Autumn Yellow-Winged Grasshopper

Posted on September 29, 2023 by tspuckler

While hiking through open fields in Missouri, I noticed several examples of this cool insect. This large, brown grasshopper is about 1-1/2 inches long and most often seen from late Summer into Autumn. This rather drab-looking creature belongs to the family known as the Short-horned Grasshoppers. It occurs throughout the eastern and central United States in open woodlands, grasslands, dry fields and prairies.

When approached, it is quick to retreat and fly away. When it flies away, it shows its bright yellow or orange hind wings and makes a rattling noise. The sound produced in flight is a behavior known as crepitation.

Species that produce sound also have hearing organs. In crickets and katydids, these “ears” are on the front legs. In grasshoppers, they are on the sides of the first abdominal segment. Many grasshoppers produce ultrasonic mating calls (above the range of human hearing). In some species, the sounds may be as high as 100 kHz. (Human hearing extends to about 20 kHz.)

When resting, this species often blends exceptionally well with soil. Its wing pattern puts it in a group known as Bandwinged Grasshoppers, which are usually heavy-bodied and bear enlarged hind legs. The head of this grasshopper often appears enlarged and broadly rounded.

Autumn Yellow-Winged Grasshoppers feed on various grasses. They do not seem to occur in abundance anywhere and therefore they are not considered a pest species.

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Brown Pelican

Posted on September 22, 2023 by tspuckler

While visiting South Carolina, I saw several examples of this comically elegant bird with an oversized bill. It is the smallest of the eight pelican species, but is often one of the larger seabirds seen in their range.

Brown Pelicans feed by plunge-diving from high up, using the force of impact to stun small fish before scooping them up. They are fairly common today — an excellent example of a species’ recovery from pesticide pollution that once placed them at the brink of extinction. These are a very gregarious birds; they live in flocks of both sexes throughout the year.

These birds incubate their eggs with the skin of their feet, essentially standing on the eggs to keep them warm. In the mid-twentieth century the pesticide DDT caused pelicans to lay thinner eggs that cracked under the weight of their incubating parents. After nearly disappearing from North America in the 1960s and 1970s, they made a full comeback thanks to pesticide regulations.

The Brown Pelican is found on the Atlantic Coast from New Jersey to the mouth of the Amazon River, and along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia to northern Chile, including the Galapagos Islands. It nests in colonies in secluded areas (often on islands), vegetated land among sand dunes, thickets of shrubs and trees and mangroves.

It mainly feeds on fish, but occasionally eats amphibians, crustaceans, and the eggs and nestlings of birds. Brown Pelicans residing in Southern California rely especially heavily on the Pacific Sardine as a major food source, which can compose up to a quarter of their diet. In level flight, they fly in groups with their heads held back on their shoulders and their bills resting on their folded necks.

The Brown Pelican the official state bird of Louisiana, appearing on the flag, seal and coat of arms.

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Red-bellied Cooter

Posted on September 15, 2023 by tspuckler

This is an aquatic turtle with a dark, highly domed shell and a distinctive red belly. It can be found basking along the edges of ponds, streams and rivers throughout the Potomac River and in coastal portions of Maryland and Virginia.

They are not native to Ohio, but I frequently see them in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. These examples are probably released pets.

Red-bellied Cooters are also called Redbelly Turtles. They get their name from their reddish plastron (the underside of their shell).

This reptile is usually found in areas with deep, fast-moving water, with a muddy bottom and lots of aquatic vegetation. Red-bellied Cooters will sun themselves on rocks and logs to control body temperature, but will disappear into the water when alarmed. In Winter, this turtle hibernates in the mud at the bottom of rivers.

Males can have a shell length of 10 to 12 inches long; while females have shell lengths of 11 to 13-1/2 inches. They can weigh up to 12-1/2 pounds. Red-bellied Cooters are estimated to live more than 50 years. Females reach maturity at 13 to 20 years, while males reach maturity at a younger age.

Females begin nesting activity from late May to early June. They typically nest within 300 feet of the water’s edge. Their nest holes are dug at about four inches deep. This species typically lays 10 to 20 eggs that hatch in 70 to 80 days.

Like some other species of turtles, Red-bellied Cooters have temperature-dependent sex determination. Nests with warmer temperatures produce females, while cooler nests produce males.

The diet for this species is herbaceous (they consume only vegetative matter), consisting of submergent aquatic macrophytes, such as hydrilla, brushy pondweed, eel-grass, arrowhead, and mud plantain.

Although it does not belong in my home state of Ohio, it’s always a neat experience to come across one of these impressive reptiles while out hiking.

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Rainbow Darter

Posted on September 8, 2023 by tspuckler

While investigating a creek in Ohio, I turned up a few of these small, but colorful fish. Rainbow Darters only grow to be about 3 inches long. They can be a very brightly-colored creatures, depending on their sex and whether it is breeding season.

Females have brown stripes, while males usually have blue stripes that are separated by orange coloring. The first dorsal fins usually have red coloring close to the body, with a blue fringe. However, in female rainbow darters, this coloring is not very well developed and may simply appear as thin lines.

Rainbow Darters inhabit small rivers and streams in eastern North America. They have been widely located in vast numbers in the Ohio River Valley and the tributaries of the Great Lakes. They are also found throughout the Mississippi River, as far north as Minnesota and as far south as southeastern Louisiana.

This species prefers the fast-moving currents of shallow riffles in creeks and small rivers. They also have a preference for gravel or rocky-bottom streams. Typically adult fish are found in faster and deeper running waters, while younger rainbow darters are more common in slower, shallower areas and pools.

Rainbow Darters are considered shy and stay hidden for most the day between or along rocks unless they are looking for food or reproducing. They feed on a variety of aquatic insect larvae, small snails, and crayfish. They also feed on various fish eggs, typically either minnow or lamprey eggs.

It was great to be able to capture a few of these cool creatures while out in the field.

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Slippery Elm

Posted on September 1, 2023 by tspuckler

Slippery Elm is named after its slick, mucilaginous inner bark, which was chewed by the Native Americans and pioneers to quench thirst when water was not readily available.

This tree may reach 60 feet tall by 50 feet wide, when found in the open. It grows best and on moist, rich soils of lower slopes and flood plains, although it may also grow on dry hillsides with limestone soils.

In Spring, Slippery Elm is one of the first trees to come into flower, its wind-pollinated flowers are produced before its leaves, usually in tight, short-stalked clusters of 10–20.

Slippery Elm’s flowers soon develop into rounded samaras. The reddish-brown fruit is slightly notched at the top and the single, central seed is coated with red-brown hairs.

The inner bark of this tree is used for a number of herbal preparations, many of which relieve throat and digestive issues. The light, fluffy bark is commonly used as a binder for making herbal pills.

For me, the thing about this tree that is most unexpected is the leaves, which are broadly elliptical and are sandpapery rough on both the upper and lower surfaces.

This tree’s other common names include Red Elm (in reference to its reddish brown heartwood), Gray Elm, Soft Elm, Moose Elm and Indian Elm.

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Reptile Ramblings and More

Monthly Archives: September 2023

Autumn Yellow-Winged Grasshopper

Brown Pelican

Red-bellied Cooter

Rainbow Darter

Slippery Elm