hb2000's Favorites

I dropped a live lanternfly near a green frog. The frog jumped and ate it.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/136106097 (identification of the frog)

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/135954384 (similar observation at the same location).

@galecyon, @tfrench , @vilseskog

This observation combines data from 2 Inaturalist observations, each from a distinct owl pellet; the 2 pellets were found 2 feet apart. The second pellet was found 2 days later (I probably missed the first time).

What is remarkable is that separate owl pellets contain bones that seem to be from the same prey (a rabbit).

The rabbit left femur found in pellet #2 matches perfectly the rabbit pelvis found in pellet #1. More precisely, the femur head (convex part of the hip joint) fits perfectly in the acetabulum (concave part of the joint) of the pelvis. found in pellet #1

It is very likely that the 2 separate pellets contain the bones of the same rabbit. However, we cannot affirm that they come from the same owl. We know there is a mated pair of great horned owls in this area; they could have shared the same prey.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/145213755 (pellet #1)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/145213754 (bones in pellet #1)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/145383498 (pellet #2)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/145383499 (bones in pellet #2)

Half of the bark of this ash tree had been peeled off, probably when the tree broke.

Picture 2 is NOT a composite picture.
Picture 3 shows the the inside surface of the separated bark

Exposed tunnels are still full of compacted sawdust.

If you're squeamish, you probably don't want to read about what's going on here.

This Hog Sphinx Moth caterpillar, seen here on Smartweed, has been parasitized by Cotesia congregata, a braconid wasp that lays its eggs in the caterpillar. (Many thanks to evanioidea for the species ID.) They are now pupating in the white cocoons hanging from its back. The caterpillar was still moving, but just barely.

There's no particular reason I should feel more sympathy for the caterpillar than for the wasp. In fact, sphinx moth caterpillars such as tobacco hornworm & tomato hornworm are agricultural pests, & such wasps would make good biological controls. (I wouldn't be surprised if they're used as such. In fact, this photo wasn't taken on a farm, but there are farm plots within a mile or so -- this is part of Cook College, Rutgers' ag school.) But it just seems like such a horrible death, eaten alive from the inside out. I'm a biologist & not particularly squeamish, but I find this photo both awfully cool and awfully disturbing.

Wasp obs at https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/505539. Caterpillar obs at https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/531855. More on the virus at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotesia_congregata. The virus is encoded in the parasitoid's nuclear DNA and expressed in specialized cells in its oviduct so that virions are injected into the host along with the egg.

On Persian ironwoood (Parrotia persica), witchhazel family.

Leafminer
4 circular overwintering chambers with 1 larva in each
On this tree:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=132720&q=RG_02&subview=grid&verifiable=any

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/187613452

It is very likely that the larvae come from the nearby egg mass.

On a leaf of American persimmon.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/178760686 (eggs)

Observations of the same colony (grid view)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?order_by=observed_on&place_id=51&q=RHCM_2023_HB_1&search_on=tags&subview=grid

Eggs.
On a leaf of American persimmon.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/178760687 (larvae on the same leaf)

Observations of the same colony (grid view)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?order_by=observed_on&place_id=51&q=RHCM_2023_HB_1&search_on=tags&subview=grid