zitserm's Favorites
Photos / Sounds
What
White Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)Observer
zitsermDescription
Mystery tree. Opposite leaves . Near a vernal pool.
Crushed leaves have a strong bitter almond smell.
What
Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor)Observer
zitsermDescription
Also Spring peepers, American bullfrogs and Fowler's toads
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Blue Forget-Me-Not (Myosotis stricta)Observer
elaphrornisDescription
Marine Park, Brooklyn. Grassy area between Avenue U & Lenape Playground.
Leaf underside photos show uncinate hairs especially on midrib, other diagnostic features of species visible in photos of whole plants & closeups of flowers.
Will add additional photos later from fresh material collected, including closeups of uncinate hairs on leaf underside.
See the following article:
Jones, A. & Rumsey, F. 2019. Myosotis stricta: a likely native and overlooked forget-me-not in Britain. BSBI News 141: 8-9.
https://www.bsbi.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/BSBI-News-141-website-version.pdf
Explanation of photographs:
Photos 1-9 (cellphone) & 15-22 (camera) taken in field (site as described & with coordinates as given).
Remaining photos taken in the lab on 7 May 2024.
Smallest division of stage micrometer = 0.1 mm.
Additional References:
Gleason, H. A. & Cronquist, A. 1991 (2009). Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. The New York Botanical Garden, New York. xlvi, 993 pages.
Rhoads, A. F. & Block, T. A. 2007. The Plants of Pennsylvania: An Illustrated Manual. 2nd edition. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia. vii, 1042 pages.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
xrisDescription
Mating pair of Intertidal Midges (Telmatogeton japonicus)?, Bush Terminal Piers Park, Sunset Park, Brooklyn, NYC, April 2024
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Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)Observer
sadawolkDescription
Many at the feeder today!
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Spring Avens (Geum vernum)Observer
zitsermDescription
Petals about 1/16 inch long (or about 1.5 mm). The diameter of the whole flower is about 1/4 inches (6.35 mm). White, spreading hairs on stems. I found another similar plant blooming not far from this one (200 feet or so). There were many non-blooming plants nearby that looked similar to this one.
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Morning-glory Plume Moth (Emmelina monodactyla)Observer
zitsermDescription
Larva munching on Sweet Joe-pye weed leaves
http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/savanna/plants/sw_joepye.htm
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/81867/emmelina_monodactyla_-_caterpillar.html
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Hackberry Blister Gall Psyllid (Pachypsylla celtidisvesicula)Observer
zitsermDescription
On Common hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
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Spring Avens (Geum vernum)Observer
zitsermDescription
Fruit shown.
Cluster of achenes on a stem 1-2 mm long, above a persistent calyx.
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Longhorn Crazy Ant (Paratrechina longicornis)Observer
susanhewittDescription
These ants gathered around a small piece of apple peel that Ed had dropped.
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White Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)Observer
zitsermDescription
Opposite branching.
Mystery tree
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Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)Observer
zitsermDescription
At a vernal pool. Rusty cap, dark line through the eye. Reddish brown in the wings helps to distinguish from Chipping sparrow. Gray face.
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Hysterium pulicareObserver
zitsermDescription
On River birch.
H. pulicare documented to grow on bark of B. nigra:
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3479&context=pias
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Genus PhysodermaObserver
zihaowangDescription
On leaves of Erythronium americanum, with Vankya heufleri (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/208696306). The coloration is strange and I have no idea what it is. The spheres, viewed under 800x, could burst open and release its content.
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Observer
danielathaDescription
Voucher specimen Atha 16202 (NY)
Insect on plant
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/78299397
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Tainturier's Chervil (Chaerophyllum tainturieri)Observer
elevineDescription
There is a lot of this plant growing in a bed that also contains a lot of Common Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) and a weedy Legume (see last photo).
I know both Chaerophyllum tainturieri and C. procumbens are unlikely but it seems to come down to them, everything similar (that I can find info on) has many more flowers in their umbellets, except maybe Anthriscus caucilus but its fruits are covered in hooked spines.
I have studied and photographed this species in a few other spots along Hudson River Park during 2020 but not put anything into observations (yet).
@djringer has a very good observation, identified to genus (with very helpful commentary from @mertensia), of what I believe is the same species, in the same general area, from May 2019: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/25315369
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Canadian Melanolophia Moth (Melanolophia canadaria)Observer
zitsermDescription
Deciduous woods. Same moth, two different lighting conditions. Tulip trees, Oaks, Hickories, Maples nearby
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Featherlegged Orbweaver (Uloborus glomosus)Observer
zitsermDescription
On Pinus strobus
About 3 mm wide
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Early-Season Group (Complex Leiobunum ventricosum)Observer
zitsermDescription
Yellow abdomen. In deciduous woods, in the leaf litter
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Frogs and Toads (Order Anura)Observer
zitsermDescription
Tadpole. Bronze belly. Either Spring peeper or Wood frog is my guess. Both present here in this pond.
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Nomad Bees (Genus Nomada)Observer
zitsermDescription
This bee was sleeping. The bee was biting down on the tip of a hickory leaf with her mandibles.
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Wolf Spiders (Family Lycosidae)Observer
zitsermDescription
On the surface of a vernal pool, at night
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White Sac Spider (Elaver excepta)Observer
zitsermDescription
On the underside of a Sycamore maple . Deciduous woods
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Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica)Observer
brennafarrellDescription
Lots of them buzzing around and chasing each other.
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Diamondback Moth (Plutella xylostella)Observer
zitsermDescription
Deciduous woods. Tulip trees, Oaks, Hickories, Maples nearby
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Genus TroxObserver
zitsermDescription
Deciduous woods. Tulip trees, Oaks, Hickories, Maples nearby
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Observer
xrisDescription
Intertidal Midges (Telmatogeton japonicus)?, Bush Terminal Piers Park, Sunset Park, Brooklyn, NYC, April 2024
There were many, and they were so small and moved so fast, these are likely three different individuals.
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Carolina Crane's-Bill (Geranium carolinianum)Observer
zitsermDescription
Confirm this
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Say's Ground Beetle (Chlaenius pennsylvanicus)Observer
zitsermDescription
Under a rock . Thorax green.
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American Robin (Turdus migratorius)Observer
zitsermDescription
Mellifluous song
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Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)Observer
zitsermDescription
The young leaves glisten like gold in the sunshine
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Viburnum Leaf Beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni)Observer
zitsermDescription
Egg cavities on Viburnum dentatum that have been covered with lids made of the beetle's excrement. Photos 3 and 4 show one of the lids open exposing remains of old eggs.
https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/orn/beetles/viburnum_leaf_beetle.htm
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Red-seeded Dandelion (Taraxacum erythrospermum)Observer
zitsermDescription
The last four photos show red-seeded dandelion seeds next to common dandelion seeds. The color difference is apparent.
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Western Skunk Cabbage (Lysichiton americanus)Observer
crustaceanpunknjDescription
Found among Eastern skunk cabbage. Not far from the NJ State Botanical Garden.
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Whorled Coralroot (Cardamine quinquefolia)Observer
mertensiaDescription
Watch out for this one
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Black-and-yellow Nomad Bee (Nomada luteoloides)Observer
zitsermDescription
Deciduous woods, hovering just above leaf litter and settling in sunny spots for a few seconds at a time
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Neighborly Mining Bee (Andrena vicina)Observer
zitsermDescription
Several of these bees were going in and out from underneath a decayed log.
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Mosquitoes (Family Culicidae)Observer
zitsermDescription
In a vernal pool.
Mosquito pupa believe.
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Nomad Bees (Genus Nomada)Observer
zitsermDescription
These bees don't stay still for more than a few seconds, so photographing them is tricky
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Frogs and Toads (Order Anura)Observer
zitsermDescription
The belly of this small tadpole was a metallic bronze color and shimmered in the sun light. In a fresh water pond. Spring peepers and Wood frogs are both present in this pond. So are Bull frogs and Fowler's toads.
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Fowl Mannagrass (Glyceria striata)Observer
zitsermDescription
In a swampy patch. Alley Pond Park
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Greater Bee Fly (Bombylius major)Observer
zitsermDescription
On Eastern Poison Ivy . This fly was perched on the poison ivy and was beating her wings at an extremely high rate. Then she stopped beating the wings, and I was able to get clear photos.
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Bibio lanigerusObserver
zitsermDescription
Beautiful little flies with tapering, metallic bodies and iridescent wings. Shown on White Wood Asters
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Damselflies (Suborder Zygoptera)Observer
zitsermDescription
Swimming in a fresh water pond . A damselfly larva?
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Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)Observer
zitsermDescription
Three babies. One on a branch and two in a tree cavity. Both adults nearby.
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