Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

Here are more pictures from last summer, all photographed over a two-day period.

The first pictures are of beetles. The first two are Typocerus velutinus and Brachyleptura champlaini (on a bergamot flower). These are two of our ‘flower longhorn’ beetles, since they spend much time eating pollen on flowers.
Banded longhorn beetle by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Flower longhorn beetle by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

The third is another longhorn beetle that also forages on flowers, but it is described as one of the ‘wasp beetles’ since it is considered a wasp mimic. I think it most closely resembles a potter wasp. Wasp beetles move around rather quickly and erratically, so in life they really do look like a wasp. This species is Clytus ruricola.
"Wasp beetle" by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

In the same field as the above beetles were several colonies of rather disgusting tortoise beetle larvae feeding on wild bergamot. As many here will know, tortoise beetle larvae carry a ‘fecal shield’ of their poo over their bodies, and this probably serves as a repellent to their enemies. This species is Physonota unipunctata, and they will also feed on horsemint although I have never seen them on those plants in my area. This is what the adult beetle looks like: https://bugguide.net/node/view/1764630/bgimage
Tortoise beetle larvae by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

Next is one of our nursery web spiders. This species is Pisaurina mira, and if you look closely you can see she appears to be eating another spider.
Nursery web spider by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

One of the immediate features that one would note in the place that I call the Magic Field is that it supports a lot of grasshoppers, even though the terrain seems rather barren. Before this post I knew of eight species that are common in the field, including four species of band-winged grasshoppers.
One day I was walking about the Magic Field when I noticed a striking grasshopper nymph, and here it is.
Dense mats of lichens are common in the MF, and one can see that this one is beautifully camouflaged to match the lichens! This is definitely a new species of grasshopper for me.
Northern marbled grasshopper nymph by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Northern marbled grasshopper by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

I later learned that this is the northern marbled grasshopper (Spharagemon marmoratum), and it is actually a band-winged hopper. All along, they were actually fairly common but the adults have the same wing color of another species (the mottled sand grasshopper), and so I failed to recognize these were also present. So nine species at least in the MF.

I occurs to me that I have never shown a picture of the Magic Field. So here it is. Not much to look at, but it is still my favorite hunting ground.

The Magic Field

(Download)

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

Those are great. I love that Northern marbled grasshopper nymph. It blends right in with the lichen.

Is that Horsemint I see in the Magic Field?

I think the blossom in the second one is Spotted knapweed rather than Bergamot. Similar size and color blossom. Hard to imagine that Horsemint and Bergamot are in the same genus. They are so different.

Wonderful images. Great information.

Mike

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

Thank you for the fix on the flower ID. Their florets are different, I see now. Yes, that is horsemint in the MF. There are thick patches of it in there. From my "buggy" standpoint, horsemint is a favorite flower of several of our large wasps including the great black wasp, golden digger, and our local species of large spider wasp.

EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England

The Marbled Grasshopper is beautiful. It is good to have a picture of the Magic Field in my head when reading your stories about it.

tinusbum Loc: east texas

all good,nice find on the tortoise beetle larvae.ugly but you dont see many here

docshark Loc: Millersville, PA

What a fantastic set Mark. Every shot is amazing. So that's the area you hunt. It reminds me of my favorite new place here in DE. (Well actually just over the line in MD).
-Doc

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

I tip my hat to your work and wonderful educational narratives.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

A very nice set and narrative. Good work.

Moondoggie Loc: Southern California

Excellent photo's. Thanks for sharing.

photosbytw Loc: Blue Ridge Mountains

rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

Tonyf1234 Loc: Hyattsville, MD

Really enjoyed the Long-horn pix. I was considering going into that family for my grad work. (Ended up studying Kangaroo Rats instead!)

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

Me too! Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing some great images.