It’s been quite a while since I last posted – it’s been a busy few weeks in the field full of data collection (height! leaf numbers! male flowers! female flowers! exciting!), mosquito bites, and sunburns (only one so far).
Death by rabbits – a murder most foul
Earlier this month I had to build a fence at the Scooterville site to keep rabbits out – or I think it’s rabbits. They seem to get a kick out of completely decimating a plant by removing the majority of the leaves, and yet, not eating a single one. I think I’ll put rabbits in the “enemy” column for now.
I’ve been trying to snap some photos here and there of various insects and other animals we have come across during field site visits and data collection. Here is a collection of some of those!
I have tried to identify them, but despite my love of all creatures great and small, I’m not particularly good at identification. Please feel free to correct me!
Dirty field hands and a furry friend. Yellow wooly bear, Spilosoma virginica.
Eric Holton (CBS undergraduate) with a garter snake at the River Terrace field site back when we were transplanting
Tiny frog (I think). Species unknown!
A little bit blurry, but Calligrapha leaf beetle. Not sure which species.
Cute little Eight-spotted Forester (Alypia octomaculata)
The elusive Euaresta bella (Tephritidae) has been difficult to photograph – this is a a specialist on common ragweed. The larvae develop in the fruit and bore their way out. I’ve seen the adults all over the place but they are speedy. It’s a pretty neat species interaction and the flies are beautiful! Here’s a picture of an adult (not mine, taken from bugguide.net). Hopefully I’ll capture a good picture soon!
Euaresta bella. Such neat wings!
