6 July 2024
Flowers, insects and birds were active this week though the end of the week was so humid that it felt like the tropics. Here’s a trail of photos from Duck Hollow, Aspinwall Riverfront Park, Schenley Park and my own neighborhood.
Don’t forget to check out the two photos at the end: A mystery match-the-leaves moth or butterfly and some amazing bird behavior.
With false sunflowers (Heliopsis helianthoides) at their peak in Schenley Park, the red aphids are out in full force.
Wineberry is already forming fruits.
I found a moth or butterfly that I could not identify at Duck Hollow. It was impossible to get close for a photo so this is the best I could do. Perched on Japanese knotweed. Can you tell me what it is?
And here’s some bird behavior I’ve never seen before: Two red-tailed hawks are perched on the hoist rope of this enormous crane on O’Hara Street near Thackeray on 29 June. This crane spends five days a week moving back and forth. I’m amazed that they decided to test it on a Saturday. Can you see them? If not, click here for a marked-up photo.
p.s. The dewpoint was 70°F yesterday. This link explains why that feels so hot.
p.p.s. See Karen’s comment below in which she identifies it as a Bad-wing moth (Dyspteris abortivaria). So my next question is, Why is it called a bad wing? –> And see J’s comment with the answer!
Kate according to a app I have on my phone it is a Bad-wing. It is in the Genus Dyspteris, Family Geometridae-Geometer moths, Loopers, Inchworms, Spanworms, Order Lenidoptera-Moths and Butterflies, Class Insecta-Bugs, Grubs, Insects, and Phylum Athropoda-Arthropods
Per the wikipedia article for ‘Dyspteris’ (scientific name): “It is called “bad-wing” because its forewing is much larger than its hindwing, making it often difficult to pull into position for spreading”
Thank you, J!
How very interesting!! Those aphids are really in abundance, aren’t they? I did spot the hawks too. Thanks again for a most interesting article. Have a wonderful weekend.