July 08, 2020

Plume Moth

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 75°F, calm and still raining at 2:45 PM on July 8, 2020.
• This week's trail report covers the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.
• The rain would stop and the sun would come out for a pleasant if soggy afternoon.
• In butterfly news, all three "witches" and our two big satyrs were seen today.

The Trails

• Blue sky approaching the Gifford House Trailhead promised photo ops of butterflies trying to dry off and warm up.
• A food source for many creatures is milkweed.
• Two such visitors were red milkweed beetle and one of the milkweed chinch bugs.
• Almost invisible at the tattered leaf tip was an ornate fruit fly species.
• Just a beyond them, pokeweed was blooming.
• One flower spike is a time line from bud to flower to berry - and that eventually purple when ripe.
• On the other side of the path was Canada thistle, a bird feeder escapee.
• Over head, a soggy field sparrow was singing.
• In the back corner of the Old Hayfield, patience paid off.
• Common wood-nymphs were not very active, so they were easy to watch... once they were spotted.
• The dogbanes really sparkled when the sun came out.
• Even more dazzling was the dogbane beetle.
• One of the long-legged flies was darting out and back to a neighboring leaf.
• A pearl crescent was soaking up the sun as well.
• Still green and growing was a goldenrod ball gall, home to the larva of the goldenrod gall fly.
• Nearby was a red milkweed beetle less bashful than before.
• Up in the tree line, a male indigo bunting called as a female scampered in the tall weeds below.
• Our first "witch" of the day, a northern broken-dash, appeared for a moment. Note the characteristic pale hindwing spot band said to resemble a "3".
• Looking very much like a thistle, invasive spotted knapweed was starting to bloom.
• Along the edges, black caps or black raspberries were ripening. That's a little late, being usually around 4th of July.
• A little wood-satyr was sporting a magnificent moustache.
• Down off the steps on the Sedge Meadow Trail, a family of Carolina wrens played hide-and-seek with me. A branch between us blurred an otherwise nice portrait.
• The open section of this trail is patrolled this time of year...
• ... by Appalachian browns. These large satyrs fly and perch about knee to waist high off the ground.
• Another of the "witches", the dun skipper, was trying to warm up in the weak sun.
• The Long-horned beetle family has a bad reputation from the invasive Asian long-horned beetle. It is a large family and some members are found on flowers such as this one on yarrow.
• Their feathery wings give the plume moths their name. They too can often be found on yarrow.
• Sunny leaves or ground where the path breaks into the Old Pasture are good spots to find the eastern comma.
• Open woods where the path leaves the Old Pasture above the Wappinger Creek has its own specialty.
• Our other large satyr, the vigilant northern pearly-eye perches head down on tree trunks and rushes out to investigate passersby - butterfly or human.
• The sun light was strong and steady now, coming through the canopy and illuminating the forest floor and creek below.
• Half way down the hill was another party place where the afternoon sun landed on top of the understory trees.
• Three or four banded hairstreaks were perched up there, occasionally flying out to challenge each other.
• All the way at the bottom of the hill, invasive Japanese spirea was blooming.
• And native tall meadow-rue not very tall, but blooming none the less.
• Then the trail comes down into the floodplain of the Wappinger Creek.
• Unassuming wood nettle lined both sides of the path and would quickly remind you if you didn't recognize it.
• The more familiar stinging nettle was there to compare and contrast.
• Next week: The Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.

Sightings