Goldenrod Soldier Beetle or Pennsylvania Leatherwing (Chauliognathus pensylvanicus)

September 14th, 2012. We took off up to Stephens County and explored two separate areas: the Lake Russell Wildlife Management Area and Currahee Mountain. After we left the Lake Russell WMA, we drove north to Currahee Mountain.

From Currahee Mountain, we drove to Clayton. Along the road, we were treated to a wonderful display of Smallfruit Beggarticks (Bidens mitis). It was late afternoon but we had to stop and take some photographs. I was busy taking photographs when I realized that there were a lot of small beetles on the flowers. They blended fairly well with their surroundings, especially if they were on the flower centers.

Goldenrod Soldier Beetle (Chauliognathus pensylvanicus) on Smallfruit Beggarticks (Bidens mitis)

A closer view

Then I noticed that there were a number of pairs mating. They’d move away if I disturbed them but, otherwise, the female seemed only interested in feeding on the pollen.

Although only the female seemed to be feeding, the male must have gotten some pollen somewhere along the line. It’s visible on his mouth parts in the following photos.

The Goldenrod Soldier Beetle (Chauliognathus pensylvanicus) is native to and widely distributed in North America. These beetles are parasitized by a fungus, Eryniopsis lampyridum, that will kill them. All of the beetles on these bushes appeared to be healthy

Note: The specific name ‘pensylvanica’ is not mis-spelled. Apparently this was a common spelling of Pennsylvania at the time this beetle was described

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Identification resources:

Bug Guide: Goldenrod Soldier Beetle (Chauliognathus pensylvanicus)

Ninnescoh Life: Goldenrod Soldier Beetle (Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus)

Jonathan Neal, Living With Insects Blog: Goldenrod Soldier Beetle

Arthur V. Evans, What’s Bugging You: Beetles of Eastern North America: Goldenrod Soldier Beetle

Related posts:

- Smallfruit Beggarticks (Bidens mitis)

Smallfruit Beggarticks (Bidens mitis)

September 14th, 2012. We took off up to Stephens County and explored two separate areas: the LakeRussell Wildlife Management Area and Currahee Mountain.

From Currahee Mountain, we drove to Clayton. Along the road, we were treated to a wonderful display of Smallfruit Beggarticks (Bidens mitis). It was late afternoon but we had to stop and take some photographs.

The patch of plants

A closer view

The leaves

Individual flowers

Bidens mitis (Smallfruit Beggarticks, Ditch Daisy, Bur-marigold, Midwestern Tickseed-sunflower) is native to the United States where it’s found from Virginia to Texas. In Georgia, it’s only been formally documented from a few counties.

But the flowers weren’t the only surprise… More next...

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Identification resources:

Southeastern Flora: Bidens mitis (Smallfruit Beggarticks)

Name that Plant: Native and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia: Bidens mitis (Ditch Daisy, Bur-marigold, Midwestern Tickseed-sunflower)

Distribution:

United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Bidens mitis (Smallfruit Beggarticks)

Related posts:

- Stephens County: Currahee Mountain – At The Summit

- Stephens County: Currahee Mountain – Below TheSummit

- Stephens County: Russell Lake Wildlife Management Area

Stephens County: Currahee Mountain – At The Summit

September 14th, 2012. We took off up to Stephens County and explored two separate areas: the Lake Russell Wildlife Management Area and Currahee Mountain. After we left the Lake Russell WMA, we drove north to Currahee Mountain.

Currahee Mountain, the highest mountain in Stephens County at 1,735 feet above sea level, rises steeply approximately 800 vertical feet (240 m) above the surrounding area and allows a view for many miles around on a clear day. The mountain lies to the southeast of Georgia's Blue Ridge Mountain crest and is part of the Georgia Piedmont or "foothill" province. It’s a popular place for rock climbers.

The road wound up a relatively gentle incline until it started up the ridge to the summit of the mountain itself. As we rounded a fairly steep bend in the road, I spotted several different wildflowers growing on the top of an gravel embankment. The embankment was too high and steep to climb but several of the flowers were hanging down. Continued from

The view from the summit of the mountain was spectacular

Looking to the south and southeast. This was where my fear of heights kicked in. The path went right along the edge of the summit; it was a vertical drop from the edge of the summit. The rock-climbing sections of the mountain were directly below us.

Carya species  (Hickory)

Hickory nuts

Eupatorium serotinum (Lateflowering Thoroughwort, Late Boneset)

I didn’t take much notice of the plant once I noticed that the plant was covered with…

Atteva aurea (Ailanthus Webworm Moth)

 

Querqus sp. (Oak sp.)

Ageratina aromatica (Lesser Snakeroot, Aromatic Eupatorium, Small-leaved White Snakeroot, Wild-hoarhound)

The flowers

A closer view. These are exquisite flowers.

The leaves

Symphyotrichum patens (Late Purple Aster)

The flower

The leaf

The Currahee Mountain road was a rich source of wildflowers

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Identification resources:

Southeastern Flora:

- Symphyotrichum patens (Late Purple Aster) 

Name that Plant: Native and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia:

- Eupatorium serotinum (Late-flowering Boneset,Late-flowering Thoroughwort, Late Eupatorium, Late Boneset)

- Ageratina aromatica (Aromatic Eupatorium, Small-leaved White Snakeroot, Wild-hoarhound)

Vanderbilt University: Eupatorium serotinum (Lateflowering Thoroughwort, Late Boneset)

J. Pippen, Duke University: Lesser Snakeroot (Ageratina aromatica)

Bug Guide: Atteva aurea (Ailanthus Webworm Moth) [Dorsal] [Lateral]

Distribution:

United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database:

- Eupatorium serotinum (Lateflowering Thoroughwort) 

- Ageratina aromatica (Lesser Snakeroot) 

- Symphyotrichum patens (Late Purple Aster) 

 

Related posts:

- Stephens County: Currahee Mountain – Below The Summit

- Stephens County: Russell Lake Wildlife Management Area

Stephens County: Currahee Mountain – Below The Summit

September 14th, 2012. We took off up to Stephens County and explored two separate areas: the Lake Russell Wildlife Management Area and Currahee Mountain. After we left the Lake Russell WMA, we drove north to Currahee Mountain.

Currahee Mountain

Currahee Mountain, the highest mountain in Stephens County at 1,735 feet above sea level, rises steeply approximately 800 vertical feet (240 m) above the surrounding area and allows a view for many miles around on a clear day. The mountain lies to the southeast of Georgia's Blue Ridge Mountain crest and is part of the Georgia Piedmont or "foothill" province. It’s a popular place for rock climbers.

The road wound up a relatively gentle incline until it started up the ridge to the summit of the mountain itself. As we rounded a fairly steep bend in the road, I spotted several different wildflowers growing on the top of an gravel embankment. The embankment was too high and steep to climb but several of the flowers were hanging down.

Physostegia angustifolia (Narrowleaf False Dragonhead)

There were several physostegia plants growing in the grass on the top of the embankment. One stalk was hanging down over the edge of the embankment. 

Two Physostegia species – P. angustifolia and P. virginiana (Obedient Plant) grow in

Georgia. P. angustifolia has narrow leaves compared with those of  P. virginiana.

Liatris microcephala (Narrow-leaf Blazing Star, Small-head Blazing-star, Appalachian Blazingstar)

 

Boltonia species (White Doll's Daisy)? 

This is my best guess but I could be far off. Any assistance in identifying this flower would be appreciated.

The flower

The leaves

Coreopsis major (Great Tickseed)

The flower

The leaves make it easy to identify this species at a distance

Further along the ridge, we found…

Parthenium integrifolium (Common Wild Quinine)

The flower

The leaf

Pityopsis graminifolia (Narrowleaf Silkgrass) is differentiated easily from Pityopsis aspera (Pineland or Carolina Silkgrass) by the grass-like leaves at the base of the plant.

The plant

The flower

This was a beautiful stand of plants that begged to be photographed

Next: Currahee Mountain - at the summit

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Southeastern Flora:

- Physostegia angustifolium (Narrowleaf False Dragonhead)

- Coreopsis major (Greater Tickseed) 

- Parthenium integrifolium (Common Wild Quinine) 

- Pityopsis graminifolia (Narrowleaf Silkgrass)

Name that Plant: Native and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia:

- Liatris microcephala (Narrow-leaf Blazing Star, Small-head Blazing Star)

- Partheniumin tegrifolium (Common Wild Quinine)

 

Alan Cressler: Liatris microcephala

Distribution:

United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database:

- Physostegia angustifolia (Narrowleaf False Dragonhead)

- Liatris microcephala (Smallhead Blazing Star)

- Coreopsis major (Greater Tickseed)

- Parthenium integrifolium (Wild Quinine)

- Pityopsis graminifolia (Narrowleaf Silkgrass)

Related post:

- Stephens County: Russell Lake WildlifeManagement Area

Stephens County: Russell Lake Wildlife Management Area

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September 14th, 2012. We took off up to Stephens County and explored two separate areas: the LakeRussell Wildlife Management Area and Currahee Mountain.

Lake Russell WMA

The road ran through relatively dry habitat where we found a surprising number of wildfowers in bloom.

A Desmodium sp. – possibly Desmodium perplexum (Perplexed Tick Trefoil) based on the spicules on the leaf petioles.

The leaves. The spicules are visible on the petiole just below the leaf on the right.

Lobelia puberula (Downy Lobelia)

Pityopsis graminifolia (Narrowleaf Silkgrass) is differentiated easily from Pityopsis aspera (Pineland or Carolina Silkgrass) by the grass-like leaves at the base of the plant.

The plant with the grass-like leaves at the base

The flower

Helianthus sp.  My best guess is that this is Helianthus atrorubens (Purple-disc Sunflower, Hairy Wood Sunflower, Appalachian Sunflower) but it’s only a guess. I’d love to know if this is a helianthus.

The flower

The leaves

Agalinis purpurea (Purple False Foxglove or Purple Gerardia)

 

Chrysopsis mariana (Maryland Goldenaster)

The flower

The leaves

Helianthus sp. – possibly Helianthus giganteus (Giant Sunflower) – although the leaves don’t seem right for this species. These were very tall plants.

The flower

A bud

The leaves

Elephantopus tomentosus (Hairy elephantfoot or Devil’s Grandmother)

We were delighted to have found quite a variety or wildflowers along this very dry, dusty road. 

Next, Currahee Mountain.

Click on an image to view a larger image

Identification resources:

Duke University, J. Pippen: Desmodium perplexum (Perplexed Tick Trefoil)

Southeastern Flora:

- Lobelia puberula (Downy Lobelia)

 

- Pityopsis graminifolia (Narrowleaf Silkgrass)

- Chrysopsis mariana (Maryland Goldenaster)

- Helianthus giganteus (Giant Sunflower)

- Elephantopus tomentosus (Hairy Elephantfoot)

 

Name that Plant: Native and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia:

- Helianthus atrorubens (Purple-disc Sunflower, Hairy Wood Sunflower,Appalachian Sunflower)

- Agalinis purpurea (Purple Gerardia)

 

Alan Cressler:

- Helianthus atrorubens

- Agalinis purpurea

Distribution:

United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database:

- Desmodium perplexum (Perplexed Ticktrefoil)

- Lobelia puberula (Downy Lobelia)

- Pityopsis graminifolia (Narrowleaf Silkgrass)

- Helianthus atrorubens (Purple-disk Sunflower)

- Agalinis purpurea (Purple False Foxglove)

- Chryopsis mariana (Maryland Goldenaster) 

- Helinathus giganteus (Giant Sunflower)

- Elephantopus tomentosus (Devil’s Grandmother)