Tag: Brooksville

Pine Hyacinth | March 30 | Alice Mary Herden

Pine Hyacinth

Published on by Alice Mary Herden | Green-Fly MediaLeave a comment

If you ever wanted to feel like you are in a fairy-tale-like forest, this is the flower to be around.

pine hyacinth 5
Pine Hyacinth | March 30 | Alice Mary Herden

This is my top favorite native wildflower, just being around them make you feel like you are in this fairy-like wonderland. The way the petals curl and fray, they are just beautiful. The pink/lilac burst in color during their blooming stage and as they soak in more of the sun their colors blend to a soft pastel and then to white. This flower has an amazing transformation.

Pine Hyacinth | March 28 | Alice Mary Herden
Pine Hyacinth | March 28 | Alice Mary Herden

I have seen a few at Big Pine, but never as many as I saw yesterday. After a prescribed burn, around 4-6 months ago (time flies) these wildflowers just popped up out of nowhere.

Pine Hyacinth | March 28 | Alice Mary Herden
Pine Hyacinth | March 28 | Alice Mary Herden

That particular area FWC biologists, Matt Koenig, and Cliff Barga conducted a prescribed burn is filling up with Pine Hyacinth, and now is the best opportunity to photograph them. 

There is another species of these flowers, called a Netleaf Leather-Flower. The leather flower has the same flower shape but is a vine.

Big Pine Tract is part of the Chinsegut Wildlife and Environmental Area.  The entrance is off of Old Crystal River Road in Brooksville. Be sure to sign in!

According to the Plant Atlas, the first documented species was in Hernando County in 1958 by George. R. Cooley, in the Chinsegut Hill area.

Links:

https://flawildflowers.org/flower-friday-clematis-baldwinii/

https://fnps.org/assets/pdf/pubs/clematis_baldwinii_pine-hyacinth_3_0.pdf

 

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Broad-lined Erastra | March 21 | Alice Mary Herden

Broad-lined Erastra

Published on by Alice Mary Herden | Green-Fly MediaLeave a comment

While on assignment in the Withlacoochee State Forest I noticed this beautiful moth!

Broad-lined Erastra | March 21 | Alice Mary Herden
Broad-lined Erastra | March 21 | Alice Mary Herden

I couldn’t find much information about this particular moth on the internet, but according to Bug Guide, this is a male.

Broad-lined Erastra | March 21 | Alice Mary Herden
Broad-lined Erastra | March 21 | Alice Mary Herden

I have heard many people say to tell the difference between a moth and a butterfly is the moth always has its wings flatten… well that is not correct. The best way to tell is by their antennas. Butterflies have long straight antennas and most moths have these cool feathered antennas.

I think it might be time to spend some daylight hours in the Withlacoochee State Forest!

 

Ornate Bella Moth

Published on by Alice Mary Herden | Green-Fly MediaLeave a comment

After the Butterfly Count at Chinsegut Conservation Center, a friend Linda Morehouse, who is also an FWC Volunteer as well, and I decided to take a short hike over at the Big Pine Tract. Big Pine Tract

Chinsegut Wildlife and Environmental Area has three hiking areas; Nature Center Trail, Pines to Prairie Trail (Corner of 41 and Snow Memorial HWY), Big Pine Tract as well as managing Perry Oldenburg and Janet Butterfield. Janet Butterfield is closed to the public, however they do have closed hiking days available, see http://myfwc.com/chinsegut for scheduled next hike)

The Ornate Bella Moth..

Bella Moth
Ornate Bella Moth with wings opened | August 25

What a beautiful moth! The colors orange and pink with black spots just features an extraordinary design against its white body!

Bella Moth
Ornate Bella Moth side profile | August 25

The life cycle of the ornate Bella Moth is short.. only three weeks. The host plant for the Bella Moth is the Lanceleaf Rattlebox, which is toxic to human and livestock (Important information: http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/phag/2012/10/05/weed-alert-lanceleaf-rattlebox/)

Photographing these moths with their wings open is difficult, patience and putting your drive mode on continuous is the best way to go.

Links

http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/beneficial/leps/bella_moth.htm

https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/bella-moth/

http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/entnemdept/2018/04/05/bug-day-bella-moth/