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Bee Visiting Cosmos
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Cosmos and Pennsylvania Leatherwing
Father Pitt is fairly certain that the insect enjoying the pollen of this Cosmos sulphureus flower is a Pennsylvania Leatherwing (Chauliognathus pensylvanicus), a common kind of soldier beetle that prefers yellowish flowers that match its own snazzy uniform. He is always delighted to be corrected, however, by someone with more entomological expertise than he has.
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Butterfly on Black-Eyed Susan
Father Pitt believes this little butterfly is a Pearl Crescent (Phycioides tharos), but he is not an entomologist, and corrections are always received with gratitude. Its slightly damaged wing was not preventing it from enjoying a patch of Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) in Bird Park, Mount Lebanon.
Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z6. -
Spotted Lanternfly
Lycorma delicatula, a beautiful but destructive invader from China. Above we see the adult version; below are three views of the nymph in its late stage (an earlier stage looks similar, but black instead of red).
Allegheny County is in the Spotted Lanternfly quarantine zone, where these pests have become a serious problem. Their favorite host is the Tree of Heaven, otherwise known as Pittsburgh Palm or Tree from Hell (Ailanthus altissima), which is itself a beautiful but destructive invader from China. Spotted Lanternflies were unknown in the United States until 2014; now they are all over Pittsburgh. Although old Pa Pitt is inclined to say they can have as many Pittsburgh Palms as they want, these critters also cause damage to many other trees and vines. If you see one, you know what to do.
Here’s more about the Spotted Lanternfly from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
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A Green Bee
Father Pitt believes this is Agapostemon virescens. The world of entomology is one old Pa Pitt wishes he had entered into earlier; a whole universe of fascinating wildlife surrounds us, and some of these animals are shockingly beautiful. The flower is a Marsh Mallow (Althaea officinalis).
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Bee on Goldenrod
Goldenrod is everywhere in September, which makes the bees very happy. Here we see a bee having the time of her life with a Tall Goldenrod (Solidago altissima).
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Butterflies in the Carnegie Museum of Natural History
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Caterpillar
A caterpillar of the Hickory Tussock Moth (Lophocampa caryae) crawls through the leaves.
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Differential Grasshopper
A Differential Grasshopper (Melanoplus differentialis) on a seedhead of Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota) in Schenley Park. These grasshoppers are sometimes destructive to crops, but they can have all the Queen Anne’s Lace they want. There’s plenty to go around.
Camera: Canon PowerShot A590 IS (hacked).
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Locust Borer
This colorful beetle (Megacyllene robiniae) is very destructive to locust trees in its larval stage; but since Pittsburgh has an infinite supply of locust trees, we need not worry about it. Probably these creatures are the only things that keep the locust trees from taking over and imposing martial law. The adult beetle looks very dashing in its striped livery. It eats goldenrod pollen, which means that our Locust Borers are very happy right now.
Camera: Konica-Minolta DiMAGE Z3.
