As promised, in this chapter of my Photographing Maryland Series, we're headed toward the mountains....beginning in Frederick County.
Future chapters will explore the highlands further west, but first...
...we're going on a bug hunt!
Catoctin Mountain Bug Safari
September 13, 2015
What would happen if an experienced group of naturalists and nature photographers were to assemble their gear and acquired prowess and descend deep into the woods of Western Maryland with one common mission in mind…to locate, identify, and photograph as many living insect species as they could find in a single day?
This is the question I asked myself.
It was a question which begged to be answered, so the concept of organizing a late summer Bug Safari evolved into fruition.
A date was chosen, a venue was selected, and the arduous task of choosing an apposite team of participants began.
The choice of the Safari location was the easy part.
The Catoctin Mountains in Frederick County Maryland are locally renown for miles of crystalline creeks and scenic vistas, but surprisingly few documentary accounts explore the diversities of life which abound during the late summer months.
Before we meet our Bug Safari team, I’d like to offer a brief prologue into a few of the photographic opportunities available within the Catoctin Region.
Maryland photographers can consider the remote wilds encompassing this region of Frederick County as a year-round destination.
In winter, photographers willing to brave the harsh elements and slippery roads within the Catoctin Mountains are amply rewarded. Her creeks and tumbling rapids are transformed into dramatic pageants of snow and ice.
As winter’s ice and snow eventually melt into spring. Wildflowers are in bloom, and the creatures of the forest awaken.
During early summer, an explosion of life begins as countless species of butterflies and moths plant their seeds upon tender green leaves.
Their larvae hatch, and begin gorging...
During the hot mid-summer, the caterpillars grow quickly. By late August and early September, most species have attained maximum growth and are easy to find.
...and then, PRIME TIME ARRIVES!
It’s no secret that the September 13th Bug Safari date corresponded with peak caterpillar season in the Catoctins.
..and in all of my years exploring the local woods, there are few places in Maryland where such a diversity and abundance of caterpillars exist.
The Bug Safari's mission was to find them!
From left to right:
BILL VANKO and I have shared many local adventures together…both here in the Catoctins, and at other Maryland wildlife hotspots. An accomplished nature photographer, Bill is at home in the woods as he is at the WBAL studios, where he recounts the news of the day to the Baltimore masses.
Be sure to look for his perennial Wildlife Calendar…a popular favorite among nature lovers. The 2016 edition should be hot off the presses soon!
You can order yours at Bill's Website.
BOB CAMMARATA (yours truly)
My passion for nature and adventure has led me to every corner of the U.S. and beyond. I’ve traveled from the rugged peaks of Katahdin in northern Maine to the Florida Everglades…from the fertile banks of Northern Superior to the Rio Grande…and from the wilds of Yellowstone and Glacier NP to the arid vastness of the Desert Southwest.
Ironically, most of my favorite photography destinations are right here in Maryland!
My only regret, is that I’m running out of new places to explore.
BONNIE OTT’s diverse catalog of wildlife photographs is truly legendary! Her photos have been featured on so many wildlife websites that it’s difficult to find one where her name doesn't immediately pop up!
Until September 13, Bonnie and I have corresponded only through e-mails and on Flickr.
It was great to finally meet face to face…and watch her in action!
GIFF BEATON and I have been good friends and travel companions for many years. His passion for fishing is what brought us together nearly 4 decades ago. During those early years, we shared many memorable adventures. We chased bass on local reservoirs, (when the waves were a little too big), and pursued trophy trout in streams that were "too small”. His love for the outdoors eventually evolved into nature photography.
As a renown wildlife photographer, author and lecturer, Giff’s impressive knowledge of species identification and behavior patterns proved to be a valuable asset to the Safari team. We were all grateful that Giff Beaton was able to re-arrange his hectic schedule and fly up from Georgia to join the group.
JUDY GALLAGHER, who describes herself on Flickr as “…an amateur naturalist and photographer.”, is another insect and wildlife photographer whom I’d never officially met. Having admired her incredible collection of insect photos, which hardly seem amateurish, Judy was among the first invited to join our merry band of searchers.
I remember commenting that a successful field trip is defined as finding and photographing at least one new species per outing. Judy admitted to being introduced to 25 new species that day in the Catoctins!
MARK ETHERIDGE is a local naturalist, documentarian, and an editor of the Maryland Biodiversity Project, an organization who’s mission is focused upon “…cataloging all the living things in Maryland.” …a daunting task, indeed!
Mark’s contributions of knowledge and field experience were welcomed and appreciated by all.
RICHARD ORR (not pictured in the group photo), is an insect field biologist with over 35 years of experience. He is the owner and operator of MAIFS (Mid-Atlantic Invertebrate Field Studies), and a prolific contributor to the Maryland Biodiversity Project. We all expected to learn a LOT from Richard, and we were not disappointed!
I was surprised to learn that Richard (and Bonnie) were very familiar with the areas of the Catoctin Mountains I’d chosen as our search sites. Apparently, throughout the years, we’d been flipping over the same logs and snake boards at “Peeper Pond” in search of critters to photograph. (…small world, indeed!)
THE BUG SAFARI BEGINS
We gathered on a cool, windy September morning at a parking lot in the city of Frederick. After a few brief introductions and exchanges in pleasantries, the team headed west toward the mountains. Every one was brimming with anticipation, contemplating what we might find. With so many experienced eyes and talents at the helm, we knew that we would find a LOT!
A short drive later, three vehicles, seven photographers, and over ten thousand dollars in photo gear were bouncing along rugged roads rife with potholes and gully washes.
Many remote sections of the Catoctin Mountains are rugged and unforgiving, but on this trip, I’d promised the group a “tame” safari. The drive notwithstanding, I was determined to maintain my commitment to that promise.
Our first stop was at a place I call Oak Meadows.
As mentioned, it was prime-time for caterpillar hunting in the Catoctins so it was no surprise that we began spotting and photographing interesting Lepidoptera species almost immediately.
The giddiness and excitement surrounding each new discovery was entertaining to watch.
We were those kids left alone in the candy store who never grew up.
Thankfully, Bill had the foresight to bring along a GoPro camera and he was able to capture a snippet of time-lapse video of the group searching for hidden caterpillars in the trees and fields at Oak Meadows.
Yeah...it really WAS that windy!
From there, we continued on...stopping randomly to search road-side vegetation and hike a few trails. The cats were everywhere, and everyone shot their fill!
This is one of many beautiful Daggers we found. Most were on oak and witch hazel.
...if only we had time to shoot them all!
Of all the fascinating creatures we spotted and photographed, this Wood Nymph found crawling around in a patch of jewel weed by Bonnie, was one of the more memorable. It was only the second one I'd ever seen. Giff's excellent rendition captured this remarkable creature in all its glory!
A SEPTEMBER SLUG-FEST
For serious insect hunters, few species are more prized than members of the Limacodidae family of Slug Moth caterpillars.
The Catoctin region is home to at least fifteen confirmed slug caterpillar species. This handsome Parasa chloris was one of nine different slug species found by the group that day.
Isa textula, one of the more photogenic slugs, is widespread throughout Maryland. Collectively, we found over a dozen of these tiny living jewels.
Every member of the team enjoyed adding at least one Crowned Slug image to their portfolios.
Button Slugs can be difficult to identify with complete certainty, but I think we got these two ID'd correctly.
One thing I've learned through years of searching, is that button slug caterpillars seem to be confined to isolated pockets of foliage. If you find one, keep searching the same area to find more. They seem to prefer oak, witch hazel and sycamore but as Richard proved, they can be found on other trees as well.
Skiff Moth caterpillars are highly variable in color, but their distinctive design is unmistakable.
The tiny white oval on the Skiff’s lower body is an egg deposited by a parasitic Tachinid Fly. The other white spot, and a matching one on the other side of its body, are part of the Skiff Moth’s natural defenses...designed to fool marauding Tachinids into believing that the caterpillar had already been parasitized.
Sadly for the doomed Skiff, the ruse failed.
The group's fascination with all of the slug caterpillars we were finding evolved into a friendly competition to see who could find a real "toughy"...one of the rare exotics which occupy the seldom-seen class.
Bill's Monkey Slug certainly qualifies as one of the rarer discoveries.
These alien-looking creatures are purportedly more common in other parts of Maryland,
but here in Frederick County, that Hag was quite a find!
You can read more about Maryland Limacodidae here.
Another noteworthy discovery was this puzzler, found by Mark.
The consensus of the group was that it was some form of Lycaenid, but as of this writing, no one has narrowed it down to species.
MAN DOES NOT LIVE BY CATERPILLAR ALONE
We decided to give the caterpillars a little break when Giff Beaton found a Red-Spotted Newt. Everyone was quick to join the action.
From left to right...Judy, Giff, Richard, Bonnie (hands with camera) and Bill...who later commented, “....that newt’s gonna need to hire an agent!”
I'm so glad that someone in the group captured one of these beauties.
Spintharus flavidus arachnids are colorful little spiders, and are ubiquitous encounters while peeking at the undersides of leaves, usually while searching for something else.
Until recently, I'd only seen these charismatic creatures along an isolated stretch of the NCR Trail in northern Baltimore County.
Since I've been turning over a lot more leaves these days, I've learned that they are actually quite common...particularly in the Frederick County Highlands.
Surprisingly, this was the only adult butterfly, that I know of, photographed that day.
We likely would have seen and photographed many more if the wind wasn’t howling.
When Bonnie found this, none of us were immediately aware of what we were actually seeing. Subsequent research revealed a gruesome reality. That black oval, secured and tethered by silken thread, is the cocoon of a pupating Meteorus wasp, a parasitic predator.
The desiccated exoskeleton lying nearby appears to be the remains of a Red-humped Oakworm, most likely consumed earlier by the wasp's larval form.
In your mind’s eye, it’s easy to go back in time and mentally re-construct the events leading up to this little drama.
Brutal conflicts and interactions consistently occur within the insect kingdom...many of which are all but invisible to the naked eye. Prodigious, story-telling moments like these are what makes insect photography so fascinating and rewarding.
ASPIRATIONS FULFILLED
When the concept of organizing this event first came to mind, I had three primary goals.
I promised that each member of the team would find at least one new critter that he or she had never seen before. I hoped that everyone (myself included) would glean knowledge and improve their techniques by watching the others in action.
And lastly...I hoped that we'd have fun!
I believe that all of these aspirations were realized.
With everyone's participation, a lot of fascinating caterpillars and other insects were found and photographed. I'm certain that we all learned something new. I know I did.
And I'm pretty sure that the Catoctin Mountain Bug Safari was a fun time for all!
When you turn a bunch of kids loose in a playground...how can it NOT be? :)
© Bob Cammarata 2015
bobcammarata.blogspot.com
(All photography by author, except where noted.)
No portion of this material may be copied or used without permission
I'd like to express my personal thanks and appreciation to all who participated in this project, either with with their expertise or with their fabulous photos.
I'm hoping that we can do it again!
(We're sorry that Ashley couldn't make it...we missed you.)
To read my other articles, either use the Blog Archive links to the right of this page, or the links at the bottom of my Bio Page
To read my other articles, either use the Blog Archive links to the right of this page, or the links at the bottom of my Bio Page
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