Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.
As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”
New Species
New, that is, to me. White M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album).Double-banded Scoliid Wasp (Scolia bicincta).This is the first iNaturalist record for Brooklyn, Kings Co., and Long Island as a whole. Interestingly, the common Two-Spotted Scoliid Wasp (Scoliadubia dubia) was NOT happy to see this genus-mate. The Two-spotteded went after the Doble-banded several times. Both Scolia wasps lay their eggs on scarab beetle larvae, so this may be competition.Sweetheart Underwing (Catocala amatrix).Spotted Grass Moth (Rivula propinqualis).
For those keeping count, I now have 1055 verified species recorded in Kings County on iNaturalist. “Verified” meaning they aren’t casual observations, which are reserved for cultivated or captive life-forms. Many of our urban plants were planted, meaning they’re casual observations by iNaturalist’s standards. Even a tree planted a century ago is still considered a casual observation, but of course the lifeforms on it aren’t!.
Backyard and Beyond 
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