Wednesday, August 31, 2016

In the thick of it...

We have been on our hands and knees sampling vegetation in our hemlock restoration plots for the past 2 weeks.

Andy checking out the ground layer vegetation in one of our control plots.

It is amazing what you can see when you stop and look for a while.  Our treatment plots are only approximately 10 square meters in size, but contain an array of eye-catching organisms.

 Likely an eastern tiger swallowtail caterpillar. 

Medeola virginiana, also called Indian cucumber root.

Two saddleback caterpillars, Acharia stimulea (I think).

The always distinctive Praying mantis.

 This parasitic wasp is Pelecinus polyturator.

What appears to be vertebrae and ribs from a snake kill.