-
Frost
It was the coldest morning so far this autumn. At 32° not extremely cold but cold enough to please this lover of winter. Driving down the mountain on my way to yoga the changing leaves delighted me with their warm colors. Water running through the gravel and dirt of the road hadn’t gotten an opportunity…
-
More Hickory
Continuing on a thread that I started yesterday. These nuts are Bitternut Hickory. All Hickory nuts are edible but with this one, as the name implies, is one that you might want to skip. There are much better nuts in the woods. Some moths have the Hickory tree as their host plant. One that is…
-
Wheel Bug
The Wheel Bug (Arilus cristatus) is a true bug that uses its enlarged front legs to grab and hold its prey, then punctures it with a robust, curved beak which it uses to suck the body fluids from its victims. It is part of a group of bugs called assassin bugs (family eduviidae). Measuring in at…
-
Little Wood Satyr
Little Wood Satyr (Megisto cymela). Not brightly colored. Not large. But this is not a moth but it is a butterfly. Its wingspan is 1.5 to 1.875 inches. They often perch with wings wide open on the leaves of trees or in leaf litter. Larval host plants are sundry grasses such as Kentucky Bluegrass, Orchard…
-
American Copper
American Copper (Lycaena phlaeas). A butterfly that I seldom see. And yet the Massachusetts Butterfly Club describes its distribution in that state as, “One of our most ubiquitous butterflies.” Looking at a distribution map of this butterfly in North America I see it can be found from Nova Scotia south to Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas; and…
-
Yellow Bear Caterpillar
Yellow Bear Caterpillar (Spilosoma virginica). This is the larval stage of the Virginian Tiger Moth. These caterpillars are covered in tufts, or small tubercles, which contain many hairs of different lengths. Varying in color from caterpillar to caterpillar from snow white, soft yellow, brown-yellow, to orange-red. The Yellow Bear Caterpillar is not poisonous but folks…
-
Imperial Moth Caterpillar
Imperial Moth Caterpillar (Eacles imperialis). One of our largest caterpillars. The last instar, or larval stage, can grow to be 5.5 inches long. As an adult the Imperial Moth is mighty big too. Its wingspan ranges from 3 to 7 inches. They’re found from Quebec and Ontario to as far south as Argentina, from the…
-
Virginia Creeper
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia). If Virginia Creeper had the ability to party, this would certainly be its time. Sunlight shining through brightly colored leaves of vermilion. Glowing way up in the tree tops. Decorating the woods. For that long list of party attendees. If Virginia Creeper had the ability to party, this would certainly be…
-
Pumpkin Season
Don’t blink. It won’t be here long. The leaves are just beginning to realize that things have got to change. First, from their many shades of luscious green to the warm rich colors of autumn. In no time we’ll be facing a black and white, pen and ink landscape, and frosty winter. Sparkly snow, ice…
-
Dark Morph of Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
The world of Nature always boggles my mind no matter what I am studying. There is always something that totally astounds me. One example is the dark morph of the female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). That’s one in the photo above. Yes, a Tiger Swallowtail. Not yellow, but black. Your location will influence how…