Grasshoppers Galore at Warden Woods: August 2020

Grasshoppers, crickets and katydids are the opera stars of the insect world. The sounds they make are not vocalizations but are the product of the wings rubbing together or the legs rubbing against the wings. Almost every step I took on this day had grasshoppers leaping out of my way.

Carolina Grasshopper
Carolina Grasshoppers
Carolina Grasshoppers
Carolina Grasshopper
Carolina Grasshopper
Carolina Grasshopper
Two-striped Grasshopper

Other insects:

Bull Thistle with Goldenrod Soldier Beetle
Asian Beetles on Red Clover
Asian Beetles on Red Clover
Northern Crescent
Northern Crescent
Sand Wasp
Silver-spotted Skipper

Thank-you to Ken Sproule for assistance in insect identification.

Warden Woods includes a trail which follows the Taylor Massey Creek southwest from Warden Station.

Some botany:

Hog-peanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata)
Alternate-leaved Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)
Wood Nettle (Laportea canadensis)
Bittersweet Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)
Bittersweet Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)
Giant Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida)
White Vervain (Verbena urticifolia)
Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)
Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)
Purple-flowering Raspberry (Rubus odoratus)
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii)
Crown Vetch (Securigera varia)
Deptford Pink (Dianthus armeria)
Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens grandulifera)
Joe-pye-weed (Eutrochium maculatum)
Heal-all (Prunella vulgaris)
Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Butter-and-eggs (Linaria vulgaris)
Indian-hemp (Apocynum cannabinum)
Pinkweed (Persicaria pensylvanica)
Evening-primrose (Oenothera)
Bird Vetch (Vicia cracca)
Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisifolia)
Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)
Phragmites (Phragmites australis)
Field Sow-thistle (Sonchus arvensis)

NATURE POETRY

Summer declines and roses have grown rare,
But cottage crofts are gay with hollyhocks,
And in old garden walks you breathe an air
Fragrant of pinks and August-smelling stocks.       – John Todhunter (1839–1916) 

Miles Hearn

1 thought on “Grasshoppers Galore at Warden Woods: August 2020

  1. Lisa Volkov

    Ahhh…Warden Woods. I love this place! And yes, grasshoppers! And other beautiful insects! And beautiful plants and flowers!
    Thank you, Miles (and Ken). Keep up the good work!

    Reply

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