This Ailanthus Webworm Moth was making its way among wildflowers when I saw it in early September.
Eastern Carpenter Bee on Wildflowers I
The Eastern Carpenter Bee is easily confused with the American Bumble Bee. While the bumble bee is covered covered in fuzzy hair, the carpenter bee is missing the fuzz from its abdomen.
Pennsylvania Leatherwing Beetle on Thin-Leaved Sunflower
At first I thought the beetle on this thin-leaved sunflower was a soldier beetle but something didn’t look quite right. Looking more closely I’ve identified it as a Pennsylvania Leatherwing Beetle. According to insectidentification.org, the Pennsylvania Leatherwing Beetle is highly beneficial in their predation of aphids. As a bonus, their quest for insect prey turns them into efficient pollinators.
Black Eyed Susan
It’s been a very busy summer and I haven’t spent as much time with my camera as I would have liked so I’m pulling out some photos from last year that I never got around to publishing.
This Black Eyed Susan was growing in a forest meadow alongside wild daisies. It looked sort of like the odd man out, surrounded by white flowers. I took a few photos of the lone blooming Black Eyed Susan surrounded by Daisies but I preferred this more closely cropped image of the flower.
Woolly Bugger
Bare Tree In Big Meadow
A crow watches the field below from a barren tree in the Big Meadow area of Shenandoah National Park.
Resting White-Tailed Deer
On The Prowl
This black bear slowly wandered through a meadow while we watched it from a safe distance. I wish the lighting had been better but that’s one of the challenges of wildlife photography.
Black Bear With Cubs
Running Pronghorn
Pronghorn are said to be the second fastest animal on land. We were lucky enough to find a small herd of them during our visit to Yellowstone National Park and this one was practically showing off for us.