Posted by Brad Mangas on September 14, 2008 at 6:19 PM
I got the gayfeather id'd correctly I'm sure, but the little guy I'm having some question about. As close as I have been able to match it up to in the bug guide is a Tiger Moth Caterpillar. Anyway this was in some tall grass and I spent a good amount of time just waiting for some cloud cover, but it was fun working on it.
Maybe some day I will own a macro lens so I can get some nice sharp detail in things like this.
Xti, 70-300 @ 300mm, f5.6, 1/60
Posted by Wayne Rhodus on September 14, 2008 at 8:30 PM
I don't know, it looks pretty darn good to me Brad. I see some pretty fine detail even in this web presentation. BTW, you've been busy with your reference books lately ... keep up the good work!
Posted by Bill Dark on September 14, 2008 at 9:09 PM
Wow, what a beautiful image, Brad. Nice detail in the flower and caterpillar, and the color is really nice. I'm not too sure about this being gayfeather - maybe a variety of blazing star?
Posted by Daniel Loomis on September 14, 2008 at 9:41 PM
My plant taxonomy class is 35 years in the past . . . to what plant family does it belong? Sadly, I did not take entomology so am clueless regarding the caterpillar.
Very nice shot. Great colors. It is nice to have plants showing up in these posts. Reminds me why I took botany way back then.
Posted by Tom Kennon on September 14, 2008 at 11:07 PM
Brad, this is a really nice capture of the plant and caterpillar, thanks for sharing.
Posted by Don Kurz on September 15, 2008 at 10:36 AM
Hi Brad,
I can help you out with the plant because I know it but I don't have the time right now to key out the caterpillar. You have dotted gayfeather, Liatris punctata.
I would recommend getting a copy of Roadside Wildflowers of the Southern Great Plains by Craig Freeman and Eileen Schofield, University of Kansas Press, Lawrence. Craig is an old acquaintance and he did a nice job with the book.
As for the caterpillar, Lori Spencer, who wrote "Arkansas Butterflies and Moths" would be able to help. I don't have her email address but Tim Ernst would. She is a professional entomologist, lepidopterist and naturalist stationed at the Mount Magazine Nature Center.
Best,
Don
Posted by Brad Mangas on September 15, 2008 at 2:09 PM
Discussion
6 repliesMaybe some day I will own a macro lens so I can get some nice sharp detail in things like this.
Xti, 70-300 @ 300mm, f5.6, 1/60
Very nice shot. Great colors. It is nice to have plants showing up in these posts. Reminds me why I took botany way back then.
I can help you out with the plant because I know it but I don't have the time right now to key out the caterpillar. You have dotted gayfeather, Liatris punctata.
I would recommend getting a copy of Roadside Wildflowers of the Southern Great Plains by Craig Freeman and Eileen Schofield, University of Kansas Press, Lawrence. Craig is an old acquaintance and he did a nice job with the book.
As for the caterpillar, Lori Spencer, who wrote "Arkansas Butterflies and Moths" would be able to help. I don't have her email address but Tim Ernst would. She is a professional entomologist, lepidopterist and naturalist stationed at the Mount Magazine Nature Center.
Best,
Don
Brad