Máistir Nádúraí: Ghosts!

6.26.2020

Ghosts!

"All is as if the world did cease to exist. The city's monuments go unseen, its past unheard, and its culture slowly fading in the dismal sea."

― Nathan Reese Maher

“It's easier to dismiss ghosts in the daylight.”

― Patricia Briggs

It's all about phenology: Last weekend none, this weekend several dozen! Mark Johnson and I set out to Sauk Prairie Recreational Area in search of Ghost Tiger Beetles (Ellipsoptera lepida) –– and they were very present! There were also a few Big Sand Tiger Beetles, many Festive Tiger Beetles, and I saw a single Oblique-lined early in the outing. Mark was searching the north end of the sandy parcel and found Punctured Tiger Beetles (Cicindela punctulata), which were also our first of the season. A beautiful day to photograph the little beasties!

Ghost Tiger Beetle Ellipsoptera lepida

Punctured Tiger Beetle Cicindela punctulata

Bio:

Mike McDowell has been documenting southern Wisconsin’s flora and fauna since 1987 and began leading field trips in 2002. Prolific at Pheasant Branch Conservancy, other highlighted natural areas include Pope Farm Conservancy, Spring Green Preserve, and the Baraboo Hills. His nature photography has appeared in various publications, newspapers, magazines and was even featured on a Wisconsin Endangered Resources license plate, a Capital Brewery beer label, and a National Geographic publication. He began journaling nature observations on this blog in 2005. He's the recipient of the 2012 Bronze Passenger Pigeon Award from the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their local communities or state to promote the field of ornithology. He was a finalist in Swarovski’s Digiscoper of the Year photography contest several times. His other interests include insect macro-photography (especially tiger beetles, treehoppers, and robber flies), fossil collecting, amateur astronomy, botany, natural history, and marksmanship with long-range rifles. Once a gigging musician, collecting Fender Stratocasters is a recently revived interest—most prized being a 1957 Vintage Custom Shop 'Mary Kaye' White Blonde. A former IT Professional, he's spent the last 24 years employed in the sport optics industry.