7.17.2025

Finally!

"July is not only a season of the year; it is a season of the mind and memory. Hot days and sultry nights and crashing thunderstorms are a part of July, and to the drone of bees in the clover fields will soon be added the high-pitched sibilance of the cicada. The tang of ripe cherries and the sweetness of sunning hay." 

— Hal Borland
Both the Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area and the Sauk City Canoe Launch have become my go-to summer destinations for Nature photography. While there’s still birding to be done, my attention remains almost entirely on insects — especially tiger beetles and Hemiptera (hopper) species. Even so, this past weekend, in a shaded woodland area of the parcel, the songs of an Acadian Flycatcher, Ovenbird, and Hooded Warbler lingered in the air — sounds of spring! Hearing them was enough; I didn't feel compelled to track them down for a view or photos.
But who could pass up on a singing Dickcissel in good light with a nice sky-blue background?
Well, singing for a little while. Soon it began preening ...
One final summer visit was made to see Ghost Tiger Beetles at the sandlot. This time it was mid-afternoon and the lighting was better for portraiture. 
But rather than hunting ...
This one began grooming ...
Insects groom their antennae to keep them clean and fully functional. Since antennae are loaded with sensory organs that detect chemical signals (such as pheromones), temperature, humidity, and touch, they act like an insect's nose and fingers. It's important to take timeouts to keep them clean. Plus, for me, it's kind of adorable watching them groom through my camera's viewfinder. 
Done.
Hostilities resume — watch out, ants!
My last look for another year ...
Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea) was in bloom along the western edge of the sandlot, its soft purple flower heads adding a splash of color to the otherwise dry, sandy landscape. The plants swayed gently in the breeze, attracting bees and other pollinators.
A Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) with slight damage to its right hind wing ...
The Viceroy was once thought to be a harmless Batesian mimic of the toxic Monarch, relying on its similar orange-and-black pattern to avoid predators. However, research in the 1990s revealed that Viceroys are actually distasteful themselves, changing our understanding of their mimicry relationship.

In Nature, there are two main types of mimicry. Batesian mimicry occurs when a harmless species evolves to resemble a harmful or unpalatable one, gaining protection because predators avoid the model species. In contrast, Müllerian mimicry involves two or more genuinely unpalatable or harmful species that share similar warning signals, reinforcing avoidance behavior in predators. Since Viceroys are also distasteful, their resemblance to Monarchs is now considered an example of Müllerian mimicry, where both species benefit from looking alike.

This doesn't stop some birds, like Blue Jays, from eating either species, though!
A quick stop at the canoe launch yielded robber flies and Sandy Stream Tiger Beetles. While tiger beetles are fast and formidable predators themselves, they can fall victim to larger or stealthier hunters like robber flies — especially if caught off guard or grounded. It's a brutal reminder that even predators have predators.
Closer to home, at an unnamed park near Deer Creek, I found Locust Treehoppers (Thelia bimaculata) on — what else — Black Locust trees.
Most were paired up — female on the left, male on the right.
Some side views of each ...
At the west end of the park, there's a trail where I regularly spot Punctured Tiger Beetles throughout July and into August. This stretch has become a reliable location for observing these speedy predators as they patrol the dirt path. Hardly anyone seems to walk this trail, so I can take my time getting decent close-up portraits. 
Right now they're a common species often found on sidewalks and parking lots.
Many insect species reach their peak in mid to late summer — whether it's dragonflies patrolling wetlands, butterflies flitting among wildflowers, or beetles and flies emerging in the heat. July offers some of the best opportunities for insect photography and observation, especially during warm, sunny days when insects are most active. Plus, different groups take turns dominating the scene as the season progresses, so there's always something new to find and photograph.

All images © 2025 Mike McDowell

7.14.2025

Yes!

Yes! There's more coming, but I've taken way too many photographs over the past week. It will take me a few days to get everything put together into a blog post.

Punctured Tiger Beetle © 2025 Mike McDowell

7.08.2025

Rare!

"I finally understood what my grandmother meant. If I wasn't comfortable with myself, I would never be comfortable."

― Marjane Satrapi
A rare photograph of the author during an actual Bug Hunt!

A long time ago, someone told me I dress like a Boy Scout. Yeah, I don't think it was meant as a compliment. At the time, I shrugged it off. I hadn't thought much about it since — until I saw the above photo, mid-stride in the woods, geared up in earth tones, pockets, and straps. That's when the memory came back. Yep. Still got that look! 

Here's what I'm sporting:

Shirt: Vortex Optics Quick-dry shirt
Shorts: KÜHL Mountain Wear
Shoes: Keen Targhee IV 
Socks: Darn Tough Vermont
Cap: Vortex Optics
Butt Pack: Hill People Gear
Watch: Suunto Traverse
Binocular: Vortex UHD 8x32
Monopod: Leofoto
Camera: Nikon Mirrorless + Tamron 60mm Macro
Sunglasses: Vortex Optics 'Jackal'
Readers: 1.5x Foster Grant
Water bottle: Nalgene (in Swarovski bino case)
Quiet readiness: Undisclosed

But for me, it's about function, utility, and comfort — clothing that serves a purpose for the kinds of things I do outdoors. I like quality stuff that holds up, fits well, and works when I need it to — gear that performs and lasts a long time, not fabric that flatters. 

Image © 2025 Susan Ulschmid

7.07.2025

Bug Hunting!

"If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos."

— E.O. Wilson
Part I: Sandy Stream Tiger Beetles

Though hot and humid, Friday's mission was to check shoreline habitat along the Wisconsin River near Sauk City for Sandy Stream Tiger Beetles. Naturally, I went to the canoe launch, where getting to the beach is always quick and easy. But the river was high from all the recent rain, so there wasn't a lot of exposed habitat to check. 
Nevertheless, they were out and about! Mixed in were Hairy-necked and Bronzed Tiger Beetles.
Sandy Stream Tiger Beetle (Ellipsoptera macra) has an elongated, narrow build, adapted for agile hunting on the shoreline. The genus name Ellipsoptera combines the Greek words ellipse, meaning "oval" or "elliptical," and ptera, meaning "winged," referring to the beetle's flight wings and streamlined body. The species name macra derives from the Greek makros, meaning "long" or "large," highlighting the beetle's notably elongated body shape compared to related species. Together, the name Ellipsoptera macra effectively captures the distinctive long and elliptical form that allows this beetle to move swiftly along shoreline habitats.
Most individuals I observe have a coppery dorsal color, as this one shows.
Others take on more of an metallic olive look, like this one ...
The apparent coloration or iridescence might also depend on lighting and angle.
This one has a tiny pebble of sand stuck on its head, probably became attached when emerging from its nocturnal burrow early in the morning. 
Sometimes you catch them using their forelimbs to wipe debris from their eyes, head, or antennae. 
And there you have it! 

Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Adephaga
Family: Cicindelidae
Genus: Ellipsoptera
Species: E. macra
Part II: Pheasant Branch Bug Hunt

Saturday's mission was an exploratory bug hunt along the Pheasant Branch Creek Corridor. The habitat was lush and overgrown — and already hot and humid by mid-morning. At the very least, I hoped to turn up a Buffalo Treehopper.
There were numerous dipterans (flies), but in the heat I was looking for easier subjects, like the Red-banded Leafhopper pictured above.
I checked each stand of Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum), a known host for Buffalo Treehoppers, and didn't have to look long before spotting a few. Above is an adult, and this next one is a nymph.
Here's a fun macro treat ...
I'm pretty sure this is Pelegrina proterva, a species of jumping spider. 
It's one of our more common jumping spiders, but still fun to find. No bigger than a grain of rice, it had that classic jumpy, alert behavior and seemed to be watching me as much as I was watching it.
And Peacock Flies!
On decaying logs and stumps (or wooden bridge rails), both male and female Peacock Flies put on a display — lifting their wings straight up and angling them forward as they move with deliberate steps. The shimmering blue highlights on their wings add to the striking, peacock-like effect.

The scientific name Callopistromyia annulipes loosely translates to "beautiful, ring-legged fly." The genus name comes from the Greek kallos, meaning beauty, and the species name annulipes combines Latin annulus (ring) and pes (foot). While the banding is visible on the legs rather than the feet themselves, the name still fits. 
Here's a Tawny Emperor ...
There's something deeply satisfying about bug hunting — part naturalist's curiosity, part treasure hunt. It forces you to slow down, to tune into the tiny dramas unfolding in leaves, stems, and soil. A flash of movement, a subtle shimmer of wings, or a strange shape clinging to a stem can spark the kind of excitement that never really goes away. Whether it's a gaudy tiger beetle or a barely visible treehopper, every find feels earned.
All images © 2025 Mike McDowell