Cepaea nemoralis

Cepaea nemoralis

Cepaea nemoralis

Cepaea nemoralis

A cool call today that followed up on an identification I did a few years ago.  A co-worker’s husband and fellow herper, Dave Broughel, had found a land snail on the wall of his building (NYS Thruway) in Albany, and was wondering about an I.D.  I had seen the snail several years before in Long Island, it and because of the black lip at the edge of the shell opening (the operculum), I had guessed the European* introduced brown-lipped or grove snail, Cepaea nemoralis.  Another land snail in this genus, C. hortensis, also from Europe, and also reported from N.Y. historically, lacks this black lip.  C. hortensis however is more common in greenhouses.  This was C. nemoralis.  The succesful immigration of a snail like C. nemoralis, and its amazing success  is a fascinating story in and of itself.  Not really “invasive” in terms of numbers- or economic damage, it seems to build up and survive in small clusters- hot zones of sort.  Where, 1 or 2 after 3/4/5 years- build up to 100′s  AND THIS IS WHAT WE HAD HERE.  I went down tonight after Dave had told me that dozens of the snail were now on the walls of the building, on trees, and on thistle plants.  Stimulated by the continued wet/warm conditions that we have had this year- they were out in force.  He shot me a cell phone photo. Yup, there they were again!  And, yup- this was now a substantial population.  Like a little kid, I just couldn’t wait for the day to end!   I knew that right after work I’d make my drive down to Albany to photograph the molluscan maurauders for a story at NaturalistGuy.  C. nemoralis is a strikingly colorful animal.  In the class Mollusca, I have long wanted to follow such a ground zero of the snail world.  A location where I could better understand how they might spread, and what type of damage if any they might do.  I’m also very intrigued by the varying morphological forms (polymorphisms) within the clusters- and why these forms might be beneficial for the species- if at all.  From solid yellow, to handsomely striped across the shell- there were many color forms here.**  And I finally shot natural images (in-situ) of the snail sitting out the dry day on honey-locust trees.  A tree, which apparently was attractive to this snail, and which could be one of its primary hosts in this “hot zone.”  Land snails in urban areas of Upstate N.Y. are a rare site period.  Yes there are some varieties that can be found consistently under logs and debris if you look hard, but really, C. nemoralis is filling a niche not occupied by another large native land snails.  This is a good thing.  Our most common large land snail is the white-lipped snail, but that snail seems to hug relatively undistirubed lands, and from my experience enjoys more calcaresous (high pH) condtitions.

Like many snails C. nemoralis is a hemaphrodite, male and female reproductive organs in the same animal.  But they still have to mate, one exchanging sperm with the other.  To add to that, the female can store sperm for some time, and in fact her young might be the young of several different fathers.  After a period of time- mid-summer I presume in N.Y., up to 50 eggs are depostied and miniature versions of the adults hatch.  The specimens that I saw tonight appeared to be a mix of aprox. 1 to 2 year olds, as well as sexually mature adults.  The literature states that the brown-lipped snail can live up to 8 years.   FYI, this is Phylum Mollusca, Class Gastropoda.  So enjoy the images here!  And please, do not rush through them, they should be viewed at a snails pace.  More to come! NG.

*Per the literature: “Portugal and central Spain to SW Hungary and Bosnia, in Italy to Lucania, in the north to S Sweden, in the E to NW Poland, Latvia, Kaliningrad, Estonia (Hiiumaa island).”

**Wikipedia direct quote:  “These polymorphisms have been highly studied as part research in heredity and evolution. They are thought to act as camouflage to avoid predation from, for example, the Song Thrush, but also have implications for the body heat of the animal: darker shells heat up more quickly, with consequences for rates of metabolism and loss of moisture (crucial in snail locomotion). In particular, grove snails with dark brown appear to preferentially be found in dark woodlands, whilst snails with light yellow shells and thin banding are more commonly found in grassland.”

NG note: I’m guessing there might be more to the polymorphism story with this snail, since in the U.S., one might expect the polymorphisms to be driven in one direction or the other- if presumbily (and I don’t know yet ), if one color really DOES have a survival advantage over another.  At this time I have no evidence that they are predated on by birds in Albany.  I did not see many empty shells around to indicate that snails from this population were being fed upon by other creatures.  But I’d like to work that answer (question?).

The Beautiful Great Golden Wasp Turns to Check out the Camera!

Posted this first on the NG Facebook blog, but wanted to get some video of the beautiful Great Golden Digger Wasp female, Sphex ichneumoneus, at work preparing its burrow for a future orthopteran (katydid, cricket or grasshopper).  A solo artist, which again like other diggers- nests alone in an underground tunnel, that is maintained with the utmost care.  A large wasp reaching 20 mm +, the prey, stung into a zombie like state, the young wasps hatch and feed on the fresh food.  Check out the sequence where the wasp turns to look at my camera- noticing my presence.  Very cool.  Not aggressive, human stings from these large Sphex wasps are rare.  I had to get 2 inches away for this segment, and of course I was a bit nervous, since I had JUST received a sting from a solitary wasp called a velvet ant!!  OUCH!!!  Search here for the Great Black Wasp as well.  But first, PLEASE ENJOY THIS VIDEO! NG.

Northern Water Snake Youngster

Northern Water Snake Youngster

Northern Water Snake Skin Pattern

Hiking in the ravine, up to Taughannock Falls, near Cayuga Lake, NY- we were surprised by the yell of “SNAKE!” Just as surprised to see in the running ice cold waters of the river, a 1 year old or so Norther Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon). My daughter Celia quickly grabbed it, and the fuss grabbed the attention of other hikers. This was a pretty color phase, a population no doubt living in the ravine- with a bit of color selection occurring on the light gray rocks of the valley. Baby water snakes however are typically brightly colored, with the bands very evident. The bands may fade as they mature in some locales. Water snakes are a very successful North American snake genus, and I have found one species or another in most of the eastern States. A live-bearing snake, females retain the egg until the shell is absorbed, and gives birth to many live young (usually size dependent). 50 babies is not unusual. Versatile with food, from toads/frogs/salamanders/large worms, they can be found in still waters, swamps, lakes, or as we see here- swimming in a running river. I have seen large adults using rainy nights to pick off frogs and toads on wet roadways. A few feet from this baby snake was a group of what I had thought were a minnow species. The baby was in the right spot! Water snakes will swim with precision, mouth agape, and swipe at fish as they go by. Enjoy the images! NG.

Hairy Tailed Mole

Hairy Tailed Mole

Hairy Tailed Mole Tail

Hairy Tailed Mole Vestigial Eye

Hairy Tailed Mole Front Foot

Hairy Tailed Mole Feeding

Hairy Tailed Mole Feeding

Hairy Tailed Mole Feeding

When I was a boy of about six years old, I saw an episode of the old black and white Superman TV series, it could have been the pilot episode- called “MOLE MEN.”  I remember how terrified I was of man-hole covers on the street after that episode, alien creatures that seemed to live in the center of the earth, traveling about by the sewer system etc.  My memory is a bit blurry right now, but I even think this episode is held as one of the best of the old Superman series.  Little did I know that later in life, I’d laugh a bit to myself while tracking real life moles, those furry mammals that defy logic by burrowing easily with a strength that seems to approach Superman’s strength.  Moles are really a super mammal.  In a unique mammal order, the Soricomorpha, that includes the shrews and others, I was intrigued by the fact that many people have never seen a mole up close, or alive for that matter.  To add to the issue, moles it appears are not visually appealing to some people- “They gross me out!” one co-worker stressed.  Then I got thinking.  I myself, had NEVER held a mole, or really examined a mole up close.  I had found a few dead moles in my life on my lawn, or on a hiking path after heavy rains.  But I had not actually gotten down to the moles level.  I solved that problem

The other day I found a fresh mole runway on my lawn.  I tamped down the entire runway (which ran for about 10 feet).  I then came back to check the underground tunnel every 10 minutes or so hoping to notice a new pile of soil, to direct me to a potential photogenic mole representative.  After about an hour or so, out of the corner of my eye I saw a few blades of grass twitch.  I thought to myself “its not windy out” and so, this MUST be a mole making these grass blades wiggle.  Then I saw the earth itself move a bit.  A tiny 1 inch square area, move up and down.  I ran for the large spade.  Got the spade in just below the moving soil, and lifted up a chunk of soil and turf about 12 inches square and about 5 inches deep.  I then plopped the whole shebang into a 5 gallon bucket.  I was having quite a lot of fun at this point.  Lifting up the grass just a bit I saw I hit PAY DIRT (pun intended).  There was an  HAIRY TAILED MOLE, Parascalops breweri.  It was kinda neat to find out that this mole species is the only one it the genus Parascalops, and native to the eastern U.S. and Canada.  A local native mole.  

In that case of our Hairy Tailed Mole, now in hand, I found the front digging feet to be absolutely unreal in size and power.  The animal was almost impossible to hold in any way.  After a while I was able to just drop the mole gently to my hand, and snap an image of the full body.  It seemed to never stop moving.  And they sort-of don’t.  They consume up to 45 grams or more of earthworms and grubs per day, which is about equivalent to their weight of about the same!!  For the power that the mole has, meaning strength to metabolically burrow as much as it does, this high-protein and constant food intake helps maintain its strength.  At night, moles will emerge on the surface of the soil to forage, but not often, owls and fox are waiting for such moments.  I imagine the nose of this mole species, would be covered with sensitive receptors for detecting moving prey.  Prey, by the way, moves quickly out of the way of moles- which I witnessed myself.  Earthworms seem to magically pop out of the ground in front of the hairy tailed mole, evidently sensing the burrowing vibrations.  Human earthworm collectors have mimicked this mole vibration while “grunting,”- which involves rubbing metal to a wooden post inserted into the ground.  It works, and earthworms can be collected by the hundreds when this is perfected (by the humans). 

If you like smooth green lawns/turf, moles are your apparent enemy.  To me and my daughter, they are a creature to delight over.  I’m now on a mission to fully photograph the star-nosed mole, which raises the mole NOSE design to great heights (lengths).  But for that (star-nosed mole live capture) I will have to be a bit more ingenious.  BTW, the word MOLE according to the literature is derived from a Germanic word for (muld/mull/mold) for ”soil.”  Enjoy.  NG.

American Toad

American Toad

American Toad

American Toad

This was one of the first amphibians I had ever seen as a child.  Many large toads would come out and sit on a large wall near our house to eat bugs on muggy nights.  It was this toad, the all American Toad, Bufo americanus.  The Genus was changed to Anaxyrus in 2006 based on some new work.  As you can see, they can approach the size of a whiffle ball, this is a female.  Males tend to be smaller.  A vernal pool breeder in our area, it is usually heard calling a few weeks after the Spring Peepers have begun.  The call is interesting mix of a hum and a whistle, and has a buzz like quality to it.  Sometimes one can stumble upon 50 to 100 toads breeding in pools on the first muggy nights- and even during the day.  The tadpoles of this frog are very small, about the size of a pea body wise.  They turn into preposterously small toadlets, that emerge almost in mass.  Some years we may have hundreds of tiny toads almost everywhere.  A successful toad, it seems to have tolerated some human disturbance, and can be found breeding in some city ponds.  The large glands on their heads, contain a steroidal chemical- one of the bufenodialodes.  Bufotenin being one of the principal chemicals, these are a potent toxin.  Most animals will find this enough of a deterrent to leave the toads alone, but some snakes and other animals have become resistant to this toxin.  Garter snakes and Hognose snakes for instance can eat these with on effect (in fact, MANY snakes can tolerate this class of toxins).  And well, evidently- my chickens can too!  Yup, watched them relish a large toad one night.  No illness from it.  A very variable toad, many have some orange on their body, and at least an indication of a light line running down the center of the back.  Oh, the smaller glands on the toad also product these toxins, and just to make sure: No- toads do not transmit warts.  Enjoy this huge female toad!  NG.

Eastern Red Cedar (Eastern Juniper)

Eastern Red Cedar (Eastern Juniper)

Eastern Red Cedar (Eastern Juniper)

Eastern Red Cedar (Eastern Juniper)

Eastern Red Cedar (Eastern Juniper)

Eastern Red Cedar (Eastern Juniper)

A common tree in our area, the Eastern Red Cedar (really a Juniper), Juniperus virginiana- grows in sporadic pockets depending on conditions.  This tree is often referred to as a pioneer species, one that moves in first to disturbed lands.  Usually when I see it at its best in NY, its either growing in a park alone, or high on a mountain top in small groups.  I was hiking the Saratoga parks today and saw a labeled specimen as part of the Town’s “Meet the Trees,” program.  They labeled a bunch of trees.  Some VERY nice, old old trees.  This Juniper caught my eye, up against a building, with some blue spruce cascading away behind them.  In some areas, this juniper is so competitive, that is considered an invasive, and in some situations it does take over fallow fields, or dry uplands.  I haven’t seen this tree  really living as an invasive in NY State, but I can get a feeling of what it could do to an ecosystem by way of experience with landscape plants- they are hardy trees.  I like the form of this tree, I like the bark of this tree, and I like the berries of this tree.  Its a great wood of course, with a nice red tinge to the heartwood.  Several bird species consume their “berries”  (in winter) and disseminate the seed (and thus the tree) after it has traveled through the digestive system and passed with a packet of fertilizer on it!  Birds also LOVE to nest in this tree, its dense branches provide great cover.  White tailed deer have no problem eating this in lean times (or as it seems, anytime!)- leaving the first 5 feet from the ground pruned near the trunk.   Enjoy.  NG.

Hummingbird Moth Banking in for a Wild Iris Feed!

Hummingbird Moth Hovers in Place on Wild Iris

Love it when the Humming bird moths first appear- a member of the Sphingidae, the Sphinx moth group.  These are day-time flying hummingbird mimics that astound me every time I see them.  I can watch one for a long time.  Just brilliant.  Not 100% positive on which one this is yet, but its probably the hummingbird clear wing, though June is a bit of an early date for one.  It was a large individual, and I caught it banking in for a feed- with the feeding tube (proboscis) slightly unraveled to get into the flower rather quickly.  They sip nectar on the fly, and they don’t spend a lot of time at each flower.  With the wings still beating, they will enter lager flowers and just hover in position.  Just fun to see, watch.  Enjoy.  NG.

Phorid Flies on Green Lacewing

Tiny Phorid Flies Riding Along with a Green Lacewing

Lacewings are a Neuroptera, a group that includes the antlions (doodle bugs).  The larvae of lacewings look a lot like antlions, and are prdatory.  The adults of the green lacewing here, a Chrysopidae, are predatory as well, and often consume aphids and other small bugs.  They are among one of the most beautiful small insects, showing a delicasy of structure, as well as a tenacity to survive in good numbers each Spring and Summer.  There some 14 general of lacewings.  But please check THIS OUT.  Look at the wings here.  What I believe to be Phoridae flies (Scuttle flies) are hitchhiking a ride on the lacewing!  They probably are there to garner a bit of a snake, or clean up as the lacewing chows down.  And this is a male and female micro fly (1.5 mm!!).  When the lacewing would fly, the little Phorids would RIDE a long.  I did NOT see them fly off.  This reminded me of a coral reef fish cleaning station, where cleaner fish, including wrasses, float in and out of fish gills and mouths picking off scraps and/or parasites.  And with the diversity of species, as well as the vibrant colors, this really does remind one of a terrestrial coral reef.  The bugs and their colors, in every possible niche- the land plankton of sorts.  Enjoy!!  NG.

Ant Lion, Out of its Element

I located some Ant Lion pits today, and dug up an Ant Lion, also called a “Doodle Bug.”  The adult ant lion, looks a bit like a damsel fly, but has clubbed antennae.  They are also in a different Order, the Neuroptera- Net-Winged insects.  I have seen the adult to this specific doodle bug, but I have not yet photographed it.  But I will.  This is undoubtedly the most bizarre terreistrail larvae in our area.  It sits at the bottom of a little sandy pit that it constructs, to trap invertebrate prey.  The large front mandibles sitting at the base of the pit, ready to lung forward to grab prey.   Its been a very heavy-photo-taking weekend and Monday, and I have to optimize tons of stuff.  Some caddisflies are starting to show up (at least I think they are).  Also the moths continue.  This year beats last year for total bugs, most likely due to the extremely wet spring.  Some bugs will do much better, some may suffer.  A weevil, that is decimating my swamp milkweed, is in huge numbers.  And I have seen more damselflies and other Odonates, then in previous years.  Should be a great summer for dragonfly images.  Enjoy this video.  NG.