Turtle Journal

Question Mark Butterfly (Polygonia interrogationis)

While roaming woodlands and wetlands in search of hard-shelled reptiles, the Turtle Journal Team often encounters other interesting critters along the way.  Yesterday offered us a glorious peek at a couple of intriguing moth and butterfly specimens that we’d like to share with our friends and colleagues.  In the pine-oak woodlands near the Great Blue Heron rookery, we nearly stumbled over this magnificent butterfly, which we later identified as a question mark.

Question Mark Butterfly in Marion, MA 

No, not a questionable identification.  Yes, definitely a question mark!  I feel as though I’ve fallen through the rabbit hole and find myself in an old Abbott and Costello skit.

Abbott:  “A question mark butterfly.”

Costello:  “I don’t know, you tell me the name of the butterfly.”

Abbott:  “Question mark.”

Costello:  “Yes.  What is it?”

Abbott:  “Question mark.”

Costello:  “Okay.  I give up.  You tell me.  What’s it’s name?”

Abbott:  ‘Question mark.”

And so it goes.

Giant Leopard Moth (Hypercompe scribonia) Caterpillar

On the path to the abandoned Goldwitz Bog also in Marion, Turtle Journal discovered a very large caterpiller, overwhelmingly black with orange-reddish stripes visible as it coiled into a ball when disturbed.

 Giant Leopard Moth Caterpillar in Marion, MA

Ignoring those bright warning colors, we picked up this interesting specimen to examine it closely and to get a sense of its relative size compared to other caterpillars.  Luckily for us, this species is not poisonous.

  

Giant Leopard Moth Caterpillar — Bottom Up

We also like to document the undercarriage of specimens for ease of subsequent identification.  Research confirmed that this critter is the caterpillar of a giant leopard moth.

Giant Leopard Moth Caterpillar near Abandoned Bog

We watched as the moth zigzagged through needles and leaves, occasionally burrowing under the ground cover for a peaceful interlude.

Giant Leopard Moth (from insectlove.tumblr.com)

Back at Turtle Journal headquarters, we searched the internet to find a photograph of the mature giant leopard moth.  We found this picture on insectlove.tumblr.com, but we look forward to encountering a live specimen to capture on film.  The giant leopard moth has a wingspan of three inches!

American Toad (Bufo americanus)

Pitch black, heavy clouds and driving rain.  The absolute best springtime conditions to venture into swamps and bogs of Massachusetts’ South Coast to spy on the ardent rituals of awakening amphibians.  The Turtle Journal vehicle splashed through bottomless puddles.  Our lights probed the gooey darkness as we crawled along a cratered one lane road half a mile through flooded wetlands to reach the abandoned Goldwitz cranberry bog.  Our arrival was greeted by a riotous cacophony of spring peepers, American toads and wood frogs.

 

American Toad from Nighttime Goldwitz Bog

We donned our field gloves, grabbed our sampling nets, snapped on our flashlights and plodded through several inches of rain as we searched the bog channels for creatures of the night.  Spring peepers were everywhere, and we decided to net one of them last because they are so difficult to restrain in the darkness.  Sue Wieber Nourse spotted an American toad and snagged it for closer examination.

Examining American Toad

The Eastern American Toad is a medium size amphibian and fairly common in the wetlands of Southeastern Massachusetts.  This specimen proved quite cooperative during documentation and was quickly released back into the bog channel to continue its mating rituals.

Spring Peeper (Pseudoacris crucifer)

Don Lewis netted two spring peepers for closer examination.  They are brown, tan or beige, and can easily be distinguished by the dark “X” or cross on their back; hence, the name “crucifer” or cross-bearer.

Spring Peeper from Nighttime Goldwitz Bog

These tiny frogs, ranging from less than an inch to maybe an inch and a half, are the most common voices in South Coast wetlands during the spring. 

Examining Spring Peeper

So small, they are quite difficult to control and photograph at night without harming the animal.  We snapped a couple of quick photographs and captured a short video clip as they escaped from the back of the Turtle Journal vehicle.  Within a wink, the peepers had disappeared into the night storm.  Drenched, but contented, we also disappeared into the darkness as we retraced our way back to Turtle Journal central.