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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

Dark Fishing Spider, Third Fork Creek Trail, seemed to be injured at first glance but was simply completely limp.  It was large and apparently old. Spider wasp, very active but with a wing problem.  Third Fork Creek Trail. Mottled Bomolocha Moth (Hypena palparia).  Photo was taken at night. Beetle, moderately sized.  Photo taken at night. Moth, at night.


   
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  


Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos), one of hundreds blooming Moth Mullein Scoliid wasp (Scolia nobilitata) on Common Sneezeweed.  ID thanks to Brian Bockhahn. Red Admiral (ventral view), hiding in the shade Sleepy Orange

 

 
Jumping spider (female Phidippus clarus), with prey Mating Robber flies (Diogmites neoternatus) Thread-waisted wasp (Ammophila genus) and two small weevils on Common Sneezeweed Variegated Fritillary Robberfly, with wings partially open  


       
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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