Becoming Summer

Yellow Goat’s Beard flower and seed pod, 11 June 2021, Moraine State Park (photo by Kate St. John)

12 June 2021

Temperatures have fluctuated widely in the past couple of weeks — from chilly damp to searing heat — but the plants and insects keep on their steady march to summer.

Above, yellow goat’s beard (Tragopogon dubius) now has both flowers and seeds.

Below, this sprig of bedstraw (Galium sp) has almost finished blooming with just one flower and many seeds. The plant feels sticky because its stems, leaves, and seed pods are all covered in tiny hooked bristles that act like Velcro.

Bedstraw gone to seed, 11 June 2021, Moraine State Park (photo by Kate St. John)

In Schenley Park the tulip trees (Liriodendron tulipifera) have finished blooming, the “tulips” are fading and dropping their petals.

Tuliptree flower is fading, 8 June 2021, Schenley Park (photo by Kate St. John)

As birdsong wanes the bugs are taking over the soundscape. I’ve already heard the first crickets and an unknown-to-me insect that buzzes at 5,000 hertz in Schenley Park.

And who is this? None of us could name him yesterday at Moraine State Park. Can you identify this hunched insect with bright orange antenna tips? If so, please leave a comment.

UPDATE: This insect is a leaf-footed bug, probably Acanthocephalus terminalis, thanks to Kim’s comment.

Who is this? Insect at Moraine State Park, 11 June 2021 (photo by Kate St. John)
Who is this? Insect at Moraine State Park, 11 June 2021 (photo by Kate St. John)

(photos by Kate St. John)

7 thoughts on “Becoming Summer

  1. The only bug that I found that came close is the Black-Leaf footed bug with orange antennas. Found on website bythedrop.com.

  2. A Google search and Wikipedia suggest it is a leaf-footed bug in family Coreidae. Wikipedia says they are predominantly sap suckers and are often called Squash bugs in North America because they are a pest to squash and similar plants.

  3. Hi Kate, Just want to thank you and all the fellow birders, Dana, Jeff, Lori, and Charity, (and others I may have omitted)for sharing their fantastic photos accompanying this year’s Peregrine watch. It was certainly more interesting than last year’s and I looked forward to your blog every day.
    You have blessed mine and many others with your love of nature. Thanks for your hard work and for getting up so early to put it all together to share it with your readers.

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