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Rough Hermit Beetle (Osmoderma scabra)Observer
davehuthDescription
~ 25 larvae (and 5 pupal cells) found under bark and within wood of dead standing White Pine tree. Confirmed species by collecting the pupal cells. 2 eclosed in captivity within 2 weeks (adult photos of captive individual).
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Slug Millipede (Petaserpes cryptocephalus)Observer
davehuthDescription
50 individuals, various sizes, along the underside of a rotting log; many clustered around the base of these pale mushrooms
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False Mealworm Beetle (Alobates pensylvanicus)Observer
davehuthDescription
~15 individuals found after dark crawling on exterior rotten wooden beams of a collapsed barn. Warm and humid.
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Typical Cicadas (Family Cicadidae)Observer
davehuthDescription
I happened to turn over the right log in an upland mixed deciduous forest. The tunneling had brought it near the surface and was easy to pick up and handle without injury. Very active. The red eyes of course put me in mind of a periodical cicada, as the annual cicadas I'm familiar with here are green eyed (though I know nymphs only from exuvia). I'm not confident about which brood this might be; we're not far from the PA border. Thank you for any ID help.
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Southern Blackbelly Salamander (Desmognathus amphileucus)Observer
davehuthDescription
A large individual (6 - 6.5 inches) submerged in the shallows of Wildcat Creek.
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Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)Observer
davehuthDescription
Late rainy night, moved from the road to nearby trees.
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Southern Blackbelly Salamander (Desmognathus amphileucus)Observer
davehuthDescription
A large (about 4.5 inches) beefy individual with a small chomp out of its tail.
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Ocoee Salamander (Desmognathus ocoee)Observer
davehuthDescription
A wonderful variation with beautiful dorsal markings and bright legs. Under a log about 12 feet from the creek.
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Pacific Chorus Frog (Pseudacris regilla)Observer
davehuthDescription
Hopping across forest trail at night.
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Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii)Observer
davehuthDescription
Juvenile, found beneath bark on the forest floor at the base of a snag, upslope from a small creek, early in the morning (about 7:30 a.m. or so).
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Coastal Giant Salamander (Dicamptodon tenebrosus)Observer
davehuthDescription
Obviously, because of this animal's rarity and incompletely understood life cycle, finding 2 of these in a day was a huge thrill.
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Rough-skinned Newt (Taricha granulosa)Observer
davehuthDescription
While hiking and exploring through the forest and around the streams of this wilderness area, I encountered approximately 25 Rough-skinned Newts June 9 - 12, 2013.Some were moving about on the surface or under cover objects in the forest, but most were active in shallow rock pools of the streams.
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Genus TigrosaObserver
davehuthDescription
Hunting on my front porch by porchlight about 9 p.m. I'm new to trying to ID spiders around where I live, so any suggestions are appreciated. Allegany County, NY (USA)
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Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor)Observer
davehuthDescription
First identified Gray of the season, found in my neighbor's driveway on a rainy night, about 60F.
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Tan Jumping Spider (Platycryptus undatus)Observer
davehuthDescription
An unknown species jumping spider. Would appreciate any ID help. This was hiding in the folds of clothing set on my front porch set out to dry in the sun. Larger than many jumpers (about 1/4 "). Allegany County, NY (USA). Thanks!
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American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus)Observer
davehuthDescription
It's toad breed season here, and most are congregating in woodside ponds, but I found this one beside a stream hunkered under a stone in the late morning sun. It hopped into a slow running pool of the stream as I photographed it, so I got out my underwater camera.
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Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus)Observer
davehuthDescription
Wood frog eggs have hatched in a local vernal pool and the tadpoles number in the thousands after a couple of days.
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Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)Observer
davehuthDescription
I enjoyed documenting these defensive postures of P. cinereus.
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Eastern Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens)Observer
davehuthDescription
Turning over logs in a damp forest area reveals that the efts are returning to the the surface.
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American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus)Observer
davehuthDescription
Many dozens of toads present for breeding in a local pond.
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Northern Spring Salamander (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus ssp. porphyriticus)Observer
davehuthDescription
A small Spring Salamander, with the body proportions that make me think this is a recently metamorphosed juvenile. Found in a creekside clay depression beneath a flat stone. After photographing it for several minutes it scrambled into the water where I took these underwater shots.
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Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus ochrophaeus)Observer
davehuthDescription
Found beneath a log in a damp forest area.
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Bennett's Laceweaver (Callobius bennetti)Observer
davehuthDescription
Another spider that seems to live in my house. Discovered him in the bathroom sink.
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Subgenus CautolasiusObserver
davehuthDescription
These ants are common under stones and logs in my yard.
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Leafcurling Sac Spiders (Genus Clubiona)Observer
davehuthDescription
Lately if I have trouble sleeping, I get up and prowl the house looking for spiders. Here's one I met on the stairs.
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Long-bodied Cellar Spider (Pholcus phalangioides)Observer
davehuthDescription
Thought I was going to get to bed early, but I spied this spectacular Cellar Spider on a picture frame in my bathroom. So of course I stayed up late photographing it and posting these pics.
Photos / Sounds
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American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus)Observer
davehuthDescription
Though I saw a single A. americanus on nearby land on April 15, this was the first evening of the year when they were observed venturing into the pond together (5 total, no mating calls).
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Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)Observer
davehuthDescription
Visited a pond where there was the most crowded and active Spring Peeper breeding I've ever witnessed. A low estimate is 200 easily visible frogs in just the 20 foot by 20 foot section I observed (in about a .25 acre pond). The sound of the calls was painfully loud.
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Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)Observer
davehuthDescription
While flipping stones in a wet gully looking for salamanders, I flushed out this pretty Garter Snake.
Photos / Sounds
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Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)Observer
davehuthDescription
A chilly 32 degrees F and in the earlier days of this season's migration, and there were not many amphibians out and about on my street. But there was this lone peeper!