Paper Wasp – IUCN Conservations Status: Insufficient Data Wasps can sting repeatedly This fascinating pollinator is a paper wasp. These wild looking wasps measure in at about an inch. Their body coloration ranges and may include yellows, oranges, reds, and browns. This paper wasp even appears to have green eyes! Bee Why is it called a paper wasp? These […]
Eagle Creek Park Learn more about Rayleigh scattering There is a deep sense of peace that can be felt when you are the only one on the water early in the morning. On this particular day, I was kayaking on Eagle Creek Reservoir in Indianapolis. From what I could see, I was the only person […]
Mallards – IUCN Conservation Status: LEAST CONCERN Mallards are the most common duck in North America I took this photo while kayaking on Eagle Creek Reservoir. You can often see mallards while at this park. On this day, I was on the far north end of the reservoir when I came across these two. This […]
American White Pelican – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern The beak of American white pelicans can be as long as 15 inches! American white pelicans can grow to be over five feet in length! Part of that length is their beak, which can grow to be fifteen inches long! Adult wingspans can approach ten feet. These birds typically […]
FOWLER’S TOAD – IUCN Conservation Status: LEAST CONCERN Fowler’s toads have black and yellow eyes The photo of this fowler’s toad is courtesy of my dog, Landon. While Jill and I were hiking at Indian and Celina Lakes in southern Indiana, this little frog caught the eye of our dog. Once the frog stopped hopping, […]
WHEEL BUG – IUCN Conservation Status: INSUFFICIENT DATA They sink their proboscis into the prey and inject a paralyzing enzyme This photo is of wheel bug nymphs in the first instar stages. They go through five instar stages before becoming adults. Here, they can be seen with the egg cases that they hatch from in […]
WOLF SPIDER – IUCN Conservation Status: INSUFFICIENT DATA They lay more than 100 eggs Have you ever seen a spookier looking insect?! This wolf spider is carrying its recently hatched young on its back! When I first saw this spider on the trail at Indian and Celina Lakes in southern Indiana, I thought I was […]
CAROLINA GRASSHOPPER – IUCN Conservation Status: INSUFFICIENT DATA I got this photo just in time! I first saw this insect at the beginning of the summer. As I was working in my garden, it startled me when it flew into the air with an erratic leap. I of course hadn’t seen the grasshopper because it […]
BROWN-SHADED GRAY MOTH – IUCN Conservation Status: DATA INSUFFICIENT This isn’t the world’s most exciting photo Look closely, and you can see the brown-shaded gray moth in the center of this photo. It was almost perfectly blended in with the tree. I surprisingly took this photo with a super-telephoto lens that my brother and I […]
GREAT BLUE HERON – IUCN Conservation Status: LEAST CONCERN Great blue herons nest in trees! To me great blue herons are one of the most elegant birds. From my observations, they can sit absolutely still for hours while they hunt in the shallow water for fish. I enjoy looking at any wildlife that I go […]