We received many guesses for last week’s mystery! That little snake was a northern black racer. These snakes are found in drier habitats, usually grassy areas or open forest edges.
This week, we turn our attention to the forest floodplain. These dancing critters were on a beech tree. What are they?
Karen Harman says
Beech blight aphid
Richard E. Christian says
Phyllaphis fagi The Wooly Beech Aphid population.
Richard E. Christian says
There is a similar wooly aphid called Asian Wooly Hackberry or Sugarberry aphid. The insects are covered with a thick layer of bluish-white waxy wool.
In the spring and summer, the females are parthenocarpic — that is, they reproduce without males; they give live birth to their young, and there can be multiple generations. The females can be either winged or wingless. In the fall, the winged males are produced, mating with the females to create eggs that will overwinter.