26-AUG-2013
Black blister beetle (Epicautus pensylvanica)
These medium-sized blister beetles are fairly common on goldenrods at this time of year. As they also like asters, they are sometimes called aster blister beetles. That yellow liquid emerging from the top one may be the the chemical they can emit to protect themselves, and from which they get the collective common name of blister beetles.
26-AUG-2013
Black blister beetle (Epicautus pensylvanica)
Another shot of one of the blister beetles.
21-AUG-2013
Eastern-tailed Blue (Everes comyntas)
Diane photographed this butterfly in the butterfly meadow, one of only a few we've seen this year. They are often quite common at FWG, but this year they, like so many butterfly species, are scarce.
19-AUG-2013
Stewardship ranger
One of the rangers helping out at the FWG.
19-AUG-2013
Stewardship rangers helping FWG volunteers
Removing tree stumps from a site near the butterfly meadow, to allow new trees to be planted.
19-AUG-2013
Stewardship rangers helping FWG volunteers
Working near the butterfly meadow to remove the stumps of a few long dread trees which were removed to make way for new trees. We have many more standing dead trees to provide insects and nest sites.
14-AUG-2013
Green Lacewing larva (Chrysoperla)
Diane and I found this lovely lacewing larva, and Diane got a perfect shot showing the quite powerful mouth parts which make this insect such a good predator of aphids. Sometimes called aphid lions, because of their great ability to stalk and catch aphids.
14-AUG-2013
Mating Cabbage whites (Pieeris rapae)
This is an introduce species from Europe, commonly found both here and there. As the name suggests, its larval host plants are mustards.
14-AUG-2013
Common ringlet (Coenonympha tullia)
The second generation of this species has appeared recently and can be found flying around the old field area and other open areas.
14-AUG-2013
Wild cucumber flowers (Echinocystis lobata)
This is a native, twining vine that produces large spined pods that open at the bottom and from which the seeds are dropped. Being somewhat cucumber-like, the pods gave rise to the common name. The old field habitat has a great display of these creamy flowers right now.
15-AUG-2013
Great Lobelia (Lobelia syphilitica)
Beautiful stand of Great Lobelia in the Butterfly Meadow at its best right now. This plant is worth checking for a variety of insects which will nectar on it.
15-AUG-2013
Pennsylvania leatherwing beetles (Chauliognathus pensylvanicus)
These very familiar soldier beetles begin to appear in about mid-July becoming more numerous as summer progresses. They can be found on just about any flowering plant, though they particularly like queen anne's lace and goldenrods. France took this photo of them on tansy, a non-native but attractive-to-insects, plant that has naturalized in our region.