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Oil Beetle
Roaming through the autumn leaves, an Oil Beetle (Meloe). If you see one, don’t pick it up. They have a defensive tactic to discourage predators. When provoked a bright orange, oily, poisonous chemical, called cantharidin will be released. This chemical on human skin will create very painful blisters. A good sized beetle judging by the…
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Showing Off Its Crimson Side
Happy first day of astronomical autumn. Quite the rainy day here but it’s time to celebrate nonetheless. First I’ll celebrate that I’m getting rain. Hooray! Something that is needed to a huge degree. Second I’m celebrating AUTUMN. Hallelujah! Lovely, warm colors all over the woods. Celebrating with me are the Flowering Dogwoods (Cornus florida). They’re…
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A Lizard Again
Well, finally! I haven’t seen an Eastern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) in eons. The last photo I have of one is from September of 2015. I’ve been wondering where they’ve been. What they’re up to. That top photo is the one I saw yesterday morning. A little one. About 4 inches long. They range in…
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Maryland State Flower
So happy to find a new vendor at the Greene County Farmers Market. Lauren Taylor (www.belovedbrook.com) is selling native plants. Ah! Lauren is speaking my language. Several weeks ago I got Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) plants from Lauren. My first time to have the Maryland state flower. I’ve had other Black-eyed Susans but these are…
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Alvin?
Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) The Eastern Chipmunk lives in wooded areas with deciduous trees, whether up here in the mountains, or in suburban areas with woods or parks around. They’re found throughout the eastern United States and southern Canada. These Chipmunks like rocky areas, with brush piles, and dense shrubs to provide cover. Small creatures, they are…
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A Giant In The Butterfly World
The largest butterfly in North America, with a wingspan of up to 6.9 inches. The Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes). And in a less often seen, ventral view. As an adult, the Giant Swallowtail dines on the nectar of many species of flowers as well as liquid from animal feces. Quite the contrast, don’t you think?…
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Maize Flower Fly
Maize Flower Fly (Toxomerus politus). This was a challenge to figure out this exact species. But perhaps the challenge is nearly all the fun! These attractive flies enjoy being around us for our sweat, which provides them a source of water and salt. But it is not a Sweat Bee (Halictidae). Keep in mind, flies…
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Fall Phlox
Fall Phlox (Phlox paniculata), native to parts of central and eastern United States, and southeastern Canada. I found these flowers blooming along the Buck Hollow Trail, in Shenandoah National Park. The plant is a herbaceous perennial is generally 2 to 4 feet tall, and can sometimes get to be 6 feet tall. The flowers are…