After surveying the butterflies around the Belleplain State Forest headquarters, we headed over to the Vine Street area for our last walk of the year. Highlights included a distant view of a juvenile Raccoon and close-ups of Fence Lizard, and assorted insect predators going about their business. Butterflies seen were Black, Eastern Tiger, and Spicebush Swallowtails; Dun, Silver-spotted, and Zabulon Skippers; American Lady; Pearl Crescent; Eastern Tailed Blue; and Red-banded Hairstreak. Dragonflies and Damselflies included: Azure Bluet, Familiar Bluet, Common Whitetail, Swamp Darner, and Carolina Saddlebags. Wildflowers in bloom included: Anise-scented Goldenrod, Blue Curls, Creeping Bush-clover, Maryland Golden Aster, Maryland Tick-trefoil, Sensitive Partridge-pea, and Woodland Sunflower. The damage caused by non-native, invasive species was also witnessed and discussed, such as Chinese Mantis and Japanese Stilt-grass. Leaders: Mike Crewe, Catherine Busch, Bert Hixon, Chris Marks and Mike Hannisian.
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| Blue Curls [Photo by Catherine Busch] |
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| Fence Lizard [Photo by Catherine Busch] |
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| Crab Spider and American Lady prey [Photo by Catherine Busch] |
