Every time I write ‘First Wed outing’ in a text, it wants to autocorrect to wed(ding). LOL. So on with the show now from May 1st, the First Wed(nesday) outing!
And what a show stopper it was! The Firewheels (Gaillardia pulchella) and the Greenthread (Thelesperma filifolium) covered the prairie as we proceeded through the gate at the grasslands.
First fauna was the Buckeye (Junonia coenia) caterpillar!
A crab spider found a tasty morsel! Crab spiders can change colors to match the plant but it can take several days for the change.
The Salt Marsh Moth (Estigmene acrea) caterpillars colors range from blonde to a very dark color. You can spot them on a large variety of plants feeding.
Another generalist forger is the Haldeman’s Shieldback katydid (Pediodectes haldemani). In fact BugGuide says it is an “omnivorous, will eat plants, carrion, and will catch and eat smaller animals.” Whoa watch out! 😉
And this was only the first half of the show of the First Wed outing! Second act tomorrow!
Beautiful!!!
Very neat about the crab spiders.
Lots of Salt Marsh cats down here too. I used to curse them when I would find them eating the vegetables and good plants. Then I saw them eating nightshade and other noxious weeds and changed my tune. Now I just move them. They are so cool between how fast they can move and the colors they can range.
Was a stupendous show on 1st Wed for sure.
Underwater spiders – so clever!
Most wildflowers i ever remember seeing tho im probably just forgetting.
Or maybe not 😉
That was SUCH a lovely walkabout!
That’s one tough katydid!! Thanks for crab spider info. I was wondering about their color change the other day
You are welcome. 😊
Do you think it’s unusual to have so many salt marsh moth cats now? I notice them in the fall normally.
. Maybe we just notice more in fall, I don’t really know.
Beautiful!!!
Very neat about the crab spiders.
Lots of Salt Marsh cats down here too. I used to curse them when I would find them eating the vegetables and good plants. Then I saw them eating nightshade and other noxious weeds and changed my tune. Now I just move them. They are so cool between how fast they can move and the colors they can range.
Glad you and the cats worked something out 😊