Festive Tiger Beetle

No, not a state of being, A Name!

A.
The name of the tiger beetle in question is:

Festive Tiger Beetle (Cicindela scutellaris ssp. scutellaris)
(Click for a closer view)
A temperate zone tiger beetle

There are seven (7) distinctive populations recognized as scutellaris subspecies. At contact zones between most subspecies, considerable variation and inter-gradation can be evident.

Yes, our tiger beetle is dressed in his ‘festive’ best. He has a “smooth” and brightly metallic surface on the upper side. The dark green - blue head and thorax contrasts vividly with the intense reddish orange elytra.

This subspecies is the dominant form in the extreme western portions of the scutellaris species’ range, roughly west of the Missouri river. A broad contact zone with lecontei produces tremendous variability among individuals in eastern S. Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas.

The only species likely to be confused with scutellaris is the Splendid Tiger Beetle (Cicindela splendidas) which has a dull matte finish on the elytra and usually some short tan maculations (spots).

There is at times great difficulty in identifying some species without them in hand. Lighting and angle of light can play an important part in identifying a tiger beetle from photographs. I have only recently come to realize that I should photograph them with both flash and natural light, and from different lighting angles.

B.
Consider the follow photograph.

Is it a Festive Tiger Beetle (Cicindela scutellaris ssp. rugata) or a Six-spotted Tiger Beetle (Cicindela sexguttata) without any maculations. By the angle of the photo we can eliminate the Six-spotted Tiger Beetle since both sexes of the Six-spotted have a white or whitish labrum (face). Notice the female in this photograph has a black labrum. So again, either several photographs are necessary or the right angle of viewing, as in this case, helps.

Cicindela sp. (possibly C. scutellaris rugata)

C.
Following is a photograph of one of the most common tiger beetles encountered on the trail by hikers. They are bright green with four to six maculations (sometimes they have just two or even no maculations). Range is an important factor when making identifications or comparing with other plain green tiger beetles.

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle (Cicindela sexguttata)

Update:
Sharp-eyed "Fishing Guy" over at "This is my blog" (Click here) noticed that the Six-spotted Tiger Beetle has eight spots. Mid-line maculations, if enlarged, which they are in this case, may sometimes have additional very small spots.
Currently, 10 subspecies of the Six-spotted Tiger Beetle have been proposed, but current taxonomic analysis reveals that none are consistently different enough from one population to the next to list as separate subspecies. Maybe with more study or future thinking, this will be changed.

There are currently 119 species of tiger beetle in North America north of Mexico and another 114 recognized subspecies or geographically distinct sub-races.

After 50+ years as a birder, and many years photographing butterflies, looking at dragonflies, observing insects, being involved with spiders, and studying nature in general, I have decided it’s time for a new challenge. tiger beetles. I have heard other birders who have not seen a new life bird for their lists say they need a new challenge. Many avid butterfly photographers are long time birders.

At the recommendation of Doug Taron over at Gossamer Tapestry (click here), I have a new book called “Field Guide to the Tiger Beetles of the United States and Canada”. It’s a great book and may help to elevate my appreciation and understanding of the tiger beetles. However, there is a lot to be said for ‘dumb and happy’.

I would be glad to consider expert testimony as to any mis-identification of the individuals presented here.
All were photographed in varying habitats near Ft. worth, TX.

Troy

ABC Wednesday "Q"

Quadruped

The Dall Sheep (originally Dall's Sheep, sometimes called Thinhorn Sheep), Ovis dalli, is a wild sheep of the mountainous regions of northwest North America, ranging from white to slate brown and having curved yellowish brown horns. There are two putative subspecies: the northern Dall Sheep proper (Ovis dalli dalli) which is almost pure white, and the more southern Stone Sheep (also spelled Stone's Sheep) (Ovis dalli stonei), which is a slaty brown with some white patches on the rump and inside the hind legs.

Thinhorn Sheep (Ovis dalli stonei)
King of All He Surveys
(Click to see the King up Close)

Photographed in Alaska
Across a Canyon

Research has shown that the use of these subspecies designations is questionable. Complete colour integradation occurs between white and dark morphs of the species with intermediately coloured populations, called Fannin's Sheep (Ovis dalli fannini), found in the Pelly Mountains and Ogilvie Mountains of Yukon Territory. Mitochondrial DNA evidence has shown no molecular division along current subspecies boundaries, although evidence from nuclear DNA may provide some support. Also at the species level current taxonomy is questionable because hybrdization between Ovis dalli and Ovis canadensis has been recorded in recent evolutionary history.

The latter half of the Latin binomial dalli is derived from William Healey Dall (1845-1927), an American naturalist. The common name Dall Sheep or Dall's Sheep is often used to refer to the species Ovis dalli. An alternative use of common name terminology is that Thinhorn Sheep refers to the species Ovis dalli, while Dall's Sheep and Stone's Sheep refer to subspecies Ovis dalli dalli and Ovis dalli stonei.

The sheep inhabit the subarctic mountain ranges of Alaska, the Yukon Territory, the Mackenzie Mountains in the western Northwest Territories, and northern British Columbia. Dall sheep are found in relatively dry country and try to stay in a special combination of open alpine ridges, meadows, and steep slopes with extremely rugged ground in the immediate vicinity, in order to escape from predators that cannot travel quickly through such terrain.

Male Dall Sheep have thick curling horns. The females have shorter, more slender, slightly curved horns. Males live in bands which seldom associate with female groups except during the mating season in late November and early December. Lambs are born in May.

During the summer when food is abundant, the sheep eat a wide variety of plants. During the winter diet is much more limited and consists primarily of dry, frozen grass and sedge stems available when snow is blown off, lichen and moss. Many Dall Sheep populations visit mineral licks during the spring and often travel many miles to eat the soil around the licks.

The primary predators of Dall Sheep are wolves, coyotes, black bears, and grizzly bears; golden eagles are predators of the young.

Dall Sheep can often be observed along the Alaska Highway at Muncho Lake and at Sheep Mountain in Kluane National Park and Reserve, as well as near Faro, Yukon (Fannin's Sheep).

To play, visit ABC Wednesday, mrsnesbitt's place. Click here.

We saw all 3 types on our driving trip to Alaska. You need to have a really good reason to want to go to Faro, Yukon. It's a beautiful drive but out of the way.

I probably should have saved this for Skywatch Friday because you have to watch the ridge line to see them silhouetted against the sky.

Troy and Martha

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Anole – Shedding skin

First and foremost, in putting together this article, I learned several things about Anoles. Until I enlarged these photographs, I had not realized what a nice pattern they have running down the spine. It shows up best in the photo of the shedding anole while he is in the brown phase. It looks a bit like a zipper, maybe for removing the skin quickly? Secondly, they can strip off the skin really quickly and eat it. I have seen a lot of snake skins but never an anole skin lying around. I assume they remove the skin as quickly as possible for camouflage purposes. And only recently have I come to realize how many of these little fellows there are. When you look for them, they are everywhere.

Anole lizards are frequently and incorrectly called chameleons or geckos, although they are not closely related to either of those groups. In fact, they are more closely related to iguanas. These misconceptions are likely due to their ability to alter their skin color and run up walls, respectively.

Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis)
Photographed at the Ft. Worth Botanical Garden

They are small and common lizards that can be found throughout the southeastern United States, the Caribbean, and various other regions of the Western world. A large majority of them sport a green coloration, including the only species native to North America, the aptly named Green anole. However, the green anole can change its color based on its mood and surroundings. Anoles are an exorbitantly diverse and plentiful group of lizards. There are currently well over 300 known species. The knight, green, bark, and Cuban brown anoles can all be found in the United States, primarily in Florida. The most prevalent of these species by far is the Cuban brown anole, which has pushed the native green (or "Carolina") anole population farther north.

Interestingly, when green anoles and brown anoles co-habit the same area, the brown anoles are primarily terrestrial or restrict themselves to the lower branches of bushes, while the green anoles stay higher. Brown anoles have also spread here into East Texas. At a local nursery in the Heights neighborhood of Houston, Texas, a stable population has established itself, hatchlings having been observed in the spring of 2005.

All species of anole in the U.S., except the green anole, were introduced through eggs nested in imported plants. It is notable that while nearly all anoles can change their color, the extent and variations of this ability differ wildly throughout the individual anole species. For example, the green anole can change its color from a bright, leafy green to a dull brown color, while the Cuban brown can only change its shade of brown, along with the patterns on its back.

Many anoles are between 8 and 18 cm (3–7 inches) in length. Some larger species, such as the Knight Anole, can surpass 12 inches. Some males of the Knight Anole species can even reach 20 inches in length.

Anoles thrive on live insects and other invertebrates, with moths and spiders being some of the most commonly consumed prey. Anoles are opportunistic feeders, and may attempt to eat any attractive meal that is small enough. The primary food for captive anoles is small feeder crickets that can be purchased at most pet stores.

These subtropical lizards are semi arboreal. They usually inhabit regions around 3–6 m (10–20 feet) high. Shrubs, walls, fences, bushes, and short trees are common hiding places

Anole shedding skin
(Click on photo to see skin pattern)

I turned away to photograph some butterflies and was back in just a couple of minutes. By then he had stripped off the skin and had only a small piece of the evidence sticking out of the side of his mouth. He also returned to a green color in just a few minutes.

Most anoles are said to live between 3 and 5 years. Even anoles captured from the wild can live for several years if given acceptable living space and cared for properly. A healthy anole in captivity, being free from predators and natural disaster, may live well beyond seven years. Breeding occurs for several months beginning in late spring. Males employ head bobbing and dewlap extension in courtship. 1–2 small, soft-shell eggs are laid among leaf litter. More clutches may be laid before mating season has ended.

Anoles have many features that make them readily identifiable. They have a dewlap, made of erectile cartilage that extends from the neck/throat area. For example: If an intruder approaches, the male will compress its body, extend the dewlap, and bob its head. Their toes are covered with structures that allow them to cling to many different surfaces. Also, their tails have the ability to break off at special segments in order to escape predators or fights. The tail itself continues to wriggle strongly for some minutes after detaching. This ability is known as autotomy. Anoles are also diurnal, which means that they are active during the daytime.

Anoles, though defensive and territorial, are usually shy. They will often flee when faced with overwhelming danger. They are also very easily stressed. For these reasons, as well as others, it's highly recommended that any keeper avoid handling his/her anoles as much as possible. Often one will notice small dark spots forming on the anole's skin, commonly around the eyes, when handled. This is a sign of stress.

Anoles, though relatively inexpensive themselves, are costly lizards to keep and raise. They require somewhat intricate setups to mimic their subtropical habitats. It's often difficult for most people to imagine such an inexpensive lizard as being such a responsibility. This is why many pet anoles are considered to be neglected.

Troy and Martha

Click on the comments to see more information about pigmentation.

Reference : WikiPedia

Alaska Sunday V - Dalton Highway

(The "Haul Road")

Part One of the Dalton Highway

The James Dalton Highway is a 414-mile gravel road.

It heads straight north from the Livengood turnoff of the Elliott Highway (which is 70 miles north of Fairbanks), through arctic tundra to the farthest north reaches of Alaska.

You will see a lot of fireweed along the highway. Fireweed is one of the first plants to grow back after a forest fire. I was talking to one of the Rangers, and he said that there were no forests older than about 200 years. The reason is that the odds of a lightning strike starting a fire are high before a forest is that old.

Fireweed growing in a burned Forest

This forest is less than 200 years old

Alyeska built the 360-mile haul road, now known as the Dalton Highway, from the Yukon River to Prudhoe Bay, for $150 million to supply the oil facilities on the North Slope. The bridge, with pipeline, crossing the 1,875 mile Yukon River is the only span across that river in Alaska.

The road's northern 360 miles, beginning at the Yukon River, were built in just five months in 1974 using 32 million cubic yards of gravel. The pipeline parallels the highway most of the trip north.

But this is not a road for the faint of heart, or those with a brand-new vehicle! It is still the main supply route for the Prudhoe Bay oilfields, and you will be sharing the road with large tractor-trailers. Windshields and headlights are easy targets of flying rocks. Most rental companies will not allow you to drive their cars on the Dalton. Trucks speeding along the slippery gravel track kick up thick clouds of dust or mud, reducing visibility to absolute zero; potholes take a heavy toll on cars and services, gas, and repairs are practically nonexistent.

Don't even consider driving the Dalton unless you have extra fuel, food, tires, and a trunk filled with supplies. This is grizzly country, so when camping, keep a clean campsite, storing food at least a quarter mile from where you sleep.

Driving Haul Road Yourself
(not recommended by anyone but me)

Permits to travel north were once required, but have not been since 1995.
If you do decide to travel the road yourself, be aware that semi-truck drivers can't stop their rigs quickly and often must accelerate downhill to gain momentum. Yield to these big rigs at all times, especially going over narrow bridges that often only accommodate one vehicle at a time. Also, you need to keep your lights on, avoid stopping or slowing suddenly if a semi-truck is nearby and keep the CB--if you have one--turned to Channel 19 (that's the frequency used by Dalton truckers and motorcoach drivers.)

Roadside Services

Roadside services are few and far between. Once you leave Fairbanks, there are only two spots to buy gas -- the Yukon River crossing and Coldfoot. You will need to bring extra gasoline, a couple of spare tires, basic tools, food and drink, warm clothing, first aid supplies and bug repellent.

After making arrangements at the RV Park, where we were staying in Fairbanks, we left our trusty camping trailer behind and headed north. Travel trailers are definitely not advised for 360 miles of dirt, gravel, pot holes (and I do mean POT HOLES), mud, and mixtures of all of these.
Not too long after starting we passed this daunting sign.

Deadhorse 360

Just take it one mile at a time and enjoy the view.
Remember, it’s the trip of a lifetime and a real adventure.

Our first view of the Yukon river

The Bureau of Land Management staffs a log cabin visitor center (mile 56) at the Yukon River (the fifth largest river in North America) , open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Yukon River

Shot through the window while moving

Its official name if the Yukon Crossing Visitor Contact Station. The staff can advise you on camping, wildlife and road condition information. Gas, bathrooms, restaurant and hotel are available at Yukon Ventures.

We had a surprisingly good meal at the truck stop here at the Yukon River.

The roads from here on don’t follow nice gentle grades, that’s why it’s “beware the trucks”. Click on the photo below to get a feel for the grade. We were flying. Boy, was it fun.

Photo of Orange road
Actual colors - Unretouched

Yukon River Tours, phone (907) 452-7162, on the north bank of the river, offers riverboat trips three times a day--morning, mid-day and late afternoon--for $20 per person. Reservations are not needed, but you may have to wait a few minutes. The excursions will take you to an operating Athabaskan fish camp, as well as provide opportunities to see wildlife.

Finger Rock - A landmark Through Time

Hunters knew of the rock, when shaggy mammoths and bison roamed the surrounding hills. It was a premier location to watch for game. There is evidence of visitations for countless generations.

The Athabaskan Indians hunted for hides for clothing and shelter, bone for tools, meat, and the fat and marrow for food and fuel.

Later looking down from windy cockpits, bush pilots used the rock to guide their way home, since the finger points directly to Fairbanks.

Today, Finger Rock marks a unique habitat, scenic vista, and wildlife viewing site for people like us traveling the Haul Road.

At mile 86, there is a scenic overlook with a view of the oil pipeline 500 feet below. The road crosses the Arctic Circle at mile 115. This marks the latitude at which the sun just fails to rise on the year's shortest day and just fails to set on the year's longest day. There are picnic tables, barbecue pits, outhouses and camping spots.

See a previous post to view the Arctic Circle area and a Photo of Martha there.

The northern-most truck stop in the world is at your half-way point, mile 175, Sourdough Fuel at Coldfoot.

Coldfoot reportedly got its name in 1900, when a few gold stampeders came north up the Koyukuk River, but got cold feet and turned back at Slate Creek, the settlement's original name.

There is a 24-hour cafe, a 50-room inn, a complete tire shop with limited mechanical and towing service, a post office, gift shop, groceries, and RV park with plug-ins and dump station.
Reservations are suggested at the hotel, called Slate Creek Inn.

Slate Creek Inn
Typical muddy road through town

In addition to the 50 rooms with private baths, there is a 28-room annex with shared bath facilities. Call (907) 678-5224. The cafe number is (907) 678-5201.

Don’t forget, it’s $150.00 per night for an 8x12, 2-bunk bedroom, with shower, lavatory, and toilet, and chipboard walls. It’s an old mining camp. Get out the Duct Tape to shut out the daylight and get a little sleep.

Coldfoot

Coldfoot is a popular stopover for companies offering bus tours to Prudhoe Bay, and it is a jumping off point to the Gates of the Arctic National Park, which has no road access.

Alyeska has considered shutting down access to Prudhoe Bay and the ocean - they say for security concerns since Sept. 11. If they succeed, tours will have to stop here. Personally, this is unnecessary since this is only a small portion of the pipeline.

A surprisingly modern state-of-the-art visitor center in Coldfoot is run jointly by the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service. It is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, and features information on recreation, natural history and visitor services along the Dalton. The center also features nightly slide presentations. Call (907) 678-5209 for more information.

The next morning we had a “Truckers breakfast” and headed out. No cereal and milk this morning. We had traveling to do.

The next mileage sign announced how much traveling we still had to do to reach our destination. We said, “Wow, we have a lot of great scenery ahead of us”.

Deadhorse 205

Beyond Coldfoot, the Dalton climbs into the Brooks Range, a northern spur of the Rocky Mountains. Marion Creek, mile 179, has a campground with outhouses, fire pits and water.

This is an HDR photo. I just bought HDR software and I will do a post on this at a later time (after I have learned a little more about it).

Trees are primarily Black Spruce. They may be 200 years old and only 10 to 20 feet tall.

Black Spruce

The trees become sparser until they disappear entirely at Mile 235. A photo of the last tree will be seen next week. A few miles later, the road crests Atigun Pass, Alaska's highest divide, elevation 4,800 feet. No services are available at Atigun Pass.

The road then drops steeply to the flat, marshy North Slope. Mile 414, Prudhoe Bay is the end of the road. All services are available here, but private vehicles are restricted from entering the Prudhoe Bay oilfield, which provides access to the Arctic Ocean. The only way you will be allowed to enter these areas would be as part of an organized tour.

We stayed at the Arctic Inn in Prudhoe Bay. There are actually 2 inns there (both owned by the same person).

More on the part 2 of the Dalton Highway from Coldfoot to Deadhorse next week and more photos.

Part 3 of the Dalton Highway the following week will feature lots of photos.

Touring the Dalton

If you value your car, or want to actually reach the Arctic Ocean, you may want to take a professional tour, as an alternative to driving the Dalton yourself. Besides being safer, their tour guides will provide welcome, informative commentary, lunch, and photo stops when the area's abundant wildlife (caribou, moose, bears, fox, musk ox, snowy owls, eagles, and wolves) are seen from the road or even crossing in front of you. If you do want to drive the highway yourself, see a car rental page for companies that allow their cars on the Dalton.

Ignore all of this.
Take your car.

Stop when you want.
Look at what you want.
Enjoy the trip of a lifetime.
We did.

If you don’t want to drive, you can call any of these companies - they offer a wide variety of itineraries, some turning back at the Arctic Circle, and others offering tours of Prudhoe bay, or a chance to "dip your toe in the Arctic Ocean".

See previous post for Martha doing just that (wading actually). Click here.

Phone numbers for tours

Gray Line of Alaska, (800) 544-2206
Nature Alaska Tours, (907) 488-3746
Northern Alaska Tour Company, (907) 474-8600
Princess Tours, (800) 426-0442
Prudhoe Bay Hotel Tours, oilfield tours from Deadhorse, (907) 659-2449
Tour Arctic, oilfield tours from Deadhorse, (907) 659-2368
Trans-Arctic Circle Tours, (907) 479-5451

Tune in next Sunday for Part 2 of the Dalton Highway from Coldfoot to Deadhorse.

Part 3 will be lots more photos along the Haul Road.

Alaska Sunday is a collection of photographic remembrances of our driving trip from Texas to Alaska.
18,000 miles, 16 weeks, 16 western states including Alaska and four Canadian Provinces.
No chronological order, just anything of interest that got in front of our cameras.

Troy and Martha
Photos by Troy and Martha

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Brush-footed Butterflies Part II

Today’s post consists of a single butterfly of the Nymphalid family

The Texan Crescent (Anthanassa texana)
Some authors place this in the genus Phyciodes.
(Click on the Photo to see the patterns better)

Adult Nymphalid butterflies have the front pair of legs reduced in size and covered with scaly hairs which probably act as chemo receptors. This family is widely diverse but do share common wing venation and antennae which are finely scaled. They also vary greatly in size and occur in a wide variety of habitats. Another thing is that they do not share any common shape. Some visit flowers, and some do not. In my experience, the butterfly presented here today is most often found on yellow flowers if available. They have been found in fossil records which would suggest ancient lineage.

The Texan crescent was first described in New Braunfels, TX in 1863⁽¹⁾. The outer margin of the forewing is concave, and the wings are dark brownish black with white spots. The mid hind-wing has closely spaced white spots in a distinctive pattern. Once you notice this, identification is relatively easy. We see this butterfly in the Ft. Worth Botanical Garden on a regular basis in the summertime,

It is a year-round resident in the southern US. The Texas population wanders north in the summer sometimes reaching North Dakota. However, the southeastern population seems to migrate very little.

This Texan is an inhabitant of a variety of such diverse habitats as stream beds, thorn-scrub woodlands, as well as, city parks and gardens.

I am somewhat partial to this “Texas” butterfly.

Troy

(1) Reference: John and Gloria Tveten

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Washing Spider Webs

Hanging them out to Dry

After washing them
Hanging in the cool fresh air
Reusable is best

(Click on the photo to survey any washer damage)


Does anyone crochet or knit ? I need repairs !
It's so hard to keep them straight on the clothes line.

See comments for more Orb Facts

Troy

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Sky Watch Friday VI

Beautiful Skies &
Early Morning Birding

We got up fairly early last Saturday morning for some birding at the Ft. Worth Nature Refuge¹.

We stopped at our local breakfast joint for a biscuit & bacon with orange juice. While I was procuring the order to be eaten on the road, Martha shot the following with her new little S51 Nikon P&S.

Sky looking South
(Click to get the full effect)
Wide angle shot

There must be at least 6 types of clouds at 3 different levels in this photo. A northwesterly cool front was colliding with moisture from the Gulf of Mexico (south) and a dry line. The weather and associated clouds couldn’t make up their mind what to be or where to go. It was an interesting day.

To play Sky Watch Friday visit Wiggers World.

We did see a lot of migrating warblers that morning and several butterflies and dragonflies.

(1)___The Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge (FWNC&R) is located just inside the city limits of Fort Worth, TX. The FWNC&R is a hidden jewel, a wilderness comprised of forests, prairies, and wetlands reminiscent of how much of the Fort Worth/Dallas Metroplex once looked. Replete with native flora and fauna, the area beckons to those searching for a piece of nature to refresh their spirits and reintroduce a measure of tranquility to their increasingly urban lifestyles.
Over 3600 acres, the FWNC&R is one of the largest city-owned nature centers in the United States and offers residents and visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the natural history of north central Texas. Over 20 miles of hiking trails provide easy access to a myriad of natural wonders to be found on the Refuge. Staff naturalists at the Hardwicke Interpretive Center are available to facilitate your exploration.

Troy and Martha

Be sure to scroll down and see the new series on butterflies.

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Brushfoot Butterflies I

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I am going to do a slightly more in-depth story about Brushfoot Butterflies this weekend. This is just a short preview with two individuals illustrated.

Brushfoots range in size from large to small. The male's front pair of legs is reduced and not used for walking. From this we get the name. Adults of some groups feed primarily on flowers while others do not visit flowers at all.

The American snout

American snout (Libytheana carinenta)

(Click for a better look at that "nose")

Snouts are very common in the deep South, less so at you progress northward. Sometimes there can be huge numbers, but this is unpredictable. We witnessed one of these out-breaks in the Rio Grande Valley a few years ago, and it was astounding how many of them there were. You could not find birds or butterflies, due to the constant motion of snouts everywhere. I was glad to see this once, but that was enough. We see them regularly here in Ft. Worth in the summertime.

Snouts visit flowers, sap and damp soil. Sometimes they are erratic in flight, and other times glide along looking like checkerspots. The head has a long snout-like palpi (big nose-looking thing). The fore wings look like the ends have been clipped off. These butterflies are quite variable in coloration below. They are the only representative of the sub-family Libytheinae. The family only contains about 10 species worldwide and only this one in North America.

Snout butterflies have prominent elongated mouthparts (labial palpi) which, in concert with the antennae, give the appearance of the petiole (stem) of a dead leaf. Snouts often take advantage of their brilliant camouflage by hanging upsidedown under a twig, making them nearly invisible. Wings are patterned black-brown with white and orange markings. The fore wings have a distinctive squared off, hook-like (falcate) tip. Caterpillars appear humpbacked, having a small head, swollen first and second abdominal segments, and a last abdominal segment that is tapered and rounded. They are dark green with yellow stripes along the top and sides of the body, and have two black tubercles on the top of the thorax.

The Free Dictionary

The Queen

Queen (Danaus gilippus)

Southwestern variety

The Southwestern variety shown here usually has some white outlining the veining on the hind wing which is lacking in the Florida Variety. They are more common in the drier southwest, even outnumbering the Monarch. When we lived in the Texas Panhandle, we would go to Palo Duro Canyon in the fall for their local migration (which is not well understood) and see thousands of these on the Salt Cedars. It was an astounding sight to see these clustered in the protection of the sheltered canyon. They may be distinguished from the Monarch by the lack on the dark bar across the fore wing tip. Also they are a richer brown.

See the Article on Monarchs and Soldiers for visual comparison. Click here.

Troy and Martha

ABC Wednesday

The Letter P
from different States

Pacific
Ocean at Klamath River, California

Painted
Desert, Arizona

Path
of Ferns, Washington

Pebbles
Under Water, Glacier NP, Montana

Pennant
Dragonfly, Texas

To play, visit ABC Wednesday, mrsnesbitt's place. Click here.

Troy and Martha

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The Bailey Bridge

Bridges Between

The Bailey Bridge which crosses the Ft. Nelson River

links Ft. Liard by Highway to the rest of the World.
This is truly a "Bridges Between" in Canada.

Into the Valley
(Don't forget to click on the photos for better looks)


Ft. Nelson River
Crossed by the Bailey Bridge

There was a nice turnout and picnic table on the north side where we stopped and rested and took photos and chased butterflies trying to identify them.

The Bailey Bridge which crosses the Ft. Nelson River, is the longest Acrow (Bailey) Bridge in the world. Relatively few people have ever seen this bridge due to its remote location.

Long Bridge over the Ft. Nelson River
Longest Bailey Bridge in the World

Fort Liard (Slavey language: Echaot'l Koe "people from the land of the giants") is a hamlet in the Dehcho Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It is located 37 km (23 mi) north of the British Columbia border. It became accessible by road in 1984 with the completion of the Liard Highway (Northwest Territories Highway 7 and (British Columbia Highway 77).

Population is 583 according to the 2006 Census the majority of which are First Nations.

The community of Fort Liard is located near the junction of the South Nahanni and Liard Rivers at 61°02’N and 123°23’W, 142 air km southwest of Fort Simpson and 507 air km southwest of Yellowknife. The Liard river is a major tributary of the MacKenzie River, the longest drainage system in northwestern Canada.

Historically, the Nahanni Dene traded with posts at Fort Liard, Fort Nelson and even some trapping posts located around the pacific coast. The community was founded with a government-sponsored movement of people from nearby Netla River, situated approximately 24 km away.

Ft. Liard Sign
Shows Trapper in Canoe and Snowshoes,
the only way to travel before the Bridge

Fort Liard is in the Territories' southwest corner. Prior to 1807, the Northwest Company founded a post that was taken over by Hudson's Bay Co in 1821 when both companies merged. The opening of the Liard Highway in the early 1980s put the quiet village on the map. The community is characterized by lush growth and a relatively mild climate, despite its northern location. Hence it's nickname "the tropics of the north".

The steel truss panels on this particular bridge have been in use on various northern bridges since WWII. As other bridges were rebuilt or replaced, the salvageable panes were stored until needed for this bridge.

Supports
Will support large loads

Side
Close view of side rail

Here is an excellent article on the Invention of the Bailey bridge. Click here.

The Hamlet of Fort Liard has two stores to choose from: The General Store and the The North West Company store. It has a school "Echo Dene School", with a student population of about 150 from K-12. It also has a nursing station, an Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment, and a Recreation Centre (complete with a swimming pool, skating rink, youth centre and a multi-court). There is a fuel center that sells gasoline, diesel fuel, propane, emergency survival kits and convenience items.

There is also a traditional craft store which sells locally made craft items. We purchased some nice baskets for our Native American Collection here at the craft store. At the General store we found some nice picnic supplies for our lunch on the banks of the Liard River. Lunch - loaf of fresh-baked bread, great canned beef, 2 wonderful cheeses, a great brand of pickles which we can't get here in Texas, and some great juice.

The bridge allowed us to visit a truly great place with historical significance (Hudson Bay Co.), not to mention the beautiful drive and wonderful lunch.

Bridges Between is a Monthly Endeavor by RuneE. Click here to participate.

Troy and Martha
Photos by Troy and Martha

BC Forest Capital Sign
Looks like the “Bridges Between” Logo

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Alaska Sunday V

Or, How Our Oil Goes Elsewhere

Martha Standing Under the Pipeline
(Click to get a little closer)
Photo taken near the Yukon River Crossing
on the way to the North Slope

One of the major arguments in the 1970s in favor of building the pipeline, was the need for 'energy independence' and a decreased reliance on imported oil to satisfy the United States' petroleum appetite. One of the concessions won by opponents was a requirement by the US Congress that the oil produced be exclusively for the domestic market. However, the Clinton administration's 'globalization' policies have overcome the 'national interest' which was being served by the export ban, and in 1995 President Clinton signed legislation ending the ban on the export of North Slope Crude oil. Alaskan oil is now tankered to China, Japan and Korea, providing new impetus to open up new fields, primarily for expanding Asian markets.

I personally do not think drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge to obtain more oil to support China’s demand and to line the pockets of Oil Mega Companies is the right thing to do. Compared to the US need for oil, there is only a “drop in the bucket” still in the ground up there and none of it slated for US consumption.......

There is an interesting commentary over at Gristmill. Click here.

Oh well, enough of my rant about oil and gas prices.
Next Alaska Sunday will be more cheerful. I promise.

I will leave you with a cheerful note. This Arctic poppy grows in the harshest of environments on the north slope tundra. Gravely soils and bitter winters. But during the brief summer months it provides some beautiful color to the tundra. They are hard to photograph because of the constant wind.

Arctic Poppy (Papaver lapponicum)
Photographed about 10 miles from the Arctic Ocean
South of Deadhorse, Prudhoe Bay

Don't forget to scroll down and try the recipe and learn a little more about Monarch Butterflies.

Troy

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Recipe for Salad of the House

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This is a simple “Prepare Ahead” Recipe for parties, one-dish meals, or late night snacks. I have seen other recipes like this, but this is one that Martha and I made up right after we were married. It’s best after sitting in the Fridge for about 24 hours. I usually wait 15 minutes. It really is a lot better after the flavors have blended. Sorry, no photos, it’s all gone.

Prepare in a LARGE bowl and make plenty. Proportions to taste. I usually don’t measure, but here are the approximate proportions that I use.

3 med to large potatoes
3 small cans of white albacore tuna packed in water
5 hard-boiled eggs
¾ cup thinly sliced olives (not spicy)
S&P to taste

Boil potatoes till just done so that they may be peeled and thinly sliced without crumbling too much.
Thinly slice hard-boiled eggs (no shells please).
Drain Tuna or the tuna flavor may be over-powering.

Your goal is to taste all the flavors equally.

Layer potatoes-tuna-eggs-olives. Repeat layering.

I use pimento stuffed olives sometimes but I take out the pimentos so the flavor won’t be too strong. A little olive juice drizzled on the potatoes is not a bad thing. Just a little – not too much.

I usually use a little salt and pepper on the egg layer. (To taste)

It took several times for us to get the proportions to our taste. Keep experimenting. Try different olives for a new taste.

Prepare ahead and place a scoop on a small plate for your guests. Remember to have extra so they can have some seconds. Assorted plain crackers or biscuits work great. Have the recipe ready.

I usually just get a large plate and a fork and it’s off to the TV or Computer.

Oh, by the way, I have been eating it like this for 40+ years. In 5 or 10 years, I may try mackerel or cod for a change. Then again, maybe not.

Don’t forget to scroll down for an another article posted today about the Monarch Butterfly

Troy

Monarch Migration

Coming soon to a Milkweed near You

The northward migration of the Monarch has been underway here in Texas for some time. Be on the lookout in the North Country, they are coming your way. They typically advance northward in the Spring as larval host plant (Milkweed being most common) becomes available for the caterpillar.

Monarch – Danaus plexippus
(Remember to click on the Photographs)
Photographed nectaring on Purple Coneflower – Echinacea sp.
@ Ft. Worth Botanical Gardens

Echinacea, commonly called Purple coneflower, is a genus of nine species of herbaceous plants in the Family Asteraceae. All are strictly native to eastern and central North America. The plants have large showy heads of composite flowers, blooming from early to late summer. Some species are used in herbal medicines.

Monarch – Danaus plexippus
(Male - Note the scent glands on the hindwing)
Photographed in south Texas on Mist flower - Eupatorium coelestinum

Eupatorium has at times been held to contain as many as 800 species, but many of these have been moved (at least by some authors) to other genera, including Ageratina, Chromolaena, Condylidium, Conoclinium, Critonia, Cronquistianthus, Eutrochium, Fleischmannia, Flyriella, Hebeclinium, Koanophyllon, Mikania, and Tamaulipa.

The classification of the tribe Eupatorieae, including species placed in Eupatorium in the present or past, is an area of ongoing research, so further changes are likely. What seems fairly certain by now is that the subtribe Eupatoriinae seems a good monophyletic group containing Eupatorium and the Joe-pye weeds (Eutrochium), and possibly others. (1)

Monarch Caterpillar
(Click for a great look at these wonderful caterpillars)
Photographed at the Ft. Worth Nature Center

The caterpillars are feeding on vining milkweed. The two on the left are hanging head down on the vine stem while eating the milkweed leaf.

A very similar butterfly seen in South Texas is the Soldier. In the wings-folded position, it is easily recognized by the “smeared” pattern of the veining on the hindwing. The Soldier is also called the Tropic Queen.

Soldier – Danaus eresimus
Photographed near McAllen, TX

Additional information for those interested in the
Reproductive stages of the Monarch

The mating period for the overwinter population occurs in the spring, just prior to migration from the overwintering sites. The courtship is fairly simple and less dependent on chemical pheromones in comparison with other species in its genus. Courtship is composed of two distinct stages, the aerial phase and the ground phase. During the aerial phase, the male pursues, nudges, and eventually takes down the female. Copulation occurs during the ground phase and involves the transfer of a spermatophore from the male to the female. Along with sperm, the spermatophore is thought to provide the female with energy resources that aid her in carrying out reproduction and remigration. The overwinter population returns only as far north as they need to go to find the early milkweed growth; in the case of the eastern butterflies that is commonly southern Texas. The life cycle of a monarch includes a change of form called complete metamorphosis. The monarch goes through four radically different stages:

1. The eggs are laid by the females during spring and summer breeding months.
2. The eggs hatch, revealing worm-like larva, the caterpillars. The caterpillars consume their egg cases, then feed on milkweed, and sequester substances called cardenolides, a type of cardiac glycosides. During the caterpillar stage, monarchs store energy in the form of fat and nutrients to carry them through the non-feeding pupa stage.
3. In the pupa or chrysalis stage, the caterpillar spins a silk pad on a twig, leaf, etc, and hangs from this pad by its last pair of prolegs. It hangs upside down in the shape of a 'J', and then molts, leaving itself encased in an articulated green exoskeleton. At this point, hormonal changes occur, leading to the development of a butterfly. The chrysalis darkens (actually becomes transparent) a day before it emerges, and its orange and black wings can be seen.
4. The mature butterfly emerges after about two pupal weeks and hangs from the split chrysalis for several hours until its wings are dry (often in the morning). Meanwhile fluids are pumped into the crinkled wings until they become full and stiff. Some of this orangy fluid drips from the wings. Finally (usually in the afternoon) the monarch spreads its wings, quivers them to be sure they are stiff, and then flies in a circle and away, to feed on a variety of flowers, including milkweed flowers, red clover, and goldenrod.

Monarchs can live a life of twenty to eighty weeks in a garden having their host Asclepias plants and sufficient flowers for nectar. This is especially true if the flower garden happens to be surrounded by native forest that seems to be lacking in flowers. (1)

(1) Reference: WikiPedia

Troy and Martha

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Sky Watch Friday V

Look at the Moon in the Daytime

Apollo 11 Landing site - Sea of Tranquility
(Click on the photo and look for the red dot)

I photographed this in the late afternoon using my Celestron 14" Telescope and a Nikon Point and Shoot camera held at the eyepiece.

I was watching a movie entitled "The Dish" the other day about Apollo 11 and Neil Armstrong being the first to set foot on the Moon, and thought it might be appropriate for Sky Watch.

We owe a debt of gratitude to Australia and the Radio Telescope at Parks for the television images of the first Moon walk. Thank you Australia.

To play SWF visit Wiggers World.

Troy
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