Random Plant: Oleander

Oleander (Nerium oleander, Apocynaceae) photographed 05/22/2014 near Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda.

Although native to a region stretching from the Mediterranean to southeast Asia, oleander (Nerium oleander, Apocynaceae) has been introduced throughout the tropics and subtropics over the last few centuries. My wife and I came across this beautiful flowering shrub in Bermuda this May.

Oleander (Nerium oleander, Apocynaceae) photographed 05/22/2014 near Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda.

Growing to nearly 20 feet (6 m) in height, this evergreen features whorls of thick, leathery leaves that are long and narrow with pointed tips. At the ends of the branches are clusters of attractive five-parted flowers that can appear in a variety of colors. Pink may be most common, but red, white, salmon, and yellow varieties also exist.

Oleander (Nerium oleander, Apocynaceae) photographed 05/22/2014 near Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda.

Although beautiful, oleander produces cardiac glycosides that are considered toxic. Larger mammals are particularly sensitive to these compounds and can be poisoned if they consume enough plant material. Effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, irregular heartbeat, seizures, and even coma and death. Touching the sap can also produce contact dermatitis, and smoke from burning plants can cause lung irritation.

Oleander (Nerium oleander, Apocynaceae) photographed 05/22/2014 near Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda.

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron (Pelecaniformes: Ardeidae: Ardea herodias) photographed 06/28/2014 at Magee Marsh east of Bono, Ohio.

Many Great Blue Herons (Pelecaniformes: Ardeidae: Ardea herodias) spend the summer breeding in southern Canada and the northern Great Plains, and overwinter in Central America and the Caribbean. Between these migratory extremes these large colorful birds can be found year-round, especially throughout most of the United States. They’re most often seen near water, and are particularly common in saltwater and freshwater marshes. These herons typically hunt alone, wading in shallow water and waiting patiently for small prey to move close. Although they spend much of their time motionless, they can strike quickly with their long, pointed bills. They’re known to eat everything from insects, fish and amphibians to small reptiles, mammals, and even other birds. While they seem to prefer hunting in aquatic environments, they can also sometimes be found in meadows and farm fields.

Great Blue Heron (Pelecaniformes: Ardeidae: Ardea herodias) photographed 06/28/2014 at Magee Marsh east of Bono, Ohio.

Great Blue Herons usually nest in trees but will also build nests in shrubs, on human structures, and on the ground. Males build rough nests using mostly sticks and then present them to their mates. The females then finish the nests with a variety of other plant materials. Nest building can take up to two weeks, and some can reach several feet (over one meter) in diameter. Females lay several eggs per brood, and raise only one or two broods per year.

Random Insect: Blue dasher

Mature male blue dasher (Odonata: Libellulidae: Pachydiplax longipennis) photographed 06/28/2014 at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge east of Bono, Ohio.

Like other dragonflies, blue dashers (Odonata: Libellulidae: Pachydiplax longipennis) are typically found near water. They can be encountered anywhere from southern Canada to northern Mexico, usually near lakes, ponds, marshes, and bogs. Their aquatic nymphs are notable among dragonflies for having a high tolerance for poor water quality and low oxygen.

Female blue dasher (Odonata: Libellulidae: Pachydiplax longipennis) photographed 06/28/2014 at Metzger Marsh east of Bono, Ohio.

A blue dasher can be identified in part thanks to a distinct set of yellow stripes on a dark thorax. In addition they usually feature amber spots near the bases of their hind wings and have abdomens that are tipped in black. Coloration, however, varies significantly between the sexes. Females and young males are almost completely yellow and black and have reddish eyes like the individual above. Females retain this coloration but the abdomens and eyes of males gradually turn bluish with age.

Juvenile male blue dasher (Odonata: Libellulidae: Pachydiplax longipennis) photographed 06/28/2014 at Metzger Marsh east of Bono, Ohio.

Males eventually turn almost completely blue, although they do retain their yellow thoracic stripes.

Mature male blue dasher (Odonata: Libellulidae: Pachydiplax longipennis) photographed 06/28/2014 at Metzger Marsh east of Bono, Ohio.

American bullfrog

American bullfrog (Anura: Ranidae: Lithobates catesbeianus) photographed 06/28/2014 at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge east of Bono, Ohio.

American bullfrogs (Anura: Ranidae: Lithobates catesbeianus) are the largest true frogs in North America. They can reach nearly eight inches (20 cm) in length from snout to tail, weigh over one pound (0.5 kg), and typically live for about eight years. They’re usually found in or around aquatic environments and prefer warm, still, shallow water like that found in ponds or bogs. These frogs are ambush predators, and will calmly wait for prey to move close before snatching it with their tongues. They will eat almost anything they can get in their mouths including insects, worms, and crustaceans as well as small fish, amphibians, and snakes. These eating machines have even been known to devour small birds and mammals, including bats.

American bullfrog (Anura: Ranidae: Lithobates catesbeianus) photographed 06/28/2014 at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge east of Bono, Ohio.

American bullfrogs are native to eastern North America from southeast Canada to northeast Mexico. Over the last century, however, they have been introduced to many other parts of the world. Outside of eastern North America they’re often considered invasive and undesirable because they can cause significant disturbances to native ecosystems. Since they feed on a wide variety of animals and breed prolifically, they can outcompete native frogs and decimate populations of other native species where they have been introduced.

Random Plant: Azure bluet

Azure bluet (Houstonia caerulea, Rubiaceae) photographed 05/02/2014 at Zaleski State Forest near Athens, Ohio.

Inhabiting deciduous woodlands and moist meadows, azure bluet (Houstonia caerulea, Rubiaceae) can be found throughout much of eastern North America. While the small basal leaves aren’t obvious, the small but bright blue-and-yellow flowers definitely are. These four-parted flowers typically grow in dense clusters, with one flower on each of the thin, delicate stems. Blooming from mid-spring to mid-summer, these short but attractive plants are a rewarding sight.

Random Insect: Eastern pondhawk

Eastern pondhawk (Odonata: Libellulidae: Erythemis simplicicollis) photographed 06/28/2014 at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge east of Bono, Ohio.

Eastern pondhawks (Odonata: Libellulidae: Erythemis simplicicollis) can be found throughout eastern North America and into the southwest. They’re particularly common near ponds with floating plants, and are often seen perched low on foliage. Their aquatic larvae hunt small arthropods in the water, and the adults hunt flying insects in the air. They’re known to feed on prey as large as themselves including butterflies, moths, damselflies, and even other dragonflies.

The individual shown here was a female or immature male. As they mature, males turn from green to a very different powder blue color.

Random Plant: Rue anemone

Rue anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides, Ranunculaceae) photographed 05/02/2014 at Zaleski State Forest near Athens, Ohio.

As a spring ephemeral, rue anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides, Ranunculaceae) flowers from March to June. This perennial buttercup takes advantage of thin leaf cover in the forest canopy early in the season, completing flowering, pollination, and reproduction before most trees have even leafed out. Although it’s perhaps most common in deciduous woodlands throughout eastern North America, it can also be found in some mixed conifer forests as well.

Rue anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides, Ranunculaceae) photographed 05/02/2014 at Zaleski State Forest near Athens, Ohio.

Rue anemone is poisonous and can cause a variety of adverse reactions. Contact with fresh sap can lead to inflammation and blistering, and significant ingestion can cause vomiting and diarrhea. As with many things in nature, a beautiful appearance often hides a dangerous side.

Tree Swallow

Tree Swallow (Passeriformes: Hirundinidae: Tachycineta bicolor) photographed 06/28/2014 at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge east of Bono, Ohio.

Tree Swallows (Passeriformes: Hirundinidae: Tachycineta bicolor) spend their summers breeding in the northern half of North America. They nest in tree cavities and wooden boxes provided by humans, usually near bodies of water. Ponds, lakes, and streams can produce large numbers of dragonflies, damselflies, mayflies, and other insects that these agile birds prey upon in the air. These hardy swallows can also subsist on plant material during cold periods when insects are incapable of flight.

Tree Swallow (Passeriformes: Hirundinidae: Tachycineta bicolor) photographed 06/28/2014 at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge east of Bono, Ohio.

The bodies of Tree Swallows are dark above and pure white below. In mature males the dark upper surfaces have feathers that are iridescent blue, giving them a shimmering appearance in the sun.

Tree Swallow (Passeriformes: Hirundinidae: Tachycineta bicolor) photographed 06/28/2014 at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge east of Bono, Ohio.

By mid-summer most Tree Swallow chicks will have fledged, prompting these birds to begin their long southward migration. They overwinter in the warmer reaches of North America, often living in dense flocks that can be made up of hundreds of thousands of individuals.

Random Insect: Twelve-spotted skimmer

Twelve-spotted skimmer (Odonata: Libellulidae: Libellula pulchella) photographed 06/27/2014 near Clayton, Michigan.

Twelve-spotted skimmers (Odonata: Libellulidae: Libellula pulchella) are large dragonflies that can be found all the way from southern Canada to northern Mexico. Like other dragonflies they’re most often encountered near the lakes, ponds and streams that act as nurseries for their aquatic young.

Twelve-spotted skimmer (Odonata: Libellulidae: Libellula pulchella) photographed 06/27/2014 near Clayton, Michigan.

These particular dragonflies get their common name from the twelve dark blotches that adorn their wings. Mature males like the one shown here also feature eight light spots, as well as light blotches at the bases of the hind wings.

Plant-Insect Interaction: Katydid nymph on a sulphur cinquefoil

Katydid nymph (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) feeding on the pollen of a sulphur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta, Rosaceae). Photographed 06/27/2014 near Clayton, Michigan.

Katydids (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) are members of the grasshopper order, and like most of their relatives they feed on plants. They eat not only leaves and stems but flower petals and pollen as well. Today I came across a young nymph that was eating the petals and pollen of a sulphur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta, Rosaceae).

Katydid nymph (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) feeding on the pollen of a sulphur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta, Rosaceae). Photographed 06/27/2014 near Clayton, Michigan.

Although native to Eurasia, sulphur cinquefoil was introduced to North America long ago and has since spread to most of the continent. It’s particularly common in disturbed areas along roads, fields, and weedy spots. These sunny locations filled with herbaceous plants are also ideal habitats for katydids, making sulphur cinquefoil a common and readily available food plant.

Katydid nymph (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) feeding on the pollen of a sulphur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta, Rosaceae). Photographed 06/27/2014 near Clayton, Michigan.

Random Plant: Large-flower bellwort

Large-flower bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora, Liliaceae) photographed 05/02/2014 at Zaleski State Forest near Athens, Ohio.

Native throughout most of eastern North America, large-flower bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora, Liliaceae) is typically found in damp and lightly-shaded floodplains, woodlands, ravines, and clearings. This perennial grows to 1-2 feet (30-60 cm) but the thin stems often lead to a “nodding” stature. The parallel-veined leaves can grow to six inches (15 cm) in length, and are notable for being perfoliate; the base of each leaf completely surrounds the adjacent stem. The solitary, dangling flowers appear from April to June. They grow to 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) in length and appear bell-like, but the cream or yellow petals and sepals develop a bit of twisting with maturity.

American Redstart

American Redstart (Passeriformes: Parulidae: Setophaga ruticilla) photographed 05/03/2014 at Zaleski State Forest near Athens, Ohio.

All American Redstarts (Passeriformes: Parulidae: Setophaga ruticilla) feature contrasting light and dark plumage, but breeding males are the most strikingly-colored. They sport bright orange patches down the sides of their black wings and tails, with white feathers on their bellies. Redstarts use their coloration in combination with quick, exaggerated movements for a variety of purposes. Their flashes of color can be used to flush out insect prey, and males in particular use them to attract mates and defend territory by sending warnings to competitors.

American Redstart (Passeriformes: Parulidae: Setophaga ruticilla) photographed 05/03/2014 at Zaleski State Forest near Athens, Ohio.

In the summer these birds can be found in much of the eastern and northern US as well as southern Canada, but they migrate well to the south in winter. Their migratory routes take them through the western and southern US and Mexico, and they overwinter in Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. They’re most at home in deciduous woodlands and will nest in a variety of hardwood trees. They aren’t too picky about their food either, and will eat practically any small insect they can catch.

Random Insect: Antlion

Antlion larva (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Myrmeleon sp.) photographed 06/09/2014 near Clayton, Michigan.

The larvae of antlions (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) are ambush predators that wait patiently for prey to wander close. Those in the genus Myrmeleon have a special trick. They dig funnel-shaped pits in loose soil like sand, bury themselves at the bottom, and wait for ants and other small arthropods to fall in.

Trap dug by an antlion larva (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Myrmeleon sp.) photographed 06/09/2014 near Clayton, Michigan.

The walls of these pitfalls end up near the angle of repose. They’re just barely stable, and the slightest disturbance causes the soil to collapse. When an ant or other insect wanders past the edge it falls in and brings a cascade of debris down with it. Sensing this disturbance, the antlion larva will then flick its head and cause additional sand to rain down, helping to bring the prey to the bottom.

Antlion larva (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Myrmeleon sp.) photographed 06/09/2014 near Clayton, Michigan.

Once the prey item has fallen to the bottom of the pit, the antlion grasps it in its sickle-like jaws and devours it. Since catching food in this manner can be an irregular and infrequent occurrence, it can take two or three years of feeding before a larva is ready to pupate.

Antlion larva (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Myrmeleon sp.) photographed 06/09/2014 near Clayton, Michigan.

Once a larva has grown large enough it builds a silken cocoon and pupates beneath the soil surface. It ultimately emerges as a very different adult, a delicate winged insect that superficially resembles a dragonfly (Odonata: Anisoptera) or damselfly (Odonata: Zygoptera).

Mayflies on weather radar

One of the more interesting natural phenomena along western Lake Erie is the appearance of vast swarms of mayflies (Ephemeroptera) each spring. Aquatic mayfly nymphs emerge from the mud this time of year, molt into adults, and spend several days mating and laying eggs. Their numbers can become so large that they appear on weather radar, as shown by this image from Toledo news station 13ABC:

Mayfly swarm showing up on Toledo channel 13ABC’s Doppler radar on 06/13/2014.

Although thick congregations of mayflies on streets, sidewalks, and buildings can be a bit of a nuisance, their abundance can be an indicator of favorable water quality. Many species are sensitive to water pollution, and their presence (along with other insects like caddisflies and stoneflies) is often a sign of relatively low pollution levels. Although regulations on pollution have improved the health of Lake Erie since the 1960s and 1970s, livestock waste and plant fertilizer runoff from surrounding farms continue to be ongoing concerns.

Pacific banana slug

Pacific banana slug (Gastropoda: Stylommatophora: Arionidae: Ariolimax columbianus) photographed 04/26/2013 at Redwood National Park, California.

Pacific banana slugs (Gastropoda: Stylommatophora: Arionidae: Ariolimax columbianus) are one of the more impressive organisms to be found in the temperate rain forests of the Pacific Northwest. Inhabiting coastal conifer woodlands from southern Alaska to central California, these animals reach their highest concentration among the wet coast redwood forests of northern California. They’re particularly common at Redwood National and State Parks where these photos were taken.

Pacific banana slug (Gastropoda: Stylommatophora: Arionidae: Ariolimax columbianus) photographed 04/26/2013 at Redwood National Park, California.

As the second-largest terrestrial slug in the world Pacific banana slugs can reach lengths of up to ten inches (25 cm). They’re typically colored bright yellow with some brown spots, but they can also appear green, brown, or white. They’re called “banana slugs” not because they eat bananas (which are absent in their native range) but because their size and coloration makes them resemble bananas.

Plant-Insect Interaction: Mining bee feeding on golden ragwort

Mining bee feeding on a golden ragwort. Photographed 05/02/2014 at Zaleski State Forest near Athens, Ohio.

Many species of mining bees (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae) become active early in the spring. Eager to begin feeding and breeding, these insects can emerge from their underground nests as soon as March or April. This early in the year wildflowers are often in short supply, providing limited pollen and nectar that the bees rely upon. One plant that is available to them as early as April is golden ragwort (Packera aurea, Asteraceae). Mining bees not only feed on their pollen and nectar, they also collect these resources to provision their subterranean nests. Once their larvae hatch they feed upon these stores, growing and pupating over the winter before emerging the following spring as the next generation of adults.

Rainbow parrotfish

Rainbow parrotfish (Perciformes: Scaridae: Scarus guacamaia) photographed 05/21/2014 near the town of St. George, Bermuda.

Although they’re an uncommon and near-threatened species, rainbow parrotfish (Perciformes: Scaridae: Scarus guacamaia) have a relatively wide distribution. These large, colorful fish can be found all the way from Bermuda to Argentina in the western Atlantic. Adults primarily inhabit coral reefs and use their beak-like mouths to scrape algae and polyps from rocks and coral. Young fish are typically more at home among the safety of mangroves.

Rainbow parrotfish (Perciformes: Scaridae: Scarus guacamaia) photographed 05/21/2014 near the town of St. George, Bermuda.

These fish can weigh up to about 44 pounds (20 kg) and grow to nearly four feet (120 cm), making them the largest species in the parrotfish family.

Random Insect: Salt marsh moth

Salt marsh moth (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Estigmene acrea) photographed 05/25/2014 near Palmyra Michigan.

Salt marsh moths (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Estigmene acrea) can be found throughout most of North America, and are often seen near lights at night. While they do inhabit salt marshes, they’re equally at home in fields, open woodlands, meadows, and prairies. The larvae are generalists that will feed on a wide variety of plants, both wild and cultivated.

Salt marsh moth (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Estigmene acrea) photographed 05/25/2014 near Palmyra Michigan.

When these moths are threatened they often drop to the ground and release a foul smell from glands beneath their wings. This defense mechanism makes some predators think twice about eating these otherwise vulnerable, soft-bodied insects.

Random Plant: Golden trumpet

Golden trumpet (Gentianales: Apocynaceae: Allamanda cathartica) photographed 05/21/2014 in the town of St. George, Bermuda.

A native of Brazil, golden trumpet (Gentianales: Apocynaceae: Allamanda cathartica) has been introduced throughout the tropics as an ornamental. This vine features thick, leathery leaves that grow in whorls but is best known for its large, yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers. Although beautiful, this plant is considered poisonous. The milky sap contains compounds that are cathartic, causing violent and uncontrollable diarrhea.

Jamaican anole

Jamaican anole (Squamata: Polychrotidae: Anolis grahami) photographed 05/22/2014 near Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda.

The Jamaican anole (Squamata: Polychrotidae: Anolis grahami), also known as Graham’s anole, is one of seven native species of anole lizards found on the island of Jamaica. Females like the one shown here are relatively drab, sporting little more than black and white lines across the spines of their pale green-brown bodies. Males, in contrast, are colored with vivid blue and green, and can extend bright orange dewlaps to attract females.

In 1905 these anoles were introduced to the islands of Bermuda to control fruit flies, and since then they have become the most common lizards found there. They have been so successful on Bermuda that they have out-competed and displaced the native Bermuda rock skink (Squamata: Scincidae: Plestiodon longirostris), leading it to be listed as “critically endangered.” Antiguan anoles, Barbados anoles, and perhaps geckos have since been introduced to Bermuda as well, increasing the pressure on native rock skinks to survive.