Monthly Archives: August 2014

Mountain goat

Posted on August 31, 2014 by Jeremy Sell

Mountain goats (Artiodactyla: Bovidae: Oreamnos americanus) are large herbivorous mammals that inhabit mountainous regions from southeast Alaska through the northern Rockies. In spite of their common name these aren’t true goats (members of the genus Capra), and may be better described as … Continue reading →

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Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Posted on August 30, 2014 by Jeremy Sell

Theodore Roosevelt first visited the Dakota territory in 1883 and had no idea he was on the verge of a life-changing experience. His wife and mother had both recently died on the same day, and to escape his pain he headed west. … Continue reading →

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Random Plant: Pearly everlasting

Posted on August 29, 2014 by Jeremy Sell

Of about 100 species of everlastings that are found throughout the world, only one is native to North America.  Pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea, Asteraceae) inhabits much of the continent and can typically be found in prairies, meadows, and in waste spaces … Continue reading →

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Sooty Grouse hen with chicks

Posted on August 27, 2014 by Jeremy Sell

While hiking at Mount Rainier National Park in Washington earlier this month I came across a Sooty Grouse hen (Galliformes: Phasianidae: Dendragapus fuliginosus) with at least three chicks. These birds were foraging among the meadow wildflowers near Paradise Park, seeking out … Continue reading →

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Devils Tower National Monument

Posted on August 26, 2014 by Jeremy Sell

If you’re like me you first learned about Devils Tower National Monument from the 1977 sci-fi adventure film Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Although fictional space aliens helped popularize this location for many people, the natural and cultural features alone … Continue reading →

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Random Plant: Western pasqueflower

Posted on August 25, 2014 by Jeremy Sell

Looking like something out of a Dr. Seuss book, the seed heads of western pasqueflower (Pulsatilla occidentalis, Ranunculaceae) are a definite curiosity. In the spring and early summer this plant produces large, creamy white flowers that attract insects. By late summer … Continue reading →

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Random Plant: Snow on the mountain

Posted on August 24, 2014 by Jeremy Sell

Snow on the mountain (Euphorbia marginata, Euphorbiaceae) is an interesting and attractive annual that is native to the Great Plains. Here it is most often encountered on dry slopes, near prairie dog towns, and in other open areas where competing vegetation … Continue reading →

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American bison

Posted on August 24, 2014 by Jeremy Sell

American bison (Artiodactyla: Bovidae: Bison bison) are perhaps North America’s most iconic land mammal, in spite of nearly being hunted to extinction. Long ago these impressive beasts (sometimes incorrectly referred to as “buffalo“) roamed the continent in vast numbers. Prior to … Continue reading →

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Mountain Goats at Glacier National Park

Posted on August 23, 2014 by Jeremy Sell

Mountain goats (Artiodactyla: Bovidae: Oreamnos americanus) near Logan Pass at Glacier National Park in Montana.  Recorded August 9, 2014.

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Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda

Posted on August 7, 2014 by Jeremy Sell

The islands of Bermuda make up a remote and beautiful outpost situated far into the Atlantic Ocean. Located about 850 miles east of the Carolinas, this British territory harbors a wealth of cultural, historical and natural features that make it a unique … Continue reading →

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Random Insect: Stilt bug nymph

Posted on August 6, 2014 by Jeremy Sell

Stilt bugs (Hemiptera: Berytidae) are small, delicate insects that can be recognized in part by their long, thin legs and long, thin antennae that are slightly enlarged at the tips. As hemimetabolous insects these true bugs undergo incomplete metamorphosis. Unlike … Continue reading →

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Plant-Insect Interaction: Tortoise beetle on a hedge false bindweed

Posted on August 5, 2014 by Jeremy Sell

Tortoise beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidini) have a rather unique and interesting appearance and they always catch my attention. Some resemble lady beetles and some look more metallic, but what’s really interesting about them is that most species have translucent margins on the major sclerites … Continue reading →

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Random Insect: Root maggot fly

Posted on August 4, 2014 by Jeremy Sell

With over 600 species in about 40 genera in North America alone, root maggot flies (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) are an abundant and diverse group of insects. The adults of most genera feed on nectar, but some feed on pollen and others … Continue reading →

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Toledo’s Water Supply is Currently Toxic

Posted on August 2, 2014 by Jeremy Sell

Late in the evening of Friday August 1, 2014, routine testing of the municipal water supply in nearby Toledo, Ohio, revealed unsafe levels of a toxin produced by a type of algae. This immediately prompted a warning to residents not to drink, cook … Continue reading →

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Plant-Insect Interaction: Japanese beetle on a hairy vetch

Posted on August 2, 2014 by Jeremy Sell

Although Japanese beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Popillia japonica) are native to Japan, over the last century they have been accidentally introduced to many other parts of the world. They were first discovered in the United States in 1916 and since then … Continue reading →

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Random Plant: Yellow cryptantha

Posted on August 1, 2014 by Jeremy Sell

Yellow cryptantha (Cryptantha flava, Boraginaceae) can be found in many arid locations in the American west. This perennial inhabits open sandy areas from southern Wyoming down into northern Arizona and New Mexico. It features long, narrow, and densely hairy leaves that are … Continue reading →

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