Insects – Page 4

Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers

Beautiful patterns, holes in tree bark, looking like a sort of Morse Code, is not the work of Martians leaving us a message, or wood boring insects. These holes are the work of a brightly colored, medium sized woodpecker, the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius. The photo, above, is a cluster of holes (called sapwells) that I discovered less than a week ago, in an apple tree in front of my cabin. The picture, below, is lines of sapwells in an Eastern Red Cedar. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are attracted to sapwells, and will drink the sap that the Sapsucker has inadvertently provided for them. The Sapsucker watches for such things, and will chase the mooching hummingbird away.

The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, during early spring, tests and selects trees that will be the source of food during the coming season. The Sapsucker will consume the sap, and insects, that occasionally get trapped in the sap, coming back many times a day. The same tree may be a source of food for a Sapsucker and his mate, for several years.

If you are concerned about a special tree that is decorated with these sapwells, you might try wrapping the trunk of the tree with hardware cloth, or burlap.

The picture, above, is a male (left) and female (right) Yellow-bellied Sapsucker during a snow storm, last year in my woods. A pair will stay together during the nesting season to raise their young together. Often they will reunite after migrating, sometimes even returning to the same nesting area.

The picture, above, is a male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

Sapsuckers are not normally found at backyard feeders, although occasionally they might be found at suet. In the very coldest days of the winter, here in the Blue Ridge Mountains, of central Virginia, I will see Sapsuckers at my water warmer.

A female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in the picture above.

Both the female and the male share duties, of incubation of their eggs, and feeding of the young, once they are hatched. The eggs hatch in 12 to 13 days. The babies are fed insects, sap, and fruit. Nestlings leave the nest 25 to 29 days after emerging from their eggs, and are fed by their parents for 10 days after leaving the nest. There is one brood per year.

And in the photo, above, a confused Sapsucker? I don’t have an answer. This is not an unusual sight. I’ve captured Sapsuckers in photographs on this utility pole many times. Obviously this little lady would not find any sap flowing. Perhaps she is using the pole as a communication device, as she tap, tap, taps?

Hackberry

Here on Snow Mountain, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, I see quite a few hackberry trees, Celtis occidentalis. Most are trees with circumferences of 5 inches or smaller, trees that have not been around long. Their small size may be, in part, because the forest up here is a young forest. Back in the 1950s and 1960s the mountainsides were farmland—no forests. Farm families had a tough existence along the Blue Ridge, with loads of rocks to deal with, and difficulty getting up and down the very steep, dirt roads. Time marches on, and now there is forest up here and very few people.

The hackberry tree is a favorite of mine, simply because of its bark. This bark is what first brought the tree to my attention. It looks like a topographic map, in 3D, warty and corky. I frequently do work in Shenandoah National Park, on the Buck Hollow Trail, and get to see larger, more mature hackberry trees at that location.

Hackberry trees are native to North America. Given favorable conditions, one of these trees could live to be 150 or 200 years of age. They grow to be medium sized trees, 60 or 80 feet tall or taller, depending on the soil and moisture conditions. They tolerate pollution, although only occasionally are they used as a street tree.

The trees’ berries are edible, though I seldom notice them. Summer brings the berries a red-orange color, which turns to dark purple in the fall. Birds love them.

Looking much like a berry, what I do notice, and use as an identifier, are galls that seem to always be on some of the branch tips or just below the leaf on the petiole.

The galls are the home to young nymphs of an insect—the petiole gall psyllid. These insects and their galls do not do major harm to the tree.

Along with the wildlife benefits of the berries, the hackberry tree is also the larval host to question mark, mourning cloak, and American snout butterflies. It is also the nectar source for several other butterflies and moths.

The photograph, above, is of an American snout, who alighted on my camera strap last summer, as I was hiking. A chance encounter with another admirer of the hackberry tree!

Smooth Sumac

Just a couple weeks ago, some of the bushes along my woodland edges were abuzz with pollinator activity. The flowers of Smooth Sumac, Rhus glabra, were the magnet.

Butterflies, including this Red-banded Hairstreak, Calycopis cecrops, were part of the crowd.

Honey Bees, gathering nectar, to help some bee keeper with his honey supply were also attracted. And so many other insects. Sweat bees, wasps. Too many to identify or list here! Believe me, Abuzz!

Smooth Sumac is a dioecious plant, meaning that male and female flowers appear on separate bushes.

There are many references to a lemonade being made from the berries. Call me chicken, but I’m not going to experiment, particularly because I am allergic to nuts and the thought that this shrub is in the cashew family (Anacardiaceae) is warning enough for me.

Autumn brings scarlet to the sawtooth edged leaves.

The bushes form dense colonies, by means of root suckers, and are easily spotted along the roadsides in many areas, in the fall, thanks to the brilliant red foliage.

The berries are an emergency food for many, many song birds through the winter.

This Yellow-shafted Flicker, or Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratus, is glad to have the emergency supply. I took this photograph during a heavy snow, back in February, 2010.

And as the seasons roll along, winter turns to spring. The compound leaves sprout, looking like ferns as they unfold. And the whole cycle repeats itself.

Dung Beetle

This funny critter has an intriguing way of life. He is a Dung Beetle. I believe his species is Canthon imitator. He hunts for piles of manure using his sensitive sense of smell. I doubt if this sign (below) would be of any use to the Dung Beetle. They probably can’t even read. I suppose the sign is for humans, not Dung Beetles, but that’s what he is looking/sniffing for, manure, poop, dung, feces of herbivores or omnivores, though they prefer omnivores as their source.

The Dung Beetle will roll dung balls up to 10 times their weight. They move quickly – a male and a female – so that their treasured manure does not get stolen by other Dung Beetles. Usually it is the male the does the rolling, occasionally with the female riding atop the ball. The Dung Beetle rolls the ball in a straight line despite things that might get in their way, until the male and female find a spot of soft soil for burying the ball of manure. After mating the female will lay eggs with the manure ball providing provisions for the larvae.

The Dung Beetle is a good critter to have around. They improve soil, by burying and consuming manure. By removing the manure there is less habitat for pests such as flies too. As I was doing research for this blog, I actually came upon a site where Australian farmers can actually order Dung Beetles!

This type of Dung Beetle is called a roller because of the manner in which they remove their treasured find to a location away from other hijacking Dung Beetles, rolling the ball along. Several species of the Dung Beetle were highly regarded in ancient Egypt. You’ll recognize these beetles as the Sacred Scarab.

In Isan, Northeastern Thailand, the local people eat many different kinds of insects, including the Dung Beetle. Ugh! I think I will just continue watching, being amused and intrigued by the rolling of the ball of dung, and while they take food home for the babies!

Cicadas And American Chestnuts

Periodical Cicada, Magicicada septendecim — Periodical Cicada, *Magicicada septendecim*

We Won’t Soon Forget

Those of us who just came through the summer, with Brood II of the Periodical Cicadas, are still seeing flagged trees. Tomorrow I will find out the results of pollinating American Chestnuts this spring. A friend and I did the pollination at the height of the Cicada invasion. Slits in some of the branches we worked with were noticed, but the real damage, at that point, was not obvious. We had to pollinate what flowers there were, and keep our fingers crossed.

**A Bucket Truck Is Needed To Get To The Top Of These Tall Trees**

In The Morning

Keep your fingers crossed for me in the morning too! I’ll be meeting the bucket truck at 10:00 A.M., and I’m hoping that we will be able to come away with at least some seeds from this mother tree to represent this growing season.

American Chestnut, Castanea dentata — American Chestnut, *Castanea dentata*

Turning Leaves

These are the leaves of an American Chestnut. On my mountan, right now, the leaves are still a bright green, but in a few weeks, they like many other leaves in the forest, will be turning to their autumnal tones. Oh how I love the seasons to change!

Welcome Autumn!

Red Maple, Acer rubrum — Red Maple, *Acer rubrum*

Let The Season Begin!

Autumn started this afternoon! Yay! I love to experience the seasons — each and every one — all four, to their fullest potential! As always, autumn is starting slowly. Yes, we’ve had cooler weather, but the leaves are slow to respond and are waiting for the days to get shorter and shorter. I have to really look to see any leaves turning. The patch of Red Maple leaves, above, being true to their name are a beautiful scarlet, but I had to hunt for them. Most trees are still green.

Flowering Dogwood, Cornus florida — Flowering Dogwood, *Cornus florida*

An Exception

Dogwood is an exception to that rule. If you’re really observant, you’ll notice that the Flowering Dogwood begins, ever so subtly, to turn from green to red, in early July. I noticed this a few years ago and it sorta blew my mind, but every year since, I’ve noticed the same thing happening. Not every Flowering Dogwood tree goes by this pattern, but most that I see here on my mountain do.

Clasping Aster or Late Purple Aster, Symphyotrichum patens — Clasping Aster or Late Purple Aster, *Symphyotrichum patens*

Asters, Asters Everywhere!

On my daily hikes Asters are the most abundant flower. Snowy white asters with sunshine yellow centers that turn to warm burgundy as they mature. Lavender asters – small and even smaller ones. And my favorite – grape purple asters with the name Clasping Asters or Late Purple Asters. The flower of this species is a tiny bit larger than most of the Asters I’m seeing. It’s the smashing grape color that really gets my attention though. I’m really a sucker for a yummy, rich color.

Goldenrod, Species to be determined later! — Goldenrod, *Species to be determined later!*

Brilliant Yellow

I cannot leave out the Goldenrod that greets me each time I hike up the mountain. Beautiful yellow Goldenrod that is such a cheery sight. Oh dear! So many different species (over 50 in North America) that I have not begun to try to figure out which I’ve been running into. I think I’ll leave that to those long winter days when there are no flowers to identify as I hike!

Locust Borer (Megacyllene robiniae) Blending In With Goldenrod — **Locust Borer, *Megacyllene robiniae,* Blending Right In With Goldenrod**

Brilliant Yellow In Insects Too

A frequent sight on the Goldenrod — the adult Locust Borer enjoys the pollen of the Goldenrod. The species gets its name from the larvae that bore into Black Locust Trees.

Silverrod, Solidago bicolor — Silverrod, *Solidago bicolor*

Bold Identification

One plant in the Solidago (Goldenrod) genus that I feel confident identifying is Silverrod. I just saw it for the first time a few days ago and it fascinates me, looking like a Goldenrod but it is white with just the smallest hint of yellow. Nice to have something with no question of what it is!

Colors To Come!

As the days get shorter, the leaves will respond, shutting down their production of chlorophyll, which will bring about the change in colors that I’m waiting for. I’ll keep you posted!

Happy Yellow!

Happiness!

Yellow is such a happy color! I had a dear friend, Pat Gallagher, whose favorite color was yellow, I think for that very reason. She was a truly happy person. She made a point of doing watercolor paintings, and making quilts with the warm color in it, even in the day when yellow was not favored.

Yellow But Not A Sunflower

The flower below, with its gorgeous curvy stamens is not a Sunflower, but a Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia). I see it along roadsides at the foot of the mountain where I live. I’ve got one plant of it in the front of my cabin, due to my curiosity about it, and my seed collecting habit. Nice to have it added to the many yellows provided by Woodland Sunflower and Goldenrod!

A Favorite Flower

My Dad’s favorite flower is the sunflower. Whenever I order a bouquet for Mom and Dad, I try to have the florist include sunflowers in the bunch to make both Mom and Dad smile. Yellow and sunflowers, they just work together so well.

Not Yellow

This ladybug is not yellow, but I think she’s pretty happy wandering about in her yellow flowered world. Yellow has a way of attracting birds and insects.

Speaking of bees, do you see the face created by the bees in the picture below? Happy bees!

Fading

Even fading yellow appeals to me. These sunflowers, in the two pictures below, well beyond their peak, are beautiful!

New Yellow

And a most comforting sight, a bud of a sunflower, just thinking of opening, starting a new life, providing sustenance for birds, and bees.

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Creatures In The Goldenrod Patch

A Birthday

Today was a busy day here at the cabin. It was my Mr. Wonderful’s birthday, so I didn’t get out on a hike. But yesterday I found some fun critters in a large clump of Goldenrod in a power line right-of-way, up by the waterfall. Maybe right now I should be calling that a water-trickle, rather than a waterfall though. There is not much water flowing over those rocks. I was looking through my photographs yesterday and noticed some picts of the waterfall from back in June. My, what a difference! There sure was water flowing then!

A Pair of Mating Locust Borers, Megacyllene robiniae — A Pair of Mating Locust Borers, *Megacyllene robiniae*

So Much Activity

What a busy place it was up there at about 2400 feet. There were several pairs of Locust Borers busy taking care of perpetuating the species. I guess they find those black and yellow stripes irresistible!

Soldier Beetle, Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus — Soldier Beetle, *Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus*

More Critters

There were also Soldier Beetles busy up there, feeding on the pollen of the Goldenrod. Many Soldier Beetles. Both the Soldier Beetle and the Locust Borer particularly enjoy Goldenrod pollen.

What Will Tomorrow Find

Looking forward to my hike tomorrow morning. What beautiful colors, intriguing insects, new trees will I discover?

Bright Yellow

Oleander Aphids, Aphis nerii — Oleander Aphids, *Aphis nerii*

But They Are Beautiful!

Okay, I must admit, my number one priority in taking photographs is the visual impact. It can be the creepiest critter around, but if it is gorgeous to look at — with no thought of what it is, it will become a pict for me! I suppose that in this case, many of you will mumble under your breath, “There goes Brenda again. Another really creepy bug!” But look at that wonderful brilliant screaming yellow! The color of the Corvette Stingray that is my dream car!

Screaming Yellow At 2000 Feet

I’m always on the lookout for the unusual, or the usual that everyone else overlooks. I think this might fill the bill. Way up the mountain – adjacent to one of my favorite little slopes, where I found multitudes of Wild Columbine early this summer, where I am finding Cinnabar Chanterelles, where there are Woodland Sunflowers growing in profusion; this is where I found this impressive streak of yellow.

Milkweed And Oleander Lookout!

These tiny things are Oleander Aphids, Aphis nerii. They also attack Milkweed. This is what they are on, so far up the mountain. Wouldn’t you know, they are not native. Apparently they arrived on this continent, along with their namesake, Oleander. Both the Oleander and the Oleander Aphid are from the Mediterranean region. I hope there is something up there that is hungry for Aphids!