Here is a guy I found the other day in this glade area. Its amazing that in 2 weeks it went from covered with wildflowers to covered with different wildflowers including some nice prickly pears. There was one with 2 blooms and 2 more blooms ready to pop. I hope to catch it with all 4 out.
Tim, I am still working on those fantasy land plants and animals that you posted earlier. Whew, it is taking longer than I had expected! However, I can help you with this i.d. The showy insect is the Large Milkweed Bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus, and it is looking for nectar to sip from these unopened wild onion flowers, Allium canadense var. lavendulare, formerly know as Allium mutabile. Although called wild onion, I think it should be called glade onion because it is commonly found on glades. By the way, there is another wild onion that flowers in the fall on glades called Allium stellatum.
The large milkweed bug feeds on milkweed pods by sucking out the sap but it will also go after nectar from other flowering plants.
Hi Tim,
That is a very colorful milkweed bug. I like the sharpness that you have gotten in the head, will done and thanks for sharing. BTW I know of one location that has a prickly pear plant but have never seen it bloom, I'd be intrested in seeing your images when you get them.
Tim,
Great eye on this one. I'd like to see a little of the left side cropped out. I think the image would have a little better weight with some of the BG gone and the milkweed bug a little more off center.. Great shot!
By the way. Does Don Kurz just plug his brain directly into a computer while he sleeps? Or maybe his pillow is an encyclopedia, and he learns by osmosis. Either way, I never cease to be amazed.
Thanks a Ton again Don! I wasn't sure of the onion, I was thinking wild onion but wasn't sure without seeing it open. This area is covered up with them. (as in not able to step without stepping on them) Dont put to much effort into the fantasy land animals, I dont foresee any fantasy land sales.(well, I do but their check never seems to arrive.)
Is there a variety of sensitive briar that is purple with no yellow. This thing has to be the related.
David, now you know the location of at least a dozen more. Middle Fork Barrens Natural Area, AR Natural Heritage Commission in Saline County.
Yep Dominic, I see what you mean and agree. I really dont like the 35mm format because of the wide frame. You always have to cut off the ends. I wish Canon or Nikon would have changed it when they started making sensors smaller but maybe I'm the only one they would have sold that idea to. I would prefer more of an 8x10 ratio.
Looking further into Arkansas taxonomy, please change my determination of wild onion, Allium canadense var. lavendulare to Allium canadense var. mobilense.
Yes, the common sensitive briar is purple to pink and is called Mimosa quadrivalvis var. nuttallii, formerly Schrankia uncinata. If you have a copy of my Ozark Wildflowers book, you can find a photo and description of it on p. 161. Possibly the the yellow that you mentioned is the stamens and maybe you saw flowers with the yellow pollen already spent?
Middle Fork Barrens Natural Area is high on my list of places to visit. Theo Witsell, Natural Heritage Commission Botanist, emailed me the plant checklist of this shale glade. Very impressive! Also, shale glades are very rare so this is a very special place and I am glad that it is now protected.
Thanks for the correction. I should have given the location first.
Would this shale be from the Mississippian Fayetteville shale? I'm guessing it cant be Hale or Bloyd formation? The shale seems to be at various angles sugesting maybe this area was shuffled up well during the collision of the tectonic plate and the other southern plate? Maybe I'll do some reading on the Ouachitas.
I haven't been there yet, but searching the management plan I found: Underlying the natural area is the Womble Shale. The Womble formation is of Middle Ordovician age and consists of mostly black shale with thin layers of limestone, silty sandstone, and some chert. It is confined to the Central Ouachita Mountains physiographic province.
Discussion
8 repliesThe large milkweed bug feeds on milkweed pods by sucking out the sap but it will also go after nectar from other flowering plants.
Best, Don
That is a very colorful milkweed bug. I like the sharpness that you have gotten in the head, will done and thanks for sharing. BTW I know of one location that has a prickly pear plant but have never seen it bloom, I'd be intrested in seeing your images when you get them.
Great eye on this one. I'd like to see a little of the left side cropped out. I think the image would have a little better weight with some of the BG gone and the milkweed bug a little more off center.. Great shot!
By the way. Does Don Kurz just plug his brain directly into a computer while he sleeps? Or maybe his pillow is an encyclopedia, and he learns by osmosis. Either way, I never cease to be amazed.
Is there a variety of sensitive briar that is purple with no yellow. This thing has to be the related.
David, now you know the location of at least a dozen more. Middle Fork Barrens Natural Area, AR Natural Heritage Commission in Saline County.
Yep Dominic, I see what you mean and agree. I really dont like the 35mm format because of the wide frame. You always have to cut off the ends. I wish Canon or Nikon would have changed it when they started making sensors smaller but maybe I'm the only one they would have sold that idea to. I would prefer more of an 8x10 ratio.
Tim
Looking further into Arkansas taxonomy, please change my determination of wild onion, Allium canadense var. lavendulare to Allium canadense var. mobilense.
Yes, the common sensitive briar is purple to pink and is called Mimosa quadrivalvis var. nuttallii, formerly Schrankia uncinata. If you have a copy of my Ozark Wildflowers book, you can find a photo and description of it on p. 161. Possibly the the yellow that you mentioned is the stamens and maybe you saw flowers with the yellow pollen already spent?
Middle Fork Barrens Natural Area is high on my list of places to visit. Theo Witsell, Natural Heritage Commission Botanist, emailed me the plant checklist of this shale glade. Very impressive! Also, shale glades are very rare so this is a very special place and I am glad that it is now protected.
Best, Don
Would this shale be from the Mississippian Fayetteville shale? I'm guessing it cant be Hale or Bloyd formation? The shale seems to be at various angles sugesting maybe this area was shuffled up well during the collision of the tectonic plate and the other southern plate? Maybe I'll do some reading on the Ouachitas.
Tim
I haven't been there yet, but searching the management plan I found: Underlying the natural area is the Womble Shale. The Womble formation is of Middle Ordovician age and consists of mostly black shale with thin layers of limestone, silty sandstone, and some chert. It is confined to the Central Ouachita Mountains physiographic province.
Best, Don