Plant class pictures
More pictures from my Flora of the Appalacian region field course. These are from Thursday, August 24th.
Mentha piperita is a small creeping member of the Lamiaceae, or mint family (the USDA plants database claims it is a cross between M. aquatica and M. spicata). This introduced species is a popular plant for nectar/pollen feeding insects, such as this honey bee (Apis mellifera). I saw a large diversity of insects feeding in a mint patch at Millbrook Marsh, just outside of State College.
The other hymenopterans were also out and about enjoying the feast. I think this one is in the family Vespidae.
I saw several Pearly Crescent butterflies (Phyciodes tharos, Nymphalidae) throughout the day. This one was also checking out the mint. These butterflies are remarkably easy to photograph because they are not easily spooked when approached.
Here's another that was hanging around a river spot called Fisherman's Paradise (which it is not quite because you have to throw back whatever you catch). It is taking a rest on a common native plant in the area called Impatiens capensis, also called Spotted Touch-me-not or Jewelweed (Balsaminaceae).
A third Pearly Crescent on Rhus typhina, Staghorn sumac.
What is that? Is it a pile of bird poop? No! Its a the second instar of the Tiger Swallowtail, Pterourus glaucus, Papillionidae. This one is on Zanthoxylum americanum, common prickly ash, Rutaceae.
There were a lot of ant-homopteran interactions going on, particularly on Bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare, Asteraceae). Some were tending aphids, as shown here, and others were tending small plant-hopper looking insects in various stages of development.
Another wasp, this time on Solidago.
A wheel bug (Reduviidae) on Typha latifolia (Cat tails).
A skipper (Hesperiidae) on Pastinaca sp. (Wild Parsnip, Apiaceae).
Fruits of Red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea). This species is found in riparian zones and low, wet meadows. It grows mainly as a shrub with distinctive red twigs. Common in the northeast. The spots on the leaves are due to an imported fungal pathogen called Dogwood Anthracnose.
Wild cucumber (Echinocystis lobata, Cucurbitaceae). A native vining annual that grows in moist areas.
A neat grass, Histrix patula (Bottlebrush grass).
Dodder, Cuscuta gronovii, Convolvulaceae. A parasitic flowering plant that lacks chlorophyll. Generally found in moist areas adjacent to a body of water or in wet meadows.
Lythrum salicaria. Not so invasive out in the middle of PA for some reason. I haven't seen a single "monoculture" of this stuff since I moved out here.
That's enough for now.
Mentha piperita is a small creeping member of the Lamiaceae, or mint family (the USDA plants database claims it is a cross between M. aquatica and M. spicata). This introduced species is a popular plant for nectar/pollen feeding insects, such as this honey bee (Apis mellifera). I saw a large diversity of insects feeding in a mint patch at Millbrook Marsh, just outside of State College.
The other hymenopterans were also out and about enjoying the feast. I think this one is in the family Vespidae.
I saw several Pearly Crescent butterflies (Phyciodes tharos, Nymphalidae) throughout the day. This one was also checking out the mint. These butterflies are remarkably easy to photograph because they are not easily spooked when approached.
Here's another that was hanging around a river spot called Fisherman's Paradise (which it is not quite because you have to throw back whatever you catch). It is taking a rest on a common native plant in the area called Impatiens capensis, also called Spotted Touch-me-not or Jewelweed (Balsaminaceae).
A third Pearly Crescent on Rhus typhina, Staghorn sumac.
What is that? Is it a pile of bird poop? No! Its a the second instar of the Tiger Swallowtail, Pterourus glaucus, Papillionidae. This one is on Zanthoxylum americanum, common prickly ash, Rutaceae.
There were a lot of ant-homopteran interactions going on, particularly on Bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare, Asteraceae). Some were tending aphids, as shown here, and others were tending small plant-hopper looking insects in various stages of development.
Another wasp, this time on Solidago.
A wheel bug (Reduviidae) on Typha latifolia (Cat tails).
A skipper (Hesperiidae) on Pastinaca sp. (Wild Parsnip, Apiaceae).
Fruits of Red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea). This species is found in riparian zones and low, wet meadows. It grows mainly as a shrub with distinctive red twigs. Common in the northeast. The spots on the leaves are due to an imported fungal pathogen called Dogwood Anthracnose.
Wild cucumber (Echinocystis lobata, Cucurbitaceae). A native vining annual that grows in moist areas.
A neat grass, Histrix patula (Bottlebrush grass).
Dodder, Cuscuta gronovii, Convolvulaceae. A parasitic flowering plant that lacks chlorophyll. Generally found in moist areas adjacent to a body of water or in wet meadows.
Lythrum salicaria. Not so invasive out in the middle of PA for some reason. I haven't seen a single "monoculture" of this stuff since I moved out here.
That's enough for now.