arcticbabu's Journal

Shagbark Hickory, 10/14:

• jagged, gray bark that easy can be broken off

• rounded sided/pointed ended leaves
  -was introduced in 1629 to America
  http://www.uky.edu/hort/Shagbark-Hickory

Owlet Moth Caterpillar, 10/24 :
-yellow stripes down side
-account for over 25% of butterflies and moths
-very calm and still
-found when it was getting very chilly outside
https://www.thoughtco.com/owlet-moths-family-noctuidae-1968198

Common Jewelweed, 9/12:
-Orange flowers
-Fragile stems
-Branched out rather than up
-Attracts red-throated hummingbird and long-tongued bees
http://illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/or_jewelweed.htm

Asteroid Moth, 9/19:
-Classmate found the larva on a leaf in HCC greenspace
-Green with yellow/blue stripes
-Stillness/calmness
-Asteroid moth larva
-Rare to see yellow on caterpillars
http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/15029132

Jerusalem Artichoke, 9/19:
-Yellow-colored
-Petals amiss
-Tall stem
-Hairy stem
-"The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract primarily bees, including bumblebees, cuckoo bees (Triepeolus spp.), digger bees (Melissodes spp.), leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.), Halictid bees, and Andrenid bees."
http://illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/ja_sunflowerx.htm

Japanese Hops, 9/26:
-Leaves are opposite sides along the vine
-Competitive and smothers out native vegetation, can grow up to 35 feet long
http://www.docs.dcnr.pa.gov/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_010262.pdf

Bur Oak, 10/3:
-Forrest Park
-Dropped acorns
-Unique leaf shape
-Healthy state
-Northern-/western-most oak species
https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/treedetail.cfm?itemID=874

Grizzly Spur-Throat Grasshopper, 10/3:
-Found on classmate's backpack in Forrest Park
-Calm attitude
-Flew quickly
-Quiet
-Contributes to the damage they inflict on crops
https://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.asp?identification=Spur-Throated-Grasshopper

Stinkhorns, 10/3:
-Found at Forrest Park
-Significant red color with brown spores at the top of the fungus
-Hunched over
-"They grow in damp wood mulch, emerging from a whitish, semi-solid “egg”. Once they take on their final shape, their spore sacs emit a green slime that attracts flies and beetles to the area. The insects feed on the mushroom and carry the spores wherever they land."
http://www.walterreeves.com/gardening-q-and-a/stinkhorn-mushroom-identification-and-control/

Banded Garden Spider, 9/5:
-Yellow bands on spider's body and legs
-Very relaxed and calm; chilling on web
-Found in Normal
-"The Banded Garden Spider may be a natural compass as well as a pest-controller, giving people two reasons to keep them around in the garden."
https://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.asp?identification=Banded-Garden-Spider

Goldenrods, 9/12:
-Found in HCC Greenspace
-Beautiful, yellow flowers
-Edible
-Long, wood-like stems
https://www.ediblewildfood.com/goldenrod.aspx

American Pokeweed, 9/19:
-Dark blue berries; green if not ripe
-Berries come in bunches
-Pink stems
-"...usually 1.8 meter to 3.0 meters (about 6 to 10 feet) tall, but may in some instances reach 21 feet tall."
https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/phytolacca_americana.shtml

Carolina Horse-Nettle, 9/19:
-Not an actual Nettle
-Coarse leaves
-Has distinct, earthy smell to leaves when rubbed
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanum_carolinense

Common Evening Primrose, 9/19:
-Wildflower
-Pretty yellow flowers, 4-petaled
-Lemon scented
-Biennial
https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=OEBI

Dragonfly Larva, 9/19:
-Found in stream during class
-Panicky; moved frequently trying to get away in pan
-6 long legs
-Oval body
https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/dragonfly-larvae

Silver-Spotted Skipper, 9/19:
-Butterfly family
-Adults perch on leaves upside down at night and on hot or cloudy days
-Brown wings
-Let me get significantly close when taking picture; relaxed
https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Epargyreus-clarus

Hairy White Oldfield Aster, 9/19:
-Also called Frost Aster
-Thin, white petals surrounding yellow center of flowers
-Stout
-Leafy; leaves are stiff and narrow
https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SYPIP3

Smooth Sumac, 10/17:
-Short, crooked, leaning trunks
-13-30 sharp toothed leaflets on each side of the midrib
-Found on East Rd.
https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=rhgl

Common Pawpaw, 10/17:
-Deer avoid plant entirely
-Mainly tropical plant family
-Maximum height of 15 meters
https://www.nps.gov/articles/pawpaw.htm

Common Hackberry, 10/17:
-Referred to as "one tough tree"
-Thrive on large spectrum of temperatures
-Shade tree
https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/treedetail.cfm?itemID=845

These Dogwoods were found in the brush of the HCC Greenspace. They had small, minty green colored, berry-looking things on it. I enjoyed finding this plant because it reminds me of Christmas, and then I remember that this coming Christmas is closer than Christmas of 2017.

In the second photo, you can see a Banded Garden Spider. This spider was also found in the HCC Greenspace in the taller grass. It was very calm and chilling out in its web. Its legs had yellow bands and were sort of bundled together in pairs. It was a beautiful specimen!

The third photo shows a Bluegill. It was caught from the pond at the HCC Greenspace. A fisherman had caught it, and it was pretty antsy to escape. The colors of the fish were beautiful when they reflected the sunlight with yellow, blue, and green.

This spider was also found in the HCC Greenspace in the taller grass. It was very calm and chilling out in its web. Its legs had yellow bands and were sort of bundled together in pairs.

This bluegill was found from the pond at the HCC Greenspace. A fisherman had caught it, and it was pretty antsy to escape. The colors of the fish were beautiful when they reflected the sunlight with yellow, blue, and green.