July 2011
This month was notable for its drought and heat, with a record number of days reaching temperatures of over 100. But some species thrived, showing up in unusually high numbers this month. Among the insects: 1) butterflies: Appalachian Browns, Northern Pearly Eyes, Spicebush Swallowtails, 2) dragonflies: Great Blue Skimmers and Common Whitetails, and 3) two species of shield-backed katydids. Spiders of many species showed up and the Ruellia carolinensis wildflower abounded in many habitats. Of course, the Dog Day Cicadas thrived in the heat. The Third Fork Creek Trail was by far the location producing the most species in this group.
Third Fork Creek Trail, Durham, NC 7/30/11
Black Rat Snake | Pearl Crescent | Leaffooted Bug nymph | Shield-backed katydid (Atlanticus testaceus) |
Slavemaking ant (Formica subintegra), carrying Formica subsericea ant captive. ID thanks to James C. Trager. One of a fast-moving colony. |
Third Fork Creek Trail, Durham, NC 7/29/11
Nursery web spider (Pisaurina dubia) | Jumping spider (Phidippus genus), found inside a nutshell. Mostly likely a Daring Jumping Spider. | Clouded Skipper on a rose | Horace's Duskywing |
Orange-tipped Oakworm Moth (Anisota senatoria) | Rhinoceros beetle | Me taking a picture of this fly (note the reflection) |
Third Fork Creek Trail, Durham, NC 7/28/11
Argiope aurantia | The same Argiope aurantia, upside down | Robber fly |
Durham, NC 7/26/11
Green Lacewing | Rhyparochromid bug | Geometrid moth (Anavitrinella pampinaria?) |
Third Fork Creek Trail, Durham, NC 7/25/11
White-tailed Deer | Cardinal Flower | Mantid exuvia where it was found. | A better view of the mantid exuvia. | Spider exuvia. What a surprise when this blew across the trail towards me! |
Durham, NC 7/24/11
Female Carolina Saddlebags (Tramea carolina), found collapsed on the Third Fork Creek Trail. | Spicebush Swallowtail |
Durham, NC 7/21/11
Rhyparochromid seed bug (Ozophora picturata). Photo taken at night. |
Durham, NC 7/18/11
Male Great Blue Skimmer, Third Fork Creek Trail | Southern Dog-day Cicada | Flycatcher? |
Flat River Impoundment, Durham County, NC 7/17/11
Bee fly (Xenox tigrinus) | Green Heron | Checkered skipper | Hackberry Emperor |
Wild Turkey feathers (3 of 7 seen) |
American Tobacco Trail, Durham, NC 7/16/11
Cicada Killer on a Kudzu leaf | Purslane | False Dandelion (Pyrrhopappus carolinianus) | Evening Primrose | Purslane, close up |
Common Sneezeweed | Tree of Heaven? | Probably a Celosia, not technically a wildflower | Kudzu and milkweed pods |
Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC 7/15/11
Thanks to Shadowfax Stables for letting the passionvines grow!
Passionflower, partially opened | Another partially opened passionflower | Northern Pearly Eye | Blooming Rattlesnake Plantain Orchid | Asian Dayflower |
Carolina Wild Petunia (Ruellia carolinensis) | Southern Dog-day Cicada |
Third Fork Creek Trail, Durham, NC 7/14/11
Velvet Ant (Timulla genus). The extra abdominal ring is an artifact of using a flash. | Tiny fungus weevil |
Durham, NC 7/13/11
Brown Stink Bug, with wings exposed | Teneral Great Blue Skimmer | Grasshopper | Grasshopper | Mosquito pupa (dark object) and worms? |
Durham, NC 7/12/11
Appalachian Brown | Longhorn beetle (Parelaphidion aspersum). Photo taken at night. |
Third Fork Creek Trail, Durham, NC 7/10/11
Male shield-backed katydid (Atlanticus gibbosus) | Orange-tipped Oakworm Moth (Anisota senatoria) | Southern Dog-day Cicada | Leafhopper (Draecocephala zeae) |
Boone (in town), NC 7/8/11
Stonefly on Queen Anne's Lace | Asian Multi-colored Ladybug Beetle pupa |
Linn Cove Viaduct Visitors Center (National Park Service) Trail, Avery County 7/8/11
Leaffooted bug nymph | Umbrella Leaf, with fruits | Umbrella leaf fruits | Visitors Center | Cutleaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata) |
Bigleaf Magnolia (Magnolia magnophylla) | Scarlet Bee-balm |
Daniel Boone Gardens, Boone, Watauga County, NC 7/8/11
Mating Dogbane Beetles | Treehopper (Entylia carinata) | Sweat bee (Agapostemon genus) | Black Cohosh (thumbnail got surprise rotation) |
Moses Cone Memorial Park, Watauga County, NC
7/8/11
Two-lined Plant Bug | From Blue Ridge Parkway |
Julian Price Memorial Park, Watauga County, NC 7/7/11
Spittlebug (Clastoptera genus) | Ichneumon wasp (3 or 4 mm long) | Asian Multi-colored Ladybug Beetle | Solomon's Seal |
Boone Greenway, Watauga County, NC 7/7/11
Green June Beetle, seen on underside of Queen Anne's Lace blossom | Cabbage White | Tachinid fly (Gymnosoma genus, Phasiinae subfamily), on Queen Anne's lace | Potter wasp | Crown Vetch (an introduced plant) |
Boone Greenway, Watauga County, NC 7/6/11
Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii, species in doubt). ID thanks to Harry LeGrand. | Common Mullein | Forget-me-not | Female Sachem | Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) |
Durham, NC 7/4/11
Male Sachem | Female Sachem |
Third Fork Creek Trail, Durham, NC 7/3/11
Casebearer beetle larva, about 3 mm long, emerging from its case. |
Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC 7/2/11
Click beetle | Pearl Crescent | Carolina Wild Petunia | Convergent Ladybug Beetle |
Budding Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera pubescens). Thumbnail went sideways. | Flea beetle (Parchicola tibialis). ID thanks to v belov. | Wheel Bug eggs, stuck to a leaf, each about 2 mm high | Tumbling flower beetle |
Copyright © 2011 by Dorothy E. Pugh. All rights reserved. Please contact for rights to use photos.
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