June 7th, 2007
a cool day
The weather has been very erratic here over the past few weeks. Last weekend, we were baking, but the past couple of days, I’ve been covering the vegetable garden with tarpaulins as there has been a threat of frost. As I write this post, the temperature is about 15C (58F). It was colder yesterday morning when Sabrina and I set out for our first insect walk of the day. You might think that there wouldn’t be much to see, and there isn’t if you expect to see insects flying or basking on the top leaves of plants. However, if you’re willing to work a little harder, you’ll probably see more insects and spiders than on the best sunny day. On cool, overcast or windy days, the insects will be hiding down in the foliage where they are not so easy to see. The good part is that they’re generally rather torpid, allowing you to easily work around them. Of course, I found many spiders, but I’ll post photos of them some other day. Instead, I wanted to show some of the cool insects that I came across — and these are just a few.
First up is this pair of moths found along the trail where Sabrina is standing in the top photo. I was walking along, checking the foliage to either side of the trail, trying to use my x-ray eyes to focus on the deeper stuff and not on the leaves at the surface. I quickly noticed a gray bump on a little twig and stopped to investigate. As it turned out, the bump was actually a pair of mating moths (click on image for larger view). Unfortunately, I can’t tell you the species at the moment as I haven’t had time to look for an ID, but they’re interesting enough even unnamed as they are a good example of the kind of thing you might come across if you’re not just grazing over the surface of the vegetation.
This beautiful pair of mating crane flies was found in another shady spot yesterday. I believe they might be Nephrotoma ferruginea as they look pretty much the same as examples seen on the CMNH Crane Flies of Pennsylvania website. Do click on the above image to see a larger view as the small shot doesn’t really do justice to their delicate forms.
If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile, you’ll probably remember a post about Scorpionflies from last summer. Yesterday, while checking the foliage along the trails, I saw more Scorpionflies than the combined total I’ve seen in my life. It was just amazing. I must have seen at least two or three dozen. In a couple of patches of goldenrod and other plants shaded by trees, I could look around and see a half dozen males at a time, perched on leaves just a few inches below the surface. They were so inactive that I could easily turn a leaf from side to side, photographing them from different angles without them twitching so much as a wing. Needless to say, I shot quite a number of photos. I won’t write about their natural history today, but if you’re interested, read my older post linked to above. They’re fascinating little insects.
The last image from yesterday is this moth found on clover along the trail. Once again, the insect was torpid and not at all inclined to move away from the camera. I did a bit of checking this morning ad I’m quite sure this is the Simple Wave Moth (Scopula junctaria – Hodges #7164).
I’ll post the spiders tomorrow after I get them edited.
[tags]Nephrotoma ferruginea, Crane fly, Panorpa, Scorpionfly, Scopula junctaria,
June 7th, 2007 at 10:31 am
Your photo of the scorpionfly is far clearer and more detailed than any I found at the links you posted. I missed your earlier post about them, but found it fascinating this morning. I’ve never heard of them and have never seen them.
June 7th, 2007 at 11:07 am
Bev – I had to smile. You didn’t use the adjective ‘beautiful’ in your description of the Scorpion Fly. In the link to last years excellent information regarding this critter I actually saw the word ‘homely’! applied to these fascinating macabre insects. Ooooh. Offering dead bodies as enticements – Ooooooh.
I love that Wave Moth. I see why they named it ‘Wave’ – very restful. Like standing bare-footed in shallow water and looking down at the sand ridges made by wave action. Ahhhh . . .
Great pixes. My subjective favorite: Noble, sweet Sabrina enjoying being out in Emerald City.
June 7th, 2007 at 11:12 am
That wave moth is a beauty!
June 7th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
The moth is so beautiful….
June 7th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
More good stuff Bev, love crane flies, so many different kinds and so interesting.
June 7th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
That scorpion fly is about the most frightening thing I’ve seen in a long time.
June 8th, 2007 at 6:32 am
John – I’ve noticed that Scorpionflies don’t seem to be as photographed as often as other insects. I suspect that they often go unnoticed as they are mainly forest dwelling insects and a bit elusive. Also, as they like hanging out in shady spots, that makes them a little more difficult to photograph.
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Cathy – Yes, I guess it’s a little difficult to refer to a Scorpionfly as “beautiful”, although their wings are certainly that. Their heads are a bit strange though — sort of long and sad-looking and a bit horse-like. Glad you enjoyed seeing the photo of Sabrina. I like to include the odd photo of her because she’s always “right there” while I’m shooting insect images.
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jessie – Although I do a fair bit of photographing of moths at night, I prefer daylight images whenever possible. I often find moths resting in shady spots on plants and always think they look so serene.
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Jimmy – Yes, isn’t it?! (-:
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Duncan – I love crane flies too. Like the Scorpionflies, I think they don’t receive as much attention as they hang out in the shade so much and another of those insects that can be a bit difficult to photograph.
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pablo – Ha! Well, you have nothing to fear from them!
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Larry – re: you comment left on the older thread, I’ve left a reply there, but yes, the Thoreau remark about “seeing” is right on.
June 9th, 2007 at 6:18 am
You’re seeing craneflies too now! Only yours have slate blue eyes, and ours are green.
There seems to be a new species making its presence known here. And I have yet to find any scorpionflies.
As for your cool weather, well, we seem to have left that behind us some time ago.
June 9th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
Wayne – I think those are the first craneflies I’ve ever photographed that had blue eyes. That was one of those pleasant surprises that you get when you download your camera and put the photos up on the screen. As for the scorpionflies, I’m fairly sure you should have them in your area, and I’d think your place might be perfect for them. I’d think that anywhere with good understory would be an ideal place to look.
June 9th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
Thank you for the ID on the wave moth. I tried to photograph one of these at Raccoon Creek in Pennsylvania a few years ago, but the camera didn’t want to focus on all that white.
Mine, too, just sat and let me fuss with the camera for a very long time. I think I gave up and left with it still sitting there.
June 12th, 2007 at 8:06 am
Jenn – I think that species is common and has a large range. I do see them around here quite often. I know what you mean about having trouble with all white moths. This was a nice subject as it was resting in slight shade but with good light. Most times when I find these, they’re either in the woods where the shade is too deep for a good non-flash photo, or they’re in the open where I tend to get blown highlights (basically the whole moth).