March 11, 2024

Powhite Park

This early Spring has been fairly mild, but very rainy and cloudy, so I don't have any early records to show for it. Today was finally sunny, but cool and rather windy. Powhite Park didn't disappoint as I saw a few insects and got photos of the cooperative ones. The Trout Lilies are starting to flower and Mayapples just pushing up.

Posted on March 11, 2024 09:38 PM by pbedell pbedell | 6 observations | 0 comments | Leave a comment

July 22, 2019

July 22, 2019

I was pleasantly surprised to observe a couple of these Holcocephala calva in the front garden this morning while I was working outside. I saw two perched on the top of a tall spent lily near our front door. I now have two species of this genus present in the yard, as the H. abdominalis/fusca are still present in the garden patch near the driveway.

Posted on July 22, 2019 04:43 PM by pbedell pbedell | 1 observation | 0 comments | Leave a comment

July 20, 2019

First night of moth week was so hot and sultry that it was difficult to be outside at the lightsheet, even at 10:00 pm. But I persevered for a while and got a few species, including a new one, the Gymnandrosoma, though it was a bit worn. The European Hornets are making things difficult, so I catch them in a jar as they are so disruptive.

Posted on July 22, 2019 04:39 PM by pbedell pbedell | 18 observations | 0 comments | Leave a comment

July 14, 2019

Holcocephala

On July 5th I noticed some of the tiny Robber Fly Holcocephala in a small area of our front garden. Today, July 14, I just counted nine in the same area. They especially like to perch on the tips of the Iris and ignore the dead stems of the spent lilies (that I haven't cleaned out).

Posted on July 14, 2019 02:04 PM by pbedell pbedell | 1 observation | 0 comments | Leave a comment

May 23, 2019

23 May 2019

Enjoying early days of retirement from the symphony. Took a 2 hour walk at Pocahontas State Park looking for asilids and anything else and enjoying the reasonable temperatures before it turns hot. Asilidae seem to be in short supply this year, have hardly seen any and I saw only two Neoitamus today. But I enjoyed seeing the Tachopteryx, some cerambycids, and the nice snipe fly. The moth photo is miserable, but a new species for me! I heard a number of breeding birds including Louisiana Waterthrush, Ovenbird, Acadian Flycatcher, Summer Tanager and Pine Warbler.

Posted on May 23, 2019 09:35 PM by pbedell pbedell | 7 observations | 1 comment | Leave a comment

March 9, 2017

9 March 2017

It was a beautiful, warm, sunny early spring day. Had some free time and went to Pocahontas SP to look for any early insects. I was rewarded with a couple of early records; Ischnura posita at the floating dock at Beaver Lake, and Ladona deplanata. I also saw my first Tiger Swallowtail though I couldn't get a photo.

Posted on March 9, 2017 11:44 PM by pbedell pbedell | 4 observations | 0 comments | Leave a comment

October 31, 2016

30 October 2016

It was a nice warm night and I set up my light sheet in the back yard. Checked between innings of the World Series (Cubs won the game). A good number of species came for the end of October. The Mea bipunctella was a new one!

Posted on October 31, 2016 07:09 PM by pbedell pbedell | 5 observations | 1 comment | Leave a comment

October 22, 2016

20 Oct. 2016

Another warm evening at the light sheet. No flower moth this time, but I had up to six Dot-lined White Moths show up at nearly the same time about 9:45 pm. The Herpetogramma and Agrotis were both new ones for me. My iNat yard project keeps growing.

Posted on October 22, 2016 05:56 PM by pbedell pbedell | 5 observations | 0 comments | Leave a comment

warm October evening

Some above average temps all this week. I was home this Wednesday evening Oct. 19 from RSO rehearsal with a bad cold, but still mustered up enough energy to set out the light sheet. I was rewarded with some nice late season species, including a possible new record for Virginia with the Orange-spotted Flower Moth.

Posted on October 22, 2016 05:45 PM by pbedell pbedell | 6 observations | 0 comments | Leave a comment

October 3, 2016

Oct. 3, 2016

I stopped again at Rural Plains battlefield site. I had time between my birding class at Three Lakes Park and the RSO at Atlee HS. Photographed whatever struck my interest. The Woodchuck was unusual, just seemingly sunning itself out on this branch. Saw at least 6 Ocola Skippers, seems to be a good year for them.

Posted on October 3, 2016 10:11 PM by pbedell pbedell | 6 observations | 0 comments | Leave a comment