I have but three batches of wildlife photos left, so we’ll run out on Thursday—and then I’ll have to stop this feature (the website is moribund anyway). Please send in your high-quality wildlife pictures if you have them.
Fortunately, Mark Sturtevant is here today with a good batch of insect photos (and one crustacean). His captions and IDs are indented, and you can enlarge his photos by clicking on them.
Over a year ago, the family traveled to New Jersey to visit family. I had already posted pictures from that trip some months ago, but I had lost track of another set. Here is that set.
We had not been to the area for about 8 years, and since then the invasive Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) had arrived. I expected that I would be photographing them, and I admit to some initial excitement about that since they are very large for planthoppers and are quite beautiful. There was certainly no problem locating some, since the buggers were just about everywhere! They decorated my brother-in-law’s house and most of the trees, and they often aggregated in solid patches in shady areas. Lanternflies were meanwhile also flying through the air like locusts. Here are adults and nymphs. Younger nymphs are black and white spotted, but this was late summer so I did not see those. Photographing them was slightly challenging since they are powerful jumpers, but with so many opportunities to get pictures it was still like shooting fish in a barrel.
Although the nymphs and the hind wings of the adults are quite colorful, I have not found anything about the colors being a warning that they are toxic.
As I said, I was at first looking forward to photographing these exotic insects, but it did not take me long to develop a strong dislike for Spotted Lanternflies! They were a constant presence when simply walking down a street or exploring a park. We even had to shoo them away when trying to enter a local restaurant, and taking care to not let any of the damn things fly inside
The Spotted Lanternfly is native to China, where it is under control by parasitic wasps. There seems no prospect of replicating that here, and I am not sure why. But such means of pest control do often fail because they are not cost effective, and similar approaches have resulted in unintended consequences. Spotted Lanternflies were first detected in the U.S. in 2014, and they have spread mainly because their egg masses can be accidentally transported on anything man-made. Now much of the eastern half of the country has them, and there are isolated populations out west as well. I understand that the main eastern population has now spread to my state of Michigan, and it’s probably only a matter of time before they turn up in my area, like the Spongy Moths (formerly Gypsy Moths), and Japanese Beetles before them.
These plant-sucking insects will feed on almost 200 plant species, and are considered a serious pest on grape vines. But many of our ornamental trees are fair game as well, and besides being obnoxious to humans, their large numbers are stressful for their host plants. But by far their preferred host is Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus), a rather attractive invasive tree that has become widespread in the U.S. for at least a century. So with a favored host plant already well established, there is little to slow further migration of the Spotted Lanternfly! The last picture is a typical scene on an Ailanthus sapling. But I have seen gatherings far denser than this.
Well, let’s move on. At a nearby park (also awash with Lanternflies), there were several of these Yellow-legged Mud Dauber Wasps (Sceliphron caementarium) collecting mud to build their nests. I had to hang head down on a steep river bank and hold the camera way out to get close pictures. When she completes her mud-pot nest, this wasp will stock it with paralyzed spiders for her young. [
On another outing near the ocean, I visited some tide pool areas where there were large numbers of these Atlantic Marsh Fiddler Crabs (Uca pugnax). They would all scatter to their burrows when I approached, so I had to wait in hiding. When some crept back into range, I was able to dive on this one for pictures. It’s the males that have the super-sized claw, which they wave at females to attract them. They will also use the claw to ritualistically arm wrestle other males.
In the same area there were numerous dragonflies, and on that one day I scored two new species from the Skimmer family. Here are Seaside Dragonlets (female and male, respectively) Erythrodiplax berenice.
And finally, a male Great Blue Skimmer (Libellula vibrans). This is one of our largest Skimmers, and I was very excited to get this picture!
I do not feel this website is moribund. The fact that I, and others, can no longer select to have every comment emailed to us means that there will be fewer comments. I do not have the time nor the energy to come here many times a day to look for further comments on each posting.
One of the few things I still use X/Twitter for is to follow PCC(e). That lets me know when new posts are up. It doesn’t address your alerts on new comments use case, unfortunately.
I too wake up in the morning and check out this site as my first action. You’ve created a wonderful, interesting community, not moribund but vibrant and thoughtful. I like reading the comments as well as the posts.
>You’ve created a wonderful, interesting community, not moribund but vibrant and thoughtful. I like reading the comments as well as the posts.
Completely agree. Where else can you get professionals—and talented newcomers— to post amazing photos, intriguing commentary, and even kindly answer readers questions? And on almost any plant, animal, insect or location?
As Caturday became the Caturday Felid Trifecta, a special day, I think it would be wonderful to have Readers Wildlife photos have their special day of the week. (Readers Wildlife Wednesdays? perhaps.)
WEIT and my cup of coffee are integral parts of my morning routine. I show this Saturday Night Live bit about the spotted lanternfly to my classes.
WEIT, for many years now, has been the first thing I read every morning; sometimes I read it even before my morning coffee. I am old now, but my brain still functions, so am grateful for the daily dollops of scientific information, informed opinion on diverse subjects (and books), and so much more (daily giggles on some of the included links, philosophical thoughts from Hili and friends, travel notes, and the fabulous Readers’ Wildlife Photos). I cannot imagine where else such a banquet of brain candy is available in one neat package. If you do feel the need to move on, to retire this website, please know that even though I very rarely feel qualified to post comments, your work has been much appreciated and enjoyed.
+1
+1
Every time – wow.
I think insects are considered “yucky” in general because the naked eye cannot absorb the exquisite detail with clarity – the specialized photography (and skill of course!) delivers it, and brings me to that level.
Awesome pictures, and the clarity is amazing! My mother lives in central Pennsylvania and she tells me that the Lanternflies are terrible. Once when I visited they were out and about. They are quite beautiful pests! Our only hope is that some wasp or other creature—or microorganism—will take a liking to (eating) them and that they will reach a biological “accommodation.” Otherwise, they will kill off all the trees in North America. Why don’t our North American birds step up and do their part in saving the plant life of the continent!
The site is vital to me, not moribund! I can’t eat breakfast without it.
Moribund? Surely not! Where else am I going to get insightful news and views, not to mention cats and cowboy boots. For D*g’s sake, please continue!
Count me as another who visits this site first thing in the morning, and returns several times each day, reading every posting and most of the comments! It’s an irreplaceable source of most of the things I value the most — science, history, culture, humanism, cats…
I wholeheartedly agree. WEIT is far from moribund; quite the contrary– it is a brightly shining light of intellectual stimulation and entertainment in an otherwise moribund media landscape.
WEIT-I’m addicted. I can’t wait to read the many posts that keep me informed on so much. The comments from the readers are also invaluable.
I hope you keep the website going.
Altho I haven’t witnessed this, I’ve heard that some birds – Cardinals were mentioned – have determined that Lanternflies are good to eat, and have been chowing down on them. I think the birds are outnumbered, but it’s still some encouragement.
Meanwhile, the bastards have shown some interest in my backcross American Chestnuts, altho not as much as the one sentinel Ailanthus that they killed to the ground in ’22. For ’23 it resprouted vigorously and they were on the re-sprouts en masse, providing a convenient place to spray them.
Oooh. Not good. The American Chestnut has enough to worry about without Lanternflies! Sprouts and small trees were common where we lived in Southwestern Virginia (mountains of Giles County) in the 1980s and 90’s but they rarely flowered. Their legacy lives on in the many split-rail fences that bound old farms and homesteads, and in the memories of a few remaining old timers. Let’s hope that ongoing efforts to bring them back succeed.
I didn’t know about Lanternflies as I live in western Washington. I hope they stay away…probably wishful thinking. I’m glad to know about them though, so thanks.
Nice to see a different type of arthropod in this series.
And I too cringe at the word “moribund.” Some of the topics can be moribund, but not the site as a whole. I’m especially chuffed that all the efficiency features are back…auto-fill and edit function. Yay!
Thank you, Mark, for another beautiful insect (plus crustacean) post! It’s funny how I can’t “see” the beauty of the lanternfly, though, because of knowing about its destructiveness.
Agreed, I really appreciate these posts but usually don’t comment. Please don’t eliminate them!
Thanks as ever to Mark for a wonderful set of photos (and another chunk of education along the way).
And what pretty much everyone else has said about this site. I’m another reader who would find it a major tragedy to be bereft of my daily fix of science, clear-sighted political insight, cats and really bad jokes. Please don’t stop!
Thanks for more wildlife. The insect (and one crustacean) photos are fine! And: tree of Heaven (Ailanthus) link kept me busy for a while — the Wikipedia article was detailed & rather grim, and the hyperlinks therein led me on quite a Wiki-wander. That tree reminds me of Japanese Knotweed that’s clogging our wetlands. And the Spotted Lantern Fly, oh well, I suppose they’ll show up sometime. So now to relax with with Mud Dauber wasp link.
Fascinating and beautiful as always Mark. That little mud dauber is a stunner.
Dont close WEIT or I will stop breathing.
Love your books. Just discovered this website. Lanternflies are creepy!