Morel - Morchella esculenta
After we got a half an inch of rain a few weeks ago, some Morel mushrooms popped up on our property! Mushrooms aren't flowers, but they are the fruiting body (spore producing organ) of a fungus. Morels are unique mushrooms, in that they appear in the spring rather than the fall. They are a type of sac fungi that aren't that common! Sac fungi get their names from the fact that they produce their spores, called ascospores, in special pods or sac-like structures called asci. In other words, the spores are found on the walls of the honey-combed exterior.
They are quite difficult to see as they are SO camouflaged with their surroundings. At first I only saw two of them, but as I carefully searched the area I saw a total of 13 mushrooms. It was a fun "treasure hunt"! I didn't pick any of them. I left them there to release their spores and reproduce. Many wild critters eat mushrooms, including deer and flying squirrels!
Morel - Morchella esculenta
They all look alike, but each one is unique. They were about 3"- 4" tall. Aren't they cool looking?
Oleander Aphids - Aphis nerii
What about those Bugs?
Okay, for a while now I've been promising to talk about the bugs I've been seeing. So I've finally done some research and here's what I've learned! The subject of "bugs" is complicated! For instance, in the photo above are some aphids which are "true" bugs. True bugs have piercing, sucking mouth parts. Many of the critters we see are NOT true bugs, but are commonly called bugs. Ladybugs aren't true bugs, and Sow Bugs/Pill Bugs aren't even insects! Sheesh!
So to simplify I'm going to talk about Arthropods, which covers most of the "creepy, crawly" critters that you might think are bugs. Arthropods make up the Phylum Euarthropoda. They are divided into four main classes; Insects, Arachnids, Myriapods, and Crustaceans. All Arthropods are invertebrates (lacking a backbone), with exoskeletons, paired jointed appendages, segmented bodies, and are bilaterally symmetrical.
Damselfly (mating) - Long-horned Beetle
Argia emma - Cerambycidae sp.
Insects
Insects are the largest class of Arthropods. The number of described species in the United States is approximately 91,000. The undescribed species of insects, however, is estimated at some 73,000!!! All insects have 3 body segments (head, thorax, abdomen), 3 pairs of jointed legs, 1 pair of antennae, and usually 1 or 2 pairs of wings. This would include most of the critters you see, such as butterflies, beetles, bees, ants, grasshoppers, dragonflies, flies, moths, mosquitoes, etc.
Longjawed Orbweaver - Scorpion
Tetragnatha versicolors - Paruroctonus spp.
Arachnids
There are approximately 8,000 species of Arachnids in the North America. Each arachnid has 2 body segments (cephalothorax, abdomen), 4 pairs of jointed legs, no antennae, and no wings. This includes spiders, scorpions, ticks, and mites.
Pink Millipede - Stone Centipede - Millipede (inset)
Lithobius sp. - Brachycybe sp. - Tylobolus castaneus
Myriapods
There are about 10,000 species of Myriapods in the world. Each myriapod has 2 body segments (head, trunk), many pairs of jointed legs, 1 pair of antennae, and no wings. This includes millipedes, centipedes, pauropods (tiny critters that feed on dead organic material, such as decayed leaves etc.), and symphylans (tiny soil-dwelling critters that feed on new root growth).
Wood Lice (commonly called Sow Bug/ Pill Bug/ Roly-Poly)
Onicidea sp. - photo ©moyerpest.com
Crustaceans
There are around 42,000 species of crustaceans in the world, and most of them are marine. Unlike most other arthropods, there are few species of crustaceans found on land or in freshwater. Each crustacean usually has 3 body segments (head, thorax, abdomen), more than 4 pairs of jointed legs, 2 pairs of antennae, and no wings. This includes lobsters, shrimp, crabs, crayfish, copepods, ostracods, and Wood Lice (Sow Bug/Pill Bug/Roly-Poly - one of the few land-dwelling crustaceans)!
Okay, so now you know that at least most of the critters that you thought were bugs, really aren't, AND Wood Lice are crustaceans!!! The differences between all of these critters are way more complex than I have listed. I just gave you the BASIC distinctions. The information is out there if you're curious! The more I learn, the more I realize I really don't know much at all!
Lazuli Bunting(male) - Passerina amoena
This week several brilliantly colored songbirds arrived in my neighborhood! Most of the them have flown here from their over-wintering grounds in Mexico, a distance of more than 2,000 miles!!! Some of them will raise their young in our neighborhood, others will travel further north to breed.
The Lazuli Bunting above was a total surprise! I've seen a few in the past, but not for a long time! I saw two together, and the field guide indicates that they could nest in our area! Wouldn't that be lovely? The Cornell Lab of Ornithology states, "This widespread songbird breeds in brushy habitats from sea level to more than 3,000 meters throughout the western United States and southwestern Canada. Appropriately named after the blue gemstone lapis lazuli, this species (especially the male) has spectacular plumage."
Hopefully I'll see them again! I'll keep you posted!
Black-headed Grosbeak (female) - Pheucticus melanocephalus
This year there are LOTS of Black-headed Grosbeaks in our neighborhood! They are loud chirpers, and seem to be chirping all day long! They are probably nesting right now. The female builds a nest on the outer branches of a deciduous tree, near a stream, about 12'-15' off the ground. Both the male and female incubate the 2-5 eggs, for 12-14 days, and help raise the young. The nestlings will fledge 10-14 days after they hatch. Both parents will continue to feed the fledglings for another month or more, but less and less as they mature.
Black-headed Grosbeak (male - male) - Pheucticus melanocephalus
On the left above is a typical male Black-headed Grosbeak, with a rusty orange throat and breast. The male grosbeak on the right has an unusual yellow throat. I don't know if this is a rare occurrence, or common. I have to do some research!
Western Tanager (male) - Piranga ludoviciana
We usually have a pair or two of Western Tanagers nesting in our neighborhood. These beautiful birds fly all the way to Costa Rica for the winter! This gorgeous male posed for me in one of the many blooming locust trees! I haven't see a female yet, but they are a grayish yellow-green in color and much harder to see!
Bullock's Oriole (male - female) - Icterus bullockii
I've been waiting for these Bullock's Orioles to arrive, and at last they're here! Yahoo! A pair of them have been nesting in a tree right near our house for the past 4 years. I was really hoping they'd come back, and I think they have!!! I have written lots about them in the past, just use the "search this blog" bar on the top right to read all about them. I'll keep you posted on this year's developments!
Apple Blossoms in the Rain
More Damp Earth Art!
The forecast is for rain on Saturday and Sunday this coming weekend! Yahoo! I hope it pours! However, since we are indeed in a drought year, I am once again sending out a "Call for Art" in celebration of rain. My intention is to focus on the need for rain, and through collective positive energy invoke rain to fall. It is just a wish, a thought, and a hope. If you would like to submit some art, or writing, or a photo please email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com. Check out what's already been submitted at dampearthart.blogspot.com
You can view what was submitted last year at dampearth.blogspot.com.
I will be posting new art weekly. Check it out and pray for rain!
Where are the Bears?
What's blooming?
What's happening in the Lakes Basin?
Check back next week for the answers to these questions and more!
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