Teamwork

Photo by Ned Harris 9/11/2015
Click on photo for larger view

Four ants taking down an American Snout caterpillar. 

Panther-spotted Grasshoppers

Photos by Ned Harris 9/12/2015

These are so amazing looking!

Incredible Insects

Let's do a week of insects! You'll recall the cool caterpillars from this post. These are close-ups of their pupas on Desert Hackberry plants (Celtis pallida). Note the escape threads!

Photos by Ned Harris 9/12/2015

Microburst

This great video, shot in Tucson on August 8, 2015, appeared in a recent article in one of Slate's blog. Take a look.

Wasp Warning

Wayne Klement sent the following photos and report:

I met about a dozen people coming down from Blackett's as I was going up this morning [W 9/30/2015] (one group of 5). All commented on the number of wasps at the end of Blackett's; 3 people said they had gotten stung.

Anne says: Right now, put a few anti-histamines in your hiking pack. An inhaler, too, if you have one. And don't hike alone.

No band for you!

Dan Weisz sends these photos of Black-tailed Rattlesnake who visited the hummingbird banding session on 9/26/2015. Click photos for larger views.

The whole enchilada

Contrary to popular belief, you can't determine the age of a rattlesnake by counting the rattle rings. Snakes can shed multiple times during the year and rattles can come off with the skin. Rattles can also be broken in other ways. Do not attempt.

Beautiful Southwest Pattern!

Smell you later!

Thanks, Dan, for these great shots!

Plant and Animal

Photo by Ned Harris 9/11/2015

Funereal Duskywing butterfly 

on Whiteflower Prairie Clover (Dalea albiflora)