6-29

6-29
The tiny pea-like flowers of Pointed-leaved Tick Trefoil are starting to appear. Fringed Loosestrife is also opening flowers.
The heavily scented waxy, white blossoms of Basswood can be seen … and smelled.
John

Pointed-leaved Tick Trefoil

Fringed Loosestrife

Basswood blossoms

6-28

6-28
Both Canada Thistle and Meadowsweet are in flower today.
John

Canada Thistle

Meadowsweet

6-27

6-27
Shining Ladies Tresses and the closely related Tubercled Orchid are flowering along the riverbanks. Both are rare or unusual in Vermont.
A well camouflaged Common Lytrosis moth rested on gravel while a Virgin Tiger moth flashed colorful hindwings in a ploy used to startle predators.
And a tiny blue beetle bejeweled with drops of water rested on a Willow leaf.
John

Shining Ladies Tresses orchid

Tubercled orchid

Common Lytrosis moth

Virgin tiger moth

Blue beetle

6-26

6-26
Common Mullein, Blue Toadflax, Bladder Campion and Pipsissewa are among the species flowering today.
The rather nicely marked but much reviled Gypsy Moth caterpillar are ready to pupate.
And last night a Maple Looper moth was airborne.
John

Common Mullein

Blue Toadflax

Bladder Campion

Pipsissewa

Gypsy Moth caterpillar

Maple Looper moth

6-25

6-25
Last night this big moth called the Blinded Sphinx was flying. Larval host plants for this species include Basswood, Birch and Poplar.
Canada Lily is starting to flower. The flowers of this species vary from yellow to red. Canada Lily favors wet meadows and ditches.
And the brightly iridescent Dogbane Leaf Beetle brightens patches of both Dogbane and its near relative Indian Hemp.
John

Blinded Sphinx moth

Canada Lily

Dogbane Leaf Beetle

6-24

6-24
Last night Chickweed Geometers were flying. Host plants for this moth include chickweed, clover, knotweed and smartweed.
And the dragonfly called the chalk-fronted Corporal patrolled the shore of a beaver pond this afternoon.
John

Chickweed Geometer

Chalk-fronted Corporal dragonfly

6-23

6-23
Today Horse Nettle is in flower. The flowers of this species are either white or pale lavender.
Silver-spotted Fern moths were airborne last night.
And a tiny but nicely marked False Darkling Beetle (Dircaea liturta) put in an appearance.
John

Horse Nettle

Silver-spotted Fern moth

False Darkling beetle

6-22

6-22
Among the flowers open today are Bristly Sarsaparilla, Thimbleweed and Clammy Ground Cherry.
A Waved Sphinx moth was active last night as was a Cream-edged Dichomeris moth.
John

Bristly Sarsaparilla

Thimbleweed

Clammy Ground Cherry

Waved Sphinx moth

Cream-edged Dichomeris moth

6-21

6-21
One of the Pyrolas - probably the one known as Shinleaf - is putting out a few of its waxy, white nodding flowers.
The exotic invasive Purple Loosestrife is starting to color the riverbanks.
And the caterpillar of an Eight-spotted Forester moth hurried off on important matters as I snapped its picture. Grape and Virginia Creeper are among the host plants for this species.
John

Pyrola

Purple Loosestrife

Eight-spotted forester moth caterpillar

6-20

6-20
Along the roadsides Yellow Sweet Clover attracts pollinators.
In the woods Common Wood Sorrel dots the leaf litter with its purple streaked white flowers and clover-like leaves.
John

Yellow Sweet Clover

Common wood Sorrel

6-19

6-19
Common St. Johnswort - one of 12 St. Johnsworts listed in my field guide - is starting to flower. All of the St. Johnsworts have similar yellow flowers except for Marsh St. Johnswort, which is pink.
John

Common St. Johnswort

6-18

6-18
Last night a rather tattered Luna Moth came to my lights.
A Carrion beetle (Nicrophorus orbicollis) was out looking for a meal. These beetles bury small dead mammals as food for their offspring.
 A fresh new Fritillary, probably one known as Aphrodite, posed nicely as its wings hardened.
And Three-lined Potato beetles dined on Bittersweet Nightshade, a potato relative.
John

Luna moth

Carrion beetle

Fritillary butterfly

Fritillary

Three-lined Potato beetles

6-17

6-17
Among the flowers to be found today were Yellow Rattle, Wild Radish, Partridgeberry and Black-eyed Susan.
Meanwhile, Sweet Fern has already set its burr-like fruits.
John

Yellow Rattle

Wild Radish

Partridgeberry

Black-eyed Susan

Sweet Fern "fruit"

6-15

6-15
The yellowish flowers of Squawroot are poking up through the leaf litter. Squawroot is parasitic on tree roots, especially oak.
And Box Elder Bugs of several nymphal stages congregate on a leaf. Ten times as many scurried away as I moved my camera in for a close up!
John

Squawroot

Box Elder Bugs

6-14

6-14
The fuzzy pink flowers of Motherwort are open.
The clear blue of Chicory is starting to dot the roadsides.
Common Milkweed is coming into season and Red Milkweed Beetles are ready to take advantage.
And a Golden Tortoise Beetle feeds on a Morning Glory. Golden tortoise beetles can change color at will.
John

Motherwort

Chicory

Milkweed

Red Milkweed beetle

Golden Tortoise beetle