Photos / Sounds
What
Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)Observer
paulpiccottiDescription
Habitat: found in a lowland forest habitat, along a long narrow clearing in trees. The clearing was filled with tall grasses in which the frog was found.
Observations: Orange-yellow body. Sticky, webbed toes suited to adhere to trees. Measured snout-vent length of 24.5mm.
Photos / Sounds
What
American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)Observer
paulpiccottiDescription
Habitat: To the left and a few feet away from the raised Cedar Trail walkway. The few feet surrounding the frog did not have any grasses or bushes growing up out of the water like the rest of the surrounding area.
Observations: Frog had a light green body, becoming lighter around the face and nose. Two ridges extended out from the nose back towards the face, but ended at the eyes.
Photos / Sounds
What
Southern Leopard Frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus)Observer
paulpiccottiDescription
Habitat: to the left of the raised Cedar Trail walkway, just below the edge of the walkway, sitting in mud and shallow water.
Observations: it has two raised ridges on either side of its back which are highlighted by white stripes. Black dots appear on either side of both white stripes. Its body is a forest green color.
Photos / Sounds
What
American Water Frogs (Genus Lithobates)Observer
paulpiccottiDescription
Habitat: This frog was on the left side of the raised section of Cedar Trail, in the wetland area. The frog was submerged in mud and among tall grasses.
Observations: The frog was a deep forest green color.
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis saurita)Observer
paulpiccottiDescription
Habitat: On the right side of the Cedar Trail while walking towards the wetlands. The snake was resting on the leaves of a tree branch at about weight height along with two other snakes of the same species.
Observations: Body of the snake was covered in yellow and black stripes running parallel to the length of the snake's body.
Photos / Sounds
What
Chestnut Carpenter Ant (Camponotus castaneus)Observer
paulpiccottiDescription
This ant was observed on an index card baited with cookies and tuna fish. On the map, the ant was found in the general area north of West Hall and to the left of the soccer field.
Observations: This was a large ant, and was very fast. Its body was a red-brown color.
Photos / Sounds
What
Ants, Bees, Wasps, and Sawflies (Order Hymenoptera)Observer
paulpiccottiDescription
This ant was observed on an index card baited with cookies and tuna fish. On the map, the ant was found in the general area north of West Hall and to the left of the soccer field.
I could not identify this ant. It was a red to bright red ant of medium size.
Photos / Sounds
What
Big-headed Ants (Genus Pheidole)Observer
paulpiccottiDescription
This ant was observed on an index card baited with cookies and tuna fish. On the map, the ant was found in the general area north of West Hall and to the left of the soccer field.
Observations: These ants were not quite as small as the tiny red dots commonly referred to as "fire ants." They only appeared at the traps in great numbers. They are a dull red to reddish brown color.
Photos / Sounds
What
Crematogastrin Ants (Tribe Crematogastrini)Observer
paulpiccottiDescription
This ant was observed on an index card baited with cookies and tuna fish. On the map, the ant was found in the general area north of West Hall and to the left of the soccer field.
Observations: the ants were medium to large in size. They had a black body.
In the attached photo, this ant is the larger of the two shown.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
paulpiccottiDescription
This ant was observed on an index card baited with cookies and tuna fish. On the map, the ant was found in the general area north of West Hall and to the left of the soccer field.
Observations: the ant was very small. It had a black body and was only a speck to the naked eye.
In the attached photo, it is the smaller of the two ants.
Photos / Sounds
What
Small-eyed Sphinx (Paonias myops)Observer
paulpiccottiDescription
The caterpillar was found in the middle of a narrow rocky hiking trail through the woods. It is a bright green color. Its body is spotted red with yellow borders around the spots. The spots are symmetric about the midline of the dorsal surface. The body appears to be made of many different V shaped segments given the grooves.
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon)Observer
paulpiccottiDescription
This snake was found in thick grass and weeds near the side of a stream. It is colored various shades of brown, like the colors of mud and soil. It is a relatively long snake, just longer than arm's length.
Photos / Sounds
What
Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis ssp. sirtalis)Observer
paulpiccottiDescription
This snake was found in thick grass next to a stream. It was about a full outstretched arm in length. It was green colored dorsally and grey colored ventrally.
Photos / Sounds
What
Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus)Observer
paulpiccottiDescription
The snake had a dark brown dorsal side and a bright orange ventral side. Bright orange ring around its neck. Scales on its head were distinctly different from scales on its body. It was relatively small, probably less than 6 inches long.
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)Observer
paulpiccottiDescription
This milkweed seed was attached to the wings of a bee collected in a pan trap. The seed is small and red. Two white petals are attached to the seed, giving the overall structure a Y shape, with the seed making up the bottom of the Y and the petals extending out.
Photos / Sounds
What
Common House Fly (Musca domestica)Observer
paulpiccottiDescription
This organism was collected in a small colored pan trap filled with water containing blue Dawn dish detergent. The traps were meant to capture bees, and were scattered around campus of The George Washington University.
Observations: Jet black body. Three legs on each side. Large red compound eyes. Slightly reflective body gives it a rainbow tinge.
Photos / Sounds
What
Sweat and Furrow Bees (Subfamily Halictinae)Observer
paulpiccottiDescription
This organism was collected in a small colored pan trap filled with water containing blue Dawn dish detergent. The traps were meant to capture bees, and were scattered around campus of The George Washington University.
Observations: very small, need to use microscope or hand lens to see clearly. Black and brown body. Appears to have a stinger. A milkweed seed is stuck to its wing.
Photos / Sounds
What
Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)Observer
paulpiccottiDescription
This organism was collected in a small colored pan trap filled with water containing blue Dawn dish detergent. The traps were meant to capture bees, and were scattered around campus of The George Washington University.
Observations: Large body. Black segmented thorax. Front end of body and head entirely covered with yellow hairs.
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus CondylostylusObserver
paulpiccottiDescription
This organism was collected in a small colored pan trap filled with water containing blue Dawn dish detergent. The traps were meant to capture bees, and were scattered around campus of The George Washington University.
Observations: small, and mosquito-like. Difficult to see without a hand lens or microscope. Large compound eyes. Yellow-orange tinted reflective body.
Photos / Sounds
What
White-spotted Chionodes Moth (Chionodes fuscomaculella)Observer
paulpiccottiDescription
Habitat: Found on a leaf growing on one of the lower branches of a Mongolian Oak tree. The branch faced directly towards the Anacostia River, and was the lowerest branch to face this direction.
Observations: Very small, <1mm. Small black head. Black and grey body.
Photos / Sounds
What
Dotted Leaftier Moth (Psilocorsis reflexella)Observer
paulpiccottiDescription
Habitat: Found on a leaf of a Mongolian Oak tree. The leaf was on one of the lowest branches, facing upstream in reference to the Anacostia River.
Observations: Small black head. Yellow-White body. About 1mm in length.
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus MantisObserver
paulpiccottiDescription
Habitat: On an oak leaf deep in the forest of the arboretum. I entered the forest from the small parking lot where the foot trail begins, and walked west until I came to this location.
Observations: long legs curved at the end with joints. Narrow, slim upper body. Thick lower body. Triangular head.
Photos / Sounds
What
White Oaks (Section Quercus)Observer
paulpiccottiDescription
Habitat: A small clearing along the riverside in an otherwise densely forested area. Tree stands alone to the right of a dock extending out into the Anacostia river.
Observations: Leaves long and lobed. Leaf color ranges from red-brown to dark green. Leaves tough and leathery. Leaf lobes end in "teethed" points.
Photos / Sounds
What
White Oak (Quercus alba)Observer
paulpiccottiDescription
Habitat: The area was inside the National Arboretum, and densely forested. The forest was a native oak and hickory type. The tree is at the top of a small hill entering heavily forested area from the small parking lot, with the parking lot entrance to the right a and footpath to the left.
Observations: shallow lobed leaves, deep green color. Brown-grey bark. Leaves have one main vein that branches many times.
Photos / Sounds
What
European Holly (Ilex aquifolium)Observer
paulpiccottiDescription
3 of these trees grow in a cluster up agains the George Washington University Law School Adelman Martin building. The are just to the right of the entry-way when facing the front entrance.
The leaf surface is glossy. There are several area on each leaf where the edge comes together and terminates in a long, sharp spine. The leaves are dark green with a tough exterior.
This species was identified using "Tree Finder" by May Theilgaard Watts.
