Currently viewing the tag: "Goldenrod Meadow"
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Crescent Butterfly on Goldenrod

On · Category: Brush Footed Butterflies Tagged With: · Add Comment

Subject: Butterfly and goldenroad
Location: Troy, VA
October 24, 2016 4:16 pm
I saw this very late visitor to the few goldenrod flowers still blooming. I’m not sure what it is, but thought you might like it for your goldenrod meadow.
Signature: Grace Pedalino

Crescent Butterfly

Crescent Butterfly

Dear Grace,
Your Crescent Butterfly in the genus Phyciodes nectaring on Goldenrod is an excellent addition to our Goldenrod Meadow tag.  According to BugGuide:  “Nearctica lists 18 species” in the genus, and though we are inclined to believe this is a Pearl Crescent, we really are unable at this time to verify that species identification with any assurance.

Crescent Butterfly

Crescent Butterfly

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Police Car Moth on Goldenrod

On · Category: Tiger Moths and Arctiids Tagged With: · Add Comment

Subject: One Left!
Location: Lion Gulch Trail Lyons CO
October 11, 2016 3:33 pm
Birdwatcher here, spent the better part of a lovely snowy afternoon identifying butterflies I’ve picked up along the way. I’m down to one critter, a moth I think, and no matter how general or specific I make my searches, and on all the websites, have I found my answer.
Attached is a photo of said critter, taken July 25, 2010 at Lion Gulch Trail outside of Lyons, CO.
Any information is appreciated, have a wonderful evening!
Signature: Tina Toth

Police Car Moth

Police Car Moth

Dear Tina,
This is a Police Car Moth, Gnophaela vermiculata, and you can verify its identity on BugGuide where its habitat is listed as “Typically foothills, mountain ranges, mid-elevations” and “Adults fly during the day in late summer, July-August.”  BugGuide also notes:  “Adults feed during the day on nectar of herbaceous flowers such as thistle (Cirsium spp.) and goldenrod (Solidago spp.)” and since your individual is nectaring on Goldenrod, we are thrilled to be able to tag this posting with Goldenrod Meadow.

Outstanding! On top of just being happy to know what it is, I love the name! I’m thrilled too, and thank you ever so much!
Tina

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Paper Wasp on Goldenrod

On · Category: Paper Wasps Tagged With: · Add Comment

Subject: paper wasp and goldenrod
Location: Troy, VA
September 23, 2016 12:28 pm
Hi Daniel,
I thought you might like this for your goldenroad meadow. I believe the wasp is some kind of paper wasp. The goldenrod by my house is mostly attracting wasps. I haven’t seen much else on it so far
Signature: Grace Pedalino

Paper Wasp

Paper Wasp

Dear Grace,
Thanks for contributing to our Goldenrod Meadow tag.  We agree that this is a Paper Wasp in the genus Polistes, possibly Polistes annularis which is pictured on BugGuide.

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Arrowshaped Micrathena and Goldenrod

On · Category: Orb Weavers Tagged With: , · Add Comment

Subject: Arrow spider and goldenrod
Location: Troy, VA
September 18, 2016 12:22 pm
Hi Daniel,
I’m trying hard not to inudate you with photos, but I thought you might like this image of an arrow spider by some goldenrod. While the spider is not using the goldenrod as direct source of food, it is nicely camouflaged by the goldenrod and seems to be using it as a way to hunt insects that do feed on the goldenrod. The yellow of the spider and the yellow of the goldenrod are remarkably similar. Also, it’s such a cool little spider.
Signature: Grace Pedalino

Arrowhead Micrathena

Arrowshaped Micrathena

Dear Grace,
One couldn’t help but to disagree more with your belief that this Arrowshaped Micrathena “is not using the goldenrod as a direct source of food” because though it is not eating the goldenrod, it is eating the insects that are attracted to the goldenrod.  While Arrowhead Micrathenas would survive without the goldenrod, we believe that they and other orbweavers as well as carnivorous insects including preying mantids thrive in a goldenrod meadow.  This is a marvelous addition to our Goldenrod Meadow tag and we agree heartily that the coloration of the Arrowshaped Micrathena is perfect with the goldenrod.  Here is a nice BugGuide image of an Arrowhead Micrathena.  We forgot that we had a 10 Most Beautiful Spiders tag, and we are adding your Arrowhead Micrathena to that tag.

Arrowhead Micrathena

Arrowshaped Micrathena

Arrowhead Micrathena

Arrowshaped Micrathena

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Chrysanthemum Lace Bug

On · Category: Lace Bugs Tagged With: · Add Comment

Subject: WAFFLE BUG
Location: Courtice, Ontario Canada
September 9, 2016 5:40 pm
I found this unusual bug on a leaf near the golden rod plants.
Really different than anything I’ve seen before. It was eating the leaf. there were light tan colored ones and all white ones. they look like waffles. Hope you have an idea what they are.
Signature: Terri Martin

Chrysanthemum Lace Bug

Chrysanthemum Lace Bug

Dear Terri,
Thanks to providing us with the host plant Goldenrod, we feel quite confident your Lace Bug is a Chrysanthemum Lace Bug, Corythucha marmorata, because according to BugGuide:  “hosts: several species of Asteraceae; reported from Solidago, Aster, Ambrosia, Helianthus, Rudbeckia, Echinops.”  Solidago is the genus for Goldenrod.

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Potter Wasp

On · Category: Potter and Mason Wasps Tagged With: · 2 Comments

Subject: Mystery wasp
Location: Troy, VA
September 5, 2016 1:01 pm
I spotted this lovely wasp (I’m assuming it’s a wasp, but maybe it’s not) on goldenrod flowers by the side of a pond. It has a slight bluish sheen that doesn’t really show in the photos. I have done some searching but can’t really figure out what this is. Any help would be appreciated.
thanks again
Signature: Grace Pedalino

Potter Wasp

Potter Wasp

Dear Grace,
We identified your Potter Wasp as Zethus spinipes thanks to this BugGuide image.  According to BugGuide:  “Black, thorax has yellow marks. Narrow yellow band on abdominal segment 3. Wings brown to violet. Bizarre stalked abdomen typical of genus.”  We are very excited to have a posting to add to our new tag:  Goldenrod Meadow.

Potter Wasp

Potter Wasp

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