Swamp Rose Visitors

I follow the bloom of a group of wild swamp roses along the edge of a swamp. They appear to be thriving in several inches of water and muck, their feet wet year-round; an incredible display of site adaptation and tolerance.

Bees swarm the blossoms, presenting a target-rich environment for my favorite Arachnid: the Flower Spider. Also called Goldenrod Spider or Crab Spider, they’re an impressive ambush predator with a deadly toxin that immobilizes prey instantly. Bees are common prey, but I’ve photographed Flower Spiders with kills as large as the Tiger Swallowtail butterfly and Hummingbird Moth (Clearwing) in their grasp!

Photos by NB Hunter. © All Rights Reserved.

 

In the Heat of the Day!?

The summer season and waves of brightly colored wildflowers that arrive with it can be a seemingly endless array of sights, sounds and ecological interactions. There’s usually something in the mix to baffle, entertain and satisfy any nature enthusiast, regardless of their specialty. A simple, short walk through an open natural area (meadows, fallow fields, waste places) in the middle of a hot, steamy day can prove to be quite rewarding!

St. Johnswort

My gallery is a sample of images captured in the month of July. Let’s take a hike!

Common Yellowthroat foraging to feed fledged young; Valerian in bloom

Virginia Ctenuchid Moth on Knapweed

Goldenrod Spider on Fleabane; hunts by ambush from flowers rather than a web

Fritillary on Knapweed

Bees on Queen Anne’s Lace

Monarch on Swamp Milkweed

Bee on Cinquefoil

Tiger Swallowtail in Day Lily

Honeybee on Knapweed; Eurasian Honeysuckle (invasive shrub) fruit

Sulphur on Knapweed

Kingbird with a dragonfly; 3 fledged young waiting nearby

Wood Nymph

Viceroy on thistle

Fruit of Yellow Goats-beard (Dandelion-like flower)

Photos by NB Hunter. © All Rights Reserved.