June 21st. An afternoon walk over the Lyman Viaduct. Deptford Pink (Dianthus armeria).

 

 

 

 

 

First open flowers of Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca).

 

 

 

Milkweed Longhorn Beetle (Tetraopes tetrophthalmus).

 

Bush Katydid nymph (Scudderia sp.) on Milkweed.

 

 

 

White Sweet Clover (Melilotus alba).

 

Lots of insects on the White Sweet Clover, including this Bumble Bee (Family Bombidae).

 

A Cuckoo Bee (Family Apidae, Subfamily Nomadinae, Nomada maculata).

 

 

 

A Longhorn Beetle (Family Cerambycidae, Analeptura lineola).

 

Another Longhorn Beetle, the antlike Cyrtophorus verrucosus.

 

Size comparison to a Carpenter Ant (Camponotus sp.).

 

Enchanter's Nightshade (Family Onagraceae, Circaea canadensis).

 

Note the velcro-like hooks on the developing fruit just behind the flower. Brush by this plant in a few weeks and expect to be covered with these tiny burrs.

 

Lucky to get any part of this Stilt Bug (Family Berytidae, Neoneides muticus) in focus.

 

Best guess is the Dusky Arion Slug (Arion subfuscus), a European species intrioduced into North America. (Sorry, I don't do mollusks.)

 

June 22nd. At the Route 85 trailhead, dead and dying Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) caterpillars, succumbing to disease.

 

An early afternoon walk from River Road to the Air Line Trail bridge over the Blackledge River. Six-spotted Tiger Beetle (Cicindela sexguttata). Impressive in the shade...

 

...but something else in the sun!

 

 

 

 

 

Venus' Looking-glass (Specularia perfoliata).

 

 

 

 

 

Birdfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus).

 

Rough-fruited Cinquefoil (Potentilla recta).

 

 

 

A Stink Bug (Family Pentatomidae, probably Trichopepla semivittata).

 

Another Stink Bug (Family Pentatomidae, Euschistus sp.).

 

 

 

My destination, the Air Line Trail bridge over the Blackledge River.

 

 

 

 

 

June 23rd. Larger Blue Flag iris (Iris versicolor).

 

Indian Pipes (Monotropa uniflora), a flowering plant lacking chlorophyll and parasitc on other plants.

 

These are the flowers. Leaves are reduced to occasional scales on the stems.

 

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura).

 

June 24th. Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon).

 

Of the two, the Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) is a greater threat than the Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis).

 

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius).

 

 

 

 

 

June 25th. Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) snacking.

 

Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus).

 

 

 

This is what dead and dying Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) caterpillars look like.

 

Essentially, they liquify internally due to disease.