"Once you learn to read the land, I have no fear of what you will do to it, or with it. And I know many pleasant things it will do to you."
― Aldo Leopold
The sun's arc is already beginning its slow descent—June is nearly behind us. I spotted some Deptford Pink (Dianthus armeria) in bloom at Barneveld Prairie late last week, and a phenological connection finally clicked—it seems to bloom right around the same time Ghost Tiger Beetles (Ellipsoptera lepida) emerge, as seen at Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area.
As I've written here before, Deptford Pink isn't a native wildflower—it's a European species that's become naturalized across much of North America. While it's sometimes labeled as potentially invasive due to its ability to spread in disturbed areas, it's not listed as a noxious weed and generally doesn't form dense stands. In fact, I've never found it in large concentrations in the areas I explore.
It's a small, showy flower with bright pink petals and a delicate appearance—just the kind of plant early settlers might have grown for aesthetic reasons. From there, it escaped cultivation and gradually naturalized, especially in disturbed or open habitats. Sure enough, they were also open at Sauk Rec, and a few Ghost Tiger Beetles were on the prowl!
A large window of blue sky provided the perfect opportunity to photograph the tiger beetles in full sunlight. When the light hits them just right, the subtle coppery tones on their head and thorax really come alive. Most of the individuals I see have that warm coppery background, but a few years ago at Buena Vista Grasslands, I came across one in striking blue. In the Sauk population, I sometimes find coppery ones with a bit of green iridescence, though I've never seen a fully green individual there.
What's interesting is that A Field Guide to the Tiger Beetles of North America (Pearson et al.) notes that "most populations have individuals of all three background colors." But in my own experience—and based on a quick survey of iNaturalist observations—that full range doesn't seem all that common. Blue and green individuals appear to be quite rare.
But as soon as the clouds rolled in, I had to quickly adjust my exposure settings to work with the softer, diffused light.
That subdued lighting gives beetles a different kind of presence—almost like more details became visible, especially in their delicate markings and body texture. Sometimes I think those overcast moments reveal things you'd miss in harsh sunlight. It reminds me that good field photography is as much about adapting to the conditions as it is about chasing perfect light. However, they are more difficult to find without their shadow giving away their position.
And this is how difficult they are to find when the sunlight is obstructed:
It's also been my experience that Punctured Tiger Beetles (Cicindela punctulata) emerge around the same time as Ghosts do at this location. The phenological timing of all three—the Deptford Pink, Ghost, and Punctured—seems closely linked, with their emergence and bloom overlapping in early summer.
It's a Lifer! This is Habronattus viridipes, the Green-legged Jumping Spider. It found me while I was lying on my belly photographing the Punctured Tiger Beetle. The spider hopped from rock to rock, sometimes crawling when the next jump was too far. I didn't get the best photos—it was constantly on the move and had zero interest in looking into the lens for one of those adorable portraits.
It eventually hopped into the base of a large plant, where I lost sight of it. Hopefully, I'll get another encounter with this species—and a second chance at some better photos!
All images © 2025 Mike McDowell
