"What a thousand acres of Silphiums looked like when they tickled the bellies of the buffalo is a question never again to be answered, and perhaps not even asked." -Aldo Leopold
I was fortunate to make two trips to Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge last November. Unfortunately, weather conditions were not conducive for holding a lot of birds on the refuge and I did not find a lot of opportunities for great bird photography. On one of these trips I did get lucky with a cooperative coyote.
Contracted Datana
Datana contracta fam. Notodontidae
Host plant: Oak
Dates found: 16 September, 2025
Locations found: Not recorded
Notes: Caterpillars of the genus Datana are easily recognized. They have the same basic body plan of long hair-like setae giving them a fuzzy appearance. They are all gregarious, being found in groups of up to hundreds of individuals. When disturbed, they react by throwing their heads and posteriors upwards, forming a “U” shape.
It’s that time of year, so I thought I’d share a trio of thrush species that I have photographed over the past couple of years.
What a treat I had recently! Chris Brown invited me over to photograph a male Promethea silkmoth (Cephalanthus occidentalis) that had just eclosed. This was one that he had reared from one of the caterpillars I shared here last year. This guy was super cooperative with us and was a pleasure to photograph. Thanks Chris!
Small Engrailed
Ectropis crepuscularia. fam. Geometridaae
Host plant: Not recorded
Dates found: 23 August, 2025
Locations found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: This is the sole member of its genus found north of Mexico. It’s range covers the U.S. coast to coast, including parts of Alaska and much of Canada.
Baileya Caterpillar
Baileya sp. fam. Nolidae
Host plant: Not recorded
Dates found: 30 August, 2025
Locations found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: There are four to six Baileya species found in Missouri. Although host plant preference may help to distinguish species, physical characteristics are of little help.
I’ve gotten to a point in a personal project that I can now spend some time posting more frequently here and processing some photos that have been backing up. Not that I have had a ton of success in getting significant photo opportunities the last several months.
The following are some photos of interesting insects that the WGNSS Entomology Group found on a couple trips to Missouri glades last year.
First up are a couple of moths found at a light trap we set up during a camp out at Caney Mountain Conservation Area in late September. The cool conditions were not conducive to attracting many moths, so the pickings were slim.
Next up is the fantastic Cicindelidia obsoleta vulturina (prairie tiger beetle). This species is primarily found in Texas, but there are scattered populations in Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.
Finally, from a trip to Hughes Mountain Natural Area, we found a good number of Trimerotropis saxatilis (lichen grasshopper) Fam. Acrididae. These masters of camouflage utilize open, rocky areas like Missouri’s glade habitats.
Plagodis Geometer Caterpillar
Plagodis sp. fam. Geometridae
Host plant: Not recorded
Dates found: 06 September, 2025
Locations found: Babler State Park, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: Plagodis larvae are well camouflaged to look like woody twigs on their host plants. Their body shape and coloration are not their only tools to use in their adaptive subterfuge. When disturbed, these twig mimics will become rigid instead of attempting to flea, often assuming this position while being handled.
Lace-capped Caterpillar
Ianassa lignicolor fam. Notodontidae (Hodges#017)
Host plant: Found on white oak (Quercus alba)
Dates found: 18 September, 2025
Locations found: Council Bluff Lake, Iron County, MO
Notes: A specialist, feeding only on oaks (Quercus spp.) and birches (Betula spp.).
During a WGNSS Photography Group outing to the Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center back in November of 2025, we had some nice luck with a Sharp-shined Hawk. My best photos to date of this species.
A Thousand Acres of Silphiums 