Tag Archives: leafhoppers

Arboretum: Encounter with a Snake

by sicloot Posted on September 27, 2013

On Wednesday, I heard something rustling in the grass near the Arboretum’s hickory collection. Turned out to be this garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis), a skinny fellow who was quite afraid of me.

Garter snake looking at the camera — Garter snake

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Posted in Nature | Tagged Arnold Arboretum, asters, bees, Boston, eastern chipmunk, Eurybia divaricata, flies, insects, leafhoppers, maclura pomifera, mammals, Massachusetts, moths, nightshade family, plants, Pterostyrax hispidus, reptiles, snakes, solanum nigrum, trees | Comments Off

Arboretum: Bussey Hill Trees and Insects

by sicloot Posted on August 19, 2013

Late last week, I went to the Explorers’ Garden on Bussey Hill on a pleasant, sunny day. A few butterflies passed me by but did not perch. The eastern kingbird below paused at a the top of a crabapple tree. In about a month, this kingbird will probably make its way to South America for the winter.

Eastern kingbird in a crabapple — Eastern kingbird

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Posted in Nature | Tagged Arnold Arboretum, birds, blue dasher dragonfly, Boston, clover looper, Corylus tibetica, dragonflies, eastern kingbird, harvestmen, hazels, insects, leafhoppers, Massachusetts, moths, Phytolacca americana, plants, pokeweeds, Poliothyrsis sinensis, trees | Comments Off

Arboretum: Giant Water Bugs and Biocontrol Beetles

by sicloot Posted on August 2, 2013

Exploring in the meadow of the Arnold Arboretum last weekend, I came upon this giant water bug (Belostoma sp.). This large insect — they named it “giant” for a reason — preys on creatures as large as small fish. It can inflict a very painful bite, and so is also called toe biter. Thanks to John Epler for the ID.

Giant water bug

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Posted in Nature | Tagged Ampelopsis brevipedunculata, Arctium minus, Arnold Arboretum, asters, beetles, Boston, bugs, carrot family, Daucus carota, garden tortrix moth, goldenrods, grape family, impatiens capensis, insects, katydids, leafhoppers, Lythrum salicaria, Massachusetts, mollusks, moths, nettles, plants, Silphium perfoliatum, snails, spiders, Tanacetum vulgare, urtica dioica, Verbena hastata, verbenas, wasps | Comments Off

Arboretum: Skippers, Skimmers, and Killers

by sicloot Posted on July 23, 2013

I paid a visit to the Arnold Arboretum on Sunday, the first day after the end of our long heat wave. Insect life was abundant.

I found five species of butterflies, three of them skippers. A least skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor) was roaming near the meadow. This skipper is mostly orange with thick black borders on its hindwings.

Least skipper butterfly — Least skipper

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Posted in Nature | Tagged Arnold Arboretum, beetles, Boston, butterflies, cabbage white, cicadas, eastern forktail damselfly, eastern tailed blue, flies, hoverflies, insects, leafhoppers, least skipper butterfly, Massachusetts, meadowhawk dragonfly, northern broken dash butterfly, robber flies, silver-spotted skipper butterfly, twelve-spotted skimmer, wasp | Comments Off