Monday, August 21, 2023

Bug Safari on Nashville Road

   

   Natalie Weill invited Maeve and me to her home on Nashville Road in Jericho, Vermont for a *bug safari (inverting). We spent about one hour observing a sampling of the insects and some of the diverse sets of plants on the property. See a few of what we observed in the photos below. 

   The property is an example of turning what was a completely mowed area into a wildlife-diverse habitat with (mowed) paths to walk along and enjoy the many life forms that now abound there. 


Natalie with a found feather. 



The photo titles are linked to the iNaturalist posting. 
Click on the hot links for the latest ID confirmation and then click on the insect name at the top of the iNaturalist page for more information about the insect. 

Id not yet confirmed
 

 "Spotted knapweed … are native to Europe and Russia. No one is sure when brown knapweed (C. jacea) was introduced to North America. Black knapweed (C. nigra) and spotted knapweed (C. stoebe) were …::: - read more on the VT Invasive Web page. 

Knapweeds are herbaceous biennials or perennials. Seedlings emerge throughout the growing season and rosettes persist year-round. Knapweeds bloom in summer with white to purple flowers. As part of the aster family, knapweeds have composite flowers with each flowerhead made up of many tiny florets. Knapweeds also have bracts at the base of their flowerheads. Characteristics of the bracts are key for distinguishing knapweed species. Seeds are dry, brown, and elliptic in shape with tufts of hair to aid wind dispersal. *Bracts are leaf-like structures that we associate most readily with flowers. They are usually located directly below the petals and enclose the precious reproductive structures as the young bud develops.

Look-alikes
Unlike perennial cornflowers, spotted knapweed has deeply lobed leaves, grayish foliage, and pink or purple florets. Spotted knapweed has smaller involucres (10 to 13 mm long) and thinner leaves than perennial cornflower.

Canada thistle’s (Cirsium arvense) flower quantity, size, and shape can be similar to knapweeds. Canada thistle leaves are noticeably spiny.

(a member of Aphideaters Genus Eupeodes)

Oleander Aphid (Aphis nerii) on a milkweed plant.

This one was on a Goldenrod plant. 


We call our observation experience a bug safari, but to be more correct in our terms, this was the only true bug we observed.

The True Bugs are insects that have two pairs of wings, the front or outer pair of each divided into a leathery basal part and a membranous apical part. These wing covers are held over the back and often partly folded. True bugs have hypodermic-needle-like mouthparts that allow them to extract subsurface fluids from plants and animals. Bugs undergo incomplete metamorphosis, with their young looking much like adults, but without wings. - Smithsonian Institute

Hemiptera is an order of insects, commonly called true bugs, comprising over 80,000 species within groups such as the cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, assassin bugs, bed bugs, and shield bugs. They range in size from 1 mm to around 15 cm and share a common arrangement of piercing-sucking mouthparts. - Wikipedia





Aphid Wasps (Subfamily Pemphredoninae)


It's really been an extraordinary experience living on Nashville Rd and meeting and connecting with all the creatures that live and visit here as well. I'm thrilled to find people like you [Maeve] and Bernie who feel the magic of being part of the natural world, instead of being separate. - Natalie

To view all the observations of the day click on iNaturalist here

Bug Safaris - Limited Time Offer

    Bug Safari still has openings to help kids and families tap into their sense of wonder about nature and what species are living in their backyards. Bernie will join you at your yard (in Jericho) to photograph and help you identify the critters we find. How many insects or other LIFE species will you find living in your yard? As of June 10, Jericho ranks tenth place (of all towns and cities in VT) with 2,110 taxa posted on iNaturalist.


" Nothing is better than close observation and measurement, with some discernment about why things are as they appear, as a means of learning the ecological workings of an environment." Pond and Brook - A Guide to Nature in Freshwater Environments by Michael J. Caduto

Details 
Ideally, you will have some kind of flowers (planted, wild, or even weeds) blooming at your residence. 
The best time of day is around 9:30 am but I can be flexible. 
Contact Bernie to schedule a 1-hour bug hunt at your Jericho address. 
All ages are welcome.
I will take photos and post them on iNaturalist. You are welcome to do the same or you can also simply join in the search. 

It also includes an introduction to using iNaturalist (via phone - about 15 minutes beyond the 1-hour bug hunt). (Optional)

I have observed 91 bee species nearly all of them in our 1.3-acre yard. And I have observed and posted about 1,000 insect species many if not most of them in our yard. I have observed many different insect behaviors, stages of life, and fascinating-looking creatures. What will we find in your yard? Perhaps a species never before reported in Jericho, or even in Vermont. Get to know some of your LIFE neighbors, it can be fun, interesting, and sometimes creates an OH MY GOSH.

View all observations within Jericho posted on iNaturalist at https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/biodiversity-of-jericho-vermont

Inverting (insect watching) is being outside, 
observing, experiencing, the multitude, 
the diversity, and the daily going ons of LIFE. 
I am an 'inverter'! 
Bernie

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Jeri Hill Bug Safari Photos

Folks at Jeri Hill Senior Housing (located in Jericho, Vermont) invited Maeve and me to walk the grounds around their homes to observe and discuss invertebrates (insects). Below are some of the insects that honored us with their presence. The Maize Calligrapher in particular was a special treat for me as this was only the second one I have ever viewed. 


The Bug Safari is open to any family in Jericho and is a limited-time offer. There is no charge (from me or the insects) associated with this offer. We are most grateful for the many services the species of insects, other wildlife, and plants provide us. We enjoy observing the myriad of species. Life abounds all about us. 


It took little time to find native bees and hoverflies amongst the sunflowers and other planted flowers in the front. 

Subgenus Eumelissodes A member of Longhorn Bees.


CAUTION: The names listed are only a preliminary guess. Most are awaiting identification confirmation. Each name is hot-linked to the iNaturalist page where you can check to see if an updated ID has been posted.




Subgenus Zadontomerus




This Maize Calligrapher Toxomerus politus is a species of hoverfly (Diptera: Syrphidae).


Viewing Tip: The insect names are hot-linked to the iNaturalist posting. There you can see a map with indications of where else in Vermont the insect has been observed and then posted on iNaturalist.
For more information about the insect, after you get to the iNaturalist posting, click on the insect name at the top of the posting. There you can read more about the insect.  


Subgenus Zadontomerus


The Monarch Caterpillar found underneath a milkweed leaf might be the first I have observed this year. 
Monarch Danaus plexippusThe one we observed was very small.
Monarch Life Cycle - Eggs, Larva, Pupa, and Adult.
Larva (Caterpillar; 10-14 days) It is during this stage that Monarchs do all of their growing. They begin life by eating their eggshell and then move on to the plant on which they were laid.

When the caterpillar has become too large for its skin, it molts or sheds its skin. At first, the new skin is very soft and provides little support or protection. The new skin soon hardens and molds itself to the caterpillar, which often eats the shed skin before starting in anew on plant food! The intervals between molts are called instars. Monarchs go through five instars (see photo on the website listed below). Approximate length of the body at each stage: 1st instar, 2-6mm; 2nd instar, 6-9mm; 3rd instar, 10-14mm; 4th instar, 13-25mm; 5th instar, 25-45mm.


Socks over my pants is not a fashion statement. I am now in the habit of wearing them this way as a form of prevention of tick attachments. 





Genus Melissodes A member of Longhorn Bees.

 
Note three of the bee's five eyes on top of its head. 


Caution, before you blurt out the Latin name of this one, note that there are two 'n's in the second part of the species name. 


Sargus decorus A member of Soldier Flies




To view all the Jeri Hill observations of the day on iNaturalist click here. 

Bug Safaris - Limited Time Offer

    Bernie will join you at your yard (in Jericho) to photograph and help you identify the critters we find. How many insects or other LIFE species will you find living in your yard? As of June 10, Jericho ranks tenth place (of all towns and cities in VT) with 2,110 taxa posted on iNaturalist.


Details 
Ideally, you will have some kind of flowers (planted, wild, or even weeds) blooming at your residence. 
The best time of day is around 9:30 am but I can be flexible. 
Contact Bernie to schedule a 1-hour bug hunt at your Jericho address. 
All ages are welcome.
I will take photos and post them on iNaturalist. You are welcome to do the same or you can also simply join in the search. 

It also includes an introduction to using iNaturalist (via phone - about 15 minutes beyond the 1-hour bug hunt). (Optional)

I have observed 91 bee species nearly all of them in our 1.3-acre yard. And I have observed and posted about 1,000 insect species many if not most of them in our yard. I have observed many different insect behaviors, stages of life, and fascinating-looking creatures. What will we find in your yard? Perhaps a species never before reported in Jericho, or even in Vermont. Get to know some of your LIFE neighbors, it can be fun, interesting, and sometimes creates an OH MY GOSH.

View all observations within Jericho posted on iNaturalist at https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/biodiversity-of-jericho-vermont

Inverting (insect watching) is being outside, 
observing, experiencing, the multitude, 
the diversity, and the daily going ons of LIFE. 
I am an 'inverter'! 
Bernie

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Inverting (insect watching) is the new birding



My nature-inspired comic #55 in December, introduced the term "Inverting" which means invertebrate watching as birding is to bird watching. I am an 'inverter' & bird watcher!           

The Christmas bird count leaves me dreaming of Inverting.        

         Bernie breaks through his introversion by Inverting 


I have no Egrets, going from birding to inverting,
was feeling under the feather,
now I am riding high over an exoskeleton thus asserting;

from keratin to chitin,
from vertebrates to invertebrates,
from stiff warbler neck to
 bumblebee buzz pollination
 there is a whole lot of shaking going on.

I am converting - in part.

Thought birds were smart 
until I observed a spelling bee 
as a bird lister, I needed a pencil & paper chart
as an invertebrate lister, I need a calculator 
so many more species, you see.

My Big (inverting) Year
covered miles and miles of walking
all in my 1.3-acre backyard - quite near.

I don't know all the invertebrate's names
but that's ok
cause no one has made that claim
millions of them haven't been discovered yet
never mind given names
so bring your net and  
swish and swing away.

My birder friends 
are getting used to my makeover
 looking into flowers
instead of trees

Perhaps I am really 
an insect watcher
and not a true inverter
yet
after all, I have observed
only
five or six hundred species
in our
backyard.

The benefit
If my neck gets sore 
from looking up at birds
 (Warbler neck)
I can always 
look down
while six legs
and (one or) two pairs of wings
scramble and fly about.

From birder to an inverter
I have found the cure for Warbler neck

am
a
nature 
inverter and birder.

                                       - Bernie Paquette