Plume Moth
Notes and Changes since last report
- It was 75°F, calm and still raining at 2:45 PM on July 8, 2020.
- This week's trail report covers the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.
- The rain would stop and the sun would come out for a pleasant if soggy afternoon.
- In butterfly news, all three "witches" and our two big satyrs were seen today.
The Trails
- Blue sky approaching the Gifford House Trailhead promised photo ops of butterflies trying to dry off and warm up.
- A food source for many creatures is milkweed.
- Two such visitors were red milkweed beetle and one of the milkweed chinch bugs.
- Almost invisible at the tattered leaf tip was an ornate fruit fly species.
- Just a beyond them, pokeweed was blooming.
- One flower spike is a time line from bud to flower to berry - and that eventually purple when ripe.
- On the other side of the path was Canada thistle, a bird feeder escapee.
- Over head, a soggy field sparrow was singing.
- In the back corner of the Old Hayfield, patience paid off.
- Common wood-nymphs were not very active, so they were easy to watch... once they were spotted.
- The dogbanes really sparkled when the sun came out.
- Even more dazzling was the dogbane beetle.
- One of the long-legged flies was darting out and back to a neighboring leaf.
- A pearl crescent was soaking up the sun as well.
- Still green and growing was a goldenrod ball gall, home to the larva of the goldenrod gall fly.
- Nearby was a red milkweed beetle less bashful than before.
- Up in the tree line, a male indigo bunting called as a female scampered in the tall weeds below.
- Our first "witch" of the day, a northern broken-dash, appeared for a moment. Note the characteristic pale hindwing spot band said to resemble a "3".
- Looking very much like a thistle, invasive spotted knapweed was starting to bloom.
- Along the edges, black caps or black raspberries were ripening. That's a little late, being usually around 4th of July.
- A little wood-satyr was sporting a magnificent moustache.
- Down off the steps on the Sedge Meadow Trail, a family of Carolina wrens played hide-and-seek with me. A branch between us blurred an otherwise nice portrait.
- The open section of this trail is patrolled this time of year...
- ... by Appalachian browns. These large satyrs fly and perch about knee to waist high off the ground.
- Another of the "witches", the dun skipper, was trying to warm up in the weak sun.
- The Long-horned beetle family has a bad reputation from the invasive Asian long-horned beetle. It is a large family and some members are found on flowers such as this one on yarrow.
- Their feathery wings give the plume moths their name. They too can often be found on yarrow.
- Sunny leaves or ground where the path breaks into the Old Pasture are good spots to find the eastern comma.
- Open woods where the path leaves the Old Pasture above the Wappinger Creek has its own specialty.
- Our other large satyr, the vigilant northern pearly-eye perches head down on tree trunks and rushes out to investigate passersby - butterfly or human.
- The sun light was strong and steady now, coming through the canopy and illuminating the forest floor and creek below.
- Half way down the hill was another party place where the afternoon sun landed on top of the understory trees.
- Three or four banded hairstreaks were perched up there, occasionally flying out to challenge each other.
- All the way at the bottom of the hill, invasive Japanese spirea was blooming.
- And native tall meadow-rue not very tall, but blooming none the less.
- Then the trail comes down into the floodplain of the Wappinger Creek.
- Unassuming wood nettle lined both sides of the path and would quickly remind you if you didn't recognize it.
- The more familiar stinging nettle was there to compare and contrast.
- Next week: The Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.
Sightings
Birds
| Butterflies
Plants
|