Along the Air Line... 2008 - Summer, Part 5
The Air Line Trail in Eastern Connecticut - Stan Malcolm Photos

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July 12th. Wood Lily (Lilium philadelphicum).

 

 

 

 

 

Jewelweed or Touch-me-not (Impatiens capensis).

 

 

A small Skipper (Family Hersperiidae). I'm not sure of the species; possibly a Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A trailing species of Bramble (Rubus sp.).

 

 

Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris).

 

 

 

 

 

Near Judd Brook, Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) caterpillars have defoliated many trees. This moth was introduced from Europe to Medford, MA, in about 1869. The intent was to use it to produce silk, but caterpillars escaped into the wild where there were few natural predators or parasites, allowing populations to explode.

 

 

Brown cast skins of caterpillars and pupae fill a crevice between tree trunks, flanked by adult female moths and their tan egg masses.

 

 

 

 

 

A tattered male sits below a female which has already shed its eggs.

 

 

Two males flank this female, attracted by her scent.

 

 

Males flutter throughout the area, looking for mates.

 

 

Male antennae are enormous given the size of the moth. They're used to orient towards females.

 

 

July 13th. Indian Pipes (Monotropa uniflora).

 

 

Spotted Wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata).

 

 

 

 

 

Eyed Brown (Satyrodes eurydice).

 

 

Afternoon. Lush greens of summer at the East Hampton end of the trail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)...

 

 

...attracts wasps...

 

 

...such as this Sphecid wasp...

 

 

...and butterflies, including this skipper (probably a Northern Broken Dash, Wallengrenia egeremet)...

 

 

...and these Mulberry Wings (Poanes massasoit).

 

 

Little Wood-Satyr (Megisto cymela).

 

 

 

 

 

Crown Vetch (Coronilla varia).

 

 

Rabbit's-Foot Clover (Trifolium arvense).

 

 

July 14th. Small-eyed Sphinx Moth (Paones myops). (Sorry, a pretty lousy picture.)

 

 

July 19th. Highbush Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) are gradually ripening.

 

 

Groundnut (Apios americana).

 

 

Horse-nettle (Solanum carolinense).

 

 

July 25th. Foggy morning.

 

 

July 26th. Summersweet or Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia).

 

 

Very fragrant!

 

 

Spotted Joe-Pye-Weed (Eupatorium maculatum).

 

 

Joe-Pye-Weed often looks better in bud than in flower.

 

 

Carrion-flower (Smilax herbacea) berries are maturing. Later they'll turn purple, nearly black.

 

 

July 29th. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius) grooming atop a wood duck nest box.