Oh Wing-ed Ones

July 2, 2020 ~ lmachayes

The power of flight. The agility of fliers. Both are key.

But to truly key in, one needs to notice the idiosyncrasies of the wings and other body parts. Consider the yellow stigma on this dragonfly’s wings, a color which matches the hearts on its abdomen.

But for me, the most outstanding part of the Calico Pennant are the stained glass patches at the base of its wings–yellow for a female and red for a male.

Then there’s one whom I first met a couple of weeks ago. By its oreo cookie face I recognized it upon our second encounter today. This Stream Cruiser’s wings certainly don’t define it.

But other attributes do, such as the green eyes of this mature being and his yellowish claspers.

Did you notice he’s on my finger? I was rather surprised and you know . . . delighted.

As I moved along, I spied another who knows how to fly through the air.

Its dark wings hardly seem capable of carrying its long body, but they do. Even more notable, however, are the long segmented antennae.

This is an Ichneumon Wasp, known not as one to sting us, but rather for its parasitic larvae that feed on or inside another insect host species until it dies.

For the Common (there’s that word again) Sanddragon dragonfly, the stand-out feature is the yellow abdominal appendages on both male and female. To tell one sex from the other, the eyes need to be considered. The female has brown eyes, while the male, such as this one, sees the world of its prey through yellow-green lenses.

Hoverflies are also part of the landscape, behaving in their typical manner by hovering mid-air in the middle of trail, until one lands on a hemlock twig and shows off not only its veined wings, but also giant eyes, the better to spy a tiny prey.

Nearby, a Robber Fly lands on the bud of a Pipsissewa flower, waiting as its species does for a chance to pounce upon a dinner of choice.

In the midst of it all, a delicate Northern Pearly-eye Butterfly graces the scene.

So many differences. And yet they all can fly despite the size of their head, thorax and abdomen.

Oh Wing-ed Ones.

May those who share this day with you be honored with similar attributes including power, agility, and idiosyncrasies all their own.

Happy Birthday Carissa, Pam, and Hannah.

Giving thanks post 9/11

September 10, 2015September 10, 2015 ~ lmachayes ~ 2 Comments

As I was wandering about today, memories of 9/11 passed through my mind. Sadly, it’s one of those days that will forever mark time.

I was at work when a friend called and told us to turn on the TV. We spent the rest of the day shaking, crying and watching in horror as the events unfolded. In the afternoon, I sat on the couch with our young sons and tried to explain what had happened. How were they to comprehend something I didn’t get?

And then, we headed to soccer practice. I remember feeling angry that practice hadn’t been cancelled, but in reality, it was probably the best thing for all of us. It gave us a sense of normalcy and a chance to gather in community.

I also remember the first time I heard an airplane fly when the skyway was finally reopened. I had just opened the door to step outside and actually ducked under the awning at the sound of the plane, not aware in that moment of what I was doing.

My world view changed that day. But, thankfully, I live in a place where I can step outside and walk freely.

I pay attention to what is underfoot, like this female ichneumon wasp,

green cicada,

green frog and

American toad.

I notice those who try to hide, like this chipmunk,

grasshopper,

and sleeping yellowjackets.

I observe the eating habits of a lady beetle,

sawfly caterpillars,

and a horned caterpillar.

I watch a blue jay in the cherry tree and

notice how he thrashes the fall webworm caterpillars against the bark before eating them. I assume he’s trying to get the hair off their bodies.

I make new discoveries, like this cupped nest in the lilac bush right off the deck.

I think it was created by a red-eyed vireo, but I could be wrong.

I will forever question what I see and how it works, but I’m thankful that I am able to do that.

To think for myself. To wander and wonder.

Thank you to all who lost their lives that fateful day, to their families and to all who worked so hard in the days that followed and those who continue to protect us all.

Goodbye Spring, Hello Summer

June 20, 2015June 20, 2015 ~ lmachayes ~ 2 Comments

Sometimes the words slide out with little effort and other times, they seem to hide in the wings, waiting backstage. So it is on this last day of spring.

Whoa. Maybe I’m not sure what to write because I’m not ready for spring to end. I’m not sure spring is ready either–it was 44 degrees at 6 a.m. and even now, sitting in the shade, I’ve got goosebumps from the breeze..

But say goodbye to spring I must. I’ve spent the past two days savoring its final moments and mosaic colors. Along the way, I’ve seen some cool things.

I came across this ichneumon wasp on the base of a hemlock girdled by a beaver. Because of the long, needle-like ovipositor (that looks like a nasty stinger, but usually isn’t–though she is a wasp), I think this is a female. She’s possibly searching for a place to inject her eggs, which will then feed on other insect larvae.

As the season unfolded, I’ve been training my eyes to focus on leaf characteristics. This one is easy to pass off as a beech. But, its saw-blade teeth tell me to check below the leaves.

Beaked Hazelnut, a shrub that produces hairy husks containing the nut (think filbert) .

Double beaked. They grow singly or in groups up to ten or so.

Dangling like baubles, the fuzzy balls will entice squirrels, chipmunks, birds and yes, humans.

Sadly, not every part of the picture is pretty. The red pines at the summit of Pleasant Mountain are dying off. I spoke with a forester from the White Mountain National Forest about this today and his thought was that it might be red pine scale insects. Yeegads.

My first thought had been weather, but the trees below the summit have also been affected. It’s time for me to contact the state forester and ask his opinion.

The fertile fronds of the cinnamon fern have spread their spores and are now withering. Soon, I’ll have to search to find any evidence that they ever existed.

The same holds true of the interrupted fern, though the gap that will be left once the fertile middle pinnae fall off will be rather obvious.

Long white hairs top the tip of running clubmoss.

Candlelabras are forming, preparing to release numerous spores. Like the ferns above, it’s difficult for me to comprehend that this life form that creeps along the ground was once the size of trees. Mind boggling for this brain.

On to simpler things. A ladybird beetle.

Orange Hawkweed, aka Devil’s Paintbrush.

I think this is an Eastern pondhawk dragonfly, but if you know better, please tell me. My other thought–blue dasher. Either way, like all dragonflies, there’s beauty in its venation and color. Plus, those dragonfly eyes.