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Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC

Penny's Bend Nature Preserve is in a geologically unique area, one with alkaline soil and flora more typical of the Midwest.  As a result, it has some rare wildflower species.  To see how to get there and navigate the place, see the live map at the bottom of the page.

Dutch-man's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria), 4/5/06 Smooth Coneflower (Echinacea laevigata), 6/4/06. This is an officially endangered species according to the US Fish & Wildlife Service and North Carolina Ecological Services according to their Smooth Coneflower Page. Wild Blue Indigo (Baptisia australis), 5/6/06 Bloodroot (Sanguin-aria canadensis, 3/14/07 Toothwort (Dentaria genus), 3/14/07.  This is the plant that Falcate Orangetips come to here in the Durham, NC area -- when they can find it!  We saw four Falcate Orangetips this day, but none of them found the two Toothworts we saw on the trail. Trout Lily (Erythonium americanum), 3/14/08.  These ephemera show up in early spring and die back to the ground when new leaves on the trees cut off the sunlight to the understory.  They are common in wooded areas around here. Round Lobed Hepatica (Anemone americana), 3/14/07. 

3/9/21

Bloodroots (Sanguinaria canadensis) More Bloodroots (Sanguinaria canadensis) Field Pansy (Viola bicolor) Green and Gold (Chrysogonum virginianum) Another Green and Gold (Chrysogonum virginianum)

Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea) Another Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea) Ivyleaf Speedwell (Veronica hederifolia) Another Ivyleaf Speedwell (Veronica hederifolia), next to Persian Speedwell leaves Little Brown Jug (Hexastylis arifolia) bud

 
Mock Strawberry (Duchesnea indica) Big Periwinkles (Vinca major) Purple Dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum) Dimpled Trout Lily (Erythonium umbilicatum)  

 
Another Dimpled Trout Lily (Erythonium umbilicatum) Another Dimpled Trout Lily (Erythonium umbilicatum) Virginia Spring Beauties (Claytonia virginica) More Virginia Spring Beauties (Claytonia virginica)  

2/4/20

Basal leaves of a Cutleaf Toothwort Daffodils (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) Round-lobed Hepatica (Anemone americana) Periwinkle (Vinca genus) Virginia Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica)

3/22/19

Bee Common Blue Violet More Common Blue Violets Cutleaf Toothwort Dutchman's Breeches

Dutchman's Breeches Dutchman's Breeches Early Saxifrage Early Saxifrage Flower fly (Toxomerus genus)

 

 
Green-and-Gold Lesser Celandine Little Brown Jug flower bud and some leaves Little Brown Jug leaves, apparently injured by recent harsh weather  

 

Mayapple Periwinkle Persian Speedwell Purple Deadnettle Round-lobed Hepatica flower

Round-lobed Hepatica (leaf) Rue Anemone More Rue Anemone Another Rue Anemone flower Shield-backed Katydid

 
Virginia Spring Beauty Another Virginia Spring Beauty Trout Lily Yellow Fumewort  

 

   
Yellow Fumewort More Yellow Fumewort More Yellow Fumewort    

1/18/19

       
Northern Cricket Frog        

2/23/17

Round-lobed Hepatica Trout Lily Persian Speedwell Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana), Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 2/23/17.  Some cultivars are known as "Bradford Pears," but, since this was growing wild, it's not clear whether this was one, since that species interbreeds with members of other pear species, e.g., Pyrus communis, very easily.  Intoduced and generally, though not officially, considered to be invasive. Common Blue Violet

 

Controlled burn across the street from the Penny's Bend parking lot Another view of the controlled burn Bloodroot with fruit Other bloodroots Cutleaf Toothwort

 

The beginnings of Dutchman's Breeches Field Pansy Fly Green and Gold Ground Ivy

 

Heart toy Hepatica flower Red-shouldered Hawk Spring Beauty Trout Lily

 

       
Yellowbelly Sliders        

3/31/16

Ashy Clubtail Large Bee Fly on Virginia Spring Beauty Winter leaves of a Crane Fly Orchid Cutleaf Toothwort Downy Yellow Violet

 

Dutchman's Breeches Early Saxifrage Male Eastern Tailed-Blue Another Eastern Tailed-Blue Green-and-gold

 

 
Juvenal's Duskywing Carolina Spring Beauty Wild Strawberry Dutchman's Breeches  

4/28/15

Bee fly, hovering over a Winged Elm seed covering Golden-backed Snipe Fly Carolina Satyr Teneral Blue Corporal Male Blue Corporal

     
Mystery fly, maybe a snipe fly Spider, something like the Castaneira genus      

6/20/14

 
Dogbane Leaf Beetle Mating Yellow-collared Scape Moths Yellow-collared Scape Moth Mystery bird  

 

Fowler's Toad Leaffooted bug nymph Weevil on a daisy White-lined Burrowing Bug Pipevine Swallowtail

4/8/13

Dutchman's Breeches Green Six-spotted Tiger Beetle Downy Yellow Violet Spring beauty (Claytonia caroliniana) Tiny scarab beetle (Hoplia genus)

Rue Anemone Another Rue Anemone Early Saxifrage Another Early Saxifrage Bee on a dandelion

       
Bumble Flower Beetle Common Vetch Mating click beetles        

11/6/11

   
Field near the parking lot Wooded hill Worn Common Buckeye on the ground    

5/10/11

I heard two species of cicadas, not always in the same places.

13-year Periodical Cicada (Magicicada tredecim? trecassini?) 13-year Periodical Cicada, recent metamorph 13-year Periodical Cicada: adult and exuvia 13-year Periodical Cicada with damaged wing 13-year Periodical Cicada exuviae


   
Eyed Click Beetle Aphid Front view of a 13-year Periodical Cicada    

4/4/11

Female Selys' Sundragon Eastern Comma Eastern Comma Female Eastern Tailed Blue


 
Snowberry Clearwing Moth (dorsal view) Snowberry Clearwing Moth at flower Tufted Titmouse Mourning Dove  


Downy Yellow Violet (Viola pubescens) Dutchman's Breeches Early Saxifrage Rue Anemone Green Six-spotted Tiger Beetle

   
This Black Rat Snake was lying on a branch in the middle of the trail. It moved away, and went up a small tree.    

11/21/10

 
Northern Cricket Frog Pearl Crescent Speckled Sharpshooter (Paraulacizes irrorata).  See other leafhoppers. Hepatica leaf  

8/8/10

Hackberry Emperor Sleepy Orange Pearl Crescent Eastern Tiger Swallowtail An aster (maybe a Jerusalem artichoke?) attracting many Eastern Tiger Swallowtails


Common Wood Nymph Carolina Satyr, dorsal view Clouded Skipper Delta Flower Beetle Blue-ringed Dancer.  See other damselflies.

 

   
Cicada nymph exuvia Small Milkweed Bug Pearl Crescent Female Halloween Pennant    

5/20/10

Calico Pennant Dogbane Beetle Crab spider Billbug Deptford Pink (Dianthus ameria)


Leatherwing Beetle Pink penstemon, may be Eastern Gray Beardtongue (Penstemon canescens).  Most Penstemon species are found in the West. Apparently leucistic Ornate Snipe Fly Flea beetle (Kuschelina petaurista), about 10 mm long Katydid nymph

4/26/10

 
Wild Blue Indigo Dogbane Tiger Moth (Cycnia tenera), found on the underside of a Common Milkweed leaf Shield-backed Katydid Ox-eye Daisy  


 
Multi-colored Asian Ladybug Beetle, anomalous with no spots Male Juvenal's Duskywing Large Bee Fly in flight Mating muscid flies  

3/6/10

     
Little Periwinkle (Vinca minor), in the process of unfolding  Spring Beauty  Trout Lily (leaf only)    

         
Buckeye leaf buds Shield-backed katydid nymph       

5/20/09

Female Calico Pennant.  See other dragonflies. Hangingfly Viola's Little Wood Satyr Large Bee Fly Blue Corporal

 

     
Wild Blue Indigo flowers and leaves Wild Blue Indigo seed pods      

4/22/09

 
Diurnal firefly beetle (probably Ellychnia genus).  See other beetles. Ichneumonid wasp Female Bowl-and-doily spider Pink Wood-Sorrel (Oxalis corymbosa).   

 

Tulip Tree flowers and leaves Green-and-gold Honey Locust, a fearsome tree with many thorns Golden Alexander Lyre-leaved Sage (Salvia lyrata)

 

 
Stonecrop (Sedum ternatum) flower Stonecrop (Sedum ternatum) leaves Grass Miner Moth (Antaeotricha genus, probably Schlaegeri species, Stenomatinae subfamily, Elachistidae family.  ID thanks to John and Jane Balaban.   This moth was ~5 mm long and looked like a bird dropping at first glance. Cuckoo Bee (Nomada genus, Heminomada subgenus, most likely Imbricata species).  ID thanks to John S. Ascher.  

4/4/09

 
Checkered beetle (Enoclerus ichneumoneus).  ID thanks to John and Jane Balaban. Bumble Flower Beetle (Euphoria inda)  Assassin bug (Pselliopus cinctus) on a Sugar Hackberry tree. White-lined Burrower Bug   

 

   
Small scarab beetle, maybe Hoplia trivialis, Melolonthinae family (May/June Beetles).  Small (about 8 mm long) with visible hairs. Two-lined Leatherwing Beetles (Atalantycha bilineata) Brown lacewing, maybe.  Dutchman's Breeches  Downy Yellow Violet (Viola pubescens)  

 

     
Muscid fly Juniper Hairstreak Female Falcate Orangetip Jumping spider (Phidippus genus, maybe ardens) Brown Lacewing  

3/19/09

   
  Speckled Sharpshooter.  See other leafhoppers. Male Bowl-and-doily Spider A type of cuckoo bee, Nomada genus.  This bee was in constant flight.  

7/9/08

 
Common Wood Nymph. See other nymphs and satyrs, or visit the Butterfly Index. Courting Silvery Checkerspots Little Wood Satyr Gemmed Satyr  

 

American Lady Silvery Checkerspot Robber fly Clay-colored Leaf Beetle Casebearer Beetle (Bassareus clathratus)

 5/24/08

Rhopalid Bug (Harmostes genus) White form Orange Sulphur Weevil on daisy Leafhopper nymphs  

 

 
Question Mark Dog Tick, perhaps reaching out for a prospective host. Small spider Ichneumonid wasp  

 

 
Velvet mite   Solitary bee Robber fly (Laphria divisor) Viola's Satyr

 

Mirid Bug (Lopidea genus) Flat-faced longhorn beetle (Hemierana marginata argens).  ID thanks to Mike Thomas.

5/6/08

Leaf Beetle, about 2 mm long Leafhopper nymph Another leafhopper nymph Scorpionfly Spider

 

Ladybug beetle larva molting Mirid bug adult (Lopidea genus) Mirid bug nymph (Lopidea genus) Click beetle (Elaterinae subfamily) Orchard Spider, probably overexposed

4/11/08

Female Falcate Orangetip Male and female Falcate Orangetips, engaged in courtship ritual

 

Two Green Six-spotted Tiger Beetles Probably a Juvenal's Duskywing Common Cricket

2/9/08

 
Question Mark Blowfly Soldier Fly  

 5/25/07

Northern Pearly Eye, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 5/25/07 Crossline Skipper, on Blue Indigo flower at Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 5/25/07 Negro (Ebony) Bug (Galgupha atra, Thyreocoridae family), Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 5/25/07.  For what it's worth, "negro" and "atra" mean the same thing in English: "black." Xylophagid fly, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 5/25/07

10/23/07

Insects appearing on plants are getting more scarce.

The taxonomic classification of this tiny beetle (maybe 2 mm long) eludes me.  It showed up in the open meadow called "the ridge." Tiny (2 mm long) weevil

7/15/07

Jumping spider, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 7/15/07 Hag moths (Phobetron pithecium, Limcodidae family) Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 7/15/07.  This picture was taken at 9:45 am.   ID thanks to John T. Lill. Robber fly, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 7/15/07.  Note the two red parasitic mites on the legs. Red-banded Hairstreak, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 7/15/07 Planthopper exuvia, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 7/15/07

 

Jumping spider with flower fly prey, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 7/15/07 (Same) jumping spider, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 7/15/07 Acanalonid planthopper nymph, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 7/15/07.  This bold nymph looked ready to use fight rather than flight.  This little insect was about 1 mm long.

8/12/07

Leafhopper (Jikradia olitoria), Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 8/12/07

6/15/07

Swamp Milkweed Beetle, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 6/1507 Wheel Bug nymph, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 6/1507 Leaffooted Bug nymph, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 6/1507 Moth, Tebenna gemalis, Choreutinae subfamily, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 6/15/07.  ID based on John Davis' Moth Photo Page, #2644 Orb weaver (Neoscona genus), Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 6/1507

 

Mystery leafhopper, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 6/1507 Dogbane Beetle, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 6/1507 Margined Leatherwing, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 6/1507 Scarab beetle, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 6/1507 Clay-colored Leaf Beetle, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 6/15/07

 

Maybe a Florida Cooter, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 6/1507.  This turtle showed up on ridge level, far from the river.  It was very large, at least a foot long.  See other turtles.

4/20/07

Juniper Hairstreak, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 4/20/07.  Seen along Eno River flying above leaf litter. Jumping spider with unidentified prey, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 4/20/07.  Potter Wasp, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 4/20/07.  Green six-spotted Tiger Beetle, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 4/20/07. 

 

Eastern Comma, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 4/20/07.  Solitary bee (probably Nomada species), Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 4/20/07.   This bee was the size of an average ant and in frantic motion. Checkered Skipper, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 4/20/07. 

3/30/07

I think these are flower flies.  Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 3/30/07 Orb weaver (probably Mangora genus), Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 3/30/07 Male Falcate Orangetip on a Spring Beauty flower, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 3/30/07 Flower fly (Toxomerus marginatus), Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 3/30/07 Megachilid bee on a Spring Beauty flower, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 3/30/07

 

Mystery dragonfly, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 3/30/07 Dance Fly (family Empididae), Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 3/30/07 Lancet Clubtail, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 3/30/07 Young adult Blue Corporal, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 3/30/07

 

Mayfly, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 3/30/07

3/14/07

Juvenal's Duskywing, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC,  3/14/07 Question Mark, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 3/14/07.  You can see the dorsal side pattern of the wings in the picture on the right because the butterfly opened its wings.

10/21/06

Red-banded Hairstreak, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 10/21/06 Pearl Crescent, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 10/21/06 Northern Cricket Frog, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 10/21/06 Tachinid fly (possibly genus Austrophorocera), Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 10/21/06 Blowfly, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 10/21/06

8/13/06

Jumping spider, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 8/13/06 Pelecinid Wasp, (Pelecinus polyturator), Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 8/13/06 Orchard Spider, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 8/13/06 Maybe a setwing, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 8/13/06 Spined Micrathena, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 8/13/06

 

Nursery Web Spider, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 8/13/06

Earlier visits

Ichnemonid Wasp, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 4/5/06. ID thanks to Dr. Doug Yanega of the University of California at Riverside. Mirid bug nymph, Penny's Bend, Durham County, NC, 5/5/06.  This bug was about ¼ inch long without the antennae. Thanks to Eric Eaton for ID. Squash Bug, Penny's Bend, Durham County, NC, 6/4/06 Calico Pennant (Celithemis elisa), Penny's Bend, Durham County, NC, 6/4/06 Male Widow Skimmer, Penny's Bend, Durham County, NC, 6/4/06.  Somewhat immature, seems to be in transition. Halictid bee (Agapostemon texanus?) on a Smooth Coneflower, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 6/30/06

 

 

Northern Pearly Eye, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, 8/24/05. Toad Bug, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, 8/23/05.  Found on banks of Eno River. Spined Assasin Bug (Sinea diadema), Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 10/15/05. Perhaps a later Assassin Bug instar.   Again note the spiny forelegs. Wheel Bug nymph, Penny's Bend, Durham County, NC, 5/23/06.  Wheel Bug nymph, Penny's Bend, Durham County, NC, 6/4/06

 

Northern Cricket Frog, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 4/5/06, on land a substantial distance from the Eno River. Northern Cricket Frog, Penny's Bend, Durham County, NC, 5/23/06

 

Fawn Darner (Boyeria vinosa), Penny's Bend Natural Area, Durham County, NC, 9/20/05 Same Fawn Darner.

 

Ashy Clubtail (Gomphus lividus), Penny's Bend, 4/5/06.  Thanks to Randy Emmitt for ID help. Ashy Clubtail.  Same dragonfly as on left. The "clubtail" feature is minimal.

 

Female Dragonhunter (Hagenius brevistyla), Eno River SP, Old Cole Mill Road access, 6/11/05.  Thanks to Josh Rose for ID.  Josh says the male has a skinnier abdomen.

 

White-throated Sparrow, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 12/28/05.


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