August 10th. Evening-Primrose Moth (Schinia florida) tucked into an Evening-Primrose (Oenothera biennis) flower.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second growth Showy Tick-trefoil (Desmodium canadense) is blooming after a mowing a month or so ago.

 

In the Pea Family, Fabaceae.

 

Fragrant Water-lilies (Nymphaea odorata).

 

Looks like a young Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis).

 

In fact, I'm pretty sure I heard it begging for food.

 

 

 

 

 

Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe).

 

I took a short walk on the Colchester Spur. Bouncing Bet (Saponaria officinalis).

 

 

 

 

 

Climbing Hempweed or Climbing Boneset (Mikania scandens), a vine with arrowhead shaped leaves.

 

 

 

 

 

Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum), named for the way the paired leaves are joined around the stem as interpreted in the "Doctrine of Signatures". See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctrine_of_signatures In herbal medicine, Boneset leaves were placed in bandages over broken bones.

 

August 11th. A humid morning walk east from Route 207 to the power lines. The beaver pond here is completely dried up.

 

I often see different wildflowers under the powerlines. This is Virginia Meadow-beauty (Family Melastomataceae, Rhexia virginica).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canada St. Johnswort (Hypericum canadense). I've never seen it before; though it's tiny so easily overlooked.

 

Wild Sensitive-plant (Chamaecrista nictitans). Touch the leaves and they will gradually fold up.

 

Note the tiny black gland with a drop of secretion on it along the leaf petiole.

 

Here's the gland again, with an ant nearby. I'll guess that the ant protects the plant from herbivores and is rewarded by a sweet secretion.

 

However, I couldn't find corroboration of that guess online.

 

Water Hemlock or Spotted-Cowbane (Cicuta maculata). Deadly to cows; highly poisonous to humans.

 

Fernleaf False Foxglove (Aureolaria pedicularia).

 

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos).

 

Two Camouflaged Looper caterpillars ((Synchlora aerata) on Spotted Joe-Pye-weed (Eupatorium maculatum).

 

The caterpillar's head is at the left where it's chewing on a flower. More information and pictures of this species on the previous page. To see them, scroll down here: https://www.performance-vision.com/airline2022/airline-summer-22i.html

 

An adult Jagged Ambush Bug (Phymata sp.) on Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum).

 

And here's a Jagged Ambush Bug nymph, the first I've ever seen.

 

A Giant American Millipede (Narceus americanus). Giant is a relative term but these are often 4 inches long.

 

This one was probably 3 inches long.

 

They're harmless, feeding on rotting logs, but possess an arsenal of defensive chemicals against predators.

 

This one was a full 4 inches long. They're often seen crossing the trail on damp mornings like today, not far from the powerlines.

 

Sadly, they're prone to being squished by bicycles passing by.

 

 

 

This one safely crossed the trail without my help.