More Brachnoid Wasps and More 'Stuff'

The first find of today's walk was a sad one.  A Yellow Lined Slug Moth has brachnoid wasp cocoons on its back.  This caterpillar will be dead shortly.  We did find another Yellow Lined Slug Moth caterpillar that appears to be healthy.  We won't know until it emerges as an adult, though.

Yellow-shouldered Slug Moth - Lithacodes fasciola
Brachnoid Wasp Cocoons 

Yellow-shouldered Slug Moth - Lithacodes fasciolaBrachnoid Wasp Cocoons

We startled a deer that took off into the deeper woods.  There wasn't enough time to take a photo.

Next, a couple of caterpillars.  One is another caterpillar of a species we picked up last week and the other is one caterpillar of a species we raised last year.

Afflicted Dagger Moth - Acronicta afflicta

We found several of the caterpillar just above, varying sizes. 

A racket and rattle near me caught my attention.  A butterfly predator had caught and was eating a butterfly predator.  A Robber Fly caught a Dragonfly and is eating it.

A Robber Fly caught and is eating a Dragonfly

A Robber Fly caught and is eating a Dragonfly

Nothing to do with butterflies, but mushrooms were popping up all over the place!

This looks like a little table or pillow with lace around the edge.

Today's finds: about 10 species of caterpillars, several species of eggs, one set of brachnoid cocoons, and a load of fun.

More New Caterpillars and Stuff

A short walk around some small oak trees a mile down the road resulted in a few more caterpillars and 'stuff'.

Nason's Slug - Natada nasoni

I need more hours in my day so I can look these new guys up to identify them.  I'm still thinking that it will be a good winter job.

Angulose Prominent - Peridea angulosa
Identified by Shaina

All of these today were from oak trees.  I didn't take long wandering. Grandsons were waiting at the house to pay a game with me.  Jonathan won.

Oblique Heterocampa - Heterocampa obliqua
Identified by Shana

This one had sewed several leaves together and was hiding in its little nest. 

As usual, I was touching gently and carefully, watching for flannel moth stinging caterpillars. They're all over the place and love oaks and, around my legs, blackberry plants.  One day I will get zapped by one.  Charlotte did the other day when she was moving some hackberry branches she had trimmed from around her back door. 

Then I saw a wheel bug eating a flannel moth caterpillar.  So who to boo?  The wheel bug killing a caterpillar or the caterpillar for being a stinging caterpillar?  The white fuzzy thing is the caterpillar.

And eggs of about five species of moths and other critters.  I don't know the identity of most of them. This egg batch covered several leaves, hundreds of eggs.  Now to wait and find out what they are.

A good end to another day except for the part of not winning the game!  Of course, a grandson winning is a good thing too.

If you know the identification of any of these critters, please email me at edith@buyabutterfly.com.