Monthly Archives: May 2013

This is cool you should watch it: America’s Wilderness

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Jeremy Sell

A short video produced by the U.S. National Park Service on the landscapes and ideas the 1964 Wilderness Act protects.

Posted in Botany, Culture, Ecology, General, Geology, National Parks, Vertebrate Zoology | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Random Insect: Spring fishfly

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Jeremy Sell

Yesterday I came home from work to find this impressively large spring fishfly (Megaloptera: Corydalidae: Chauliodes rastricornis) resting on my front door. As the standard US quarter above shows, this individual was about two inches in length. These insects have aquatic … Continue reading →

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Random Plant: Dame’s rocket

Posted on May 30, 2013 by Jeremy Sell

Dame’s rocket (Hesperis matronalis, Brassicaceae) is a common sight along many roadways and fields in the late spring and early summer. The large, attractive flowers have made it a favorite garden plant since its introduction to North America from Eurasia … Continue reading →

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Random Insect: Ichneumon wasp

Posted on May 28, 2013 by Jeremy Sell

Made up of perhaps 60,000 to 100,000 species worldwide, ichneumon wasps (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) are one of the largest animal families on earth. Of all wasps I probably encounter these most often, and yet they’re easy to overlook. These insects are … Continue reading →

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Yellow-rumped Warbler

Posted on May 27, 2013 by Jeremy Sell

A few weeks ago I noticed this Yellow-rumped Warbler (Passeriformes: Parulidae: Setophaga coronata) resting in a tree here in southeast Michigan. As the weather warms these birds migrate from the southern half of North America to Canada, the northeastern US, and … Continue reading →

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Random Arachnid: American dog tick

Posted on May 25, 2013 by Jeremy Sell

Found throughout eastern North America and parts of the Pacific coast, American dog ticks (Ixodida: Ixodidae: Dermacentor variabilis) are well-known parasites of mammals. After hatching these arachnids go through three life stages from larvae to nymphs to adults. At each … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecology, Entomology, Invertebrate Zoology, Organism Interactions | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Random Plant: Pussy willow

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Jeremy Sell

A couple of weeks ago I came across several pussy willows (Salix discolor, Salicaceae) in various reproductive stages. These large shrubs are dioecious, with separate male and female plants. Both sexes produce flowers in elongated, slender clusters known as catkins. The … Continue reading →

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Eastern tiger salamander

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Jeremy Sell

Eastern tiger salamanders (Caudata: Ambystomatidae: Ambystoma tigrinum) are North America’s largest and most widespread terrestrial salamanders. They can be found in virtually any habitat across much of the continent, provided there is soil suitable for burrowing and water nearby for … Continue reading →

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Random Insect: Clipper

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Jeremy Sell

Although native to southeast Asian rainforests, clippers (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Parthenos sylvia) are more easily seen in local insectariums. I came across a number of these striking butterflies at The Butterfly House near Whitehouse, Ohio this past weekend. While clippers are … Continue reading →

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Random Plant: Starry false Solomon’s seal

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Jeremy Sell

Starry false Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum stellatum, Liliaceae) can be found in a variety of habitats across most of North America. It often inhabits hardwood forests, floodplains, swamps, shores, meadows, and dunes, and is especially common in moist areas. Each plant grows … Continue reading →

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Hidden fawns

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Jeremy Sell

Yesterday I was out and about in a southeast Michigan meadow, and along the way I noticed a couple of somethings hiding in the short foliage: Betrayed by the white surfaces of their inner ears, I was able to spot … Continue reading →

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Random Plant: Western redbud

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Jeremy Sell

Native to parts of California, Arizona, Utah and Nevada, western redbud (Cercis orbiculata, Fabaceae) can often be found in rocky soil along canyons, slopes, and streams below 4000 feet. Also known as California redbud, this deciduous shrub or small tree … Continue reading →

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Red-winged Blackbird

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Jeremy Sell

Although they span most of North America, Red-winged Blackbirds (Passeriformes: Icteridae: Agelaius phoeniceus) are absent here in Michigan in the winter. In the summer, however, they’re exceedingly abundant. I frequently see males high atop trees, cattails, and other foliage calling for females. … Continue reading →

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Random Insect: Common sawfly hiding in a sedge

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Jeremy Sell

While out in a southeast Michigan floodplain forest this afternoon I came across this common sawfly (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) hiding in clump of sedge leaves (Carex sp., Cyperaceae). The larvae of these wasp-like insects eat plant material and many species are … Continue reading →

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Random Plant: Broadleaf stonecrop

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Jeremy Sell

Broadleaf stonecrop (Sedum spathulifolium, Crassulaceae) can often be found clinging to the rocky slopes of seaside cliffs and inland mountains from British Columbia through California. Although the clusters of small, bright yellow flowers get your attention, the leaves are perhaps more interesting: … Continue reading →

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Random Plant: Indian paintbrush

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Jeremy Sell

Spanning a native range from northeast Asia through the Americas, Indian paintbrush (Castilleja sp., Orobanchaceae) is particularly common in western North America. Many of the approximately 200 species can be found here, and distinguishing between species can be difficult. Most look … Continue reading →

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Young eastern cottontail eating grass

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Jeremy Sell

The other day I noticed this young eastern cottontail (Lagomorpha: Leporidae: Sylvilagus floridanus) outside my back door eating some grass. I have a number of these rabbits around my house in southeast Michigan, and if they stuck to eating grass they … Continue reading →

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Random Insect: Snout beetle spreading its wings

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Jeremy Sell

As one of the largest animal families, snout and bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) are represented by over 40,000 species throughout the world. Within North America there are over 2,500 species, making these some of the more difficult insects to identify … Continue reading →

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Random Plant: Yellow marsh marigold

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Jeremy Sell

Found throughout the temperate northern hemisphere, yellow marsh marigolds (Caltha palustris, Ranunculaceae) can be a common sight in marshes, fens, ditches, and around ponds and other wet areas. Earlier this week I came across quite a few of them in … Continue reading →

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Northern Cardinal

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Jeremy Sell

Northern Cardinals (Passeriformes: Cardinalidae: Cardinalis cardinalis) can be found throughout the year from southeast Canada through Mexico. Cardinals are probably one of the most-recognized and best-loved songbirds, and have earned state bird recognition in seven states.  Although male cardinals (above) … Continue reading →

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