"Frog eggs in spring" by Jane Slade
Image ID: 6295
Plant(s): Leopard Frog eggs
Photo Story: From day one our homemade water feature adjoining our backyard to the woods has attracted frogs, mostly the Northern Leopard frog. We have enjoyed frogs every year watching them sun themselves, swim, and hearing their calls.
Equipment: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W810
Photographer: Jane Slade
Location: In the water feature in my Bay-wise certified backyard
Chapter: Partner At Large
"Steve-Schmidt-MonarchOnThistle-2021" by Steve Schmidt
Image ID: 6497
Plant(s): Monarch / Danaus plexippus on Thistle (poss. Bull Thistle)
Photo Story: What to do on a hot summer day? Go out and take photos of whatever comes up.
Equipment: Nikon D7200 / Tamron 150-600mm
Photographer: Steve Schmidt
Location: Lakewood Forest Preserve, Wauconda, IL
Chapter: Partner At Large
"Steve-Schmidt-MilkweedBugs-2021" by Steve Schmidt
Image ID: 6498
Plant(s): Milkweed Bugs (Oncopeltus fasciatus) on host Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
Photo Story: I planted both common and swamp milkweeds a few years ago in my garden. They have really taken off! These bugs are a common sight in mid to late summer. Here, they appear to be mating.
Equipment: Nikon D7200 / Tamron 150-600mm
Photographer: Steve Schmidt
Location: Home Native Garden
Chapter: Partner At Large
"Monarch Caterpillar" by Joseph Eichers
Image ID: 6535
Plant(s): Milkweed (Asclepias) - Monarch Caterpillar
Photo Story: Walking my dog in the neighborhood
Equipment: Canon SL1 Sigma 105mm lens
Photographer: Joseph Eichers
Location: Grafton WI
Chapter: Partner At Large
"Brad-Sabre-americantoad-sphagnummoss-2021.jpg" by Brad Sabre
Image ID: 6543
Plant(s): Sphagnum Moss and American Toad
Photo Story: After a long hard rain I ventured out and found this uniquely colored American Toad in a bed of Sphagnum Moss
Equipment: iPhone 12 Pro
Photographer: Brad Sabre
Location: Lac du Flambeau, WI
Chapter: Milwaukee-Southwest-Wehr
"Wooly Caterpillar" by Joseph Eichers
Image ID: 6544
Plant(s): Not sure
Photo Story: On a walk/hike camera in hand
Equipment: Canon SL1 Sigma 18-300mm lens
Photographer: Joseph Eichers
Location: Forest Beach Migratory Preserve Port Washington WI
Chapter: Partner At Large
"Liatris and Surprise Insect" by Jennifer Kubicki
Image ID: 6698
Plant(s): Scaly blazing star (Liatris squarrosa) and the eyes of an unidentified insect.
Photo Story: This is a very small Liatris, and one that could be easily overlooked and or stepped on while cruising through a prairie however, we had just set out and this plant was in full sun and not far from a parking lot that had been cleared. Somehow, this tiny insect was nestled inside the tube of the Liatris flower head when the photo was taken and I never really noticed it until I blew this photo. So, if someone can identify this insect that would be great - otherwise it's a surprise!
Equipment: Cannon T5
Photographer: Jennifer Kubicki
Location: In a Prairie Adams County, Ohio
Chapter: Columbus
"Widow Skimmer Dragonfly" by Jennifer Kubicki
Image ID: 6699
Plant(s): Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) Dragonfly Female on Grass Spp. Stalk on the edge of a pond.
Photo Story: My husband and I regularly go out to this location for great photoshoots as The Ohio State University has allocated this location specifically in the hopes of developing better farm practices to address the growing need of incorporating native plants, insects, and animals into the windbreaks, roadsides and around streams and ponds.
I really enjoy photographing native birds and insects and hope that more people get a chance to find out how beautiful and unique they really are.
Equipment: Cannon T5i
Photographer: Jennifer Kubicki
Location: The Molly Caren Agricultural Center near London, Ohio
Chapter: Columbus
"Alien" by Nan Pokerwinski
Image ID: 6811
Plant(s): I haven't been able to identify this fungus.
Photo Story: I found this growing by the roadside in late June. I haven't been able to identify it. When I posted the picture on Facebook and asked if anyone knew what it was, responses ranged from sourdough bread to alien life forms to fungal giraffe colony to mosaic Easter eggs, but no one had a serious, definitive answer. So all I can say is, "It's Alive" (or at least it was in late June).
Equipment: Nikon Coolpix P610
Photographer: Nan Pokerwinski
Location: Croton, Michigan
Chapter: River City-Grand Rapids Area
"Fungi Found" by Karen Ruffner
Image ID: 6819
Plant(s): Fungi
Photo Story: Found while volunteering at AJG
Equipment: I phone
Photographer: Karen Ruffner
Location: Anderson Japanese Gardens
Chapter: Rock River Valley
"Viceroy" by Renee Benage
Image ID: 6854
Plant(s): Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) butterfly; uncertain of flower
Photo Story: Observed this monarch in the butterfly garden at the Missouri Department of Conservation Busch Wildlife Area in St. Charles County, Missouri.
Equipment: Canon Power Shot SX70 HS
Photographer: Renee Benage
Location: Busch Wildlife Area
Chapter: St. Louis
"Monarch Launch" by Barb Paulini
Image ID: 6857
Plant(s): Pollinator : Monarch Butterfly ( flower-fly )
Photo Story: Humbled and curious by the attempt to 'raise' monarchs and release them into the garden.
Equipment: Fuji X100
Photographer: Barb Paulini
Location: Fox Point Wisconsin
Chapter: Milwaukee-North
"Moss on a log" by Beth Nutter
Image ID: 6873
Plant(s): Moss not sure which kind. Lots going on.
Photo Story: This is moss on a log! Maybe a two inch area . It’s like a whole village of wonderment! I could live here if I was a fairy .
Equipment: iPhone 4
Photographer: Beth Nutter
Location: Tyler creek
Chapter: Greater Kane County
"Widow Skimmer" by Frances Manos
Image ID: 6883
Plant(s): widow skimmer (Libellula luctuosa)
Photo Story: During a hike at Horlock Prairie, on July 3, 2019, in St. Charles, we saw many dragonflies, including this widow skimmer, who posed for just long enough for me to snap a photo. I have learned that dragonflies will pause on stems and stalks to survey an area for prey. I think this is a female.
Equipment: Canon Powershot SX60
Photographer: Frances Manos
Location: Horlock Prairie, St. Charles Illinois
Chapter: Greater Kane County
"The Hungry Caterpillar" by Daniel Cruikshanks
Image ID: 6894
Plant(s): Monarch caterpillar feeding on Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
Photo Story: While shooting monarch butterflies in the garden this summer, I spotted this little on feeding.
Equipment: Nikon D500 with Nikkor 60mm lens
Photographer: Daniel Cruikshanks
Location: Otsego, MI
Chapter: Kalamazoo Area
"Milkweed Bug" by Daniel Cruikshanks
Image ID: 6895
Plant(s): Large Milkweed Bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus) on Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Photo Story: While shooting monarchs in the garden, I got this shot.
Equipment: Nikon D500 with Nikkor 60mm lens
Photographer: Daniel Cruikshanks
Location: Otsego, MI
Chapter: Kalamazoo Area
"Gary-Shackelford-milkweed-bug-square-dance-2021" by Gary Shackelford
Image ID: 6946
Plant(s): Large milkweed bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus), common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
Photo Story: Large milkweed bugs (Oncopeltus fasciatus) on common milkweed. (Note: milkweed bugs are not pollinators of milkweed, which is why I am not submitting this image in the Pollinators category.)
Equipment: Nikon D850, Nikon 200mm macro lens
Photographer: Gary Shackelford
Location: Fair Meadows SNA, Wisconsin
Chapter: Madison
"Gary-Shackelford-monarch-caterpillar-on-swamp-milkweed-2021" by Gary Shackelford
Image ID: 6947
Plant(s): Monarch caterpillar (Danaus plexippus), swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
Photo Story: A monarch caterpillar is feeding on the leaf of a swamp milkweed. Frass excreted by the caterpillar is shown on a nearby leaf.
Equipment: Nikon D850, Nikon 200mm macro lens
Photographer: Gary Shackelford
Location: Fair Meadows SNA, Wisconsin
Chapter: Madison
"Where’s Alice? (Resubmitted for correct category.)" by Keren Pomp Fortier
Image ID: 6979
Plant(s): I cannot identify this fungus or caterpillar
Photo Story: NOTE: I am resubmitting this photo because I previously entered it into the wrong category.
This is, itself, a story starter.
Equipment: iPhone
Photographer: Keren Pomp Fortier
Location: Wompatuck State Park
Chapter: South Shore MA
"Almost a Monarch on Swamp Milkweed" by Ruth Hilfiker
Image ID: 7006
Plant(s): Swamp milkweed, Asclepias incarnata
Photo Story: I planted 6 swamp milkweed in my 10 ft x 28 ft raingarden and each one had two Monarch larvae on them. Subsequently 8-10 Monarchs made my raingardens their summer home feeding on the nectar of of my Ironweed, Butterfly milkweed and Swamp milkweed, and Liatris ligulistylis.
Equipment: iphone 7
Photographer: Ruth Hilfiker
Location: My raingarden, New Richmond, WI
Chapter: St. Croix Oak Savanna
"Endangered Elegance" by Ruth Hilfiker
Image ID: 7018
Plant(s): Dotted Blazing Star, Liatris punctata and Monarch butterfly
Photo Story: The Dotted Blazing Star is a Wisconsin Endangered plant. This particular plant was rescued from the construction site of the new Stillwater bridge and is a unique local genotype. The Monarch has a preference for nectar from this species and Liatrus ligulistylis.
Equipment: iphone 7
Photographer: Ruth Hilfiker
Location: My raingarden, New Richmond, WI
Chapter: St. Croix Oak Savanna
"WOLF'S MILK SLIME MOLD" by Susan Wagoner
Image ID: 7056
Plant(s): Wolf's Milk Slime Mold (Lycogala epidendrum)
Photo Story: I cut down a dead pine tree many years ago and left it to rot in my yard, which I do to support fungus, etc. and insects. One day I saw these beautiful spherical growths on the log and researched it. It is a slime mold that when punctured, exudes a toothpaste-like pinkish material. They did not last long, as they soon dried up and shriveled.
Equipment: Canon EOS 7D- 100 mm macro lens.
Photographer: Susan Wagoner
Location: Aurora, Illinois (my backyard)
Chapter: Greater Kane County
"SHAGGY MANE MUSHROOM" by Susan Wagoner
Image ID: 7057
Plant(s): Shaggy Mane Mushroom (Coprinus comatus)- presumptive ID
Photo Story: I saw this in November at one of my favorite forest preserves, Hoover F.P.
(I believe I submitted this previously under the incorrect category-- wish it did not automatically flip to the first category!! Please disregard that one. Thanks.)
Equipment: Canon EOS 7D- 100mm macro lens
Photographer: Susan Wagoner
Location: Hoover Forest Preserve, Yorkville, Illinois
Chapter: Greater Kane County
"Dog-Day Cicada" by Troy Waldschmidt
Image ID: 7064
Plant(s): Dog-Day Cicada (Neotibicen canicularis)
Photo Story: I was lucky enough to capture this cicada emerging into adult stage
Equipment: Cannon PowerShot pocket camera
Photographer: Troy Waldschmidt
Location: Backyard Peoria Heights Illinois
Chapter: Illinois Prairie
"Brenda Adams camouflaged for success 2021" by Brenda Adams
Image ID: 7065
Plant(s): Camouflaged looper
Photo Story: I was weeding the area and noticed a piece of yellow moving on my Ratibida columnifera. Upon further inspection I saw one of the camouflaged loopers having just cut out a piece of the yellow petal and had not adorned it yet. Another looper appeared to already be fully adorned.
Equipment: Canon EOS Rebel T6i
Photographer: Brenda Adams
Location: In my garden in the hell strip next to the street
Chapter: St. Louis
"Eat Dessert First" by Julie White
Image ID: 7084
Plant(s): Monarch caterpillar on Milkweed
Photo Story: I'd never seen a monarch eat the bloom before, so to me it looked like he was having his dessert!
Equipment: Google Pixel f/2.0 1/125 4.67mm
Photographer: Julie White
Location: My backyard in St Charles, Illinois
Chapter: Greater Kane County
"Aphid Invasion" by Julie White
Image ID: 7091
Plant(s): Common Milkweed (asclepias syriaca) with Aphids
Photo Story: The aphids were in full force this year on my milkweed. Never had them before this year. Lessons learned the hard way.
Equipment: Nikon D7500 f/5.6 1/250 105.00mm ISO 220
Photographer: Julie White
Location: My backyard in St Charles, Illinois
Chapter: Greater Kane County