Observations by smithtk

Hiking in Shenandoah National Park along the trail to Dark Hollow Falls. I only saw one occurrence of this "raspberry" looking plant along the way. It looks very much like photos I've seen of the wineberry. Apparently, wineberry is an invasive species in North America and Europe. "The non-native wineberry displaces native plants and alters habitat structure." (National Park Service www.nps.gov.)

Hiking on a portion of the Appalachian Trail near McAfee Knob. I saw 3 of these millipedes crossing the path. This one was about 3 inches long. I think it is the narceus americanus/annularis complex from what I have researched.

At intervals along the trail, heavy forest with light patches now and then, I saw these on the ground, but wasn't sure from which plant or tree they might have originated.

Milepost 154 off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Smart View Trail.

1 PM, 70F temperature.

First monarch larva of the season that I've observed. About 2 cm, feeding on cultivated (transplanted) milkweed in my garden. I transplanted the milkweed in order to create a safer habitat location, free from pesticides and mowing.

First milkweed I've seen this season. This group was on the edge of a field where many other weeds and plants were growing. In this small patch, I observed 12 plants in all. In the immediate area - radius about 50 feet - no other milkweed sprouts were present.

At about 11:30 am, temp in the 60's, this brightly colored millipede (what I at first thought was a caterpillar) was crossing a walking trail in Wildwood Park. It curled up into a ball when first discovered, then in about 30 seconds, uncurled and traveled on as before. The critter was about 1.5 inches long.

The monarch caterpillar (Danaus plexippus) eating milkweed was the only one I saw this season in my front flower garden. I grow milkweed alongside various butterfly bushes. This was my personal evidence that the monarch populations are indeed declining.