While hiking through a prairie during peak bloom it is easy to be distracted by the flowers. What’s not to love with the array of bright colors that attracts the attention of every avid hiker. But it turns out those colors are not to attract us, but rather are a lure to pollinators to come sip some nectar and, by chance, drop off some pollen from a random DNA donor.
Today’s message is that there is more to prairies than flowers. They are habitats that offer diversity – not only of plants, but also of insects. I once read that prairies have more insect species than any other habitat. But perhaps it is just the nature of prairies, with an abundance of flowers and open sight lines, that allows the observer to register the diversity. Their presence adds another twist to the prairie experience.
Recently, the Footpaths team had discussed that we should make an effort to embrace and feature the insects in the habitats that we visit, since they are so integral to the ecosystems. When you add the artistry and magnification of digital photography, insects become more fascinating. The detail of the eye disc on the Silver-spotted Skipper below is just amazing.
On our hike to Kamama Prairie we were accompanied by our daughter Caroline who is a science educator and an expert gardener – qualities that make her skilled at insect observation. We were only on the trail for a few yards when she caught this photo. I’m not sure if this is winged ants with aphids, or adults and offspring of another species, marching along a flower stem. Add music and we would have a Disney movie.
The red specks on this Tall Tickseed along the trail however were certainly aphids.
Magnification allows us to study it further and reveals one of natures most interesting symbiosis – that between aphids and ants. Below we can see an ant in amongst the aphids. Ants “farm” aphids. They protect the aphid colony from predators like lady bugs and lacewing flies, and in return, receive “honeydew”, a sugar rich liquid. With their antennae, the ants stroke the abdomen of the aphids, causing them to secrete the substance that provides nutrition for the ant colony. It is a partnership that is easily overlooked as you breeze through the prairie.
But more often it is just a simple observation of an insect collecting nectar, such as this Bumble Bee on Swamp Milkweed. The orange structure on its right is the pollen basket where it stores pollen for the flight back to the hive.
Being non-entomologists, sometimes we can not specifically identify the insects that we see on the plants. Here we have a couple of insects on a St. John’s Wort flower.
Similarly, here we have an unspecified Flea Beetle, of which there are many types, on Lady’s Tresses. While flea beetles can walk and fly, they frequently travel by jumping from plant to plant.
Likewise, here is a different species of Flea Beetle on a beautiful Goldenrod specimen.
I learn so much when we study our photos. Below is a Sweat Bee visiting Canada Wild Lettuce. It is an insect that leads a solitary life, not living in a hive or colony. Adults feed exclusively on nectar or pollen, and females lay their eggs in rotten logs. Sweat bees will land on humans to obtain salts and moisture from our perspiration, and hence their name, but generally do not sting unless provoked. They will usually leave when just brushed away.
One group of insects that fascinates me are the predatory ones. As a child I was fearful of dragonflies, being certain that they would sting me. Little did I know that they were actually saving me from mosquitoes, a primary prey target. Dragonflies are a common presence in prairies where they are preying on other insects. This is an Eastern Pondhawk dragonfly.
This summer we have come to familiarize ourselves with the Robber Flies, another predatory insect of the prairie. We frequently have seen them perched on a stem or leaf, observing for prey, as noted in the title photo and below. From their perch they will fly to snag an insect, stab them with their pointed mouth parts (see second photo below), and inject a digestive saliva that immobilizes the prey. The robber fly will then perch anew to finish its meal. It is considered a “beneficial” insect as it feeds on many insects that bother mankind or destroy our crops. Interestingly, I don’t recall ever seeing them in my garden where no pesticides are used.
In the prairies of Adams County, Ohio we have come across the hills of the Allegheny Mound Ants. These are significant structures and this one measured about twenty inches in height and twenty four inches in diameter. We could watch the ants teaming over the mound.
Another mound was identified as being part of a research project out of Ohio State University.
While we frequently feature the insects as isolated specimens, as you look closely at the flowers what really strikes you is the number of pollinators that are are visiting a flower head at the same time.
Here are eight insects on a small section of Goldenrod, including two who are actively mating.
And here, are many insects on a flower head of Teasel, again, including two that are copulating. It appears that insects agree that flowers are very romantic. Although it is somewhat blurry, note the colorful Ailanthus Webworm moth below the flowerhead.
We will close out our parade of insects with a feature on the butterflies that we saw at Kamama Prairie.
First was the Silver-spotted Skipper. To the left is the more common way it is visualized, with an exposed underside of its wing. To the right is the topside of its wing. We have never captured that view before.
Little Glasswing and Pearl Crescent.
Cloudless Sulphur and Great Spangled Fritillary. The Cloudless Sulphur was larger than most other sulphurs that you see.
And then the stars of the show – the larger butterflies.
Tiger Swallowtail on Cup Plant.
Pipevine Swallowtail on an immature Goldenrod.
Pipevine Swallowtail with Butterfly Weed.
Tiger Swallowtail with Teasel.
As we were leaving the preserve through the woodland, we had a surprise encounter with a Giant Swallowtail. They are the largest butterfly in North America. We were up on a ridge above the creek and the butterfly was below us, creekside, and kept its distance. The photographers caught these photos from at least thirty feet away. If you notice, the first photo is of its underside and the other is of the topside, as the damaged wing changes right to the left.
So the take home message is that prairies are so much more than colorful flowers and grasses swaying in the breeze. They are also teaming with insects that play pivotal roles in the habitat and just happen to be fascinating. So slow down and take it all in – I am sure that you will be introduced to some insects that are surprisingly beautiful and captivating beyond measure.
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Photo credits to Peggy Juengling Burns and Caroline Burns Grizzle.
Overview:
Location – 778 Steam Furnace Road, Peebles, Ohio, 73 miles from downtown Cincinnati.
Parking – gravel lot for 15-20 cars.
Trail Conditions – mowed grassed path through the prairies and bare dirt through the woodland. I would recommend long pants. There is a lot of sun exposure so pack water.
Print Map Link – https://static1.squarespace.com/static/640b875d14fa1852d6031793/t/65590599254b3365e1064364/1700332953579/Kamama+Prairie+Hiking+Guide.pdf
Facilities – none.
Benches – none noted.
Picnic Tables – none.
Kids – I would suggest 6 and over.
Dogs – prohibited.
Suggested Paired Hikes – There are three trails here. The Kamama Trail is the primary and longest trail, and the Prairie Fire Trail is a loop that arises off of it about midway along its route. A separate trail is the Blazing Star Trail, that also appears to be called Andy’s Trail, which has “prairie influenced woodlands” and is reported to be a nice venue for spring ephemeral wildflowers.
Links:
TERRIFIC ONCE AGAIN