Lessons from Summer 2008
Some people might argue that the big lesson from this summer is not to take on too many projects. I think that there are far more important lessans to learn.
For many years, I have known that Baltimore Checkerspot eggs could be either red or yellow. This year, I watched a female in the process of laying a large clutch of bright yellow eggs. The photos did not come out at all well. So I went back and took the following picture. Apparently, they lay yellow eggs which then turn red.
I learned that I can post bigger photos with more detail on my blog, and that the results really would look better.
Delaware skipper (Anatrytone logan) on Asclepias syriaca. Click to embiggen!
I learned that there are some really cool smaller cicadas hanging out on the prairie. This one's only about an inch and a half long.
Cicadetta sp.
And I learned that with persistence (and 2 seasons worth of effort) I could take a decent picture of Typocerus octonotata.
Typocerus octonotata on Coreopsis palmata
This one also embiggens well.
This one also embiggens well.
Labels: Baltimore Checkerspot, Beetles, Butterflies, Seasons
posted by Doug Taron @ 14:32
15 Comments:
When you stop learning, you're dead -- or likely should be.
Great lessons. I love the story regarding the two different colors of checkerspot eggs. See, things happen for a reason. If those pictures would have come out you never would have seen that. I'm not so sure that making your pictures bigger is making them better. Like I said last week, I think your photography skills are improving.
good lessons - all.
Have you learned yet how to keep The Wild One happy at all times?
Great post and information.
Cool skipper photo and the beetle is great.
I like the larger photos,
Troygxeqt
Great lessons learned. Worth the wait for Typocerus octonotata. That is a very beautiful insect!
You learned vry good lessons, and as a good teacher, now I learned them too.
Yes...your photos are getting better and I love that we can enlarge them now.
I love the fine hairs on the leaf the Cicada is clinging to...and that you can see them though the translucent wings.
Doc- true. Though there are days...
cedrorum- Thanks. I'm trying to get more images for some of the immature stages of insects that I find. There often are not good photos. I now have pics of all 4 life stages of the Baltimore Checkerspot.
Spo- I'd be happy if I felt that I were eeping the Wild One happy even some of the time. Sven is so much better at it than I am.
troy - Thanks. I think Skywatch works much better with bigger photos.
Gallicissa- Thanks. I have a special fondness for longhorn beetles.
Robin- Thank you.
Rodger- Thanks. The plant is called prairie dock, and the hairs give it a distinctly rough texture- almost like sandpaper. They are said to be an anti-dessication adaptation.
That is some fine photography - I don't know how you get so close or get them in such close range. I've given up.
Excellent photos!
And can I just say, I love the word "cicadetta"? I'm going to have to use it regularly...somehow.
Glad we can enlarge your photos now Doug. Here is a puzzle for you
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7506355.stm
Doug - that's an impressive clutch of eggs! The color change is pretty amazing.
Ditto on the larger photos - the skipper is very nice, as are the Asclepias, of course!
Nice Typocerus too - Bev identified a T. zebra for me a few weeks ago!
(Hope this doesn't appear twice. Didn't appear to take the first time.)
I too liked the Prairie Dock...too bad it won't grow here. I STILL have NOT learned how to post the pictures I can embiggen, and need just a half day of spare time, eh? Since you're posting pics of animal life WE plebians aren't familiar with this has been a BIG improvement for all your readers, I'm sure.
Excellent shots. I'd love to find one of those "prairie" cicadas some day...
Doug, great job with the photos! That Delaware skipper looks almost elegant when you embiggen it! I didn't embiggen the cicada though. He/she would be scary!
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