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vernal3.bsky.social
Borntobe Free 🌎 ☸️ 🌏🏳️‍🌈 🌍
@vernal3.bsky.social
2.8K followers 3.2K following 1.3K posts
Naturalist (no AI or kill pics). Lesbian. Buddhist (trying). My dog’s human. Evolutionary Biologist . US & Argentina. Activist. 🌍 🏳️‍🌈 , civil/animal rights. DEMOCRACY.💙

SAME ISSUES/HIGHER STAKES!

RESIST->SPEAK OUT the WAY.✊🏽 ☸️. Humor 🤙🏽

NO “Pack” w/o ask
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vernal3.bsky.social
A beauty. Black-edged Prominent Moth ( Americerura scitiscripta). Tinges of purple & teal in the bands. Massachusetts 5.16.25

#moth #Lepidoptera
A beauty. Black-edged Prominent Moth ( Americerura scitiscripta). Tinges of purple & teal in the bands.
May 18, 2025 at 6:48 PM
vernal3.bsky.social
American Beaver, with a scientific name of our neighbor: Castor canadensis. BTW congrats #Canada on your recent election results. #tailslapping 1st pic

Lesson: It IS the Gulf of Mexico, #Mexico. ( #trump didn’t get an #education as you can tell.)

#beavers #mammals #biodiversity #animalbehavior
American beaver tail slapping to warn off unwanted folks. They are very territorial, especially the females.
May 2, 2025 at 2:59 PM
vernal3.bsky.social
From my foray this weekend. Springtime Fairy Shrimp (Eubranchipus vernalis). This male has claspers to grasp the female in mating. They live briefly in Spring cold waters of vernal pools, eating algae & tiny critters.

#Eubranchipus #Fairyshrimp #crustaceans #aquaticinvertebrates #Bugsky #nature
From my foray this weekend. Springtime Fairy Shrimp (Eubranchipus vernalis). This male has claspers to grasp the female in mating. They live briefly in the Spring cold waters of vernal pools, eating algae & tiny critters. Western Massachusetts 4.13.25
April 14, 2025 at 3:15 PM
vernal3.bsky.social
A mid Autumn flower surprised me as I kayaked the slow back area of a large pond. Water Forget-Me-Not (Myosotis scorpioides). It was introduced to NA from Europe or Asia. Here, it’s seen in its floating mat form.

#aquaticplants #introducedspecies
A mid Autumn flower surprised me as I kayaked the slow back area of a large pond. Water Forget-Me-Not (Myosotis scorpioides). It has 5 sky blue petals with a yellow center. It was introduced to NA from Europe or Asia. Here, it’s seen in its floating mat form.
April 13, 2025 at 1:04 PM
vernal3.bsky.social
Spring is slow this year, here. Freak wet snow this morning. Chickadees, titmice, juncos, mourning doves, goldfinches, nuthatches, Woodpeckers: Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied, Carolina wren, Eastern Phoebe, &, of course, cardinals. Life is waking up, under leaves & bark, in soil.

#nature #backyard
Spring is slow this year, here. Freak wet snow this morning. Chickadees, titmice, juncos (soon migrating), mourning doves, goldfinches, Woodpeckers: Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied, Carolina wren, Eastern Phoebe, &, of course, cardinals. Life is waking up, under leaves & bark, in soil. Western Massachusetts
April 12, 2025 at 1:22 PM
vernal3.bsky.social
American Giant Millepede (Complex Narceus americanus) Found climbing sapling at hill peak. Seem to come out in droves here this time of year. But on Earth for 400 my. Large. Compared to many East. N. America #invertebrates.
NE US 9.10.21

#millipedes #arthropods #insects #nature #Bugsky
Millipedes first appeared in the fossil record 400 million years ago and are some of the first animals to have lived on land. North American millipedes sense their environment using their antennae, which can taste food, smell odors, feel, measure temperature, find water, and sense pheromones. Their Tömösváry organs, found at the base of the antennae, specifically measure humidity and possibly act as chemoreceptors. In addition, they have eyes on either side of the head which detect light and movement. Potential mates communicate using pheromones and silk trails. Info. from iNaturalist
April 11, 2025 at 1:32 AM
vernal3.bsky.social
Argus Northern Caddisfly (Hydatophylax argus). One of most distinctive of the innumerable #caddisfly species with bold wing patterns & veins. Caddisfly adults are terrestrial, larvae are aquatic. NE N. America. NE US 6.5.23

#caddisfly #Limnephilidae #Bugsky #insects #arthropods #nature #iNaturalist
Argus Northern Caddisfly (Hydatophylax argus). One of the most distinctive of the innumerable #caddisfly species with bold wing patterns & veins. Caddisfly adults are terrestrial, larvae are aquatic. NE N. America. NE US 6.5.23
April 9, 2025 at 6:30 PM
vernal3.bsky.social
Witch’s butter (possibly), Tremella mesenterica. On small fallen birch branch in moist forest. Still early Spring 4/4/25 NE US

#Tremella #Fungi #mycology
Witch’s butter (possibly), Tremella mesenterica. On small fallen birch branch in moist forest. Still early Spring 4/4/25 NE US
April 8, 2025 at 12:01 AM
vernal3.bsky.social
A Pug Moth larva (caterpillar) (Eupithecia) (feeding?) on a Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) flower. Bright pic for a rainy day, here.

#moths #mothlarvae #Bugsky #invertebrates #Rudbeckia
A Pug Moth larva (caterpillar) (Eupethecia) on a Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) flower. The caterpillar is small, slender, colored a lime green with backwards slanting hatch marks on its back. NE US July 2022. Bright spot on a rainy day here.
March 30, 2025 at 8:54 PM
vernal3.bsky.social
Hot off press. Resolution not great . . .but timing was right. Largest concentration of fairy shrimp ( #Eubranchipus) I’ve ever seen. These are likely E. vernalis, the only one of 2 Massachusetts species not listed. Many males; no brood pouches. Early season? March 26, 2025.
#vernalpools #Bugsky 🐞🪰
March 27, 2025 at 2:39 AM
vernal3.bsky.social
A Common Snipe Fly (Rhagio mystaceus). Pretty common in eastern N. America but I just like the front mirrored pic so posted. Also shows how interesting flies can be. NE US May 2024

#Snipefly #Flies #Rhagionidae #Bugsky #Invertebrates
A Common Snipe Fly (Rhagio mystaceus). Pretty common in eastern N. America but I just like the front mirrored pic so posted. Also shows how interesting flies can be. The posterior abdomen has 3 yellow rings & the wings are patterned in black & light yellow bands. NE US May 2024
March 26, 2025 at 4:43 PM
vernal3.bsky.social
Some of my favoritist critters - fairy shrimp, Eubranchipus vernalis, one of 2 species found in Massachusetts. Live as adults for a brief ~2 weeks in Spring vernal pools. Much more info. in video Alt.

#fairyshrimp #Eubranchipus
#vernalpools #Massachusetts #iNaturalist
#crustaceans #invertebrates
March 21, 2025 at 1:25 AM
vernal3.bsky.social
Male (red abdomen) Habronattus decorus jumping spider not sure whether to do a stare-down or call it a day. Edge of wet meadow. Common, mostly northern N. America. NE US August 2024

#Habronattus #Salticidae #jumpingspiders #spidersky
Male (red abdomen) Habronattus decorus jumping spider not sure whether to do a stare-down or call it a day. Edge of wet meadow. Common, mostly northern N. America. NE US August 2024
March 18, 2025 at 9:43 PM
vernal3.bsky.social
I played with some editing features (to compensate for my camera & skill ;-) to get the “real” full moon eclipse that I saw (& posted below). It was so deeply bright & alive.

#lunareclipse
I played with some editing features (to compensate for my camera & skill ;-) to get the “real” full moon eclipse that I saw (& posted below). It was so deeply bright & alive.
March 15, 2025 at 5:14 PM
vernal3.bsky.social
I’m no expert photographer but I’d like to share a dark version of what I saw last night. The Blood (or Worm, in a Native American language, for Spring) Full Moon had a full eclipse. Here is what I tried to capture at 2:09 as it was coming out of the eclipse in Massachusetts, US.

#lunareclipse
Darkened version of the Blood Moon lunar eclipse near peak at 2:09. In real time it was like umber/orange.
March 14, 2025 at 10:50 PM
vernal3.bsky.social
A good find: Bittacus pilicornis capturing a moth. AKA the hairy-horned scorpion fly, a member of the #Bittacidae (hangingflies). They have mottled wings, long legs, the 2 posterior pair w tarsal claws for catching prey. Scattered. NE US July ‘24

#Bittacus #insects #bugsky #predation #iNaturalist
Bittacus pilicornis, a hangingfly, scattered in Eastern N. America, capturing a moth. NE US July 2024
March 13, 2025 at 3:44 PM
vernal3.bsky.social
Walnut Sphinx moth (male?) (Amorpha juglandis). Cool fact: If attacked by a bird, the caterpillar produces a high-pitched whistle by expelling air from pairs of abdominal spiracles to🤞🏽scare bird. Common N. America NE US June 2023

#Sphinxmoths #Amorpha #Lepidoptera #bugsky #insects #invertebrates
Walnut Sphinx moth (male?) (Amorpha juglandis). Large moth with sculpted forewings layered with pink, pastel, & tan. NE US June 2023. Common N. America.
March 10, 2025 at 11:42 PM
vernal3.bsky.social
My first video: Female & Male Red-shouldered Hawks (Buteo lineatus) seconds after mating. Here (MA in US) they migrate. Came back 2 weeks early last 3 years to their breeding ground here. (More info in Alt.). As most birders know, mating is quick. March 13, 2021

#Red-shoulderedhawk #buteos #mating
March 7, 2025 at 5:06 PM
vernal3.bsky.social
First sighting in Massachusetts ( #iNaturalist). Tomoxia lineella, a Tumbling Flower Beetle. Member of F. Mordellidae whose tumbling jumps to escape predators have been clocked at 80 ms long each. This species found eastern NA. NE US July 2024

#Tomoxia #Coleoptera #Mordellidae #insects 🪲🪰
First sighting in Massachusetts ( #iNaturalist). Tomoxia lineella, a Tumbling Flower Beetle. Striped abdomen; brown & pastel elytra markings. A member of F. Mordellidae whose tumbling jumps to escape predators have been clocked at 80 ms long each.
March 6, 2025 at 3:19 PM
vernal3.bsky.social
For Hopper fans (like me). The leafhopper Gyponana (maybe) procera. Leafhoppers, in general, suck sap from various types of plants. Scattered throughout eastern US & California. NE US October 2024.

#leafhopper #Cicadellidae #insects #bugsky #invertebrates #Gyponana
A leafhopper. Gyponana (maybe) procera. Green, like many Gyponana, with patchwork venation. Orange eyes & spiky legs to spread various secretions on itself.
March 5, 2025 at 3:44 PM
vernal3.bsky.social
I am continually amazed by moths; their variety & appearance. This is the beautiful Lettered Habrosyne Moth (Habrosyne scripta), common & endemic to the NW & NE regions of N. America. Its larvae are partial to raspberries. NE US June 2023.

#moths #lepidoptera #LetteredHabrosyne #Drepanidae #nature
Beautiful Lettered Habrosyne Moth (Habrosyne scripta). Forewings have a series of undulating, fine dark lines on their forewings. Endemic N. America. NE US June 2023
March 4, 2025 at 9:03 AM
vernal3.bsky.social
A beautiful Northern Ringneck snake (Diadophis punctatus edwardsii) found under tarp covering cordwood. Endemic to eastern N. America, common though nocturnal so not commonly seen. NE US August 2023.

🐍 #snakes #Diadophis #Colubridae
Northern Ringneck snake found under tarp covering cordwood. NE US August 2023. Nocturnal so not often seen but common.
March 4, 2025 at 8:33 AM
vernal3.bsky.social
An Evans’ Plume Moth (Capperia evansi). Uncommon though not listed anywhere. July 12, 2024 NE US. Drawn to lights.

#moths #Massachusetts #plumemoths #insects #bugsky #invertebrates #uncommonmothssightings #iNaturalist
Evens’ Plume Moth. Uncommon. Eastern N. America. Wide, furcated wings distally, dark brown & cream abdomen; same for distal forewings. Spiky looking appendages; also with some dark brown/white striping.
March 1, 2025 at 2:33 AM
vernal3.bsky.social
For mushroom lovers. A wet July 2023 yielded this beauty. Two-colored Bolete (Baorangia bicolor) on a decaying branch. Common eastern NA, Nepal (where it is often eaten) & China. Having disparate localities is called a Grayan disjunction. NE US.

#fungi #mushroom #bolete #Grayandisjunction
Two-colored Bolete. Red capped & stemmed mushroom of deciduous woods. Common in N. America, Nepal (where it is often eaten) & China. Having 2 populations widely separated like this is called a Grayan disjunction. Apparently a common phenomenon in fungi.
February 26, 2025 at 12:50 AM
vernal3.bsky.social
A male Arabesque Orbweaver spider (Neoscona arabesca). Like spiders 👍🏽 Common. In goldenrod leaf crook. Mixed field. June 28, 2022 NE US.

#Orbweaver #spidersky #arachnids #invertebrates
A male Arabesque Orbweaver spider (Neoscona arabesca). Common. In goldenrod leaf crook. Mixed field.
February 24, 2025 at 2:06 AM