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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
10-24-2022, 01:58 PM
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Yes, DNA sequencing and more technical methods are re-arranging all of biology into new clades. There is a bewildering array of subspecies and populations within a species. You can get as deep into the woods as you want when you start studying any subject.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
08-20-2021, 06:10 AM
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Cool moth. We have some Scape Moths which look similar here in N.A.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
07-23-2021, 06:25 AM
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Those Dolichopodidae Long-Legged Flies are great subjects. I've never got one in flight, eve by accident.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
07-02-2021, 01:02 PM
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This species has become a regular. Almost always found on the False Sunflower. Apparently it could be a host plant for them. If so, it has not damaged the plant at all, which has been established in this corner of the garage. I can't move it, there's so much gravel - and the tap root is probably 6 feet long anyway.
Carmenta ithacae, a clearwing sphinx
 Carmenta ithacae on false sunflower ED 062021 by Terry Miesle, on Flickr
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
06-24-2021, 06:10 AM
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Buttonbush is a fantastic shrub. We planted a few over the past couple of years, and have helped some neighbors get a few installed as well.
---------- Post added 06-24-21 at 08:11 AM ----------
Apis melifera, the honeybee.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
04-30-2021, 01:12 PM
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You had some of us confused! At least I'm no longer puzzled by this.
The Chinese mantis are a problem here in the Upper Midwest. They're out-competing our big orb-weaving spiders for the big prey.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
04-30-2021, 07:12 AM
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Where are you located? In the US?
I think this is a Chinese Mantis, they're very successful invaders here in the US. Particularly where there are no native mantises they're suppressing the populations of large spiders.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
03-26-2021, 08:33 AM
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Look at that impressive mustache! So manly!
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
02-26-2021, 11:58 AM
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This is a bee-mimic robber fly, a predator. Note the antennae and lack of mandibles.
Nice shots of it. There is a lot of mimicry in nature.
---------- Post added 02-26-21 at 01:01 PM ----------
Another local predator. She let me get pretty close. Female Blue Dasher dragonfly.
 Blue Dasher Female yard 063020-2 by Terry Miesle, on Flickr
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
08-31-2020, 09:48 AM
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It's always a treat to see the American Snout Butterfly - an unflattering but descriptive name.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
08-03-2020, 07:05 AM
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They grab on with their mandibles. I presume if they die that way, they stay clamped on until knocked off or they degrade enough. The males do take a while to wake up, it's not worth the energy to get a head start on the morning.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
08-03-2020, 06:10 AM
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Male Bumbles don't get to go home, they have to camp out. It makes them easy to spot.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
10-02-2019, 06:06 AM
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That's a useful reminder, a little information is quick enough to add.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
08-23-2019, 05:16 AM
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One of the Ironweed species, I think. (Veronia)
Great prairie plant, but can be a little weedy in a yard. Then again, so can a lot of plants. They're great for attracting pollinators.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
08-08-2019, 01:00 PM
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But once in a while you nail it. Inky background, no blur, cooperative subject and the unnoticed but gorgeous goldenrod.
 Andrena hirticincta on goldenrod ED 090317-1 by Terry Miesle, on Flickr
---------- Post added 08-08-19 at 03:02 PM ----------
At last weekend's prairie walk I introduced people to the dogbane beetle. A little girl fell in love as it crawled up her hand to fly off. It's hard to comprehend how beautiful that prismatic green is.
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