Have you seen pale yellow butterflies flying around the flowers this summer? Some of them could be cloudless sulphur butterflies (Phoebis sennae). When you are out walking in late summer, pay special attention to the common partridge pea plants. They are a host plant for cloudless sulphur caterpillars.
Category: Animals
Downy Woodpecker Feather
Have you ever found a feather from a downy woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)? This is my first sighting. Take some time to enjoy the little things today.
Eastern Kingsnake
I’ve been seeing a lot of snakes this week. This is the first time I’ve seen an eastern kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula). It was on the Crabtree Creek Greenway at the railroad crossing. They are not harmful to humans or pets. Here’s a close up of its head:
Eastern Tiger Swallowtails Enjoying Lantana Flowers
Two female eastern tiger swallowtail butterflies (Papilio glaucus) have been enjoying my lantana (Lantana camara) since the sun hit the flowers more than 7 hours ago.
Field Report- February 17, 2025
The bluets started to come out last week! It took ten days from when I first noticed a bluet flower bud to when that bud opened. I’m sure the bud was there for a few days before I saw it. So, I think it takes about two weeks from bud to bloom. There are many… Continue reading Field Report- February 17, 2025
First Large Butterfly Sighting in 2025
A male eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) was resting in the sun on the Shiloh Greenway this afternoon. This was the first large butterfly I’ve seen this season. Did you know that the eastern tiger swallowtail is the state butterfly of North Carolina?
Great Backyard Bird Count 2025
Do you like to participate in citizen science programs? There’s a great opportunity happening this weekend. Join the Great Backyard Bird Count on February 14-17, 2025. This is a global project! In 2024, over 600,000 people participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count. Your count will help scientists gather data about bird populations before they… Continue reading Great Backyard Bird Count 2025
Great Golden Digger Wasp
It’s easy to find bees and wasps enjoying the goldenrods and asters these days. Don’t forget to look on the ground! Here, a great golden digger wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus) was busy excavating a hole for its nest. This wasp is not aggressive to humans.
Green June Beetles
Have you ever seen a Junebug, or green June beetle (Cotinis nitida)? These one inch long metallic green bugs are hard to miss! Junebugs mature in June and July and are attracted to overripe fruit. They do not bite people. I have only ever seen one Junebug at a time, but I have heard others… Continue reading Green June Beetles
Handsome Meadow Katydid
Katydids are pretty common in North Carolina, but have you ever seen a Handsome Meadow Katydid (Orchelimum pulchellum)? We found this katydid on a fence over a creek. We noticed the rainbow of colors on her body and wondered if katydids changed color as the cold weather approaches, or if this was a different type… Continue reading Handsome Meadow Katydid