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A fen is a special place for weird things
Feb 27, 2023 15:00:01   #
Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI
 
A "fen" is a special kind of wetland that is a bit different from what one would call a bog or a marsh. I am no ecologist, so others should correct me if I'm wrong. As I understand it, fens have shallow water, but the water will circulate and that effects the pH and mineral content. So the flora and fauna of fens can be different from other wetlands.
There is a park about 15 minutes from my house called Seven Lakes State Park. I had long ignored it (too many people; too many kids) but that was wrong since there are isolated areas in the park that have fens. Most of these are essentially inaccessible, but one is accessible if you know the Secret Way, which I had learned about a couple years ago. I never see anyone else there, which is perfect. So I had gone there several times, and here are pictures from some of the trips to my private fen!

On the way thru the deep woods, there was this unusual wasp-mimicking beetle (Molorchis bimaculatis). Note the very short elytra. I've seen them before, but had never been able to get pictures since they are so nervous and twitchy (wasp mimics are like that). But this one stood still. Interestingly, its in the longhorn beetle family.
Wasp mimicking beetle by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

Once out in the open, the fen alongside a particular lake becomes visible. There are several species of orchids in the park, and here is one of them – the tall and stately grass pink orchid, Calopogon tuberosus. But far more interesting plants await.
Orchids! by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

Out on the fen proper, the ground becomes firm sand that is always under about a quarter inch of water. Your shoes will get wet. And among the dense stands of coarse sedge grasses are three different species of carnivorous plants! Most obvious among them are the numerous pitcher plants, Sarracenia purpurea. Early in the season, these have tall flower stalks with weird flowers. A feature of carnivorous plants is that they do not want to eat their pollinators, so they keep their flowers well away from their insect traps. I wonder if the weird shape of the flowers themselves are also designed to keep their pollinators from falling to their doom.
Pitcher plant by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Pitcher plant flower by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

Crowding around the bases of the pitcher plants is another insect-eating plant, the sundews. These I think are Drosera rotundiflora. They too will have flowers that try to not kill their pollinators, but I have not seen them in flower.
Sundew by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

How those two carnivorous plants trap prey is pretty obvious and well known. The third carnivorous plant is more subtle about it. Dotting the landscape is a much scarcer but very distinct flower, and these belong to the horned bladderwort (Utricularia cornuta). Bladderworts are more aquatic, and they have tiny specialized vessels that trap and digest small aquatic prey.
Horned bladder wort by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

But for me, the real attraction of my private fen is a very special little dragonfly. These are elfin skimmers (Nannothemis bella). Here is a female, and then a male. Elfin skimmers are the smallest dragonflies in the U.S., and also they are the second smallest in the world. The smallest is a close relative, found in China.
Elfin skimmer by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Elfin skimmer by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

There are other fine places to visit in the park besides the fen. Alongside another lake nearby is a large gravely area, and one can always find lots of solitary wasps and tiger beetles there. Here is a big sands tiger beetle (Cicindela formosa).
Big sands tiger beetle by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

And because this too was at the park, here is a 4-eyed milkweed beetle, Tetraopes tetrophthalmus. Their compound eyes are split by their antennae, so they have 4 eyes.
Four-eyed milkweed beetle by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

Cheers!

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Feb 27, 2023 15:10:20   #
Equus Loc: Puget Sound
 
Great series. Love them all.

Reply
Feb 27, 2023 15:17:03   #
mikenolan Loc: Lincoln Nebraska
 
Amazing set of photos, Mark. You must have spent quite a few hours there.

Reply
 
 
Feb 27, 2023 15:49:52   #
rockdog Loc: Berkeley, Ca.
 
Mark Sturtevant wrote:
A "fen" is a special kind of wetland that is a bit different from what one would call a bog or a marsh. I am no ecologist, so others should correct me if I'm wrong. As I understand it, fens have shallow water, but the water will circulate and that effects the pH and mineral content. So the flora and fauna of fens can be different from other wetlands.
There is a park about 15 minutes from my house called Seven Lakes State Park. I had long ignored it (too many people; too many kids) but that was wrong since there are isolated areas in the park that have fens. Most of these are essentially inaccessible, but one is accessible if you know the Secret Way, which I had learned about a couple years ago. I never see anyone else there, which is perfect. So I had gone there several times, and here are pictures from some of the trips to my private fen!

On the way thru the deep woods, there was this unusual wasp-mimicking beetle (Molorchis bimaculatis). Note the very short elytra. I've seen them before, but had never been able to get pictures since they are so nervous and twitchy (wasp mimics are like that). But this one stood still. Interestingly, its in the longhorn beetle family.
Wasp mimicking beetle by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

Once out in the open, the fen alongside a particular lake becomes visible. There are several species of orchids in the park, and here is one of them – the tall and stately grass pink orchid, Calopogon tuberosus. But far more interesting plants await.
Orchids! by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

Out on the fen proper, the ground becomes firm sand that is always under about a quarter inch of water. Your shoes will get wet. And among the dense stands of coarse sedge grasses are three different species of carnivorous plants! Most obvious among them are the numerous pitcher plants, Sarracenia purpurea. Early in the season, these have tall flower stalks with weird flowers. A feature of carnivorous plants is that they do not want to eat their pollinators, so they keep their flowers well away from their insect traps. I wonder if the weird shape of the flowers themselves are also designed to keep their pollinators from falling to their doom.
Pitcher plant by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Pitcher plant flower by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

Crowding around the bases of the pitcher plants is another insect-eating plant, the sundews. These I think are Drosera rotundiflora. They too will have flowers that try to not kill their pollinators, but I have not seen them in flower.
Sundew by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

How those two carnivorous plants trap prey is pretty obvious and well known. The third carnivorous plant is more subtle about it. Dotting the landscape is a much scarcer but very distinct flower, and these belong to the horned bladderwort (Utricularia cornuta). Bladderworts are more aquatic, and they have tiny specialized vessels that trap and digest small aquatic prey.
Horned bladder wort by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

But for me, the real attraction of my private fen is a very special little dragonfly. These are elfin skimmers (Nannothemis bella). Here is a female, and then a male. Elfin skimmers are the smallest dragonflies in the U.S., and also they are the second smallest in the world. The smallest is a close relative, found in China.
Elfin skimmer by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Elfin skimmer by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

There are other fine places to visit in the park besides the fen. Alongside another lake nearby is a large gravely area, and one can always find lots of solitary wasps and tiger beetles there. Here is a big sands tiger beetle (Cicindela formosa).
Big sands tiger beetle by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

And because this too was at the park, here is a 4-eyed milkweed beetle, Tetraopes tetrophthalmus. Their compound eyes are split by their antennae, so they have 4 eyes.
Four-eyed milkweed beetle by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

Cheers!
A "fen" is a special kind of wetland tha... (show quote)


An excellent set, thanks for sharing!

Reply
Feb 27, 2023 16:10:12   #
Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan
 
Wow! Fantastic set of images. I didn't know about that location. Michigan Natural Features Inventory at MSU is the go-to source for identifying habitats. That link takes you to a page with a lot of information about that habitat including lists of plants and animals.

"Prairie fen is a wetland community dominated by sedges, grasses, and other graminoids that occurs on moderately alkaline organic soil and marl south of the climatic tension zone in southern Lower Michigan. Prairie fens occur where cold, calcareous, groundwater-fed springs reach the surface."

"Prairie fens occur where cold, calcareous groundwater flows through the community’s organic soil and reaches the surface in the form of perennial springs and seeps. The constant flow of groundwater from springs and seeps can result in the formation of small rivulets that join to form headwater streams, or sheet flows that cover the soil surface with a thin layer of moving water."

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Feb 27, 2023 17:50:41   #
kpmac Loc: Ragley, La
 
An outstanding set.

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Feb 27, 2023 18:04:05   #
Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI
 
Blenheim Orange wrote:
Wow! Fantastic set of images. I didn't know about that location. Michigan Natural Features Inventory at MSU ...

Thank you for the info! That helps to narrow down this type of fen, and their site tells me about some others in my area.
The park also has a good population of the Massasauga rattlesnake. I have yet to see one, but I keep hoping (and watching where I step)!

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Feb 27, 2023 18:08:27   #
Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan
 
Mark Sturtevant wrote:
Thank you for the info! That helps to narrow down this type of fen, and their site tells me about some others in my area.
The park also has a good population of the Massasauga rattlesnake. I have yet to see one, but I keep hoping (and watching where I step)!


I haven't seen a Massasauga in a long time. I brought one home when I was about 10 years old. Dad put his foot down on that one.

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Feb 27, 2023 18:29:37   #
tinusbum Loc: east texas
 
that is a special place,all nice shots

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Feb 27, 2023 18:40:48   #
Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona
 
Beautiful set as usual Mark and thanks for the narrative.

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Feb 27, 2023 18:47:58   #
mikenolan Loc: Lincoln Nebraska
 
I grew up in rattlesnake country in NW Illinois, mostly the timber rattlesnake, and we tried to keep a healthy distance from them. Some hay baling crews could find several of them in a day, fortunately that didn't happen on any of the days I went haying.

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Feb 27, 2023 19:40:46   #
Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV
 
An outstanding post! Your Pitcher Plants are very different from the more southerly ones in Florida. And the little Dragonflies are more like Damsel Flys, at least in the way they hold their wings. Very interesting!

Reply
Feb 28, 2023 09:34:32   #
raymondh Loc: Walker, MI
 
My envious compliments to your superb observational skill in detecting ( and capturing ) the flora & insects in your secret ‘play fen’.

Reply
Feb 28, 2023 12:31:49   #
DoneFlyin Loc: Texas Hill Country
 
Marvelous!
Your photos are top-notch and illustrate well the plants you’ve selected. I particularly appreciate your text and the context you draw for us with each of these fascinating plants.

Thank you! I look forward to more of your work!

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Feb 28, 2023 14:25:31   #
EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England
 
A fascinating and beautiful set of images Mark, everyone should have a fen

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