Male Eastern Pondhawk
I was able to spend a little time checking out a couple of usually good spots for dragonflies last week. This lovely male Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) was waiting for some females on a leaf on the edge of a pond. June is usually the beginning of the main part of our flight season, and this is the best time of year to get out and find some odonates. Whether they are zipping by capturing prey, mating, ovipositing, warming themselves or more you should explore any type of wet area near you to find them busy as can be in the summer sun. If you need some creative plans for the...
Read MoreDragonfly Season
RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser is excited it is dragonfly season once again – what about you? Yep, this is more nature art, or art of nature, but it really is all the same. Photographed for the Meet Your Neighbours global biodiversity project while on assignment for The Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History.
Read MoreBlue Dasher
It is odonate season, finally! Our various dragonflies and damselflies are emerging and migrating our way now that there is plenty of food in the air. Here is an up-close look at the Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis). While we at RTPI do not have any specific dragonfly monitoring programs underway this year we will be recording them during all of our other work in New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and New Jersey. This includes programs such as Project Wild America and Bridgeport WildLife Guards, from avian and reptile study sites, Natural History Atlas locations, at Stratford Point and...
Read MoreCandy-striped Leafhopper (Graphocephala coccinea)
I came across this Candy-striped Leafhopper (Graphocephala coccinea) yesterday morning while camera-less and with my dog. At that point it was, of course, sitting on top of one of the petals of this coneflower in the bright morning sun, looking wonderful. By the time I grabbed my camera and went back over there it had hidden itself on the underside of the flower. The constant northwest wind as of late was blowing the plant all over the place, making a capture even harder. This was the best I could do of a species I would love to see and photograph properly again soon. There is so much...
Read MoreThe Bee Moth
This pretty moth gave me a tough time trying to pin down an identification, but it looks to be a female Aphomia sociella – The Bee Moth. I was less enthusiastic in learning that Aphomia sociella is a non-native and often pest moth that was likely introduced from Europe via the colonists and bee hives. They often end up destroying those hives from the inside out. Everything has its place, I suppose… Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read More
