Category: Caterpillars

The Color Red

There is a challenge this week to post things RED. A challenge sent out by the Digital Photography School.

Brilliant, strong colors come to the top of my list of favorite things, so I thought I’d post a few of my photographs of red things here. I hope you enjoy the quick trip through the world of the color red in my life.

A Midge causes these strange growths. They are called Grape Tube Gallmakers (Cedidomyia viticola). They build these galls on various species of the grape vine genus, Vitis.

1957 Ford Thunderbird.

Early winter. Seedling leaf. Redbud (Cercis canadensis).

Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja coccinea). Zion National Park.

Okay, end of the very short tour of red. I’ve got much, much more. Maybe I’ll continue some other time. Color makes my world go ’round.

A Member Of The Soldier Beetle Family

Another Beetle that looks a bit like a Lightning Bug. Scientific name, Podabrus tomentosus. A species of the Soldier Beetle family, Cantharidae. There are approximately 3,500 species in this family. The Podabrus tomentosus is a species of Soldier Beetle that the Internet has neglected. It has no common name and in my search I found no more information about it, other than the scientific name and its family. But for the sake of helping this little fellow, whose length is .5 inch, feel included, I’m going to tell you a bit about it’s family which should give it some pride.

Soldier Beetles are indeed generally about .5 inch long, feed on pollen and nectar and also eat aphids and caterpillars. A great insect to have around to help out with those soft-bodied insects in the garden. They will wait on brightly colored flowers, such as Goldenrod, Zinnias, or Marigold, for their prey to come by but do no damage to those flowers.

An excellent pollinator to have in your garden, and that predatory work is appreciated as well.

Golden Spindles

So much to see out there as you wander through the woods. One must simply pay attention to what you are stepping over, walking through, hiking past, to see more of the world of nature. Did you know there are mushrooms in every color of the rainbow? Here I present YELLOW. One of many, many yellow mushrooms. Their tips can be yellow, brown or sometimes red.

This is Golden Spindles (Clavulinopsis fusiformis), which is found in Asia, in Europe and in northern North America, particularly the northeast.

Golden Spindles are thought to be saprobic. Saprobic mushrooms are decomposers. They break down nonliving or decaying organic matter in order to make energy. 

Keep your eyes open as you wander. There’s so much to see.

Viceroy

I’ve seen one two times, that I know of, and I’ve gotten photographs both times. A Viceroy (Limenitis archippus). The first one was spotted and photographed at my cousin’s house in Ottsville, Pennsylvania.

The second photograph was taken at the bottom of my mountain, where I stopped at the stop sign and this Viceroy came by to say hello.

Though the Viceroy is a butterfly that looks a good bit like a Monarch (Danaus plexippus), there are a couple things to look for in order to tell the difference. One, the Viceroy is a smaller butterfly, but sometimes that size difference is difficult to recognize. The one sure thing I know to look for is the black line that is circled in both these images for you to see. The Monarch does not have that line.

Let me know if you see any Viceroys.

Eight-spotted Forester

Eight-spotted Forester Moth (Alypia octomaculata). They’re found in Maine and southern Quebec to Florida; west to South Dakota and Texas. Unlike most moths, they are diurnal rather than nocturnal. Flying during the day with a wing-span of 1.5 inches. Flying, in search of the nectar of flowers, making their fluttery appearance in May and throughout the summer.

Their caterpillar host plants are grapes, both wild and cultivated, and Virginia Creeper.

Baltimore Checkerspot

Baltimore Checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton)

The Baltimore Checkerspot is in the family of brush-footed butterflies, or Nymphalidae. Their front legs are small which gives them the appearance of having four legs rather than six.

The range of the Baltimore checkerspot extends from southern Canada and the eastern United States to the mountains of Virginia and North Carolina and west across the Great Lakes region. 

Caterpillar of Baltimore Checkerspot

Baltimore Checkerspot is the state insect of Maryland. The population has faced significant decline and is currently listed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources on the Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Animal List.

White Turtlehead (Chelone glabra) the host plant of Baltimore Checkerspot

Deer browse is said to be a prime reason for Baltimore Checkerspot’s decline. White Turtlehead is the host plant of these butterfly caterpillars, particularly during the warm months when the caterpillars are small, and deer love this plant. As the caterpillars grow they’re able to use other host plants such as Arrowwood Viburnum, English Plantain, Penstemon and Honeysuckle. As adults, the Baltimore Checkerspots nectar at flowering plants including Common Milkweed, Dogbane, several species of Mountain Mint, and wild Blackberry. But it’s White Turtlehead that they seek for laying their eggs.

Anchor Stink Bug

Anchor Stink Bug (Stiretrus anchorago).

Found in Central and mostly eastern North America. This is a good guy of the stink bug world, feeding on beetle larvae and caterpillars, including many agricultural and gardening pests such as the Mexican Bean Beetle and the Japanese Beetle.

There’s incredible variation in the coloring of the Anchor Stink Bug but rather than having a triangular scutellum, these bugs have a U-shaped scutellum.

An interesting creature to see and find information about.

Wineberry Flower

Wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius). An invasive plant that is found throughout the woods up here. Right now there are small flowers. Five, heart shaped, pale pink petals with longer pointed sepals. Very soon to become berries. An invasive, but oh the berries are so good.

Ma and Pa Carolina Wren

Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)

The two of them so active. Back and forth from the nest. Bringing morsels of yummy caterpillars for their nestlings. Only stopping from time to time to sing with great bravado.

Nestlings grow quickly. Hatching to fledging takes 12 to 14 days.

Thank goodness. I’m worn out just watching Ma and Pa.