Archive for June 2010
June 30, 2010 | 
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Time to announce the winner for the June edition of our monthly Challenge for Charity contest. This month’s winner is John Shamgochian. Congrats, John! John answered all three questions correctly, plus the bonus question. John will choose a nature/conservation/wildlife charity to receive the $15 donation in his name – and as soon as he chooses, I will update this post. [Updated July 4, 2010]
Winner's Charity, June 2010 - PETA. Winner - John Shamgochian
And now, for the answers: Read the rest of this entry »
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What looks just like a caterpillar, but isn’t? Sawfly larvae. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen my very first Elm Sawfly larvae (Cimbex americana). I couldn’t help but notice this bright white caterpillar munching on this dark green Elm leaf. I thought I was going to have an awesome entry for The Moth and Me, but sadly, no. When I took a look at this picture, I noticed that I had not seen a caterpillar head quite like this before…usually it is hard to tell where the head is. And if a caterpillar’s head is obvious, it seems like there is never such a prominent eye.
Turns out that this is one of the distinctions between sawfly larvae and caterpillars. Also, caterpillars usually have only 4 pairs of “prolegs,” while sawfly larvae usually have at least five (like this one).1
Want to see what this super-cool, moonlight-white larvae becomes? Read the rest of this entry »
- Caterpillars of Eastern North America, by David L. Wagner, © 2005 by Princeton University Press ↩
I caught this hummingbird (probably a Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris), stealing insects from several spider webs in a clearing filled with native wildflowers. She was unabashed as she boldly zipped right up to each web, as if each were a drive-through window. Still, I don’t really blame her…the girl obviously needs to consume a nutritious diet…it looks like she is molting. Read the rest of this entry »
The June, 2010 edition of Challenge for Charity is here! Anyone who would like to win a $10 donation to their favorite wildlife/nature/conservation charity should give it a whirl. If the winner also answers the Bonus question correctly, the prize donation goes up to $15. Just a reminder – all photos are taken in the previous month, and the location will always be given. This month’s contest runs through June 24th. The first person to get the most correct answers wins. Good Luck!
Picture 1 | Plano, TX
Picture 1 Question: What kind of butterfly is this? Any answer from taxonomic Sub-family level or lower, or common name will work!
Hint: Bugguide.net is a great resource/tool, and this Sub-Family can be found all over North America.
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