Central Ohio NatureAugust Ramble
Posted on August 23, 2020
In August insects catch our attention more often than birds. Compared to the frenzied activity of spring it can seem very quiet unless you look closely. In some ways feeling a bit like the “dead of winter” except that it’s summer. During a recent visit to Prairie Oaks Metro Park it was hard not to notice the toll that a few weeks of dry weather had taken on a wetland that relies on regular rainfall to stay healthy.
I would have been standing in water to take this picture a few weeks ago.
But as the water disappears a lone immature wood duck, with a few friends peering above the waters surface, holds out for the promise of rainy days to come.
This pic leaves a little to be desired in terms of sharpness but can you see the wood duck’s friends?
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Not far from the wetland are three ponds (Darby Bend Lakes) formed when old quarries filled with water from underground springs. Surrounded the ponds, and interspersed with plant life, is fine gravel undoubtedly left over form the quarry days. We were looking for dragonflies but were immediately stopped when we noticed a number of very large wasps. They were Cicada Killers, a member of the family of digger wasps that make their home underground. As the name indicates, this one provisions it’s nest with the cicadas. One one egg gets implanted in each cicada. The female is noticeably larger than the male, up to 2 inches long, and of the two, it is the only one able the catch the rather large cicadas. Click here for more information.
Cicada Killer exits it’s nest, (Donna).
Cicada, (Donna).
Wasp with cicada, (Donna).
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This time of year at waters edge the landscape is graced with the large flowers of the Swamp Rose-mallow.
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We weren’t disappointed in our quest for dragonflies. No new discoveries but the fascination is always there. I was once again reminded that it’s truly a jungle out there when a catbird swopped down to snatch a dragonfly as I moved closer hoping to identify it. No matter what one thinks about the level of consciousness of a dragonfly, this one, now a nutritious snack for the catbird, no longer exists. It’s demise, the flow of life from one from one creature to the next.
Eastern Pondhawk, (M), (Donna).
Eastern Pondhawk with prey on Blazing Star.
Halloween Pennant, (M), (Donna).
Halloween Pennant, (F) .
Common Whitetail, immature male.
Widow Skimmer (M).
Eastern Pondhawk, (F).
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Black-eyed Susan’s are also part of the Darby Bend Lakes habitat.
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Moths and butterflies were also enjoying the sunny day.
Monarch on Swamp Milkweed
A Monarch and Hummingbird clearwing moth enjoy the flowers, (Donna).
Hummingbird clearwing moth, (Donna).
A Great Golden Digger Wasp also enjoys the swamp milkweed.
Zabulon Skipper (M) on Chicory.
A female Zabulon spurns the affection of a male.
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Great dragonfly habitat adjacent to one of the Derby Bend Lakes, Prairie Oaks Metro Park.
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Mid-summer flowers and other critters made the day complete.
The unique beauty of False Dragonhead is part of the cicada killer habitat..
It was a real treat to see a Red-headed Woodpecker in the tree right at the edge of one of the Darby Bend Lakes. The first I recall seeing at Prairie Oaks Metro Park.
Purple Prairie Clover is also part of the cicada killer habitat. it’s occurrence in this habitat can be explained by the fact that it “is used for revegetation efforts on reclaimed land, such as land that has been strip mined. It is good for preventing erosion and for fixing nitrogen in soil. Though it is often found in mid- to late-successional stages of ecological succession, it may also be a pioneer species, taking hold in bare and disturbed habitat, such as roadsides”. Ref: Wikipedia
A small Painted Turtle enjoys the morning sun.
This year early August has been a great time for Ironweed.
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It’s been a good year for Red-headed Woodpecker sightings which, due to their rarity, are always very special but seeing the very large cicada killer wasp was what really created a sense of wonder on this day.
Mid-summer and low water along the Big Darby.
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Thanks for stopping by.
Flowers and Flies
Posted on June 17, 2019
Exploring the world of insects is an excellent example of how digital photography has opened a door into a world most folks don’t give much thought to much less appreciate. A passion for bugs may start out innocently enough when one decides to photograph a flower and finds that it’s occupied by many creatures not noticed before. A closer look reveals some to be beautiful and fascinating in their own right and others downright scary. This may prompt one to make an effort to identify the bug just photographed which in turn often leads to an awareness of how much there is yet to learn about this small world.
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Fortunately it doesn’t take an expensive camera to get a reasonable picture of a insect the size of the common house fly. We’re not talking macro-photography here, where one focuses on the dragonfly’s eye, but instead about a picture that will allow you to identify the insect and be good enough to share on social media. Our favorite of the small sensor “bridge cameras” is the Panasonic Lumix FZ200 or 300. With their fast lens and close focus capability they are a great all round camera for anyone starting out in nature photography. When one moves up from there to larger APS-C sensor DSLR’s you are looking at more money and bulk which may limit their appeal on long hikes. In the world of DSLR’s just about any lens similar to the Canon 18-135 mm will allow you to focus close enough to get a reasonably good shot. Longer lenses such as the Tamron 100-400 mm (more money still) will allow you to focus on subjects that won’t let you get close enough with a shorter lens. With it’s close focus capability perhaps the best all round bird/bug nature camera setup I’ve seen is the micro four thirds Panasonic G7 with the 100-400 mm Panasonic/Leica lens that my wife uses. It employs an excellent but smaller sensor than my Canon APS-C which is part of the reason for it’s admirable close focus performance. That being said I’m sure there are excellent camera setups that I’ve not had experience with.
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Unless stated otherwise the below pictures have all been taken close to home at Griggs Reservoir Park so the adventure doesn’t necessarily mean hours of driving to some exotic location. Almost all insect images have been significantly cropped.
(click on the image for a better view)
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A Bumble Bee enjoys Foxglove Beardtongue.
An nice illustration of the difference in size between a sweat bee and bumble bee, (Donna).
If you think this is an innocent little Bumble Bee you would be wrong in fact it’s a Bumble Bee Mimic Robber Fly no less ferocious than the one below, (Donna).
A more typical looking robber fly a little over an inch long. If you’re a small insect it will be a bad day if you run into one of these, (Donna).
Four lined Plant Bug, (Donna).
Eight-spotted Forester Moth, (Donna).
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Thimbleweed.
Moth Mullein, (Donna).
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A very small but beautiful Long-legged Fly.
It’s a rough world for bugs. A long legged fly falls prey to a robber fly.
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Water Willow at waters edge. Deer are known to browse the leaves and beaver and muskrat will consume the plant rhizomes. The submerged portion is home to many micro and macro invertebrates, (Donna).
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Little Wood Satyr.
Painted Lady, one of the most common butterflies found on every continent accept Antarctica and Australia, their favorite food plant on which to lay their eggs is thistle, they do not overwinter and they can have long migrations up to 9,320 miles long, (Donna)
Hackberry Emperor, a butterfly not usually seen on flowers but on a warm day may land on exposed skin, (Donna).
Question Mark, (Donna).
Red Admiral, (Donna).
Silver-spotted Skipper, one of the larger skippers, (Donna)
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The beautiful flowers of the Milkweed. A very import plant for many insects most notably the Monarch Butterfly.
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Milkweed Beetles, (Donna).
Great Golden Digger Wasp, (Donna).
Perhaps some type of wood wasp, (Donna).
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Black-eyed Susan’s.
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Golden-backed Snipe Fly, they can be found throughout Ohio, and are most often observed resting on low vegetation. They appear in the late spring and early summer, and have been observed mating in late May and early June, although timing likely varies across their range. Little is known about their life cycle.
Small hoverflies on fleabane.
Hoverfly profile.
Two Marked Tree Hopper. Click here to learn more about this fascinating insect.
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Common Mullein.
Northern Catalpa.
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Syrphid Fly Yellowjacket Mimic. The syrphid fly often mimics wasps or bees to gain protection from predators, (Donna).
The Green Bottle Fly is usually observed around less savory food items.
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Black-eyed Susan’s, (Donna).
Depford Pink, (Donna).
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Mating Candy-striped Leafhoppers, (Donna).
Mirid Plant Bug, (Donna).
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Butterfly Weed.
A field of clover.
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A Mayfly falls prey to a jumping spider. Normally slow moving jumping spiders are capable of very agile jumps, when hunting, in response to sudden threats, or to navigate obstacles. They all have four pairs of eyes, with the pair positioned closer together being larger.
Another view, (Donna).
A small moth on Canada Thistle.
If it’s real lucky this Orange Dog caterpillar may become a Giant Swallowtail.
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A field of fleabane.
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A rarely seen Orange Bluet, (Donna).
Female Twelve-spotted Skimmer, (Donna).
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Hairy Wild Petunia.
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It’s hard to believe what’s out there in that small incredible world that goes largely unnoticed by most as we pursue our daily lives. In the hierarchy of human affection warm cuddly animals seem to be at the top with insects being at the other end of the spectrum and usually not considered a welcome intrusion. But as with most things the more you know and understand the more you grow to love.
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A casual glance will not do. To discover wonder and beauty one must look closely with intention.
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Thanks for stopping by.
Central Ohio Nature 