Banner Clubtail (Gomphus apomyius) ~ Murray County

While tromping through some Murray County wetlands last June, I came upon a dragonfly that perched just long enough for me to snap a couple of photographs. It was a female clubtail, but I didn't have a clue which one until I returned home and began studying it. After several looks at the field guides, I felt like I had photographed an adult Banner Clubtail(Gomphus apomyius). Consultation with odonatologists, Giff Beaton and Marion Dobbs confirmed my identification. Apparently, there are very few records of this species for north Georgia.

The Banner Clubtail's GA Distribution Map illustrates a cluster of Piedmont counties with records near the Fall Line with only a few county records in other physiographic regions in the state. Floyd and Rabun are the only other north GA counties that boast records of this species for the northern regions. Interestingly, these records are based on collected nymphs from tributaries. This photographed specimen is one of the few known adults to have been recently observed here. Another important aspect concerning this observation is the date. The day in which I photographed this dragonfly, June 17, is about an entire month later than the known flight period for this species. This insect was found only one hundred feet from the Conasauga River. It was in a field in the floodplain.

Thanks to Marion Dobbs for all the wonderful information about this rare insect. Check out her excellent website Dragonflies and Damselflies of Georgia .

Also, Giff Beaton's masterful field guide Dragonflies and Damselflies of Georgia and the Southeast is a must for the odonate enthusiast. This would make an excellent gift for any naturalist! Follow this link to purchase: The University of Georgia Press

Saddleback Caterpillar - OUCH!!!

In September, I found several Saddleback caterpillars(Acharia stimulea) feasting on a Common Persimmon(Diospyros virginiana)in my yard. I must admit, I found them the hard way! Ouch.....they can hurt. I accidentally brushed up against a branch and felt an agonizing pain soon there after. This caterpillar is covered with bristles that can inflict a very painful sting. It is a very attractive Lepidopteran larvae, with it's bright green saddle....very unique. I found the site below that has a good bit of info on this species:

http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/medical/saddleback_caterpillar.htm

Pygmy Rattlesnake - Murray County

The Pygmy Rattlesnake(Sistrurus miliarius) appears to be mostly a coastal plain species in Georgia, but there are a few records throughout the northern regions of the state. I was excited to find this individual in Murray County on October 30, 2013. This is not only a new county record but the most northern record for this species in the state. Pygmy is an excellent name that describes the small size of this our smallest rattlesnake. This is especially true when compared to the Timber Rattlesnake(Crotalus horridus) which is our most common rattler in Georgia. The Timber often grows to lengths of four feet or more, while an adult Pygmy usually does not exceed two feet in length. Still, this is a feisty species that can often be ill-tempered. This individual was consistently striking at me while I was attempting to photograph it. Can you blame it? This sighting took place in the lower elevations which is where it would be expected. This is the Great Valley District located in the Ridge & Valley Province of Georgia. The habitat where this snake was found was typical dry upland woods. I'm guessing that there must be a loose population in the vicinity. This is an example of the Carolina subspecies (S. m. miliarius). A real treat to observe in the field and what some might would consider late in the year for this region.

For more information go to http://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes/sismil.htm

Orphaned Baby Rabbits

The more time you spend outdoors, the better the chance that you'll come across orphaned wild baby animals. One of the most common babies found by humans is the Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus). The home range of this species often includes areas where humans have unknowingly created havens for this rabbit to brood a litter of bunnies. A female can have 1-7 litters per season of  1-12 young, called kits. Females reach reproductive maturity at 2-3 months, and 10-30% breed as juveniles. With these types of numbers being born annually, it has proven to be one of the wild animal orphans that most often ends up being discovered by humans. This baby in the photograph was found in a friend's yard after the mother was killed by a dog. Kits are one of the most difficult wild babies to foster successfully. The following article at petplace.com has some excellent pointers on what to do when you find an orphaned bunny.  Go to the following link to read the full article:

http://www.petplace.com/small-mammals/orphaned-wild-rabbits/page1.aspx

Spotted Salamander - Murray County

I found this Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) in a Conasauga River bottomland forest on March 12, 2013. This species is a member of the mole salamander family (Ambystomatidae). They spend much of their life underground. In late winter they congregate at spawning pools to breed. The female lays large egg masses(see below), sometimes 2-3 which can have as many as 200 individual eggs in each mass. There is a unique relationship between these egg masses and a species of algae, Oophila amblystomatis. Learn more about the recent discoveries concerning this endosymbiosis at this site: http://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/17995.html

For more info about the Spotted Salamander go HERE.

Crowned Slug Moth Caterpillar - 10/19/12

I found this larvae of the Crowned Slug Moth (Isa textula) on October 19th, 2012 at Cloudland Canyon in Dade County, GA. This species belongs to the family Limacodidae. 

MORE INFO

Brown Snake - Murray County - 1/8/13

This was a nice Winter's day surprise. The Midland Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi wrightorum) is a widespread species that seems to do well in most any habitat. The cryptic pattern helps this snake camouflage in various debris. This individual was apparently taking advantage of the January warm spell. They prey on a wide variety of invertebrates as well as very small vertebrates such as amphibians and fish. One unique habit is that a snail will be pulled from the shell before swallowing it.

For other information go HERE.