Photo: Meadowood Recreation Area, Rusty Moran
During the pandemic we’ve had to cancel our regular wildlife surveys but some long-time participants are going out individually on an ad hoc basis to continue collecting data. Judy Gallagher is one of those folks who also captures photos of what she sees, in particular the less common species. Here are two observations from her most recent survey.
In an example of convergent evolution, Monarchs and Milkweed Tussock Moth caterpillars have both evolved to be able to eat and process the toxins in Milkweed leaves. They sequester the toxins which gives them some protection from being eaten by birds. Although both caterpillars are fairly common, they aren't usually seen munching on the same leaf. Yet, here they are together at Meadowood's Pollinator Garden, competing for food.
Milkweed Tussock Moth and Monarch Caterpillars, Judy Gallagher
This beautiful insect is a Velvet Ant, so called because of its dense hair. It isn't really an ant, and you wouldn't want to pet its velvet coat. It's a female Mutillid wasp, seen recently at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Its other common name is "Cow Killer" as its sting is reputed to be bad enough to kill a cow. While the adult females don't have wings, the males do and look so different from the females that entomologists didn't realize that they were the same species until they saw the wasps mating.
Velvet Ant, Judy Gallagher