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Anurans

During the last trip to Wisconsin, I commented on the large amount of baby American toads, apparently having recently hatched.  Due to the inevitable consequences of the food chain, there were far fewer this time, but the ones we did find were older and bigger.  The kid was equally amused with hunting them this time as she was last time.

Anaxyrus americanus

During our evening amphibian stalk, I caught a glimpse of some creature hopping away in panic–far quicker than the toads had.  Excited at the prospect of introducing my daughter to another species, I charged into the tree line, disregarding the fact that my footwear was ill-suited for such.  Nevertheless, I captured my quarry.

Lithobates sylvaticus

Initially, I misidentified it as a tree frog, but some research revealed it to be a wood frog, and apparently a very common species.  But common or not, I like frogs.  I suggested we go show it to grandma, but upon doing so were immediately forced to egress the cottage.  Apparently, moms just don’t appreciate wildlife indoors.

–Simon

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Prairie

Prairies are a part of Indiana’s natural heritage, I’ve been told, according to this rest stop sign anyway.

The girls were inside and I was walking the whippets.  I noticed from afar, across the manicured expanse of Kentucky bluegrass, what appeared to be an informational board for the casual passerby.  Naturally curious (and myself being a casual passerby), I trekked through the grass to read this beacon of knowledge.

Perhaps the sign itself was a victim of fire?  Or maybe it’s yet one more icon of yesterday, fallen into disrepair.  Judging from the number of toll roads I had to pay to get through Chicago, it’s apparent that the national Interstate budget isn’t sufficient anymore.  Sad, although it was kind of amusing to see that this sign still remained, all the way out in what is obviously not native prairie.

The field was also littered with structural foundations, but I couldn’t figure out for what.  Another mystery lost to time.

–Simon

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Mantis (Part 2)

I noted recently that my jalapeño has a guardian.  Then, while making my regular rounds, I noticed that my mustard plant too has one of these garden sprites.

Its abdomen looks like a mustard seed pod

Its not very big, and I had to fight my phone’s auto-focus to get that picture, and by then it was growing weary of my presence and had started to crawl away.  Hopefully he’s off to eat mosquitoes.

–Simon

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Caterpillar

Who doesn’t like a fuzzy little caterpillar, even if they might have small amounts of toxin in their barbs?  I noticed this on my rain barrel as I was tending to my pumpkins:

Acronicta americana

It would appear to be an American dagger moth.  I reviewed a number of sites, but the general consensus is that it’s pretty benign, content to simply munch on a few tree leaves.  Very well, young moth.  You may stay, but I shall not extend such courtesies to your hornworm cousins.

–Simon

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Swallowtail

During the Lubbock years, mom grew a lot of dill.  I don’t recall her ever using it, but I do remember her saying that she mainly grew it for the swallowtail butterflies, as they had a preference for it.  I still remember those beautiful little creatures and their iconic striped larvae.

So I’m naturally pleased whenever I see them now.  They had a fondness of my garden a few years back.

A female Palilio polyxenes

Recently, as I went to harvest some dill for my pickling endeavor, I noticed one of these little caterpillars, so permanently etched into memory.

But, despite me actively using the dill, he can stay.

–Simon