mthew
-
Hairy Cs
It seems the Yellow Bear caterpillar is yellow in early instars, but then individuals takes on a variety of colors. Virginia Tiger Moth, Spilosoma virginica. In Green-Wood last week. The pupae overwinter.Hickory Tussock (Lophocampa caryae) named after a favored food (Carya genus), but “expected on almost any woody species,” says caterpillar maven David L. Wagner.…
-
Vespa crabro
These two European hornets were locked in mortal combat. Bugguide.net says they’re females. Were they from different colonies, fighting over a food source? This was right next to a compact but rich hunting ground of Buddeleia swarming with butterflies, skippers, and bees.The pair broke up, took to the air, but did not flee. They faced…
-
Statue of Butterflies
Under each wingpit, a chrysalis. At the tips of the wings, emptied husks of chrysalises. On the left wing, a chrysalis and brand new Monarch. Harder to see, but way down below the drape of rocky dress, another ripening chrysalis. Pictures from Saturday. Yesterday, I counted two butterflies and half a dozen chrysalises in process…
-
This Used To Be Turf
A meadow, a-roaring with crickets. Just listening was enough to be get through all the terrible noise of the day, the terrifying state of the nation, the unending human assault on the planet’s life. Get thee to a meadow these early autumnal days! Bonus here is that this hillside in Green-Wood Cemetery was reclaimed from…
-
Mole Cricket
Jumpin’ creepers! A mole cricket: the European Mole Cricket Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa? iNaturalist seems to think so. Found on the NY/CT border recently. There is a Northern Mole Cricket (Neocurtilla hexadactyla) found in Massachusetts and, belying its name, further south, but there are no Westchester Co. iNaturalist reports for it. Is this the song that Henry David Thoreau referred…
-
Wetlands
An early morning in September, still warm and humid but not oppressively so. The wetland is rather quiet, though above me a couple squirrels gnaw away at hickories.I am delighted to see a spreadwing, the first I’ve seen in the Bronx. Slender Spreadwing, Lestes rectangularis, I think. He has caught a fly and is eating…
-
Black Tupelo
Blackgum, sourgum, pepperidge, bee gum: Nyssa sylvatica. These berries, ripe now, are savored by birds and mammals, in the tree or on the ground. *** You may have noticed a dearth of bird photos in the midst of fall migration. My camera has died, after a lot of hard work (and getting smashed up during…
-
Spiders
An Argiope genus spider. There was some iNaturalist/bugguide.net debate about the specific identity of this beauty, seen this past weekend on the NY/CT border at the home of friends. There were a lot of spiders, and much else. In fact, the family is cataloging lifeforms around the property (1,200+ observations on iNaturalist; hundreds of species),…
-
Backswimmer
Notonectidae family backswimmer, so named because they swim upside-down. They pack a bite — more of a tube-like harpoon’s jab — belying their size. These bugs go after prey bigger than themselves. Some species hunt tadpoles and fish, others other insects. I understand their bite stings like the dickens. Their hid legs are like oars…
-
Death Comes for the Monarch
There are some ants on the remains of this Monarch larva. Waste not, want not. I’ve seen a couple caterpillars in this position, suspended in preparation for starting the pupa, who didn’t make it. The Spined Soldier Bugs (nymphs and adults) are one enemy, but I wonder what other creatures or diseases strike these plump…
Backyard and Beyond 