lfelliott's Favorites

I found this wasp near a light on my house. The light was surrounded by araneid orb weavers (probably Araneus). Once the wasp got somewhat stuck, and the spider shot out to nab it, but being rather large and heavy, the wasp fell out of the web in the nick of time. This guy was pretty chunky, maybe 2-3 cm from head to the end of the abdomen.

I have no clue what family this belongs in. It was extraordinarily small. I hope someone recognizes it, because now I'm really curious.

It was in an area of pure sand on the bank above the Meramec River.

Last of three individuals for the day; photo only taken with my phone, but still seems diagnostic.

This one has almost no well-defined postmedian spot band on the ventral hindwing, but the combination of checkered fringe and "straight" subapical marks on forewing, in addition to overlay of silvery scales throughout hindwing, likely safely identify the species. I pursued it hoping it might be Linda's, but, alas, I don't think so.

Mineralizing in a mostly dry creek.

Looks very similar to native green dragon (Arisaema dracontium) but is shorter, grows more vigorously and blooms late into the summer.
Also, the back of the spadix is fused to the spathe , whereas in A. dracontium, the flower parts are separate

Quite variable, aren't they? These are from a small patch of old field that has been restored as 'prairie' in an urban park. The property is one of the first that was settled in Green County. I expect the snail has been there right along.

I have not been able to figure this one out. These two dorsal shots were all I managed before it was gone. I am thinking some sort of color morph of either Euptoieta claudia or Asterocampa clyton. Any opinions are welcome.