So on June 24th, my goal was not met in finding Pilostyles thurberi. However, I told you I had two other finds that were noteworthy (at least to me)!
If you recall, I was looking for the Pilostyles thurberi on the Black Dalea (Dalea frutescens). This is that plant.
Some were already going to seed! It is possible to find it blooming later in the summer. I am not sure at what stage or if matters to Pilostyles thurberi. So I am still hopeful in locating Pilostyles thurberi.
The first exciting find for me on the Black Dalea!
My studio shot of the Reakirt’s Blue (Echinargus isola) caterpillar! It is the first one I have ever found! It is a whopping 8 millimeters long!
Its colors really helped it blend in.
So it seems it is partial to the buds, chomp!
Whoa apparently it glows in UV!
Next, my second find from the grasslands, Mentzelia oligosperma! It goes by several common names like Stickleaf, Chickenthief, and (Shirley’s favorite) Botany Badge! It sticks to you just like a Tick-clover (Desmodium) seed does.
The calyx remains!
Indeed, the stem was absolutely beautiful! These barbs were also on the leaves. This is a different method then the aforementioned Tick-clover. Desmodium uses hooks like Velcro.
Even closer! So you can really see why it sticks to you!
And now you can see why the day had some great finds!
Update: So young Edgar is still sticking close to the well house. Furthermore he looks more graceful each time he flies. However, landings are still, well not as much. LOL.
The more you know, the more you see and the more you see, the more you know.
12 Comments
Such a tiny frog. Nice that it just kinda bounced. And who could have imagined an underground pitcher plant. Not me for sure. Very cool. Isn’t nature just mind boggling?
Wow your cat photos from the studio work are incredible. They should be useful by some of the lepidopteran groups. And the microscope enlargements of the Mentzelia make you really appreciate the tiny things in life. Wow!
Such a tiny frog. Nice that it just kinda bounced. And who could have imagined an underground pitcher plant. Not me for sure. Very cool. Isn’t nature just mind boggling?
Really is!
Wow your cat photos from the studio work are incredible. They should be useful by some of the lepidopteran groups. And the microscope enlargements of the Mentzelia make you really appreciate the tiny things in life. Wow!
I love the tiny! 😉
I remember botany badge!! Love that one.
The Botany Badge barbs are reminiscent of the peristome teeth on moss capsules.
Very cool pitcher plant article- and poor funny frog- so tiny!
Do you know if the mosses’ peristome teeth are to help the spores in the same way as Botany Badge? And yes, they really do look similar!
Wow, I love the Reakirt’s blue cat find! Black dalea is an intriguing plant.
And now it has pupated!
Woot! Is it pupating in captivity?
It did! Fingers cross that emerges in a few weeks.
Should have mention it chrysalis is only a little longer than 6mm…tiny!