPfMnwMbNDcHYoNGu_AES7jV-CIa2kpY6HOvzbftxvGI7gynGamBU0vJ-j8J64zGtnyOyqsUFXqjcq7kyD3aI/s1600/DSC_6314moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz76wt7JpY87r8wl5Un5cQ4sjQXvAIvbQd_SHga8Un2l-Keabdeu338jxPfMnwMbNDcHYoNGu_AES7jV-CIa2kpY6HOvzbftxvGI7gynGamBU0vJ-j8J64zGtnyOyqsUFXqjcq7kyD3aI/s640/DSC_6314moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These are the Virginian <b>Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica)</b> pictures I took last year. I wanted to include them with the rest of the moths. I loved observing this beautiful creature-I had disturbed him while cleaning up a brush pile in the yard and he flew to the grass and remained still as a furry statue! Absolutely gorgeous!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_Q3VQaYd_8m0rxUNsoxsXOEW80IABxJMOAzar19VNgo5ZgE6jzYGI0WueE3zS_QrzndXWzn0RPPY_dbeSNCGqRXBLBmId6_hew8pW4tS_w9lXMvR060tpKUkKR1PZra7zKomB4noNPQ/s1600/_DSC6791viginiantigermoth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_Q3VQaYd_8m0rxUNsoxsXOEW80IABxJMOAzar19VNgo5ZgE6jzYGI0WueE3zS_QrzndXWzn0RPPY_dbeSNCGqRXBLBmId6_hew8pW4tS_w9lXMvR060tpKUkKR1PZra7zKomB4noNPQ/s640/_DSC6791viginiantigermoth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzq0mwN8_406Z6WJ5BcoOAIAusHdttaTMMlKubTpCGkbVC9ZLgLrW-SSvO2S86_vA56E7uj1FTuDGPRPSoTk4fm4zy4pyyT-3a8qoKA7381_QYIJ2l52kODXLO1rk3Pusrgf48cUggRU/s1600/_DSC6802virginiantigermoth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzq0mwN8_406Z6WJ5BcoOAIAusHdttaTMMlKubTpCGkbVC9ZLgLrW-SSvO2S86_vA56E7uj1FTuDGPRPSoTk4fm4zy4pyyT-3a8qoKA7381_QYIJ2l52kODXLO1rk3Pusrgf48cUggRU/s640/_DSC6802virginiantigermoth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqldvpldIYLUBSfG_rFGx8iPr6d1FIQVosdDIMile9KI5O0bJ5pgGH9xHdc6OFg7IfNy02LmQ2jEWBKvB8qqfpNmTvkqTUoEMiXXmwaqa1qSDMJJ2t7B3hxA1twkaMDtWE6XSG-64GqG0/s1600/_DSC6792Virginian+Tiger+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="603px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqldvpldIYLUBSfG_rFGx8iPr6d1FIQVosdDIMile9KI5O0bJ5pgGH9xHdc6OFg7IfNy02LmQ2jEWBKvB8qqfpNmTvkqTUoEMiXXmwaqa1qSDMJJ2t7B3hxA1twkaMDtWE6XSG-64GqG0/s640/_DSC6792Virginian+Tiger+Moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was delighted to find that this <b> Eight-Spotted Forester (Alypia octomaculata)</b> was on the side of my house above my flowers one morning. I love the bright orange tufts on his legs. Very beautiful!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oa5hg4zMKL9NDH9y-VU8PViqplZ5SpcAoIcqyoPzR2NWwyTRZm1ZQvTmr674VfRb1gKwV5wT0aOidWqPmMOhTyAXv-Rcc6Chdi1vF2l-rlaCjyH5xnHgH_gkwuR_BL4xQuNq173a7aE/s1600/_DSC4865eightspottedforrester.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="600px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oa5hg4zMKL9NDH9y-VU8PViqplZ5SpcAoIcqyoPzR2NWwyTRZm1ZQvTmr674VfRb1gKwV5wT0aOidWqPmMOhTyAXv-Rcc6Chdi1vF2l-rlaCjyH5xnHgH_gkwuR_BL4xQuNq173a7aE/s640/_DSC4865eightspottedforrester.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Below is the <b>White Spotted Sablemoth (Anania funebris). </b>It is very similar in appearance to the Eight-Spotted Forester, but notice it does not have the orange tufts. It could easily be mistaken for a butterfly!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKbbiWA9Xsc8dmBYr5-W4yVYRrQHaaDbX6WiTsVjBRYirPEloTgEodhSQzGl6zHDhuv3Z8slpMWpaklkBCFtoOV_jHlgaA3r8UVzBnXQ7DI-F98svjZX4nfjamjnDfDLmn2azM6KHglYA/s1600/_DSC6373white+spotted+sable+moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="600px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKbbiWA9Xsc8dmBYr5-W4yVYRrQHaaDbX6WiTsVjBRYirPEloTgEodhSQzGl6zHDhuv3Z8slpMWpaklkBCFtoOV_jHlgaA3r8UVzBnXQ7DI-F98svjZX4nfjamjnDfDLmn2azM6KHglYA/s640/_DSC6373white+spotted+sable+moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV91rEFsaaa401P4-787YuXYyod74LJDDokg8tEVp8g2_7d89Uy78CqUbe92nm5-kaw2woGlahUYfCIqHGfOyfPmaqEd90w9_jhKlhUjdYEBzD99JB9RqnwKFvcoikzZCALkTT8d7tCPE/s1600/_DSC6366White+spotted+sable+moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="534px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV91rEFsaaa401P4-787YuXYyod74LJDDokg8tEVp8g2_7d89Uy78CqUbe92nm5-kaw2woGlahUYfCIqHGfOyfPmaqEd90w9_jhKlhUjdYEBzD99JB9RqnwKFvcoikzZCALkTT8d7tCPE/s640/_DSC6366White+spotted+sable+moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Note that earlier in this post I pictured a Grape Leaf Folder Moth, which is also very similar to this White Spotted Sable Moth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is a moth with pretty browns and grays. It is the <strong>Six-spotted Gray Moth (Spargaloma sexpunctata). </strong>Notice the three very small spot-like marks forming a narrow triangle near the apex of each wing.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYguh2_pN09Qc-Xt303WJxWR7KL9W8wzB-m1tj8wzFeYQzE6SYR9AYPj5I2ywRfmgKapVe6fhT97T-_qLf8vjcHbLGDDZgrXoU1_qK7afluWMWNkaoVW0KGrU1ET11glKmJ0_SXwThnQ/s1600/DSC_7552moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="490px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYguh2_pN09Qc-Xt303WJxWR7KL9W8wzB-m1tj8wzFeYQzE6SYR9AYPj5I2ywRfmgKapVe6fhT97T-_qLf8vjcHbLGDDZgrXoU1_qK7afluWMWNkaoVW0KGrU1ET11glKmJ0_SXwThnQ/s640/DSC_7552moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is a closer view. (He reminds me of a dragon!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhisflxxxI_vdmZUsAuwYSaoj6wHB-8UBFaLvDVTmWYV1pj3xF_yKvFElIlrx0LSJd7AzOmPNdmNMAOHEjJHbilesMdHfjgKzzF8aLwz9xjYq4tOQ9kA5P9oUXEwybkFrQw1hg8C-kuI4Q/s1600/DSC_7556moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="526px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhisflxxxI_vdmZUsAuwYSaoj6wHB-8UBFaLvDVTmWYV1pj3xF_yKvFElIlrx0LSJd7AzOmPNdmNMAOHEjJHbilesMdHfjgKzzF8aLwz9xjYq4tOQ9kA5P9oUXEwybkFrQw1hg8C-kuI4Q/s640/DSC_7556moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qMd5v9zTY3aIPy-RUqIbJOdB2vT5dXCYqnhr_A58fU6frOCaZ0mCZ01AuLsF0zBzt3aZ3niYlk3BIkoSyp7cZ6fJW3P6yrJ2GiWn5So0rGH4Voegk6354ujJcwhbqOgOgZXoQsrxMQE/s1600/DSC_7548moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="518px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qMd5v9zTY3aIPy-RUqIbJOdB2vT5dXCYqnhr_A58fU6frOCaZ0mCZ01AuLsF0zBzt3aZ3niYlk3BIkoSyp7cZ6fJW3P6yrJ2GiWn5So0rGH4Voegk6354ujJcwhbqOgOgZXoQsrxMQE/s640/DSC_7548moth.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>Lisa Sellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11709548876839559933noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926910287628946860.post-19954576204514055572011-03-26T22:48:00.000-04:002011-03-27T10:05:30.802-04:00Red Velvet Mite-Tiny Treasure of the Forest Floor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhknN63yGdH_POiVSHOhM1p413Slt3TJ1m8Ciwj1UyqtoPEFJd8IpuRtsJxIQrvSuZmLWb07uIkQadtAimQaharoKrLbD-76F-0cc_ZqghYMbKIQIJfBrMrxOyTW8WAuOgeimSKJzvvtnk/s1600/DSC_3894redvelvetmite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhknN63yGdH_POiVSHOhM1p413Slt3TJ1m8Ciwj1UyqtoPEFJd8IpuRtsJxIQrvSuZmLWb07uIkQadtAimQaharoKrLbD-76F-0cc_ZqghYMbKIQIJfBrMrxOyTW8WAuOgeimSKJzvvtnk/s640/DSC_3894redvelvetmite.jpg" width="640" /></a> I was literally on a treasure hunt this cold, Spring afternoon as I carefully turned over big pieces of bark and rotted logs, eagerly anticipating whatever I may find. I get to meet the most amazing members of the forest community this way! I am enthralled every single time I play this "game." There is nothing I love more than photographing nature, and there is nothing that makes me kneel to the ground faster than discovering something I've never seen before! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was not disappointed today! I lifted a shred of bark from the cool, moist leaf litter and immediately knew that the tiny, brilliant red dot that accented the dark earth was going to lead me on another adventure into the unknown! I photographed this teeny speck of color as best I could, but since he was only about the size of the point of a pencil, I didn't even know if he would be in focus. Luckily, I got one decent shot. As amazingly bright red as he was, he disappeared like magic into the dull, decayed plant material.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>This <u>Red Velvet Mite</u></b> is not an insect, but an eight-legged arachnid arthropod (related to spiders and scorpions). Their legs have a unique arrangement; they are in four sets of two. These mites are members of the subphylum, Chelicerata (organisms possessing tiny lobster-like claws that function as mouth parts). They are found worldwide within leaf litter, under logs, and within the layers of decayed material of the forest and woodland floors. As you can see, the "hairs" on their bodies and legs actually make it appear as if they are covered in soft, red velvet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To begin life, the larvae of this mite hatch from eggs, and survive initially as a parasites, attaching themselves to other arthropods and feeding on their blood. A good example of this behavior is shown in the picture below that I took last summer of a female scorpion fly with a red mite larva attached to the back of its head. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4PzTh3MluikOGg5Bpi6D4YGa860i4Yw3kqSxh-N1rMBIgZB78FJy4kQyo-2HMQ3kcu_HtxPJaPm_IejPjmMa1d0H8YDt9yGNB1AbIxbvWuqslfRnONMUbCC4a9bAl_Bfd7t_sDQYJqc/s1600/_DSC6570scorpionfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4PzTh3MluikOGg5Bpi6D4YGa860i4Yw3kqSxh-N1rMBIgZB78FJy4kQyo-2HMQ3kcu_HtxPJaPm_IejPjmMa1d0H8YDt9yGNB1AbIxbvWuqslfRnONMUbCC4a9bAl_Bfd7t_sDQYJqc/s640/_DSC6570scorpionfly.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The larva depends on a host, but it will eventually mature, detach itself, and make its home in the soil. Once mature and living in the soil, the red velvet mite becomes a predator and will keep busy devouring many species of small insects and their eggs. They can even be cannibalistic, devouring other mites and their eggs. They have very few natural enemies due to their bright red color, which indicates to everything around them how terrible they taste! In fact, experiments have shown that when they were offered as prey, they were either refused or immediately spat out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These mites exhibit an interesting mating behavior...the male will deposit sperm onto leaves and twigs, and then lay down a trail that leads to the sperm. This trail attracts the female, and if she successfully follows the path she will then sit in the sperm. If another male finds a sperm trail that is not his product, he will destroy it and lay down his own to ensure that the next lucky female will be fertilized by him. This behavior also involves a type of mating "dance" with the male and female encircling each other and tapping each other with their forelegs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The presence of the red velvet mite is very critical to the environment. I liken their existence to that of "team players"; their role, along with other beneficial terrestrial arthropods, being to participate in the decomposition process within the soil matter, and humus of the forest floor. Due to their parasitism in the larval stage and appetite in their mature stage, they also play an important role in pest control. It is very interesting that such a tiny organism plays such an integral part of maintaining a healthy ecosystem. </div>Lisa Sellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11709548876839559933noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926910287628946860.post-68063396076619418852011-03-21T19:49:00.000-04:002011-03-24T00:02:13.704-04:00Tiny Aquatic Wonders!Late last summer when I discovered the superb camouflage system that a lacewing larva utilizes for survival, I thought it was one of the most ingenious things mother nature could come up with! Well, now that spring has sprung, my camera and curiosity have revealed yet another huge, yet tiny marvel!!<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>Maybe I should have named this post, "The Art of Incognito." Incognito is synonymous with concealed, camouflaged, disguised, hidden, and unrecognized; words that definitely describe the appearance of the fragile <b>Caddisfly Larvae</b>. Keep in mind that I have never seen or heard of a caddisfly, but I have done a lot of reading since observing this species in the cold, clear streams at Wildcat Hollow, part of the Wayne National Forest near Burr Oak.</div><div><br />
</div><div>First of all, an adult Caddisfly (order Trichoptera) resembles a small moth with long antennas that is mostly active at night. Some have patterned wings, while others are dull-colored. They are attracted to light as most moths are. What I was fascinated with, however, is the larval stage of this delicate little creature. Take a look at this macro shot to see the beauty of the protection plan that this larva has literally put into place.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pQR7RVbUQJmmUo0HqvV8IycrNw3hwD2XCzUReJYkF-9twwQ_rtPebi8Ld1yYeFEQdJfpl6D0484kpMc3l34ruq6MMqTZDZO2XgKrwnw6mvg1rRstw9nU0VcRtLxu_JFczu2zH0mrH50/s1600/DSC_3739caddisflylarvae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pQR7RVbUQJmmUo0HqvV8IycrNw3hwD2XCzUReJYkF-9twwQ_rtPebi8Ld1yYeFEQdJfpl6D0484kpMc3l34ruq6MMqTZDZO2XgKrwnw6mvg1rRstw9nU0VcRtLxu_JFczu2zH0mrH50/s640/DSC_3739caddisflylarvae.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPlMihE8XZJKubC2NMKRoMOlyrG-YqzNGN5nLCiaJhp8JAqO-K8J0ZmUSWpWcoFGBnmKKuBxg34w5nHr4I8ZWeCMav57S5hIU8pbABnGQcfCDT8jMNXJDjBYlrKjqNSL_nhRdqwc0TR4/s1600/DSC_3738caddisflylarvae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPlMihE8XZJKubC2NMKRoMOlyrG-YqzNGN5nLCiaJhp8JAqO-K8J0ZmUSWpWcoFGBnmKKuBxg34w5nHr4I8ZWeCMav57S5hIU8pbABnGQcfCDT8jMNXJDjBYlrKjqNSL_nhRdqwc0TR4/s640/DSC_3738caddisflylarvae.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a>The larval stage is completely aquatic, and this photo shows this particular larva crawling and feeding along the bottom of a stream. (I'm shooting through the surface of the water. The depth was about 5 inches). </div></div><div><br />
</div><div>A Caddisfly larva looks somewhat like a tiny worm or caterpillar. The larvae have devised a system of protection by taking bits of materials from whatever environment they are living in, and constructing a case from those materials, which they will live inside throughout this stage of their life. This casing becomes a mobile shelter. They pull it around with them wherever they go. As you can see, this case perfectly matches their environment, and if you aren't looking very closely, you would never even notice the hundreds of these little guys that may be present. (Believe me, there were hundreds of these little beauties in the streams at Wildcat Hollow). A large population is actually a great thing; it is an indicator of a healthy stream, as they cannot survive in polluted water.</div><div><br />
</div><div>The larva constructs the case by first spinning a silken net around their body, which acts like a "glue" to which they can attach materials from their surroundings. (Remember, this is all done under water, and frequently it is rather swift-moving water). This particular little guy has cut up tiny pieces of leaf and bark and overlapped them much like shingles or tiles around the length of his body. The colors and patterns are just gorgeous on some of them! I truly consider them little architects and artists! Actually, there are several different species of caddisflies, and they are identified by the materials the larvae choose for their casings. Some use bits of leaves and bark (like the one pictured above), while others use plant material and twigs. Still others will use grains of sand, small rocks and pieces of shells. There is even a species that uses just the silk netting, and one type of species that doesn't use a casing at all. Interestingly, if you take one of these larva out of its case, put it into an aquarium of beads, colored stones, colored sands, etc., it will construct a beautiful casing from these artificial materials! </div><div><br />
</div><div>The picture below is of a caddisfly larva with a much more crudely constructed casing. I don't know if he has outgrown his case, or if this is a different species that uses bigger pieces of bark and twigs. The twig along his side was "glued" to the bark on his back in quite a different fashion than the other ones I observed.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9P_ITpBJlFH_2_o863GmxmDV4kbMKZZ6fSzIb-hpINLCq7SxHMSa-msRzLstvg7IP8nDtQ1W7GLx7VpSVvtpkAvQsW2S2sxKxNU_OPq-m2ZeV1eiJ3HMUDUpdIPjK4SbnKlz6yYbaDVQ/s1600/DSC_3707caddisfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9P_ITpBJlFH_2_o863GmxmDV4kbMKZZ6fSzIb-hpINLCq7SxHMSa-msRzLstvg7IP8nDtQ1W7GLx7VpSVvtpkAvQsW2S2sxKxNU_OPq-m2ZeV1eiJ3HMUDUpdIPjK4SbnKlz6yYbaDVQ/s640/DSC_3707caddisfly.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div>Indubitably, SURVIVAL is of extreme importance in every species, whether it be plant or animal. Every form of life miraculously has a plan and a purpose. These little organisms didn't even have to complete Survival Skills 101 in order to learn this tactic...it is just the way nature is programmed through evolution. </div><div><br />
</div><div>As the larva outgrows its casing, it simply builds another one. It will spend several months, even up to a year in this stage, and then as it begins to reach maturity, it will attach the case to something substantial in the stream, and seal itself up to pupate. After the pupa has developed into an adult, it cuts itself out of the casing and swims or crawls to the surface as quickly as possible (to avoid being eaten). After climbing onto a rock or leaf, the adult sheds its pupal membrane and emerges as an oxygen-breathing adult caddisfly and flies away! The adult then spends most of its short life mating and laying eggs on the water.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Needless to say, caddisfly larvae are a very important piece of a healthy ecosystem. The larvae feed on dead plant and animal material in the streams, thus breaking down matter and cleaning the water, and also provide food for fish, salamanders, frogs, and other aquatic organisms.</div><div><br />
</div><div>The next time you are around a stream, look very closely for tiny elongated bits of leaves or gravel that appear to be making their way along the bottom. Chances are you will be observing this little aquatic wonder!<br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A Copiousness of Crayfish!</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNgmpFOlr1cF53pLVh434u-krDBkzOkOpXdU4EY51k5ZlEVH3t1WtzsarAI_d919Ou7UF21RzJWYBatAueDjfhwA5RJ3LHV6E9xR1c-zErVsBCwD92vohvVqwWfjdi6Q-q9osVKwyP0WY/s1600/DSC_3762tinycrawdad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNgmpFOlr1cF53pLVh434u-krDBkzOkOpXdU4EY51k5ZlEVH3t1WtzsarAI_d919Ou7UF21RzJWYBatAueDjfhwA5RJ3LHV6E9xR1c-zErVsBCwD92vohvVqwWfjdi6Q-q9osVKwyP0WY/s640/DSC_3762tinycrawdad.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The streams were certainly busy today, with an abundance of aquatic life forms, including several of these 1/2-inch long "baby" crawfish. They quickly dashed in and out between rocks and submerged leaves as if they were intentionally teasing me! They were almost opaque and just barely discernible against the texture of the rocky stream bottom. They would literally disappear in an instant, and it was a real challenge getting a clear picture of one due to their almost microscopic size and quick as a wink mobility. These freshwater crustaceans, like the other creatures in this particular blog, are also great indicators of healthy streams. They absolutely cannot tolerate polluted water, which says a lot for the streams at Wildcat Hollow since there were LOTS of them!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Southern 2-Lined Salamander Larvae</span></b><br />
<br />
Once you start scrutinizing every tiny little thing in a stream, it is really amazing at the myriad of creatures you will see moving about! Seriously, there are organisms of all shapes and sizes scurrying, swimming, crawling and generally going about their business in this aqueous environment. As I was trying to focus on a minuscule crawdad darting about under the rocks, I noticed this salamander peering into a hole in a fairly calm portion of the water. The hole looked deep and black, and the salamander seemed very curious as to what was in it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fokhX9FcqoKJzC50iXW3v_NBMOFOOl5_ZIvW4tEolMoUrC8m-6RBj-tYUDHN721e0yL9nNoXKWGZ6DQcE8VRRR5CqaBngt_PSxV44DcPBQ2V6_mfFMrI4cTxCqIUOS2V7kcXZXYC_Zw/s1600/DSC_3746salamander.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fokhX9FcqoKJzC50iXW3v_NBMOFOOl5_ZIvW4tEolMoUrC8m-6RBj-tYUDHN721e0yL9nNoXKWGZ6DQcE8VRRR5CqaBngt_PSxV44DcPBQ2V6_mfFMrI4cTxCqIUOS2V7kcXZXYC_Zw/s640/DSC_3746salamander.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> Luckily the water in these particular streams are amazingly clear. After a few seconds he lifted his head and I could see that he was not yet mature due to the presence of gills on the sides of his head (resembling feathery projections), as you can see on the picture below. I believe this whopping 1 1/2-inch long at best critter, to be a <b>Southern 2-lined salamander larvae</b>. I could be mistaken, but after looking at pictures of all the different species of salamanders that live in streams in Ohio, the Southern 2-lined salamander is what I feel he most closely resembles. There are actually 25 species of salamanders in Ohio, but 10 species utilize the flowing waters of streams, where they will deposit eggs and develop as larvae.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6HF3XBpvDBpGHgAQj5BiND4U92MD7Y84Pl8Xb2veWKb9U3nF_hJemUQyfnedoQzUnoqqvN6bV6qkX8R7AV-7K9XOLjNa2KbAufvjYm_g3AbVffPHIDEeGMt4FTduj-dK1S5JgsRa-vo/s1600/DSC_3751youngsalamander.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6HF3XBpvDBpGHgAQj5BiND4U92MD7Y84Pl8Xb2veWKb9U3nF_hJemUQyfnedoQzUnoqqvN6bV6qkX8R7AV-7K9XOLjNa2KbAufvjYm_g3AbVffPHIDEeGMt4FTduj-dK1S5JgsRa-vo/s640/DSC_3751youngsalamander.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Simply getting a picture did not satisfy my need to know more about this miniature vertebrate, so I began my quest to learn more about him. The Southern 2-Lined Salamander is from the family Plethodontidae, or Lungless Salamander. The larvae of this particular species are aquatic and will remain in this stage for up to 2 years, but become semi-aquatic when mature. At this point after metamorphosis, they will lose their gills but will still lack lungs. Respiration is conducted through the skin and specialized tissues lining their mouth. Once mature, the skin of these salamanders must be kept moist, so they live in damp environments and may be found near streams in moist leaf litter, under rocks, decaying logs, etc.<br />
<br />
The presence of this species and other salamanders can be considered a good indication of healthy streams, ponds, rivers, vernal pools and basically all environments in which they live and breed. Ohio has a monitoring program in place to study and document the populations of certain species of salamanders to more closely understand how they interact with possible changes in water and environmental conditions. Their population can be threatened if their habitat is disturbed or polluted, so careful monitoring is crucial. Salamanders are also protected by law in Ohio and permits are required for collection or capture. I hope to discover and photograph many more of the beautiful and interesting species of amphibians as spring continues to encourage new life!</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div>Lisa Sellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11709548876839559933noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926910287628946860.post-9509444415215713442010-12-12T00:38:00.000-05:002010-12-12T12:15:09.717-05:00Alien-like ArthropodsThe insect world definitely contains some totally wacky, creepy, kooky creatures! In fact, viewing some species through my macro lens conjures up ideas of aliens, sci-fi and fantasy! Take for instance our first exhibit...when I first saw him he was literally a tiny, moving dot on a leaf. But, a peek through my camera viewfinder made me wonder what in the world (or out of this world) he was! Seriously, look at those eyes! That translucent shield and those spiked legs are just freaky!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCJJ7fIEoccsAPb0QE0F9sdNICWAiwOEBjjNqi45Im3MIkTvv6KoF_Kqua96SfRMI1UBTmny8UnMEgNsRjTFKZPciFS7ymCB0NRpTWex69ZiLyAue0hJGAFwnzGNuJwWe6t4SmTh7EAk/s1600/_DSC5641copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCJJ7fIEoccsAPb0QE0F9sdNICWAiwOEBjjNqi45Im3MIkTvv6KoF_Kqua96SfRMI1UBTmny8UnMEgNsRjTFKZPciFS7ymCB0NRpTWex69ZiLyAue0hJGAFwnzGNuJwWe6t4SmTh7EAk/s640/_DSC5641copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Actually this very common member of "Arthropoda" is known as a <b>Leafhopper</b>. For those wondering what an arthropod is, it is the largest animal group on earth. This group of animals include the invertebrates (animals without backbones). Arthropods are identified as having an exoskeleton, segmented body and jointed appendages, and includes the insects, arachnids and crustaceans. By the way, arthropods are the most successful animals on the planet! <br />
<br />
Ok, back to our leafhopper. They belong to the family Cicadellidae in the order Hemiptera. This particular one has not yet reached maturity so it is referred to as a "nymph". Leafhoppers eat plant sap so they have piercing-sucking mouthparts and rows of spine-like setae (hairs) on their hind legs. I have no idea which species this might be! He was actually very beautifully colored. His body was basically a mint green, with pinkish legs and yellow eyes trimmed in bright orange. The large eyes provide this insect with excellent sight and the REALLY long legs enable him to make a lickity-split hop out of sight if necessary! Now you see him...now you don't!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBIcikoBQr3fYcTq1VjYbk9OKepUHPnyC1lTdTTTi7axh0tPQMU6uf9GbmvUmTCg2z1vyUihhnsBk_wbvFnJ0Noa09igGV9FB2UlzowQGSELPlhPopie2iTLHDRnVBf3-TxSGYglhLzY/s1600/_DSC5647copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBIcikoBQr3fYcTq1VjYbk9OKepUHPnyC1lTdTTTi7axh0tPQMU6uf9GbmvUmTCg2z1vyUihhnsBk_wbvFnJ0Noa09igGV9FB2UlzowQGSELPlhPopie2iTLHDRnVBf3-TxSGYglhLzY/s640/_DSC5647copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Leafhoppers are found in every habitat that supports vascular plants, on every continent and ecosystem in the world. These insects have changed very little since the time of the dinosaurs. In fact there are some regions that contain leafhopper fossils from 35-55 million years ago that are indistinguishable from species found today in those same regions. Like many other insects, they communicate with each other by producing songs through special sound-producing organs on their abdomens called "tymbals". Of course, these songs are inaudible to the human ear. I read when an adult sits on a leaf and calls to a mate, the song makes the plant vibrate! Interesting, huh?<br />
<br />
The picture below is of an adult leafhopper (probably not the same species as the nymph pictured above). This is the <b>Red-banded Leafhopper</b> (Graphocephala coccinea), also known as the<b> Candy-striped Leafhopper </b>or the <b>Scarlet and Green Leafhopper.</b> Many leafhopper species are brilliantly colored and patterned, although others are green/brown. This one is secreting "honeydew" (see the droplet at the end of the abdomen). Honeydew is a sweet substance that is produced after digesting the plant sap, and it is eaten by ants, wasps and other insects that are attracted to sweets.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhn1sDKosYKoU2lNAxHXN4VTELlt4nCa_FBRrNfL9-CF5UtZb87f1vqG3x-k8ux8kwMsqh3a6YGBZUq2htAJfARomvQvP_oct98nagqIu3AFLCtRhOu8qcf2VXlwlfJ2mVtkASe-zXCTQ/s1600/_DSC6661redbandedleafhopper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhn1sDKosYKoU2lNAxHXN4VTELlt4nCa_FBRrNfL9-CF5UtZb87f1vqG3x-k8ux8kwMsqh3a6YGBZUq2htAJfARomvQvP_oct98nagqIu3AFLCtRhOu8qcf2VXlwlfJ2mVtkASe-zXCTQ/s640/_DSC6661redbandedleafhopper.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Phlox Plant Bug</b> (Lopidea Davisi)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSzvqKFXKhBf_WEYx17tVXYZM4dck-VjzquWPT8nVjCs3ycroJpOsXk4I7kqlhWkDVNf4COosoRj3XfIhq3_qFjZDdWE1jkMcgmxdzcYDjGdjE018f8HHT5hSgoklq58OHo1eMR0Y0x8/s1600/_DSC5916copy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSzvqKFXKhBf_WEYx17tVXYZM4dck-VjzquWPT8nVjCs3ycroJpOsXk4I7kqlhWkDVNf4COosoRj3XfIhq3_qFjZDdWE1jkMcgmxdzcYDjGdjE018f8HHT5hSgoklq58OHo1eMR0Y0x8/s640/_DSC5916copy2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The proboscis on this <b>Phlox Plant Bug </b>looks like your grandmother's darning needle! As you can see, this insect has piercing-sucking mouth parts that are used to inject tissue-dissolving saliva into a plant, then suck up the fluids. This bug has developed such a liking to the phlox plant, it was named after it! The phlox plant bug feeds on and breeds on wild phlox, but is considered a pest of cultivated phlox.<br />
<br />
The early morning dew drop really puts the size of this insect into perspective! He may be small, but his coloration speaks LOUD AND CLEAR! His bright orange and black aposematic colors act as an "advertisement" to predators that he may be toxic or distasteful (part of his survival plan)! Aposematism is an adaptation in nature that allows an organism to escape harm by mimicking other organisms that are harmful to predators if eaten. Colors, sounds, odors or other characteristics are displayed that can "fool" predators to believe they will be toxic if eaten. In this case, the coloration is a well-known "red flag" to predators that this meal could be bad!<br />
<br />
The picture below clearly demonstrates how this insect is easily able to puncture and gorge himself on plant juice!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSIRNrVyY4qfl01RpWnN1TxANDKzpCDcIBQPQpnNZZFO0DBBNtHTCFBSj3z8ZNjCGw5DL-hfzU41eRsIlTmFjs0lFl53Gh4g6khjBfH73Wlfv29DVroBfVhzxO6UkpGihniGcNi7Wmjk/s1600/_DSC5913phloxplantbug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSIRNrVyY4qfl01RpWnN1TxANDKzpCDcIBQPQpnNZZFO0DBBNtHTCFBSj3z8ZNjCGw5DL-hfzU41eRsIlTmFjs0lFl53Gh4g6khjBfH73Wlfv29DVroBfVhzxO6UkpGihniGcNi7Wmjk/s640/_DSC5913phloxplantbug.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
This next creature is the <b>Virginia Ctenuchid Moth</b> (Ctenuchid Virginica). I saw him feeding in a large, quiet meadow in West Virginia and was attracted to his brilliance and long dark wings. I thought they appeared similar to a long dark cloak. In fact, if Gotham City existed in the insect world, this would definitely be the Caped Crusader aka Batman! I definitely see a resemblance! This beautiful moth has a striking appearance with his metallic blue-green thorax that is accented by his bright yellow-orange head. I believe this is a female because the male has magnificent feathery antennas. This one's antennas are not nearly as feathery as those of the handsome male. The adults fly primarily in the daytime and feed on nectar.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcNsMn16p_pczutyr8xgFUDk0yQ8HmVOcJm-Zpyz0iG6_xK8VpGMueymKOm1bilc9gAF61Skgpe0gxJUbq6CE2KTaWswN48hhZGBizSOajkTqHUESLlofNtQ1xqyBEuqUNbjaKkWIl5Y/s1600/_DSC6441virginia+ctenuchid+moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcNsMn16p_pczutyr8xgFUDk0yQ8HmVOcJm-Zpyz0iG6_xK8VpGMueymKOm1bilc9gAF61Skgpe0gxJUbq6CE2KTaWswN48hhZGBizSOajkTqHUESLlofNtQ1xqyBEuqUNbjaKkWIl5Y/s640/_DSC6441virginia+ctenuchid+moth.jpg" width="580" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
Yikes! Now this one does look very alien-like! This bizarre bug is a <b>Crane Fly </b>(genus Nephrotoma). I wont' even try to guess the species since there are so many that are similar. This gangling fellow may resemble a giant mosquito, but he actually belongs to a group of harmless flies. They do not bite and in fact, most adults do not even eat. They have a very short life span of about 10-15 days. The most important function of the adult is mating and egg-laying and they require water more than they require food. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbL_0IVLf5DQeaQylEp_3CJxB1LbCu4bgcrjtwbqdPZmtrmgYf5E2myRxsJ8pjVHAgmKAP3bASawnbLmfXT2lLOlar9Jzt9b0il2i27df6h1yItWszYHMa2eYv9Vk-IvkA257XfzGAPpQ/s1600/_DSC5998cranefly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbL_0IVLf5DQeaQylEp_3CJxB1LbCu4bgcrjtwbqdPZmtrmgYf5E2myRxsJ8pjVHAgmKAP3bASawnbLmfXT2lLOlar9Jzt9b0il2i27df6h1yItWszYHMa2eYv9Vk-IvkA257XfzGAPpQ/s640/_DSC5998cranefly.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Crane flies serve an important role in the ecosystem, as the larva and adults serve as a food source for many animals such as birds, frogs, lizards, spiders, dragonflies and many other insects. The crane fly larvae are detritus feeders (they eat organic material), which helps to enrich and renew the soil.<br />
<br />
They are rather strange looking, but I still think they are beautiful in their own way!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Here is another type of fly known as the <b>Marsh Fly</b> (family Sciomyzidae). This odd-looking insect is actually also known as "snail killer" because they will lay eggs on snails, slugs and other mollusks, and the larvae will then parasitize the organism.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKQbVXeFiCtKbzt6ddb43ln9HfSjEwpAcNJ5vvEguIp8ktJaUAjz79H1qL2_sJtlhfHNkhWS1zoOKygAccwLiFL5LWHsODhEV6j4BXU-mJEsOgr3sDXfAdgy9Rjuat5aSfjqv3OjyUj0/s1600/_DSC6663marsh+fly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKQbVXeFiCtKbzt6ddb43ln9HfSjEwpAcNJ5vvEguIp8ktJaUAjz79H1qL2_sJtlhfHNkhWS1zoOKygAccwLiFL5LWHsODhEV6j4BXU-mJEsOgr3sDXfAdgy9Rjuat5aSfjqv3OjyUj0/s640/_DSC6663marsh+fly.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> The marsh fly is slender, has prominent eyes, forward pointing antennas and bristles on the upper hind legs. They have various brown markings on their wings that differ with each species. They feed on dew, nectar and tree sap. They are found around ponds, rivers, and marshy areas throughout North America where there are abundant snails and mollusks that serve as the food source for their larvae.<br />
<br />
<br />
Lord of June! This is one of the names given to the <b>Common Green Darner </b>(Anax junius).<br />
This very large dragonfly resembles a fighter pilot as he patrols swiftly back and forth over his hunting grounds on ponds, lakes and other bodies of water. They are one of the fastest and largest dragonflies in North America. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZ3lWXU831X7bOfVlO1HtyBe-RbheUWSQ4FIQHCVuEuWoc4U87i1-OYjKWo4WEEML8hPkr-jHfTrl_AeFGCWo0fSF71oFi15pnQh6gBWqH37xCoxkx9Yk8cN1cZdPauSg4SQmk69b4N8/s1600/DSC_0171greendarner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZ3lWXU831X7bOfVlO1HtyBe-RbheUWSQ4FIQHCVuEuWoc4U87i1-OYjKWo4WEEML8hPkr-jHfTrl_AeFGCWo0fSF71oFi15pnQh6gBWqH37xCoxkx9Yk8cN1cZdPauSg4SQmk69b4N8/s640/DSC_0171greendarner.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They have also been referred to as "mosquito hawks" because they feed on many insects harmful to humans, especially mosquitoes. This agile, carnivorous predator has tremendous flying speeds and astounding eyesight that enable them to grab their prey right out of the air. They have powerful jaws and a huge appetite, which is a terror to winged insects that cross their path, but very beneficial to us! Their green and blue markings are very brilliant, and the wings shimmer in the sunlight. I love to watch them hunt and hear the sound of their wings as they do fly-by's! I was very lucky to find this one warming up in the sun...you won't see them land very often! </div>Lisa Sellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11709548876839559933noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926910287628946860.post-61238539018427835612010-11-28T21:53:00.000-05:002010-11-30T16:04:38.187-05:00The LiquidatorThis title may bring to mind a violent character in a mafia movie, but the term "Liquidator" also accurately describes the feeding behavior of this lovely but deadly orange invertebrate. Meet the <b>Assassin Bug!</b> This particular one is a nymph, meaning he has not yet reached maturity. They go through different growth stages before becoming an adult. His physical appearance will change somewhat and he will also grow wings by the time he reaches his final stage of maturity.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FvhgSh_Xhan4ZZm_tVBKaBKsCBKOg9wfl1AsyymhxK-dTNcHIrIPX8ir9HVBXuapQAZnZhsj83pVoXH2N8JH0yAfBNH2qeuFIS46Nxu3pLqlPQ6ZlrRlSMcmmssDq8cVgqCUFvaDpRY/s1600/_DSC6271leafhopperassassinnymph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FvhgSh_Xhan4ZZm_tVBKaBKsCBKOg9wfl1AsyymhxK-dTNcHIrIPX8ir9HVBXuapQAZnZhsj83pVoXH2N8JH0yAfBNH2qeuFIS46Nxu3pLqlPQ6ZlrRlSMcmmssDq8cVgqCUFvaDpRY/s640/_DSC6271leafhopperassassinnymph.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
So what is so intimidating about the behavior of this orange, spiny creature? Well, the following is proper dining etiquette according to this species:<br />
<br />
The Assassin Bug will either lie in wait to ambush his prey or will stalk it, and then aggressively grab it with its powerful forelegs and plunge its "beak" (proper word is rostrum) into the unfortunate prey's body, pumping a powerful dose of lethal toxin into the tissues, which paralyzes the victim, then liquefies his insides. The Assassin Bug then guzzles up the gooey goodness through the same straw-like tube that he used to impale the victim with. Depending on the size of dinner, the Assassin Bug may feed for up to an hour to get every last bit of ooze. (Ahh, good to the last drop...wait, isn't that a Maxwell House slogan?) If that thought isn't bad enough, keep in mind that this insect is not afraid to attack something much bigger than itself! The potent poison is capable of liquefying a small insect in as little as 3 seconds and can even "do the job" on a very large caterpillar in as little as 7 or 8 seconds!<br />
<br />
As I stated above, this nymph will change somewhat in appearance, but most Assassin Bugs share some general characteristics...an elongated head, narrow neck, long legs, and the prominent tube for feeding (rostrum). The rostrum can be a surprising weapon, containing tiny needles (stylets) that are used to puncture the food source, but while not in use it is held curved up toward the underside of of the body. The end of the rostrum is often held into a groove called the prosternum. Notice how in some pictures the rostrum is tucked under, and other times, during hunting, it is swung forward. Interestingly, the insect can rasp the rostrum against ridges in the prosternum to produce sound--a tactic often used as an attempt to deter predators. If this warning doesn't work, the agitator receives a quick, painful stab.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBXKopLYsR2KG-KG7otFlhcUa5N6lGJ9PPiw_DuYCgJ5Hdw7cftqZGY8NP8lk82uewhi3lpAkXfnvI8bXhsBsdelVfj5UuGCdzY4-9I9t6J-mQBlQQP1TMuPO8y4Uy73TaE5T-URA3CM/s1600/_DSC6269assassinbug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBXKopLYsR2KG-KG7otFlhcUa5N6lGJ9PPiw_DuYCgJ5Hdw7cftqZGY8NP8lk82uewhi3lpAkXfnvI8bXhsBsdelVfj5UuGCdzY4-9I9t6J-mQBlQQP1TMuPO8y4Uy73TaE5T-URA3CM/s640/_DSC6269assassinbug.jpg" width="562" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice the many spines present on the nymph stage. Magnification shows tiny stiff hairs at the top of each spine. I am guessing this is a defensive characteristic for this young insect. It looks like he means business at both ends!! Abdominal dorsal spines are not present on the dorsal surface of the adult, and the adult's abdomen becomes more flattened.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
There are thousands of species of Assassin Bugs that live in fields and forests world-wide. Mexico, Central America, and South America even have a species that likes to co-habitate with humans, and they have been known to transmit a potentially fatal disease called "Chagas Disease". We don't need to worry about that here in our part of the United States though. There is, however, a species commonly called the "kissing bug," because it lurks around at night in homes and will bite humans on the lips! This one is not prevalent in our immediate area either, but lives in the more Southwestern part of the United States. Some assassin bugs kill specific insects<br />
<br />
That being said, you should still respect the species we have in our area because although they are normally a slow-moving, mind-their-own-business type of bug, they will inflict a very painful defensive bite if handled carelessly. Their "bite" is actually the same process they use to kill their prey...they will stab your skin and inject the same toxin into your tissues that is used to paralyze and kill insects, and this could cause necrosis cells at the injured site, causing burning and pain initially, and then an itchy lump later. There may even be a few individuals that are sensitive to the bite and they may experience a swollen tongue, larynx or difficulty breathing (as in bee sting allergies).<br />
<br />
I felt very fortunate to be able to observe this Assassin Bug nymph as he was walking and hunting along the tops of some Queen Anne's Lace blooms in a field at Clear Creek Metro Park. This was the first of this species I've seen, and I thought he was strikingly beautiful. I loved the way he kept his eyes on me the entire time that I kept my eyes (and camera) on him. He literally watched every move I made. He had a very slow, deliberate pace as he moved from petal to petal of the flowers, carefully moving one leg at a time. I'm not sure, but I would imagine this "stealth walk" decreases the chance of him being noticed by his potential prey. The following are a series of pictures I took just because I loved observing him...His steady eye never leaving mine! By the way, these insects are actually very beneficial in controlling harmful insect populations. They do much more good than harm regarding their impact on humans. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGDPe3r5Wvjx4H7if1YPqoZQIuRxCJKYwnnAGzpQv0I0vm-QRjlCD2RXIfDGOhLxrtbkqq1t0mii8xJDovveuqPDbM2NjUOQ_-9-YeYmw-VDeoSm7unTafgqIAhyphenhyphenFoG4Ed9lauxOpdaI/s1600/_DSC6273assassin+bug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGDPe3r5Wvjx4H7if1YPqoZQIuRxCJKYwnnAGzpQv0I0vm-QRjlCD2RXIfDGOhLxrtbkqq1t0mii8xJDovveuqPDbM2NjUOQ_-9-YeYmw-VDeoSm7unTafgqIAhyphenhyphenFoG4Ed9lauxOpdaI/s640/_DSC6273assassin+bug.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpU6W4iQOOONmsGxR_M8IND6aDelnNuehR9WnyMKAbqVgrxLs287yOCZFKs-Xb7JdAKbFZ2e9GYAXRUuEgfwFMf4WwZyQwV_aA2YkE3-8WnLctw6bi59H7x9mkezEUzIwr5YbyljeOZ5c/s1600/_DSC6279assassinbug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpU6W4iQOOONmsGxR_M8IND6aDelnNuehR9WnyMKAbqVgrxLs287yOCZFKs-Xb7JdAKbFZ2e9GYAXRUuEgfwFMf4WwZyQwV_aA2YkE3-8WnLctw6bi59H7x9mkezEUzIwr5YbyljeOZ5c/s640/_DSC6279assassinbug.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was kind of comical how he was observing me from behind this leaf. I thought it was cute at the time, but maybe he was sizing ME up??</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1XEhVDj-1OCQFgg3u_RXnNPGT0WRoQVw8zH3rbpu0-9KJsbVt6uYhrAezPNImffDaHUysvvswkEP00DYbdTNC3SBWZdzfEniJ1FO4CQq5EU5V-dPfrHEMkjkyYYAniFtI1pWDUDxH-So/s1600/_DSC6282assassinbug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1XEhVDj-1OCQFgg3u_RXnNPGT0WRoQVw8zH3rbpu0-9KJsbVt6uYhrAezPNImffDaHUysvvswkEP00DYbdTNC3SBWZdzfEniJ1FO4CQq5EU5V-dPfrHEMkjkyYYAniFtI1pWDUDxH-So/s640/_DSC6282assassinbug.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNAEaHK_fZr04HzAk_r9C5WgLiCTx-P984frIN2TTBMol3s4e56Vhir0MhmpUib4W7PlY7le4JV10amODO4OV3oChVuWZuJ7sUK2R0wy58jwb_5kuZPGc9VZbB4kbawZgihKTSV9_nlX8/s1600/_DSC6283assassinbug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNAEaHK_fZr04HzAk_r9C5WgLiCTx-P984frIN2TTBMol3s4e56Vhir0MhmpUib4W7PlY7le4JV10amODO4OV3oChVuWZuJ7sUK2R0wy58jwb_5kuZPGc9VZbB4kbawZgihKTSV9_nlX8/s640/_DSC6283assassinbug.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmQit5PBBOL2TT_6ECIqKEACmbBSV06JAe3qc4duv9utfgKSOAoz5PwkwuCWmbWAETOekZLoMSmdTKUgaLR3QwVyjnC2681K5R1_KW4ZHRms9OKMOb1OjzKv6yA6l3u8cJvT3MmRLsKE/s1600/_DSC6290assassinbug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmQit5PBBOL2TT_6ECIqKEACmbBSV06JAe3qc4duv9utfgKSOAoz5PwkwuCWmbWAETOekZLoMSmdTKUgaLR3QwVyjnC2681K5R1_KW4ZHRms9OKMOb1OjzKv6yA6l3u8cJvT3MmRLsKE/s640/_DSC6290assassinbug.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIE_Ems8if0ZLUu9zqatBvoYA-Iu5GoxQs6n1lpfA6oSTCgSGTPTtqOSafYViqKuXtE3nww185l3sRg5hG2rv_Qk0mkxB4YiTQz4p9f8XCCr3jKNpv3zZq_-BDSKfOFpm5m290rAUI9As/s1600/_DSC6300assassinbug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIE_Ems8if0ZLUu9zqatBvoYA-Iu5GoxQs6n1lpfA6oSTCgSGTPTtqOSafYViqKuXtE3nww185l3sRg5hG2rv_Qk0mkxB4YiTQz4p9f8XCCr3jKNpv3zZq_-BDSKfOFpm5m290rAUI9As/s640/_DSC6300assassinbug.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks like an aphid lunch!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1ZMEzCv7VjWPWrnoXp9NdAQ6RCjIV9diS3Ov8bAL00a78gfDg5B5Z_lpFjnHH4IQ6nYdI5lpsBNXUPpoIG7kNWj9XlkjEN-qyE3snYY4eViuStQ-CP5oy0No3K50vxoiioHIv1tdZfI/s1600/_DSC6301assassinbug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1ZMEzCv7VjWPWrnoXp9NdAQ6RCjIV9diS3Ov8bAL00a78gfDg5B5Z_lpFjnHH4IQ6nYdI5lpsBNXUPpoIG7kNWj9XlkjEN-qyE3snYY4eViuStQ-CP5oy0No3K50vxoiioHIv1tdZfI/s640/_DSC6301assassinbug.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
The genus Pselliopus is distinguished by the black banded, bright orange bodies. believe the species in this blog is the <b>Pselliopus cinctus</b>, which is very similar to Pselliopus barberi. (It is hard make a positive ID of a nymph, but these two species are the common ones found in the Eastern United States). The bands are black and white on the cinctus and orange and black on the barberi. Dennis Profant, Entomology and Natural Resources instructor at Hocking College helped me to identify this one because of the confusion between the similar species (there is yet another species that also has the same coloration, but is only found in the western states). Insect identification sure gets confusing...I'm sure glad I have Kaufman's Field Guide to Insects and an Entomology instructor as a friend!Lisa Sellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11709548876839559933noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926910287628946860.post-44818313792016309212010-11-26T01:44:00.000-05:002010-11-26T01:59:17.441-05:00There's gold in them thar weeds!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvjJfQV8WoUiRBtOuX-8b8JCDE2W3d3-1gO69gP7icXhuuAQXY-mLBxCxrvUi9fTm6CkYtTf9DXGUV4ABqy28LShL6Pi0sD_8EOC675CdiNOpjawcBrQHtSg695IuJdH59cLfPjNuXQU/s1600/_DSC6078.mottledtortoisebeetle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvjJfQV8WoUiRBtOuX-8b8JCDE2W3d3-1gO69gP7icXhuuAQXY-mLBxCxrvUi9fTm6CkYtTf9DXGUV4ABqy28LShL6Pi0sD_8EOC675CdiNOpjawcBrQHtSg695IuJdH59cLfPjNuXQU/s640/_DSC6078.mottledtortoisebeetle.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Back in August while walking along a field, a tiny sparkle of gold near the ground caught my attention. This little glisten begged me for a closer look! Down on hands and knees, I discovered a gorgeous, yet odd-looking little creature that looked like a microscopic turtle with antennas! Just so happens this little insect is appropriately named the <b>Tortoise Beetl</b>e. There are actually 1400 different species (many brightly colored) in North America, but this particular one is the <b>Mottled Tortoise Beetle (Deloyala guttata).</b><br />
<br />
This miniature wonder is no more than 1/4 inch in diameter and sports a cool, colorful "shell" adorned with brilliant metallic gold splotches. The gold is super reflective! This shield flattens out around the edges and becomes nearly transparent, perfectly concealing the head and legs much like that of a tortoise (hence the name). I think they appear like they are encased in glass. These insects live and feed primarily on plants in the morning glory and bindweed family. The adults will spend their life among these plants and will lay eggs on the underside of the leaves. The larvae will hatch after a couple of weeks and they too, will immediately begin feeding on the leaves of the plant.<br />
<br />
Interestingly, the larvae of the tortoise beetle carries a shield of a different kind on its back...they have spiny bodies and a hooked abdomen that serves to excrete and deposit large amounts of excrement (poo), which they will carry around on their back for camouflage. This excrement sticks to the back, along with the skins that are shed during molting, creating quite an unsightly appearance that may cause prey to look elsewhere for a meal. (These little critters create quite a disgusting image with all that crap on their back). This protective barrier is called a "fecal shield," and they will continue this masquerade until they reach the adult stage.<br />
<br />
The larvae will continue to feed throughout the summer until they mature to adults, and will then overwinter in the debris at the base of the plant, where they will emerge the following summer.<br />
<br />
When summer arrives again, you can bet I will be crawling around the bindweed and honeysuckle vines looking for tiny holes in the leaves that will be evidence of the feeding tortoise beetles. They are not very tolerant when approached, and will fly away quickly, but I welcome the challenge to get a better photographic angle to capture the adorable face that is hidden under the transparent edge of that unique, "stained glass" shell!Lisa Sellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11709548876839559933noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926910287628946860.post-35793533263757231702010-11-14T03:07:00.000-05:002010-11-15T20:57:22.579-05:00Mother OakA couple of days ago my husband and I had the good fortune of meeting up with well-known Naturalist, Jim McCormac. He met us at Rhododendron Cove, which is a beautiful nature preserve, and led us on an enjoyable and informative hike. His passion for the outdoors was evident as he introduced us to the many birds, plants, insects and trees that thrive there. His keen ear and knowledge of "everything nature" made it effortless for him to identify every audible vocalization along the way, whether it be a chirp, cheep, buzz, screech, trill, tick or twitter!<br />
<br />
The three of us rambled along discussing the many things we encountered along the way as we enjoyed the warm temperatures and morning sun. Jim and Steve continued up the steep trail to view the rock formations and dense rhododendrons, but I decided to hang back and check out photo opportunities (specifically insects)!<br />
<br />
The leaf-littered footpath quickly turned into a "road to enlightenment" for me as I came upon a huge oak tree that would prove to be more than just a solitary stand of timber. I sat down at her base to look and listen. I find that when I sit very still and watch with a "soft gaze," things start to come to life! This is how I like to discover the many living creatures that inhabit wherever I happen to be.<br />
<br />
The texture of the bark suddenly began to reveal a microscopic world in full motion! It turns out this big, beautiful oak tree was serving as a sanctuary to various tiny, yet very significant organisms! I sat and observed the movement in the cracks and crevices of the thick textured bark, as well as where the trunk meets the damp soil beneath the leafy ground-cover. All of the "tenants" of the tree seemed too preoccupied with their own business to pay any mind to who or what else happened to be lurking around. It was amazing that Mother Nature had provided this oak as a guardian and safe haven for some creatures, yet some of the others were utilizing it for a stalking and hunting grounds. Somehow in nature this delicate balance works flawlessly and is a prime example of the yin and yang of life! The amazing part is that all of this energy was going on just three feet above the ground...that is not to mention the importance of what is happening 60 or 70 feet above in the canopy where yet another ecosystem thrives involving many birds, mammals and other insects!<br />
<br />
This blog includes my photographs, personal observations, and some research I did on the inhabitants of the lower portion of this living shelter I refer to as "Mother Oak".<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfNd1579dXbCITF0w1Fwfh23Nj16zqH312PbGMpOhO2ukJnn1_qiJ6Z20mt0bFym_9fjsFDBc5c5rfcQqKD_sykekFxyYf42-Mp2_fqWEgn1d1kdrBdGRienW6AOFPbRvb3Di_DxrHnA/s1600/DSC_0992arboridia+plena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfNd1579dXbCITF0w1Fwfh23Nj16zqH312PbGMpOhO2ukJnn1_qiJ6Z20mt0bFym_9fjsFDBc5c5rfcQqKD_sykekFxyYf42-Mp2_fqWEgn1d1kdrBdGRienW6AOFPbRvb3Di_DxrHnA/s640/DSC_0992arboridia+plena.jpg" width="536" /></a></div>This colorful, TINY insect (not quite the size of a grain of rice) is an O<b>range and White Leafhopper.</b> I believe this particular one may be <b>Arboridia plena.</b> There are around 20,000 different species and most are brightly colored with patterns of lines, patches and/or spots of various shades. There is a different leafhopper species for almost every type of plant. I have photographed other beautiful leafhoppers that I'll include in a future post.<br />
<br />
This particular one seemed to be seeking shelter in a crevice in the bark. He was so tiny I actually had trouble getting the camera to focus on him. These are sap-sucking insects and they have very powerful, spiny back legs that allow them to jump very high and quick. They have especially large eyes for their size to provide excellent visual acuity, which aids in their survival.<br />
<br />
An interesting note: They are also referred to as "sharpshooters" because they forcibly squirt out excrement in a fine stream of droplets from the huge volume of liquid they digest after feeding. Another interesting note is that they have sound-producing organs at the base of their abdomens. The "songs" that they produce are too faint to be heard by humans.<br />
<br />
There were several other leafhoppers that were hopping around between the base of the tree and the dried leaves. I saw bright green ones and other striped ones, but they were too fast for photos!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZObLxOHUHEN1Vo11Y8xtuT74nMl_kkJdcMzvJS6OOUTKKd3RlfU10fjnADUEhskI7JjZ8g4tMM5Nj9otf1m66LyKjYMSNPkZ0EoDbzApHvXSkiol1sOc8HRihx8uGcuOWXF2wxfywVbg/s1600/DSC_1009lacewinglarvaelichen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZObLxOHUHEN1Vo11Y8xtuT74nMl_kkJdcMzvJS6OOUTKKd3RlfU10fjnADUEhskI7JjZ8g4tMM5Nj9otf1m66LyKjYMSNPkZ0EoDbzApHvXSkiol1sOc8HRihx8uGcuOWXF2wxfywVbg/s640/DSC_1009lacewinglarvaelichen.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Here is the most exciting thing I happened to see! I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me as I watched this little piece of bark seem to walk and around and nestle itself into a tight little crack of the oak's bark. It became still, and then another tiny clump of bark-like material began walking around, then another and another. I had never seen anything like it before! The moving clumps were very soft to the touch. Jim and Steve had just come down from the top of the trail and Jim informed me that it was a <b>Lacewing Larvae. </b>What the arrow is pointing to is the clump of lichen that the larvae has attached onto its back! This incredible behavior serves two purposes: It completely conceals them so they can stalk their next meal-and it certainly works! You absolutely would not notice this tiny insect if you were not paying VERY CLOSE attention! They move fairly slowly, so they are almost undetectable. Some larva may even cover themselves with their victim's dried remains so they can continue to stalk and feed without the next victim even becoming suspicious!<br />
<br />
The other purpose this camouflage serves is to protect themselves. They blend so well into their surroundings that birds or other predators cannot detect them as food.<br />
<br />
These tiny insects are actually ferocious predators and have a huge appetite, eating as many as 100 insects per day. They devour aphids, scales, mealybugs, mites, whiteflies, and insect eggs. They are considered very beneficial in this larval stage, as they help to keep those harmful populations down. They have sharp, curved jaws that resemble ice picks and can easily impale their prey. Aphids are a favorite, and they will grab one, suck out their juices, throw the remains to the side and grab another. They have even been given the name "Aphid Lion!"<br />
<br />
These larvae will overwinter in the tree bark crevices or other protected places.<br />
<br />
The adult Lacewing is a delicate, pretty insect with wings that resemble translucent lace. They feed mostly on pollen and nectar, and supplement their diet with some mites and aphids.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitoUqREqt64yvHPhHqPbvaZe6cg5JSVGx9dtrjX3WLYgOqBB4NDBQ-l1ozJnPRMtoqQLOl3Ce3Wnpd3bnM8yLEbXAVzLGpxwimE4wOy4vO8KKiOGOel7O7qU1Be1FP9zmJedxoYw18-A/s1600/DSC_1014lacewinglarvae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitoUqREqt64yvHPhHqPbvaZe6cg5JSVGx9dtrjX3WLYgOqBB4NDBQ-l1ozJnPRMtoqQLOl3Ce3Wnpd3bnM8yLEbXAVzLGpxwimE4wOy4vO8KKiOGOel7O7qU1Be1FP9zmJedxoYw18-A/s640/DSC_1014lacewinglarvae.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Here you can get a glimpse of this amazing insect! Jim pulled one of the clumps off the tree so we could get a look at what was underneath. As you can see, that clump of lichen is really packed around that tiny body! This one seemed really agitated being upside-down. His tiny legs were kicking like mad! His abdomen is what is visible, so his head is still hidden under the clump. When Jim returned him to the tree, he stuck to it like velcro and continued his journey upward! I was really excited to be able to witness this cool and unusual display!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKnuX8ZK0T92Jjm8Nw4GQZD_pf_qV2PrtNYUs6ht3-d9fFWIFMWFp2hrgZIVvfPIoeU5H7TnN3zL5FSnhzRFYJJ5A8R8UCnsKVoWA3o7lnPYewQ9OyPKA_wQv8XidieORk8TusGub3Pg/s1600/DSC_0994lightning+bug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKnuX8ZK0T92Jjm8Nw4GQZD_pf_qV2PrtNYUs6ht3-d9fFWIFMWFp2hrgZIVvfPIoeU5H7TnN3zL5FSnhzRFYJJ5A8R8UCnsKVoWA3o7lnPYewQ9OyPKA_wQv8XidieORk8TusGub3Pg/s640/DSC_0994lightning+bug.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
This strange-looking fellow's common name is <b>Winter Firefly (Ellychnia corrusca). </b>This is another insect I have never seen before! They are a bit larger than the common lightning bug. There were several of these fireflies deeply tucked inside the cracks and crevices of their huge "Oak shelter". They tuck their heads under, displaying what resembles a shield against their body, and will overwinter in the crevice, and will become active once again in March. Mating will take place in April and May.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7w9qv0g54mLsEbnvPLV6-7uVcOMNW6Vg9MWAZeRu4Fb4n6r9cLjZtYlAZ35D2uQkkcrwoP2c65rRN4rPVqBicUev-JrIqOFuNCMYhs7rIAEfM-8pjk8eOgWxXJ3xcl7Ows0DFkNLfD98/s1600/DSC_0981lightningbug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7w9qv0g54mLsEbnvPLV6-7uVcOMNW6Vg9MWAZeRu4Fb4n6r9cLjZtYlAZ35D2uQkkcrwoP2c65rRN4rPVqBicUev-JrIqOFuNCMYhs7rIAEfM-8pjk8eOgWxXJ3xcl7Ows0DFkNLfD98/s640/DSC_0981lightningbug.jpg" width="558" /></a></div><br />
Here is one of the Winter Fireflies who apparently has not picked out a suitable winter resting spot yet! This species is diurnal, which means they are active in the daytime (whereas the common firefly we know so well is active at night). The Winter Firefly is also a bit different, in that it is "fire-less". They are not bioluminescent like our night-loving fireflies. This species lack the light-producing organs. They are very active during the summer days and feed on flowers and sweet sap, but as temperatures cool, they become less active and begin to stay close to tree trunks where they will find refuge in the crevices throughout the cold winter months.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumi2nvY1fV1k1lKGDDBnUOjv_F8rdSvVm0mf-1tejGyGEbhT9N77XRn2BgxWPQ2AoYl136uP7MrGk5P5c4axm6CwW8Y9c4V68iB-knDGVQ5GAzbqx1F0EEVuYwZkkcGKLixjV8nyKxC0/s1600/DSC_1008sheetwebspider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumi2nvY1fV1k1lKGDDBnUOjv_F8rdSvVm0mf-1tejGyGEbhT9N77XRn2BgxWPQ2AoYl136uP7MrGk5P5c4axm6CwW8Y9c4V68iB-knDGVQ5GAzbqx1F0EEVuYwZkkcGKLixjV8nyKxC0/s640/DSC_1008sheetwebspider.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Here are a couple of other very small critters making the oak tree their home. The top tiny insect is labeled <b>"Collembola"</b>. The common name is <b>Springtail</b>. There were several of these throughout the bark of the tree, and no doubt many more that went unnoticed among the leaves and soil. These insects have been around for 400 million years and are by far the most abundant insect in the world! They can be found anywhere on earth and exist in the soil, moss cushion, fallen wood, grass tufts, ant and termite hills and tree bark...just about anywhere. There are some 6000 species worldwide and different species can survive extreme climates. There are some that can be found at 21,000 feet on Mt. Everest and even Antarctica, and still others that can be found in the volcanoes in Hawaii, surviving at 130 deg. F!<br />
<br />
The insect gets its name from a curved organ on its ventral surface that it uses to propel itself up into the air. Their quick jump resembles that of a flea. They are so small you can hardly see them, but they do play an important role. They eat organic material (decaying vegetation, fungi, bodies or fragments of dead organisms, etc.) and this aids in microbial breakdown as well as in aiding the formation of soil and micro structures. In other words, they serve a vital part in the soil-making process. They are also a significant food source for beetles, spiders and other carnivorous invertebrates. I guess everything in nature, regardless how tiny, has a purpose!<br />
<br />
I'm not completely sure, but I believe the spider is one of the Sheetweb Spiders. There are over 4000 species known and they are very small, shiny and many have ornamental abdomens. They are called Sheetweb Spiders because of the shape of their web. The different species build different types of sheet webs, but this particular species builds a very fine, almost invisible, non-sticky web on tree bark, the ground, on stones or plant material. It is difficult to tell from this picture, but there is a very fine web that just barely clears the crevices of the bark. It covered quite a large area. These tiny spiders are very well camouflaged in their surrounding as you can see. This species is one of the most common ballooning spiders...they can release a burst of silk into the air, which can carry them quite considerable distances.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zbwITX4yz6o2b8JG76iQsuPhG_Po3jWAoYIEfR4l_gLwuA7aY1MiowrY_gALfWhODTlCqX-B9kAn6CV-A3StwE2G1ugDJtl6pnvuLwGFrH0I3J6dRwaNES8Kuh13YPi_UgL3yObDVPA/s1600/DSC_1016copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zbwITX4yz6o2b8JG76iQsuPhG_Po3jWAoYIEfR4l_gLwuA7aY1MiowrY_gALfWhODTlCqX-B9kAn6CV-A3StwE2G1ugDJtl6pnvuLwGFrH0I3J6dRwaNES8Kuh13YPi_UgL3yObDVPA/s640/DSC_1016copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
I found this interesting-looking bug on a leaf on the ground. This may look like a small leaf on the surface of a larger leaf, but it is actually a <b>Diamond-Backed Spittlebug (Lepyronia quadrangularis).</b> There are several different species of these sap-sucking insects and they are best known for the frothy foam they produce as a nymph. The white froth is produced from ingesting liquids from plants, which are then secreted from their hind-end. The liquid is blown through abdominal openings, creating tiny bubbles that they use to cover themselves with by using their hind legs. This frothy mass of spittle is used to shield the nymph from predation, insulate it during cooler temperatures and prevent dehydration. Pictured is the adult spittle bug, and they are usually found in fields and meadows. This species usually lives cradled in leaf axils, and they prefer leaves with a wide axil. (The axil is the space between the stalk of a leaf and the stem to which it is attached). The adult will overwinter in swampy, protected areas. Notice this spittlebug is well camouflaged on this oak leaf; another example of how this mighty tree provides protection! This species of spittlebug is also referred to as a "froghopper" because it of its extreme jumping ability. It can even catapult itself higher and faster then grasshoppers and bush crickets!<br />
The shape of the diamond-backed spittle bug even resembles a tree frog when the frog is at rest...below is a picture I took this past summer of a tiny spring peeper resting on a leaf. When the frog's eyes were closed, the shape was incredibly similar to this spittlebug! They are even close in size. I guess that is an example of nature's mimicry!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyX4h6flfZifo-0WI3X8reWxXOk6fhPQ_9KUAdhjmM6aC8-3pfiWYSYGbdnUOcX-C5frn8DydYyVEOjYLLCTNGqSaKReVTJM74V36Bj6N9u2qlP8xzWB9VT9GnpK2oNcQUdz3fl_TgQVI/s1600/_DSC6547springpeeperFB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyX4h6flfZifo-0WI3X8reWxXOk6fhPQ_9KUAdhjmM6aC8-3pfiWYSYGbdnUOcX-C5frn8DydYyVEOjYLLCTNGqSaKReVTJM74V36Bj6N9u2qlP8xzWB9VT9GnpK2oNcQUdz3fl_TgQVI/s640/_DSC6547springpeeperFB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
It was fascinating to see so many different species who all occupied the same space and seemed to stay out of each other's way. I love viewing the macro world-there is so much to discover! I can't get enough of learning about the things that I find through my viewfinder, and it always makes me want to research and read as much as I can to better understand the different species and how they contribute to the big picture. I try to make sure the information in my blog is as accurate as possible. Dennis Profant, Entomologist and Natural Resources instructor at Hocking College, is a huge help whenever I cannot identify something. He is such a valuable resource and like Jim McCormac, he is always eager to share his infinite knowledge! By the way, if you aren't already one of Jim's followers (Ohio Birds and Biodiversity), you can see his blog here: http://jimmccormac.blogspot.com<br />
Dennis Profant also has a very interesting blog that he regularly posts. You can see it here: <a href="http://fieldbioinohio.blogspot.com/">Field Biology in Southeastern Ohio</a>Lisa Sellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11709548876839559933noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926910287628946860.post-38816121472317215192010-10-03T16:56:00.000-04:002010-10-04T22:16:30.014-04:00Wild and Wooly<i><b>I am constantly amazed as I continue to make discoveries in the insect world. I've named this blog "Wild and Wooly" to simply show a few interesting members of the insect community that have beautiful furry textures and also offer a few interesting facts about them.</b></i><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Virginian Tiger Moth</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7GD-aeTlV2hOuYVCQsma_1RZyv54xXKy6PtOJIAMjlBRk7Epg9Z02VRbfYrerlSavX4aL-6fHdHUGDvRioHp5pQuh4GkcDXjcxWY1psqn2u6ykbOtFLRVFme_XhHEzWr8ngPlCiczl0/s1600/_DSC6791viginiantigermoth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7GD-aeTlV2hOuYVCQsma_1RZyv54xXKy6PtOJIAMjlBRk7Epg9Z02VRbfYrerlSavX4aL-6fHdHUGDvRioHp5pQuh4GkcDXjcxWY1psqn2u6ykbOtFLRVFme_XhHEzWr8ngPlCiczl0/s640/_DSC6791viginiantigermoth.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Moths and butterflies share the insect order, Lepidoptera, which is Greek for "scale wing". They also share a few similar characteristics, but they are classified under different sub-orders and have several morphological differences...way too complex to go into here, so I will just stick with easy, interesting information and observations.<br />
<br />
I think the furry appearance of butterflies and moths really add to their appeal, although this feature is sometimes not noticeable at first glance. This very pretty <b>Virginian Tiger Moth</b> appears to have a beautiful white fur coat wrapped around his body. (I think he looks like a mighty snow king that reigns over a tiny winter fantasyland! OK, enough of my child-like imagination.) The "fur" on moths and butterflies isn't actually fur, but "hair-like" scales that serve several purposes. Since butterflies and moths are ectothermic (meaning they are unable to maintain a constant body temperature without an outside source, such as the sun), the hair on their bodies serve as an insulator to help keep their core temperatures at a functioning level once the air begins to get cooler. They must have a certain body temperature to be able to fly. This is especially important for moths, since they are mostly active at night and cannot rely on basking in the sun as butterflies do.<br />
<br />
Since most moths are nocturnal by nature, the hair also serves as protection from bat predators by absorbing the echolocation calls that bats emit. The fur can absorb so much of the echolocation signals that a bat may not even realize the moth is there. Speaking of bats...Another extremely interesting note regarding defensive mechanisms for moths: <b>Tiger moths</b> can emit ultrasonic "clicks" at a much faster succession than the echolocation clicks of bats, thereby "jamming" the calls of the bat pursuers. This results in the inability of the bat to accurately locate the exact position of the moth. This has actually been proven in scientific studies. It is unbelievable how these tiny, fragile insects have such powerful defensive tactics that go completely unnoticed by the human species!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAaRL-TG6iBFTHphQ5rud6jFBVBwRZ0veBgt6d921Rrh3x9J-bIFiQWhuG0dx_NQ_ZS4dmcFLAt1dBSgHfbJZdDToycCcMqaPUbEe6g7-HWr0nofQw-I4O5Sc0BsxlwZOlta6_T4yWQ6g/s1600/_DSC6800virginiantigermoth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAaRL-TG6iBFTHphQ5rud6jFBVBwRZ0veBgt6d921Rrh3x9J-bIFiQWhuG0dx_NQ_ZS4dmcFLAt1dBSgHfbJZdDToycCcMqaPUbEe6g7-HWr0nofQw-I4O5Sc0BsxlwZOlta6_T4yWQ6g/s640/_DSC6800virginiantigermoth.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since I actually disturbed this Virginian Tiger Moth from his daytime resting period (he had been hiding under some brush that I had cut the previous day and flew out when I cleaned it up), he maintained a stiff posture while I was trying to photograph him. I don't know if he was playing dead or if he was actually in a state of "sleep" because he is not normally active in the day, but he would not move at all. I wanted to get a better picture of his face and eyes, but he kept the eyes obscured with his "labial palps", as you can see in the pictures. These are not legs, but actually mouthparts that are covered with tiny sensory hairs and scales. The moth uses these labial palps to keep the proboscis and eyes clean, and also uses them to assist in determining if something is a viable food source. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKd4DHFnl2VttrotMvfsGUT7jNDKI3liClY4H1OWFro56mga4rvqrPzKNrK7TvZv_wvcIkJv8ZdR9W3Hyqw4zRnVAMBnI7h78PU4K-p3gi2mam_oilxo1xxzd9_4xK2gyNpSihbYkf0U/s1600/_DSC6802virginiantigermoth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKd4DHFnl2VttrotMvfsGUT7jNDKI3liClY4H1OWFro56mga4rvqrPzKNrK7TvZv_wvcIkJv8ZdR9W3Hyqw4zRnVAMBnI7h78PU4K-p3gi2mam_oilxo1xxzd9_4xK2gyNpSihbYkf0U/s640/_DSC6802virginiantigermoth.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I plucked the blade of grass the moth was holding onto and placed it on a flower, but he still would not move. I took one more picture of this beauty and then left him alone. I don't ever want to cause stress or harm to the creatures I'm photographing. When I returned a few minutes later he had flown off to a private, darker area no doubt to continue resting until his normal activity time, which would begin sometime soon after nightfall.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Miscellaneous butterflies</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As a rule, moths are normally more plump and hairy than butterflies. In most cases, that is true, but I've included a few butterflies that I've encountered that do have lots of soft hair on their bodies. You may not notice this kind of detail because of their constant fluttering and busy activity, but as I've noticed with all insects, once you get a close look you notice all kinds of remarkable characteristics. Butterflies definitely adorn our world with beauty and grace, but just what is the purpose of the gorgeous fur on their bodies?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Butterflies warm their bodies by the sun, but like moths, they cannot maintain that body temperature when the fahrenheit dips down. This covering of hair (not really hair, but long hair-like scales) serves as thermal insulation as it does in moths. It also aids in protecting their soft bodies and adds water resistance, but there are also other specialized hairs and scales covering the entire bodies of butterflies (and moths) called <i>"tactile setae" </i>that serve a further purpose. Depending on the species, these tiny hairs may be on the eyes, antennas, body, wings, and legs and each are attached to special nerve cells, which relay information about the hair movement to the butterfly-this is very important for survival. The sensations the butterfly feels provides important feedback as to what is happening to him or to his immediate environment. You can see the many fine hairs and "fur" on this <b>Least Skipper</b>. It even appears that he has long eyelashes! These hairs serve a much higher purpose than just making him look adorable!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFG8et6OW8-oeipZv6HXMpo8FF6scUm83TUnL7Z9I09sFow6Ox-3A5SCXq5r2vgCCggM59i1Lwbcwbww3jW3i3pIcX2jfRlabRG5Ixj0rqqNbqpFmYiNP64-ZVB9K-kIDWV3As0H12zi8/s1600/_DSC5597moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFG8et6OW8-oeipZv6HXMpo8FF6scUm83TUnL7Z9I09sFow6Ox-3A5SCXq5r2vgCCggM59i1Lwbcwbww3jW3i3pIcX2jfRlabRG5Ixj0rqqNbqpFmYiNP64-ZVB9K-kIDWV3As0H12zi8/s640/_DSC5597moth.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The tactile setae also serve a vital purpose for flight on butterflies and moths. The extremely specialized communication between setae and sensory nerves help the adult to sense wind, gravity, and the position of the head, body, wings, legs, antennae and other body parts. The fine hairs on the antennae sense both touch and smell. Butterflies' wings are covered by thousands of overlapping scales, which further strengthen, protect and insulate. They also aid in the flow of air along their wings as they fly. Delicate hairs that form fringed margins along the wings, as pictured below on this <b>Pearl Crescent Butterfly</b>, also provide important aerodynamic functions. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhACqNbnb1TQKMUPJVHbEqg7Iqgy4NlPFcR2X3n4TSUy9ukrWUnTGMQXEEWIzT1PVusLXz4YvL61ekH0XVndrKKNVcHCmZf_cbxuHR91XqdZuC3fPuHt_PGp2FmBkhEw252pfseLxG_QV4/s1600/_DSC6334copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhACqNbnb1TQKMUPJVHbEqg7Iqgy4NlPFcR2X3n4TSUy9ukrWUnTGMQXEEWIzT1PVusLXz4YvL61ekH0XVndrKKNVcHCmZf_cbxuHR91XqdZuC3fPuHt_PGp2FmBkhEw252pfseLxG_QV4/s640/_DSC6334copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is dorsal view of another tiny, Pearl Crescent Butterfly, showing lots of fine soft hairs. Another purpose for body hair is that of involuntary pollen transfer. As butterflies light from flower to flower inserting their proboscis into flowers, pollen will stick to the hairs on the legs, underside of the body, and even to the proboscis, and they will carry that pollen on to the next flower. Bees are true pollinators, but the butterflies do a fairly good job unintentionally!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeN1uyGhrlcKOYGNST8ZR9zqGgcoWNctRgeLjj_Fd2vTpTAWvCKIGSUn8TI8_gR_UDcb0fPNxIbPserbC2S_T8i_Uyv0qkIEveI6kGSMTCutPsgWiIwsz2gmjimXzJF0R3Nyn556GQ7M/s1600/_DSC6355copy.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeN1uyGhrlcKOYGNST8ZR9zqGgcoWNctRgeLjj_Fd2vTpTAWvCKIGSUn8TI8_gR_UDcb0fPNxIbPserbC2S_T8i_Uyv0qkIEveI6kGSMTCutPsgWiIwsz2gmjimXzJF0R3Nyn556GQ7M/s1600/_DSC6355copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Below is a picture of the beautiful <b>Orange Sulphur Butterfly</b>. As you can see, the sulphurs are also very hairy! These butterflies are relatively small, and while in flight their beauty cannot be truly appreciated! Patience and a macro lens help to capture the real beauty and innocence of nature that unfortunately often goes unnoticed!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADA3esBXkCMR3rqM79dyd-y0KnOXu8VIbuoe78Z0jDfzbYcx7eQlU7W1cpJZzmrZf6p7OEzjdvNvDyymz06QiNCIYhEK3q66cJeipAV4GZgCxVgsfMBR_6R2B99-rxEeBZfq7vzqWldM/s1600/_DSC5835sulphur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADA3esBXkCMR3rqM79dyd-y0KnOXu8VIbuoe78Z0jDfzbYcx7eQlU7W1cpJZzmrZf6p7OEzjdvNvDyymz06QiNCIYhEK3q66cJeipAV4GZgCxVgsfMBR_6R2B99-rxEeBZfq7vzqWldM/s640/_DSC5835sulphur.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><br />
The picture below is of a <b>Common Wood Nymph</b>. This beautiful brown butterfly has distinctive eye spots on their wings, which function as a special form of defense. If threatened, the wood nymph spreads its wings, displaying the eyespots, which often will distract a predator or possibly even scare it off! The occurrence of patterns and colorations are important survival strategies, (for example, mimicry and camouflage), and also necessary to attract potential mates. The variation of the pigmentation of scales and how they are positioned and shaped can create beautiful illusions of iridescence and make the butterfly appear to have many more colors than they actually do. Beautifully colored scales also serve to attract a potential mate.<br />
<br />
Actually, the properties of the scales on the wings and how they function is very highly complex. Scientists have even taken inspiration from the tiny crevices of butterfly wings to create a nanosensor technology that could detect weapons and explosives, due to the fact that their wings have acute chemical-recognition abilities. It is utterly amazing that such seemingly simple creatures of nature that we take for granted could have such an influence on modern technology!<br />
<br />
This wood nymph is found in grassy areas, mostly in fields, open meadows and marshlands. I found a bunch of these in a beautiful open meadow while camping in West Virginia. Every morning they were in the same place under an old apple tree along the corner of an old wooden fence. I felt like they were much more tolerant of my presence than some of the other butterflies, and I truly enjoyed standing still and having them flutter and land all around me!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvJcUBcGivama_n-vBZ-ms_UWThHjjYNTGmGWmgr3NF_gdIjHxgasjn5b0UAEHJiWTGMr50JMIV9k8GbJ6z9gYpisFmBvOTlbFigfnpT37oVrOzC3y90FnNo2bBmHOzLx-k4WadbCBF4/s1600/_DSC6331woodnymph.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvJcUBcGivama_n-vBZ-ms_UWThHjjYNTGmGWmgr3NF_gdIjHxgasjn5b0UAEHJiWTGMr50JMIV9k8GbJ6z9gYpisFmBvOTlbFigfnpT37oVrOzC3y90FnNo2bBmHOzLx-k4WadbCBF4/s640/_DSC6331woodnymph.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">The Wooly Alder Aphid</span> </b><br />
While walking along the shallow end of Lake Logan the other day, something caught my eye. At first glance it appeared that that there was a white fungus growing on a speckled alder sapling along the lake's edge. A closer inspection revealed an amazingly organized colony of hundreds of aphids with white fuzzy bodies packed shoulder to shoulder on a section of the alder. (By the way, aphids are soft-bodied, tiny insects that suck the sap out of small tree branches, vines, flowers and plants of all kinds.) There are hundreds of different species, but I'll concentrate on the wooly alder aphid. Get ready for an interesting story!<br />
<br />
The name, wooly alder aphid, is due to the aphid's ability to secrete a white, waxy filament from their abdomens that resembles white wool. Their bodies become completely covered with these entangled filaments, which serves as a protective defense from predators. Should a predator attempt to eat one of these plump juicy insects, they may just get a mouthful of waxy, wooly fuzz instead of a juicy meal, thus discouraging the attack!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0arM59iRisLzGeZOU6TUYW2hMDxKnz5q7f0YJDvn9hzQy65BbhyphenhyphenXoPcnwZc0BWfqx5sGOPk4Na4M-671trIw2kxe6G4xcKsY4uRU6yLFvYNmTnfX1WCtKqjZDrL0Q3T5_Rg8lmU-mW9Q/s1600/DSC_0711woolyalderaphid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0arM59iRisLzGeZOU6TUYW2hMDxKnz5q7f0YJDvn9hzQy65BbhyphenhyphenXoPcnwZc0BWfqx5sGOPk4Na4M-671trIw2kxe6G4xcKsY4uRU6yLFvYNmTnfX1WCtKqjZDrL0Q3T5_Rg8lmU-mW9Q/s640/DSC_0711woolyalderaphid.jpg" width="457" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Lets take this wild story from the beginning...The life cycle of this interesting aphid actually starts from the single egg that each female will lay in the bark of a silver maple tree. Once the eggs hatch in the spring the nymphs begin feeding on the mid-vein of new leaves of the maple. Amazingly, ALL young aphids nymphs are wingless FEMALES and they mature quickly and continually give live birth to MORE FEMALE aphids. The act of reproducing young that requires NO MALE INTERVENTION is called <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">parthenogenetic reproduction.</span> This FEMALE-ONLY colony builds very quickly and all remain relatively hidden underneath their own waxy strands.<br />
<br />
In late June, they become winged and begin to fly to alder trees to carry on their life cycle on this second host. They resemble little tufts of cotton flying through the air. They continue to reproduce MORE FEMALES and produce more waxy filaments until the occupied areas of the alder begin to look cotton-covered. The population grows rapidly. All summer long they feed on sap and produce female clones.<br />
<br />
When fall approaches. something incredible happens...hormones in their bodies change in response to temperature, day length, overcrowding, and quality of food, which suddenly causes WINGED MALES to be produced! The winged males and winged females then fly back to the silver maple trees where they mate sexually this time and lay eggs, which will overwinter within the cracks and crevices of the bark. New generations will begin in the spring with the hatching of once again ALL-FEMALE wingless aphids (who will quickly become cotton-covered) and new large colonies will accumulate in the maples and then move on to the alders by June's end. (No real harm is caused to either the alder trees or the silver maple trees during the life cycle of this aphid.)<br />
<br />
Interestingly, since the parthenogenetic nymphs are actually perfect clones of their parents, they are perfectly adapted to their environment from birth. The occasional mating ensures genetic diversity, which simply means chances for future survival of the species is increased because it allows the species to adapt to a new environment, should there be a change in their current situation.<br />
<br />
The picture below shows a couple of ants crawling among the aphids. (There were many ants present, just not pictured). These ants actually protect and "farm" the aphids. They stroke the aphids with their antennas, which causes the aphid to release a drop of a substance rich in sugar that is produced from the sap they suck out of the tree. The ants highly desire this excrement, which is called "honeydew". They will fiercely protect the aphids in return for this honeydew-an example of one of the many mutualistic symbiotic relationships that occur in nature!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4yyMT_J1NcZnCgpGCdqKWndVZpFPnYAdJxonIjhlHlToUzpj1yQFbO7y7kHk3lc2PiVkNE2Tto7LSKhudeco26QYl4uWcb_rMTxk4v2z8haO69cy01HQVZnK87HCQxZ3hsAIHpUumPkw/s1600/DSC_0722woolyalderaphids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4yyMT_J1NcZnCgpGCdqKWndVZpFPnYAdJxonIjhlHlToUzpj1yQFbO7y7kHk3lc2PiVkNE2Tto7LSKhudeco26QYl4uWcb_rMTxk4v2z8haO69cy01HQVZnK87HCQxZ3hsAIHpUumPkw/s640/DSC_0722woolyalderaphids.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Another twist to the amazing life of the wooly aphid is that some insect predators will actually pull some of the wool off of the aphids and attach it to their own bodies to "fool" the ants so they can feed on the aphids without the awareness of the protector ants!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Flower Scarab Beetle (euphoria sepulcralis)</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVoBJPmAVCRNTgTHJddi_g6Fie54vMAoSY3muxXIbFtaRv-eODkgQvCYycrdm-GqXt-LA9yzXl-l26kHBJyzdLD1cQVtDt5ELk6rr3gnR58E97P2b2Znil3WMpbq1kT1Ru6Bn90AzvRQU/s1600/_DSC6243flowerscarabbeetle2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVoBJPmAVCRNTgTHJddi_g6Fie54vMAoSY3muxXIbFtaRv-eODkgQvCYycrdm-GqXt-LA9yzXl-l26kHBJyzdLD1cQVtDt5ELk6rr3gnR58E97P2b2Znil3WMpbq1kT1Ru6Bn90AzvRQU/s640/_DSC6243flowerscarabbeetle2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
Scarab beetles are very interesting creatures, with about 30,000 species worldwide. This particular one is a flower-loving scarab commonly named, the "<b>Flower Scarab Beetle</b>." This species is dark brown to black with metallic bronze and green reflections. (The iridescence of this one actually caught my attention). Although some scarab beetles eat animal dung, the diet of the flower scarab consists of flower pollen, flower nectars and liquids from decaying fruits. As you can see, this species is somewhat furry, giving them a "teddy bear" appearance! This is the first time I've ever seen one and I was impressed at how darn cute it was! This one stood on the edge of a Queen Anne's Lace bloom and seemed to lean forward and look right at me! I think he sort of looks like a miniature moose! This is one of the more interesting insects I've had the opportunity to observe.<br />
<br />
The ends of a scarab's antennas are made from 3 flattened plates called lamellae that can be compressed into a ball or fan out (as pictured above). When fanned out, this flower scarab is "smelling" the air. Antennas of insects are the primary olfactory sensors. They contain super-sensitive receptors that can also sense vibrations, assess temperature and humidity, and assist in locating food and mates. The scarab will flatten the lamellae when they're not needing to assess their environment (as pictured in the photo below).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsElD_oaUvfeWp3zccQXDKXvylxesJmvHBGBwOihky5_bZ1SxMSAc3Zfwprj5bJMXt1ORtBxGgn6FvJKuVTnsNWQ25oQms4pJe8B53y-mzCYj5Q50-fJqSEn4o5OVAcQRH-jRpbYTyLA/s1600/_DSC6261bumbleflowerbeetle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsElD_oaUvfeWp3zccQXDKXvylxesJmvHBGBwOihky5_bZ1SxMSAc3Zfwprj5bJMXt1ORtBxGgn6FvJKuVTnsNWQ25oQms4pJe8B53y-mzCYj5Q50-fJqSEn4o5OVAcQRH-jRpbYTyLA/s640/_DSC6261bumbleflowerbeetle.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Although very sluggish, the beetle still seemed to be quite coordinated as it slowly crawled along the delicate bloom, sometimes hanging upside-down by a leg or two. (Their strong legs are more adapted for digging than for precision climbing). I was careful not to intrude too closely, for if they feel threatened they will feign death and drop off the flower. He didn't seem to mind my curiousness though. I eventually saw a beautiful assassin bug nymph (that I will post in a future blog) that caught my attention and when I looked back, the scarab beetle had flown away to another bloom and I couldn't find him again.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2LChn8odB-PGRNf1NRr0sNjjGWyNFRz8LsABtKC_IUUlax9yKfefx5YjwKUecVO0qTH-QSg_2XefPfEvoQkPKviwpgso4Pr3gfnK4xMHQrFKdLOGfzfHLIXANAtqy67L7hc7aHgyZxg/s1600/_DSC6251flowerscarabbeetle.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2LChn8odB-PGRNf1NRr0sNjjGWyNFRz8LsABtKC_IUUlax9yKfefx5YjwKUecVO0qTH-QSg_2XefPfEvoQkPKviwpgso4Pr3gfnK4xMHQrFKdLOGfzfHLIXANAtqy67L7hc7aHgyZxg/s640/_DSC6251flowerscarabbeetle.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
This is not the best angle, but I read that while the scarab's head is buried into a flower, the rear, exposed part resembles a bee due to the coloration and markings, which could serve as a deterrent for a predator.<br />
<br />
An interesting note...Scarabs (some extremely beautiful, shiny and colorful) have existed for millions of years, and the Egyptians regarded them as sacred. They were a symbol of resurrection and new life, and they used them for jewelry, amulets and seals for both the living and the dead.Lisa Sellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11709548876839559933noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926910287628946860.post-80511531777478665722010-09-04T22:52:00.000-04:002010-09-06T23:16:07.563-04:00Color Me Beautiful<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvU4IKNh5TMa76N8L2iIYeZ8_EGm7dT1Xvl8hKbG59NHiIH-pMbfPCOH6loqcVf1bUFmVZ7mxsUwO_qRk5uWPq4dK07WTLYjvX4kB2TlqLMbuaJXT4jV1BgOo4Rr3YuYLbgYcQ-NtmN4/s1600/_DSC5095dogbane+leaf+beetle1FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="612" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvU4IKNh5TMa76N8L2iIYeZ8_EGm7dT1Xvl8hKbG59NHiIH-pMbfPCOH6loqcVf1bUFmVZ7mxsUwO_qRk5uWPq4dK07WTLYjvX4kB2TlqLMbuaJXT4jV1BgOo4Rr3YuYLbgYcQ-NtmN4/s640/_DSC5095dogbane+leaf+beetle1FB.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The brilliance of this </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">D</span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">ogbane Leaf Beetle</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> is certainly eye-catching and he is truly a creature of beauty. As he moves about, it appears he constantly changes color from every hue of red, gold, blue and green. The surface of this beetle's body is covered with tiny, slanting plates that overlap a special pigment. Some light rays reflect from the plates, while others reflect from the pigment. These different reflections cause interference that result in a psychedelic changing-of-colors. This prismatic phenomenon helps protect the insect by communicating to possible predators that he may be poisonous so chances will be less likely that he will be eaten or harmed. He will emit a foul smelling enzyme if disturbed. This gorgeous insect is very fun to watch! The beetles feed mainly on dogbane and milkweed and they pose no harm to humans or important vegetation.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXK5s-yd9LoDRgLIBvSjF-f6vl-5OQKBlHFfXX4fH0ORYZze-Y7BG6rRZdDT-mA5eWcKOhoKXsHd5HZFXZuSgD_CDYoSeLkcda7cPPSw8iV-ioPmZluisqD0cqXzAYfQEZJMNTbh4zYEQ/s1600/_DSC5105dogbane+leaf+beetle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXK5s-yd9LoDRgLIBvSjF-f6vl-5OQKBlHFfXX4fH0ORYZze-Y7BG6rRZdDT-mA5eWcKOhoKXsHd5HZFXZuSgD_CDYoSeLkcda7cPPSw8iV-ioPmZluisqD0cqXzAYfQEZJMNTbh4zYEQ/s640/_DSC5105dogbane+leaf+beetle.jpg" width="578" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The metallic "armour" covers every bit of his body from his head down to his toes! Brilliance in motion!<br />
</span></span> <br />
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXcVFWD5hT8tFGMJcGTc46lNqZsTtIIuJIjq4wD6wzch9L-evwqPEAXilybOrRTgKkoczaFMdV0x6N86VAeeuwcN6ZbApYfN3Q6v6vdAuIG4IkateJexzhfWqWu_LL-pKz3a06gHm4_4/s1600/_DSC5290copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXcVFWD5hT8tFGMJcGTc46lNqZsTtIIuJIjq4wD6wzch9L-evwqPEAXilybOrRTgKkoczaFMdV0x6N86VAeeuwcN6ZbApYfN3Q6v6vdAuIG4IkateJexzhfWqWu_LL-pKz3a06gHm4_4/s640/_DSC5290copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">What is this strange creature? It is actually the tail-end of a </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Gray Hairstreak Butterfly</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">! At rest, this little beauty uses a technique of constantly rubbing his hind wings together, which makes the tail projections move about like antennas, while the coloration at the tips of the wings resemble eyes-an attempt to fool predators. As he collects nectar from various little flowers, tail-end in the air, he may only get a nip off his wings and still be able to escape unharmed. I was amazed at his coordination...diligently working on a flower with his nose down, yet keeping up the act on the other end, somewhat like a puppet. It was very convincing-I really had to look closely when I first saw him in this position because I wasn't sure what it was at first!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd9ouy0cWEtCbNSVY8D8KthJh4lkgddCQXinBp4n2mcoDye2S1dENUkYEG2yEUQhZwtcHdoSBjftEvN-1SYmJa12n2u9NE_r9JCsdvSy0R8zZGXGv0vgu3Q6wx2zMxCk1CheT0wiEKx8w/s1600/_DSC528gray+hairstreak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd9ouy0cWEtCbNSVY8D8KthJh4lkgddCQXinBp4n2mcoDye2S1dENUkYEG2yEUQhZwtcHdoSBjftEvN-1SYmJa12n2u9NE_r9JCsdvSy0R8zZGXGv0vgu3Q6wx2zMxCk1CheT0wiEKx8w/s640/_DSC528gray+hairstreak.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Here is the full view of the Gray Hairstreak. He is actually very tiny and flies about eratically-you may not even notice him, but in good lighting he is very vivid. I love the tiny little stripes on his antennas and legs.</span></span> <br />
<br />
<br />
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJRRoQapjBxfaAfOQXJvBTjHYPwz5ZpubZ7JlhZopgdxXGp38nutET3ffpdTVgULyHNqDfcR37ylkBhyphenhyphenk67hIU3bOLKnP4k2xHi4OJlVo-o9ltuzX_8W5asUOrjnvssTewxu1t4b6WkQ/s1600/_DSC5679greater+anglewing+kaydid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJRRoQapjBxfaAfOQXJvBTjHYPwz5ZpubZ7JlhZopgdxXGp38nutET3ffpdTVgULyHNqDfcR37ylkBhyphenhyphenk67hIU3bOLKnP4k2xHi4OJlVo-o9ltuzX_8W5asUOrjnvssTewxu1t4b6WkQ/s640/_DSC5679greater+anglewing+kaydid.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I was lucky to have noticed a slight movement in the leaves that revealed this </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">juvenile Angle-Wing Katydid. </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This one has not yet reached maturity, but he was still quite large. Perfectly camouflaged, he blends in with the green foliage and is often more easily heard than seen. As you can see, the intricate patterns are quite beautiful as if painted on by a skilled artisan. The katydids are closely related to crickets, and they contribute to the wonderful insect "chorus" that can be heard in late summer and fall evenings with their chirps, buzzing and ticking. They create the sounds by rubbing a file on one broadened wing against a scraper of the other wing much like someone playing a fiddle.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNL4970whVj52360CAymuXL3L76ttO4TCpKaipouk6l2S5TNulNqsA19KyCHzXAsrQpo0XR4WGzZmXLFfV9JzNMC2KsqeNkEhGF9yrr_l6VVoPbxTSInsSnML9hT80qW5w-h0VBfiSdLw/s1600/_DSC5682copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNL4970whVj52360CAymuXL3L76ttO4TCpKaipouk6l2S5TNulNqsA19KyCHzXAsrQpo0XR4WGzZmXLFfV9JzNMC2KsqeNkEhGF9yrr_l6VVoPbxTSInsSnML9hT80qW5w-h0VBfiSdLw/s640/_DSC5682copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Here is a different angle of the katydid-look closely at the front leg and you'll see an oval opening...this is where the ear is located! Ears are located on the two front legs and are used to listen for mates and predators such as bats. Bats can locate and prey upon the katydid by their songs, so katydids may pause their song in response to bat echolocation calls.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Sw4PpcVyEjvBARDmPXW3BW1oxwtWI3rRT6K3ogRpvhom4VG8ivWrlJ1ww4vNuWN3Vacbhq_tCMZAQC6oB47n-Ez2Qb8NM3-t5R1JsP3nYz7NODsDQ7drq6VKAWx99yW9FQXsMsn2_lA/s1600/_DSC5869virescentgreenmetallicbee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Sw4PpcVyEjvBARDmPXW3BW1oxwtWI3rRT6K3ogRpvhom4VG8ivWrlJ1ww4vNuWN3Vacbhq_tCMZAQC6oB47n-Ez2Qb8NM3-t5R1JsP3nYz7NODsDQ7drq6VKAWx99yW9FQXsMsn2_lA/s640/_DSC5869virescentgreenmetallicbee.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This sparkling little jewel is the <b>Virescent Green Metallic Bee. </b>These tiny bees nest socially, but do not make honey, although they are a pollinator of some plants. A female will dig a tunnel in the bare soil or in a dry bank for the colony. The entrance of the tunnel is then guarded by a single bee who will plug the entrance hole with its body until another bee wants in or out. You can observe the guard bee's head right at the entrance as it prioritizes who will enter or exit. Bees returning with pollen will be allowed to enter before any of the bees wishing to exit will be allowed out. The bee pictured here is the male-he can be distinguished by his striped abdomen.<br />
<br />
<br />
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSm7abKBFG_WYWnDyDQ_IGUrshlm-pEH3iiNE4Qo4W9iCEigxnSpgYITizT8nJyqT8fLv1BH4Q_ALTLKLtj6CDTJL21eciz3DyP0c3ZkeYnX1ihhCq0p9UU4eg7bxEw6TZ_h3SqC8W9bs/s1600/_DSC6358copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSm7abKBFG_WYWnDyDQ_IGUrshlm-pEH3iiNE4Qo4W9iCEigxnSpgYITizT8nJyqT8fLv1BH4Q_ALTLKLtj6CDTJL21eciz3DyP0c3ZkeYnX1ihhCq0p9UU4eg7bxEw6TZ_h3SqC8W9bs/s640/_DSC6358copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I was pleasantly surprised when I blew up this image. Such a pretty sight as it appears this tiny little bee is holding the stamen of this little flower known as "blue-eyed grass" as if he is smelling it! He is not actually smelling the flower, and he isn't really a bee. The insect is actually a <b>Hover Fly</b>. (He gets his name because of the way he can hover in mid-air and dart quickly around, and also fly backwards). This species is a "bee mimic". His coloration and movements mimic those of bees. This insect cannot sting in any way, but may mimic the stinging action of a bee or wasp by pushing the tip of his abdomen into your fingers if he is caught and held. (Another of nature's mechanisms to ward off potential dangers). This tiny hover fly is beneficial because it is an important flower pollinator and also because their larvae will eat many pests in gardens and crop fields.<br />
<br />
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNL4970whVj52360CAymuXL3L76ttO4TCpKaipouk6l2S5TNulNqsA19KyCHzXAsrQpo0XR4WGzZmXLFfV9JzNMC2KsqeNkEhGF9yrr_l6VVoPbxTSInsSnML9hT80qW5w-h0VBfiSdLw/s1600/_DSC5682copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMI8ijmziKuqyodFr02pVmassBvVqw5_h8icxHYeKHBfNSKT52vBuWP14r5bkTbwpYeB8gH0rM3xSbJllVjiT-TOMIJyiL8dIKHP8qqSFQygFLw4wHvMvuOyryd3bFKNBeb_oJhCD_Ss/s1600/_DSC4957ailanthus+webworm+moth-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMI8ijmziKuqyodFr02pVmassBvVqw5_h8icxHYeKHBfNSKT52vBuWP14r5bkTbwpYeB8gH0rM3xSbJllVjiT-TOMIJyiL8dIKHP8qqSFQygFLw4wHvMvuOyryd3bFKNBeb_oJhCD_Ss/s640/_DSC4957ailanthus+webworm+moth-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The pattern on this one reminds me of something that would be painted on a '70's volkswagon bus! This is the very pretty </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Ailanthus Webworm Moth. </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">While feeding,</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">he doesn't look anything like a moth for a reason. He mimics a brightly colored beetle by wrapping his wings tightly around his body. This is another of nature's defensive techniques-pretty cool! This moth's name comes partly from the name of the tree that it likes to feed on-the Ailanthus Allissima (Tree of Heaven). This weedy-looking tree was introduced by central and South America to the United States back in the 1700's and now can be found growing wild just about anywhere, even in the cracks of sidewalks or growing out of old abandoned buildings. Lucky for us this elegant little insect has taken a liking to this very invasive tree! The Ailanthus Moth was originally an exotic species that was imported into the U.S. from China for the silk industry in the 1800's. During the caterpillar stage, they spin silky webs within the leaves and they were raised to produce a coarse grade of silk. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Cicadas Beware!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">T<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">he following pictures that I'm including in my "Color Me Beautiful" post are anything but beautiful...in fact, they are downright terrifying. I am including them here because of all the cicada activity going on this time of year. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I was photographing some birds when I heard a loud buzzing and big commotion in the leaves of a branch just above my head. I looked up and witnessed a</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Cicada Killer</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> paralyzing and capturing a cicada. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">For those that have never seen one, a Cicada Killer is a very large wasp that digs a burrow in well-drained soil in areas that are largely exposed to full sunlight. Their evacuations begin shortly after the cicadas begin singing. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">These large wasps look very intimidating, but they normally pose little threat to humans. The males cannot sting, but may dive-bomb people's heads as they display territorial behavior. The females are not aggressive and will rarely sting, but if intentionally provoked they can inflict a painful sting.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The following pictures show how a female captures her prey and then transports it away to her burrow. Some of the pictures are a little blurry due to the fast motion of the cicada killer during the attack:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This first picture shows the female flying in like a torpedo, claiming its victim by inflicting a sting that instantly paralyzes the unsuspecting cicada.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqXiGjFt3RRtJAMdkCFMT_A3CaC0OJBIRiGrfguFxUAYDP3CDV_AYcGlthqtGc1FJuzTGEJMG9U7eiENeydnp_ftvS7c9yu4mWnjp_vyiexiR0lIG42tn5EIXXq0ZsTIOgJ8osn_wMyw/s1600/_DSC0653cicada+killer3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqXiGjFt3RRtJAMdkCFMT_A3CaC0OJBIRiGrfguFxUAYDP3CDV_AYcGlthqtGc1FJuzTGEJMG9U7eiENeydnp_ftvS7c9yu4mWnjp_vyiexiR0lIG42tn5EIXXq0ZsTIOgJ8osn_wMyw/s640/_DSC0653cicada+killer3.jpg" width="636" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvH0XkATZhTViC-N7g7rRuRpyI5Z80fe-e7uCzIbHZ8skonomPNqIjL85WmhxOgLEZuhiXHCLf8f_s9jwz_EFXIkJDxecIoFM4QSLaKmGcurWlc_5psSyQ3H7zxp8bgIsNT1toUzZ853U/s1600/_DSC0658cicada+killer2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvH0XkATZhTViC-N7g7rRuRpyI5Z80fe-e7uCzIbHZ8skonomPNqIjL85WmhxOgLEZuhiXHCLf8f_s9jwz_EFXIkJDxecIoFM4QSLaKmGcurWlc_5psSyQ3H7zxp8bgIsNT1toUzZ853U/s640/_DSC0658cicada+killer2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The picture above and below show the cicada killer flipping the victim over and straddling it. This is the usual way in which a cicada is prepared before being transported away.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9iQMjEAAOzG2qh9gBSA50Y_iOxw3hSN27izmWc_AY_ktfr4I0QQCZEPSufCkJgLcmF92jIWvI92XWDH-gZNvs-ppHcmy4Ta2PevydqVoZsOdyCezxx-TD2JSXMnWw9vgqodooee7NCE/s1600/_DSC0656cicada+killer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9iQMjEAAOzG2qh9gBSA50Y_iOxw3hSN27izmWc_AY_ktfr4I0QQCZEPSufCkJgLcmF92jIWvI92XWDH-gZNvs-ppHcmy4Ta2PevydqVoZsOdyCezxx-TD2JSXMnWw9vgqodooee7NCE/s640/_DSC0656cicada+killer.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYyPHPkUywGdEpC06rxYX4fNpNxMCF5y3om4ieUwd6V_kE3ME2cET8y1luv8naPR2_Q9QZyuPCLCWCfx1622DzwC76rpcFPUnH8KuW3BGTBWwDGMDSbyV3872gEsEv5VNIrVA_v9iGD4/s1600/cicada+killer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYyPHPkUywGdEpC06rxYX4fNpNxMCF5y3om4ieUwd6V_kE3ME2cET8y1luv8naPR2_Q9QZyuPCLCWCfx1622DzwC76rpcFPUnH8KuW3BGTBWwDGMDSbyV3872gEsEv5VNIrVA_v9iGD4/s640/cicada+killer.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This was the last picture I took before the killer carried the cicada away. The female will glide with its victim and either climb another tree and glide again, or drag it (or both) until it reaches its burrow. The paralyzed (but alive) body is placed in a "cell" within the burrow were she will lay an egg on it. Within a couple of weeks, the egg hatches into a larvae and it will feed on the cicada and develop into the next stage (pre-pupa). It will remain in this stage the remainder of the winter and then emerge the following summer where the cycle is repeated.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> The cicada killer is beneficial because it controls the cicada populations.</span><br />
<br />
</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Lisa Sellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11709548876839559933noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926910287628946860.post-53800794910361854782010-08-03T10:38:00.000-04:002010-08-03T10:38:08.576-04:00Got Milkweed?While meandering along the edges of Lake Logan today, I noticed numerous bright, black and orange-colored bugs that seemed to be congregating on the milk weed plants. (Milk weed is the 3-4 foot tall plant that is commonly seen throughout the summer, with the big green seed pods that open up in the fall releasing seeds that float around on fluffy white parasols.) It turns out this particular insect is the <b style="color: black;">Large Milkweed Bug. </b><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="color: black;">This bug is one of the few insect species that can tolerate the toxicity of the milkweed plant. When the bug feeds on the sap of this plant, the toxic compounds cause it to have a very bad taste, thus discouraging predators. For instance, once a bird eats a milkweed bug, the experience may deter him from doing it a second time. The bright coloring of this insect seems to display a warning to would-be predators. Even the beautiful monarch butterfly is protected by this "warning flag" in the natural world because of his coloring, (the color being very similar to the milkweed bug). As a caterpillar, the monarch also feeds on the milkweed plant, thus consuming the poisonous resin. Birds can become sick after eating too many monarchs so they learn to avoid insects with this coloring. This strategy is called "aposematism", and is employed by many organisms in nature. This defense can also be displayed through odor, shape or sound to avoid being eaten. Interestingly enough, the viceroy butterfly has evolved to look enough like a monarch that predators will leave him alone too! I love discovering these fascinating survival adaptations that are necessary in the animal kingdom!</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ve8ACNLLXK8SbkFttGbh4pbBNMrXX07mzKRhZ-Z43fXZVY0Dt_fam2zclqraAti6x_3TljIAJnjVS0JfT7ju-kEsG2T2Leod-wv8a3s9TvRV6NCm-5V9nRLhnxMVNKfFQ6yYk_Gha5M/s640/_DSC6123milkweedbugBL.jpg" width="640" /></div><br />
<br />
The picture below shows how the milkweed bug penetrates the skin of the milkweed pod to access the seeds inside. As an adult, they utilize their long, sucking, tube-like mouth parts (proboscis) to access the nutritious seeds, while as a nymph they must feed on the surface of the green pod or from the leaves of the plant.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXrgAR3DywFr_Z3-2cAot_nqLWBSn5YD6PUUd6q4INwZ8l3PyqnCNl5SX63PAaKhuaB5ON6Q6sQivkzVP_UaPBpVvm0d_ROI428AmavlpMPUf08YoIaVAnP8zkPpLYFhNAp9zf6iXT_w/s1600/_DSC6141milkweedbugBL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="569" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXrgAR3DywFr_Z3-2cAot_nqLWBSn5YD6PUUd6q4INwZ8l3PyqnCNl5SX63PAaKhuaB5ON6Q6sQivkzVP_UaPBpVvm0d_ROI428AmavlpMPUf08YoIaVAnP8zkPpLYFhNAp9zf6iXT_w/s640/_DSC6141milkweedbugBL.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
I find this picture fascinating! Here is a cluster of milkweed bug nymphs, which are very, very small. They are very brightly colored just like the adult even at this primary stage of their life. You may assume the larger one is the parent, but it is actually a nymph too! They go through 5 stages before they reach maturity. The stages are called "nymphal instars". Each time they molt, or progress to the next stage they become a little larger and more developed. The larger bug is simply in a later stage than the tiny ones-you can see it now has black "wing buds". You may wonder why they are all piled up together. Well, if you remember, their "warning coloration" fends off possible predators, so the more they cluster together, the brighter and more loudly they display this message! <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5__ac9an4RR_4q7XyGQgH7Cy7epNrti2SweASBGvApiyr4DP6dbhrgOm_13FQef4ppUgYqpGSFan1sinF5Pp1szwnHR_s10XQcp6DXX4PdJDLgdJNBvS42tiq3A4gh7RByN0tIWgEhw/s1600/_DSC6160milkweedbugnymphs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5__ac9an4RR_4q7XyGQgH7Cy7epNrti2SweASBGvApiyr4DP6dbhrgOm_13FQef4ppUgYqpGSFan1sinF5Pp1szwnHR_s10XQcp6DXX4PdJDLgdJNBvS42tiq3A4gh7RByN0tIWgEhw/s640/_DSC6160milkweedbugnymphs.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As I was observing this group, the little nymph on the right side that is looking at the bigger nymph seemed to make a gesture with his actions, and the bigger one perked up and lifted his antennas. Then the little one hopped over to join him. I don't know if this actually was a form of communication between them, but is was very interesting to watch!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Another interesting thing I witnessed: while two adults were mating, another male came inching closer and closer and finally rushed in and knocked the other male away from the female, had a very quick rumble with him and instantly assumed the position that the previous male had occupied. The first male scurried away. I found that interesting enough to mention! Maybe I spend too much time creeping through the milkweed? (I had pictures of this too, but I didn't realize my batteries quit working on my flash, and the photos were too dark).Lisa Sellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11709548876839559933noreply@blogger.com10