Snowy Orchid

Snowy Orchid (Habenaria nivea)

Snowy Orchid (Habenaria nivea)

Snowy Orchid (Habenaria nivea)

Snowy Orchid (Habenaria nivea)

Snowy Orchid (Habenaria nivea)

Mimic Glass Lizard and other highlights

Mimic Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus mimicus)

Mimic Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus mimicus)

Mimic Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus mimicus)

Mimic Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus mimicus)

Mimic Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus mimicus)

Mimic Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus mimicus)

Fernald's Pogonia (Pogonia bifaria)

Fernald's Pogonia (Pogonia bifaria)

Checkered beetle (Trichodes apivorus) on pipewort (Eriocaulon sp.) blossom 

Pricklypear (Opuntia humifusa)

Showy Milkwort (Polygala violacea)

melanistic Eastern Hognose (Heterodon platirhinos)

melanistic Eastern Hognose (Heterodon platirhinos)

Pitcherplant Moth Life Cycle

Pale Shoulder Pitcherplant Moths (Exyra semicrocea)
in Whitetop Pitcherplant (Sarracenia leucophylla)
The adult females will lay eggs inside young pitchers.

After a couple weeks, the Pale Shoulder Pitcherplant Looper has woven webbing across the mouth of the pitcher, which effectively excludes many potential predators.

Opening a hole in the side of the pitcher reveals the moth larva where it has been grazing on the inner layers of plant tissue, but leaving the pitcher structure largely intact with one hole below to drain the pitcherplant's fluid.  The larva will pupate inside the pitcher over winter and emerge as an adult moth the following spring.

After noticing the adult moths perching inside the pitcherplant but not becoming meals for the plant as do most insects that enter, I became curious about them.  I found some good information on larval identification in Owlet Caterpillars of Eastern North America.

New camera

After the better part of a year of not having a camera due to mine being inundated with salt water, we finally have a new camera!  It's our first DSLR, and I have much to learn.  I've lucked out a few times already, and am enjoying learning.  I hope you enjoy these photos as well, and I'm all ears on tips you might have for me!

Bearded Grass-pink (Calopogon barbatus)

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus)

Whitetop Pitcherplant (Sarracenia leucophylla) flower

Gulf Crayfish Snake (Regina rigida sinicola)

Pale Shoulder Pitcherplant Moth (Exyra semicrocea)
in Whitetop Pitcherplant (Sarracenia leucophylla)

Black Skimmer (Rhynchops niger) pair in courtship flight

Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina)

Gulf Purple Pitcherplant (Sarracenia rosea) flower

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) in defensive posture

Whitemouth Dayflower (Commelina erecta)

American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus)

Southern Leopard Frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus utricularius)

Little Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes tuberosa)

Pitcher plants in bloom

I love carnivorous plants, and pitcher plants are among the most spectacular of these. They are incredible plants to see, and I feel very fortunate to work in an area that has lots of them. Enjoy!


Whitetop Pitcherplant (Sarracenia leucophylla)












Yellow Pitcherplant (Sarracenia flava)








Gulf Purple Pitcherplant (Sarracenia rosea)






Gulf Coast Redflower Pitcherplant (Sarracenia rubra gulfensis)






Parrot Pitcherplant (Sarracenia psittacina)










Hybrids








I've always thought that the pitcher plant flowers are unique and interesting. Click HERE to see a clearly-labeled diagram showing the pitcher plant flower parts.