"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
We've finally been getting regular rain, restoring water levels at Deer Creek. Though insect numbers are still below normal, rains seem to have prompted fresh bug emergence. Due to lingering back pain, I stayed close to home so I didn't have to carry my backpack and other gear around. For this outing it was just me and my macro lens — Deer Creek is just a walk across the street from my apartment and a fine place to seek out tiny critters.
Last weekend I found only a single Gnat Ogre at Deer Creek (and just one at Pheasant Branch), but I was pleased to see a few more during Saturday's excursion. Finding them can be a little tricky, but look at the tops of dead sticks usually around water.
I found a few hoppers as well ...
These are Black Locust Treehoppers Vanduzea arquata. If you look carefully below you can see a few tiny nymphs around the adults. V. arquata is native to North America, commonly found on black locust trees and may occasionally cause localized damage. However, they are generally considered a natural part of the ecosystem and do not typically reach pest levels.
This is Jikradia olitoria, commonly known as Coppery Leafhopper. I honestly don't know very much about them, but they're one of the more common hopper insects I come across during the summer.
And this is a nymph of a Cone-headed Planthopper Acanalonia conica. I've photographed adults many times, but this is the first time I've ever seen a nymph. Wild, eh?
And this one ...
I haven't been able to identify just yet. It may be a leafhopper in the genus Extrusanus. A new species for me and I've gone through Bugguide.net and other Hemiptera resources to no avail. Once ID'd, I'll post an addendum here.
Moving on, we have Common Milkweed Beetles Tetraopes tetrophthalmus engaged in congress, doing their part to ensure the survival of their kind.
I was very pleased to find a fairly cooperative Halloween Pennant Celithemis eponina.
Dorsal and side ...
I don't often photograph Spreadwings, but here's one ...
The Madison Chapter of the Wild Ones led a one-hour guided tour of Pope Farm Conservancy's restored prairies on Sunday — that seemed like a fun thing to do. I was only expecting a dozen or so people, but there must have been over fifty. The scheduled field trip leader, Jeff Steele, was under the weather, so a couple of other wildflower aficionados from Wild Ones stood in for him. We'll close this post with a few photographs I took with a bit of verse to go along.
In July's embrace, where nature's secrets unfold,
A tapestry of life, vibrant and bold.
Amidst the prairie's sway, where the wind gently sings,
Four beauties emerge, with a story that clings.
Tick Treefoil, with clusters of pure delight,
A haven for insects, buzzing in flight.
Its fuchsia blooms, a treasure trove for the eye,
Welcoming pollinators passing by.
Common Milkweed, a haven for nature's flight,
A refuge for butterflies, a pure delight.
Monarchs, with wings painted orange and black,
Seek solace in your arms, a resting track.
Rattlesnake Master, standing tall and proud,
A guardian of the wild, its spirit unbowed.
With spiky leaves like armor, it dares to defy,
The heat of the sun, as the days drift by.
Compass Plant, a beacon to guide us through,
With towering grace, it reaches for the blue.
Its leaves, like compass needles, ever true,
Guiding the way for all who pass through.
All images © 2023 Mike McDowell