The Meadowlands Blog

Mystery Spider Solved

   On Sunday's Native Plant walk, along came a spider that we could not identify.
   Not to worry. The walk's leader, Edith Wallace, was on the case. An expert pal of hers passed along a link about the Goldrenrod Crab Spider, which -- as it turns out -- is even more amazing than we had thought.
   Link is here. (Thanks, Edith!)

Grasshopper Afternoons

 

    We all know the fable of the Ant and the Grasshopper, and how the ant saved food for the winter while the Grasshopper goofed.

   But given the sunny weather of the past few days, who can blame this Grasshopper for chilling out on the Transco Trail in DeKorte Park? 

Minding the Bees

     When we put up American Kestrel boxes at the Erie Landfill, we didn't expect so many tenants, and of the "wrong" species.

  We now have a healthy hive of Honey Bees filling the box.

   What to do?

    We brought in a local beekeeper, who says that the bees should make it through the winter, and that he can transport them to a conventional hive in the spring.

   Since Honey Bees have been under stress of late -- colony collapse disorder has killed these bees by the millions in the past few years -- we were glad that we have a happy healthy hive in North Arlington.

Nifty Spider in Ridgefield

   This spider was found in the Girls Scout Butterfly Garden in the Ridgefield Community Garden earlier this month, with bats, flying squirrels, and a doe and 2 fawns. Photo by Bruce Riede. Thanks, Bruce!

Cicada Cacophony

                                                                                        

    Here's a couple of new photos of a Cicada -- one of the guys who has been making all that racket in the trees at DeKorte Park and elsewhere.

    More on Cicadas here.

   A nice recent New Jersey article on Cicada, crickets and Katydids is here.

Praying Mantis at DeKorte Butterfly Garden this a.m.

TUESDAY TEASER 020309

    A sharp-eyed NJMC naturalist saw this on a juniper tree in Harrier Meadow last week. Do you know what it is?
   Click "Continue reading ..." for the answer.
   Click here for more Tuesday Teasers.

   COMING THURSDAY: More neat stuff from Harrier Meadow

MONARCHS: Migration

 

Grab your camera.

A major Meadowlands Monarch migration is under way -- from along the Hackensack River to Mill Creek Marsh to Lyndhurst and North Arlington.

  More on migrating Monarchs here.

INSECTS: Praying mantis

   We saw this praying mantis the other day at the base of the Erie Landfill in North Arlington.

   He was huge, and totally unfazed by humans walking by -- to the point we almost accidentally stepped on him.
   More on praying mantises here.
   Riddle: What is a praying mantis' favorite plant?
   Click "Continue reading..." for the answer.

MYSTERY BEETLE

   Saw this guy last week in Harrier Meadow in North Arlington.
   It was about the size of a bumble bee.
   Can anyone help with an ID?

Camo Boy

   Grasshopper in a dry streambed.

NORTH ARLINGTON: Mystery caterpillar

    We took this shot of a mystery caterpillar last month by the AMVETS Carillon in North Arlington.
   Can anyone help with an ID?