An eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) stuff small seeds into his cheek pouches. Summer, Mine Falls Park

An eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) peers at me from behind a fallen tree. The little bulge between his jaw and shoulder is his partially filled cheek pouch. Summer, Mine Falls Park

An eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) peers at me from behind a fallen tree. He stayed there a surprisingly long time, at least a couple of minutes. Finally, he decided to chance it and walked right past me, within a foot of me, as I sat on my favorite boulder. Summer, Mine Falls Park

An eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) peers at me from behind a fallen tree. He stayed there a surprisingly long time, at least a couple of minutes. Finally, he decided to chance it and walked right past me, within a foot of me, as I sat on my favorite boulder. Summer, Mine Falls Park

A gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) in a pitch pine (Pinus rigida) eating a green cone he had cut from a white pine (Pinus strobus). There is a picture of what's left of the cone when he's finished down below. Summer, my back yard, Nashua, NH

A gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) in a pitch pine (Pinus rigida) eating a green cone he had cut from a white pine (Pinus strobus). There is a picture of what's left of the cone when he's finished down below. Summer, my back yard, Nashua, NH

A red fox (Vulpes vulpes) on the driveway to the Arethusa Falls Trail. He had been standing on the road as I drove up, then disappeared into the forest. As I got my backpack out of the car, he came back. Late spring, Arethusa Falls Trail Head, Crawford Notch State Park

A red fox (Vulpes vulpes) on the driveway to the Arethusa Falls Trail. Late spring, Arethusa Falls Trail Head, Crawford Notch State Park

A red fox (Vulpes vulpes) basks in the morning sunshine on the driveway to the Arethusa Falls Trail. I've never seen a fox basking on a paved road before, but they can sometimes be seen basking on top of their den mounds. Late spring, Arethusa Falls Trail Head, Crawford Notch State Park

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) that had been basking on the driveway to the Arethusa Falls Trail gets to his feet nervously as I approach for a closer look. It's difficult to see the color in this backlit view, but this fox has no white at the tip of his tail, just like the one I had photographed a few weeks earier (below), but it has a bit less gray on the back. Late spring, Arethusa Falls Trail Head, Crawford Notch State Park

A red fox (Vulpes vulpes) on the driveway to the Arethusa Falls Trail. Late spring, Arethusa Falls Trail Head, Crawford Notch State Park

A pair of gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) watch as I pass, eager to get back to their private quarrel after I leave them in peace. Late spring, Mine Falls Park

A gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) pauses atop the fence to assess whether I'm a threat. I was just heading out to take a break at the picnic table! Spring, my back yard, Nashua, NH

A partially eaten meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius). Odd that any predator would have eaten only part of it and left it in the middle of the trail, and especially that it did not eat the large, protien-rich hind leg muscles. My granddaughter, Amber, gets credit for this unusual find. Spring, Beaver Brook Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH

The severed head of a meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius), whose partially eaten torso was found a foot or so away. Spring, Beaver Brook Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH

A chipmunk (Tamias striatus) on an old stone fence. This one seems more reddish than most, with a slight chestnut tinge to its black stripes and a paler shade of red-brown in the rest of its coat. Spring, Marion Davis Trail, Pack Monadnock

A gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) peeks out from behind a hemlock tree (Tsuga canadensis). Spring, Mine Falls Park

A moose (Alces alces) stands beside the road. Moose usually have this "mangy" look in spring as they shed their thick brown winter coats and haven't yet grown their thinner black summer coats. Spring, White Mountain National Forest

A red fox (Vulpes vulpes) pauses, perhaps to listen for mice, as he crosses a meadow. Probably more than a third of the foxes I see in New Hampshire, like this one, have a gray back and hindquarters, and many lack the usual white tail tip. But this is not the "silver fox" phase (all gray with white-tipped tail). It is close in appearance to the "cross fox" phase, but does not have the usual black shoulder stripe. I don't know of any name for this pattern. It's just a red fox with a gray back and hindquarters and no white tip on the tail. Spring, White Mountain National Forest

A mink (Mustela vison) prowls along the north shore of the Mill Pond. Late winter, Mine Falls Park

A mink (Mustela vison) prowls through the pine grove on the north shore of the Mill Pond. Late winter, Mine Falls Park

A beaver (Castor canadensis) swimming in the Mill Pond. He had just surfaced a short distance from my favorite sitting rock, then drifted very slowly, closer and closer, eyeing me warily. Early spring, Mine Falls Park

A beaver (Castor canadensis) swimming in the Mill Pond. After floating a few feet away from me, he turned slowly toward the middle of the pond. Early spring, Mine Falls Park

A beaver (Castor canadensis) swimming in the Mill Pond. Having turned away from me, he began swimming faster and faster, as if he didn't want to attract my attention until he was well away from me. Early spring, Mine Falls Park

A beaver (Castor canadensis) swimming in the Mill Pond. Out near the middle of the narrow western bay of the pond, he abruptly tail-slapped and dove out of sight. Early spring, Mine Falls Park

A beaver (Castor canadensis) swimming in the Mill Pond. He was still suspicious of me, and sort of sneaked along the edge of the ice a little way east of me. Early spring, Mine Falls Park

A beaver (Castor canadensis) swimming in the Mill Pond. Getting more nervous about my presence, but still some distance away, he prepared to tail-slap again, but he didn't do it this time. Early spring, Mine Falls Park

A beaver (Castor canadensis) swimming in the Mill Pond, making a bee(ver)-line for his lodge on the north shore. Early spring, Mine Falls Park

A beaver (Castor canadensis) swimming in the Mill Pond, approaching his lodge on the north shore, as two people walk along the Millpond Trail apparently unaware of the huge rodent. Early spring, Mine Falls Park

A beaver (Castor canadensis) grooming his fur beside the Mill Pond. Early spring, Mine Falls Park

A beaver (Castor canadensis) grooming his fur beside the Mill Pond strikes a pose reminsicent of "The Thinker," though I'm not sure too many deep thoughts were concocted by thinkers scratching their chins with their hind feet. Early spring, Mine Falls Park

A gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) munches one of the last of his stored acorns. Late winter, Mine Falls Park

A gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) with a stumpy tail crosses the Mill Pond via high-tension wire. Late fall, Mine Falls Park

A red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) sits on a stump assessing whether I am a threat or not. Late winter, Arethusa Falls Trail, Crawford Notch State Park

A chipmunk (Tamias striatus) with an acorn in his mouth freezes to see if I've seen him, before bolting down his burrow. Early summer, Elkins Road, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH

A muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) trying to hide under the overhanging grass on the shore of the Mill Pond. Spring, Mine Falls Park Downloaded 22 Times.

A chipmunk (Tamias striatus) eating something on the Millpond Trail. Spring, Mine Falls Park

A chipmunk (Tamias striatus) startled as I approach. Spring, Mine Falls Park

A chipmunk (Tamias striatus) peeking warily around a tree. Spring, Mine Falls Park Downloaded 25 Times.

A female moose (Alces alces) crossing the road. Don't know why. Late summer, White Mountain National Forest Downloaded 127 Times.

Chipmunk (Tamias striatus), late spring, Mine Falls Park Downloaded 196 Times.

Red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), early spring, Crawford Notch Downloaded 175 Times.

A bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) resting in the shade near the shore of the Mill Pond. Summer, Mine Falls Park.

A bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) basking in the full sunshine near the shore of the Mill Pond. Summer, Mine Falls Park.

A northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens) in the grass near the shore of the Mill Pond. Summer, Mine Falls Park.

A young bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) hiding in the lush plants at the edge of the Mill Pond. How can I tell this is a small bullfrog and not a green frog (R. clamitans)? Although the two species are nearly identical (except for size), there is one noticeable difference. The green frog has a ridge of skin down either side of its back (as you can see from pictures of that species on this page), and this little frog does not have them. Summer, Mine Falls Park.

A young bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) sitting on the muddy shore of the Mill Pond. How can I tell this is a small bullfrog and not a green frog (R. clamitans)? Although the two species are nearly identical (except for size), there is one noticeable difference. The green frog has a ridge of skin down either side of its back (as you can see from pictures of that species on this page), and this little frog does not have them. Summer, Mine Falls Park.

A bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) sitting among the duckweed (Lemna minor). Summer, Mine Falls Park.

A bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) eyes me from the other side of a fallen log. The water plants here, some just reaching the surface, are water milfoil (Myriophyllum sp.), which chokes the Mill Pond and the Nashua Canal in late summer as it raises its little blossoms above the water. These are not blooming yet. Summer, Mine Falls Park.

A wood frog (Rana sylvatica) in a bicycle tire track in the middle of the trail. This one is rather large for its species, probably a female. Summer, Old City Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A very small toad (Bufo sp., probably B. americanus americanus) pauses as it scurries away at my approach. The Old City Trail was literally hopping with these dime-sized toadlets. Summer, Old City Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A very small toad (Bufo sp., probably B. americanus americanus) pauses as it scurries away at my approach. The Old City Trail was literally hopping with these dime-sized toadlets. Summer, Old City Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens) hides on the leaf-littered bottom of a slow but clear stream. These "grass frogs" are more often seen in meadows than in water, but this one may have been guarding eggs (which I did not see). Summer, Old City Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens) pokes its head above the water as it hides on the leaf-littered bottom of a slow but clear stream. These "grass frogs" are more often seen in meadows than in water, but this one may have been guarding eggs (which I did not see). Summer, Old City Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens) pokes its head above the water as it hides on the leaf-littered bottom of a slow but clear stream. These "grass frogs" are more often seen in meadows than in water, but this one may have been guarding eggs (which I did not see). Summer, Old City Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A red-backed salamader (Plethodon cinereus). Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A green frog (Rana clamitans melanota) in the grassy margin of Beaver Brook. This male frog (eardrum larger than its eye) has much more brown and less green than is typical for its species. Also, like all the frogs I saw at Beaver Brook that day, it is rather thin. I suspect that during the breeding season, the male frogs have not been eating much. Now that it's over, they have all summer to fatten up for hibernation. Spring, Beaver Brook Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH

See the size difference between the bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) at lower left and the green frog (Rana clamitans melanota) at upper right. Other than their voices, sizes, and a few subtle features, these two species are nearly identical. (The bullfrog is a male, as indicated by his large eardrum, and the green frog is a female, with an eardrum smaller than its eye.) Spring, Mine Falls Park

Three red-spotted newts (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens) rest on the bottom of the Beaver Pond. I don't know what the different colors signify. Different sexes? Different ages? Individual variation? Something else? Early summer, Beaver Brook Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH

A red-spotted newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens) rests on the bottom of the Beaver Pond. Early summer, Beaver Brook Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH

An American toad (Bufo americanus americanus) sits on a submerged rock. This is his chosen spot for the breeding season, and he occasionally sings to attract a female. Late spring, Saco Lake, Crawford Notch State Park

A bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) lurking in the Mill Pond. The small eardrum, smaller than the eye, marks this as a female. Late spring, Mine Falls Park Downloaded 20 Times.

A bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) lurking in the Mill Pond. The water is covered with a mat of spirogyra, which almost supports the frog's weight. Spring, Mine Falls Park Downloaded 34 Times.

A northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon) basking on the shore of the Beaver Brook. They are sometimes called "brown water snakes" or "banded water snakes," but the fact is that this species is highly variable in color and pattern. Most tend to grow darker and to lose any banding pattern as they age. This small snake is probably not very old, yet it is nearly black, which is also typical of individuals near the northern end of this species' range. Spring, Beaver Brook Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH Downloaded 223 Times.

A garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) basking beside the trail. Spring, Beaver Brook Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH Downloaded 142 Times.

Red-backed salamader (Plethodon cinereus). This is the "dark phase," lacking the broad bright stripe. The cluster of off-white spheres at upper left is a clutch of salamander eggs. Plethodons are among the few amphibians that lay their eggs on land. The young complete their metamorphosis within the egg and hatch as miniature adults, ready for life in the leaf litter. Also unlike most terrestrial amphibians, red-backed salamanders and their near relatives have no lungs and obtain all the oxygen they need through their skin and mouth linings. Like many modern amphibians, they have no ribs, but a series of "costal folds," visible in the full-size version of the picture, provide some stiffening of the body. Spring, Greeley Park, Nashua, NH Downloaded 222 Times.

Round clusters of white eggs, which I think are probably those of a mole salamader (genus Ambystoma), likley the eastern tiger salamander (A. tigrinum). Spring, Beaver Brook Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH Downloaded 229 Times.

Green frog (Rana clamitans melanota). Spring, Beaver Brook Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH Downloaded 141 Times.

A large snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) in one of the three distributaries that flow from the Mill Pond back to the Nashua River. The water of this slow-moving stream is normally rather murky, but recent rains and snowmelt made it even worse than usual. This is not "The Monster," but it is a typical adult-size snapping turtle, maybe a little larger than typical for Mine Falls Park. I would estimate the carapace length at maybe 13 or 14 inches. Add about 11 or 12 inches for the outstretched neck and head, another ten or so for the tail, and this turtle approaches a yard long, overall. This video gives a clearer idea of the size. Spring, Mine Falls Park Downloaded 275 Times.

A milk snake (Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum) just below Frankenstein Cliff, late spring, Crawford Notch Downloaded 148 Times.

American toad (Bufo americanus americanus), mid-spring, Crawford Notch Downloaded 168 Times.

American toad (Bufo americanus americanus), mid-spring, Crawford Notch Downloaded 149 Times.

Painted turtles (Chrysemys picta picta) basking on a log, mid-spring, Mine Falls Park Downloaded 235 Times.

A moth (order Lepidoptera) on an arrowhead flower (Sagittaria latifolia). Don't know the species of moth for certain, but I'm pretty sure it's some sort of hawk moth (family Sphingidae). Summer, Mine Falls Park.

A rust-colored dragonfly (suborder Epiprocta). Don't know the species. Summer, Mine Falls Park.

A rust-colored dragonfly (suborder Epiprocta). Don't know the species. Summer, Mine Falls Park.

The empty husk of a cicada (Tibicen sp.) hanging on a fence. This is the exoskeleton of the insect's last moult. It lived as a larva underground for two or three years. When it was ready to become a winged adult, it climbed the fence, dug in with its enormous forelegs, and left its old skin hanging on the fence while it emerged, with wings, and flew away. Summer, my back yard, Nashua, NH.

The empty husk of a cicada (Tibicen sp.) lying on the picnic table. I carefully removed it from the fence where I found it and put it on the picnic table for a closer look. Summer, my back yard, Nashua, NH.

The empty husk of a cicada (Tibicen sp.) lying on the picnic table. I carefully removed it from the fence where I found it and put it on the picnic table for a closer look. Summer, my back yard, Nashua, NH.

The empty husk of a cicada (Tibicen sp.) lying on the picnic table. I carefully removed it from the fence where I found it and put it on the picnic table for a closer look. Summer, my back yard, Nashua, NH.

A chalk-fronted corporal dragonfly (Ladona julia) on a long, curled leaf of arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia). Summer, Mine Falls Park.

A yellowjacket (either Vespula maculifrons or V. germanica) on a sweet goldenrod (Solidago odora). Summer, Mine Falls Park.

A male widow skimmer dragonfly (Libellula luctuosa) on a stalk of pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) not yet in bloom. These are called "widow" dragonflies because the male does not accompany the female while she lays her eggs, as most dragonflies do. And they are called "skimmers" because of their habit of flying low above water. Summer, Mine Falls Park.

A gray dragonfly (suborder Epiprocta) on a leaf stalk of pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata). This looks rather like the chalk-fronted corporal (Ladona julia), but not quite. Summer, Mine Falls Park.

A male widow skimmer dragonfly (Libellula luctuosa) on a stalk of pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) not yet in bloom. These are called "widow" dragonflies because the male does not accompany the female while she lays her eggs, as most dragonflies do. And they are called "skimmers" because of their habit of flying low above water. Summer, Mine Falls Park.

A male widow skimmer dragonfly (Libellula luctuosa) on a stalk of pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) not yet in bloom. These are called "widow" dragonflies because the male does not accompany the female while she lays her eggs, as most dragonflies do. And they are called "skimmers" because of their habit of flying low above water. Summer, Mine Falls Park.

A caterpillar (order Lepidoptera) on an arrowhead flower (Sagittaria latifolia). I have no idea what species of caterpillar this might be, nor even whether it is the larva of a moth or a butterfly. Summer, Mine Falls Park.

A very large water strider (Gerris sp.), about twice as long as a typical adult. The one at lower left is just slightly smaller than typical adult size of most water striders I see on the Mill Pond. Summer, Mine Falls Park.

A very large water strider (Gerris sp.), about twice as long as a typical adult. Summer, Mine Falls Park.

A colorful beetle (order Coleoptera) on a sweet goldenrod (Solidago odora). Summer, Mine Falls Park.

A colorful beetle (order Coleoptera) on a sweet goldenrod (Solidago odora). Summer, Mine Falls Park.

A bumblebee (Bombus sp.) on a sweet goldenrod (Solidago odora). Summer, Mine Falls Park.

A large wasp (suborder Apocrita) on a rusty standpipe. Summer, Mine Falls Park.

A hoverfly (family Syrphidae) about to land on a sweet goldenrod (Solidago odora). Summer, Mine Falls Park.

A bumblebee (Bobmus sp.) and three small beetles (order Coleoptera) on a flower cluster of New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus). Summer, Mine Falls Park.

Two small beetles (order Coleoptera) on a flower cluster of New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus). Summer, Mine Falls Park.

Two small beetles (order Coleoptera) on a flower cluster of New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus). I see beetles like this pretty often, but I have no idea what species they are, or even whether the two are the same species. They are similar in shape and color, but vastly different in size. Their coloration is reminiscent of a firefly, but they are a bit smaller than fireflies, they have more pronounced "necking" between their body segments, and their colors are much more glossy than a firefly's. Summer, Mine Falls Park.

A very large moth (order Lepidoptera) on my back steps. It was about 2 3/4 inches long and about 3/4 inch wide. It stayed in that spot for about an hour, frequently quivering as if shivering with cold. Summer, my back yard, Nashua, NH.

Some sort of a bug on the flower cluster of Queen Anne's lace (Daucus carota). Not sure what kind of a bug this is. The wing covers suggest a beetle (order Coleoptera), but the long antennae, large, prominent eyes, and narrow body look rather like a wasp. Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

Some sort of a bug on the flower cluster of showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa). Not sure what kind of a bug this is. Likely a fly (Order Diptera), or possibly a wasp (suborder Apocrita). Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A female widow skimmer dragonfly (Libellula luctuosa) on a stalk of Queen Anne's lace (Daucus carota). These are called "widow" dragonflies because the male does not accompany the female while she lays her eggs, as most dragonflies do. And they are called "skimmers" because of their habit of flying low above water. Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A female widow skimmer dragonfly (Libellula luctuosa) on a stalk of Queen Anne's lace (Daucus carota). These are called "widow" dragonflies because the male does not accompany the female while she lays her eggs, as most dragonflies do. And they are called "skimmers" because of their habit of flying low above water. Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A caterpillar (order Lepidoptera) fairly well camouflaged on a showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa). I have no idea what species of caterpillar this might be, nor even whether it is the larva of a moth or a butterfly. Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) on a lance-leaved goldenrod (Solidago gramminifolia). These foreign invaders do quite a lot of damage to commercial and ornamental plants (notably roses), but the goldenrod seems little the worse for the beetle's visit. Invading pests they may be, but I think the Japanese beetle is a rather handsome insect. Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) on a lance-leaved goldenrod (Solidago gramminifolia). These foreign invaders do quite a lot of damage to commercial and ornamental plants (notably roses), but the goldenrod seems little the worse for the beetle's visit. Invading pests they may be, but I think the Japanese beetle is a rather handsome insect. Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A "daddy long legs" (order Opiliones), also called a "harvestman," on a sweet goldenrod (Solidago odora). I was looking for arachnids on goldenrod that day, but never did find my goldenrod crab spider (Misumena vatia), but I saw surprisingly many daddy longlegs. This is an arachnid, but not a true spider. This one looks to me like the same species that I saw in Mine Falls Park a couple of weeks before (picture below). Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) on the flower cluster of Queen Anne's lace (Daucus carota). These foreign invaders do quite a lot of damage to commercial and ornamental plants (notably roses), but the Queen Anne's lace seems little the worse for the beetle's visit. Invading pests they may be, but I think the Japanese beetle is a rather handsome insect. Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A large group of small whirligig beetles (family Gyrinidae) sitting uncharacteristically still. Is this some sort of creche for young beetles? Do they sit still on overcast, humid days like this? Don't know. Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

An emerald spreadwing damselfly (Lestes dryas) resting on a dead twig. Damselflies are supposed to rest with their wings folded along their backs, but this species, like most of the spreadwing damselflies (family Lestidae) holds its wings out to the sides like a dragonfly (suborder Epiprocta). But this is certainly a damselfly. It's eyes are proportionaly smaller than those of a dragonfly, and do not touch each other, and all four wings are the same shape. Dragonflies have larger eyes which touch in the middle, and their after wings are wider than the forewings. (I'll write a story about all the damselflies and dragonflies I saw that day, one of these years.) Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

An emerald spreadwing damselfly (Lestes dryas) resting on a dead flower stalk. Notice the fringes on the legs, which form a basket with which it catches flies and mosquitoes on the wing. Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

An orange dragonfly (suborder Epiprocta). This one is rather small, shorter but thicker than most of the damselfies (suborder Zygoptera) that I saw that day. Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A pair of emerald spreadwing damselflies (Lestes dryas) laying eggs on the leaf stalk of a pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata). The male clasps the female by the neck while she lays in order to prevent other males from mating with her. Notice the lone male on the next pickerelweed to the right. His raised-tail posture is a sign of aggression or threat (and damselflies and dragonflies even do this while flying). He dashed in and attempted to split the pair several times, but never succeeded, as far as I saw. Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A pair of emerald spreadwing damselflies (Lestes dryas) laying eggs on a leaf of American lotus (Nelumbo lutea). The male clasps the female by the neck while she lays in order to prevent other males from mating with her. They lay a few eggs in one spot, then fly, still joined together, to another spot to lay the next cluster of eggs. Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A pair of emerald spreadwing damselflies (Lestes dryas) laying eggs on a leaf of American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) while perched on the leaf stalk of a pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata). The male clasps the female by the neck while she lays in order to prevent other males from mating with her. Notice the lone male on the next pickerelweed to the left. He dashed in and attempted to split the pair several times, but never succeeded, as far as I saw. Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A pair of emerald spreadwing damselflies (Lestes dryas) laying eggs on the leaf stalk of a pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata). The male clasps the female by the neck while she lays in order to prevent other males from mating with her. Notice that she is laying the eggs just below the surface of the water. Some species lay their eggs above the water. Most dragonflies (suborder Epiprocta) simply drop their eggs in the water and let them sink. Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

An emerald spreadwing damselfly (Lestes dryas) resting on a dead twig. From this angle, you can clearly see how long and thin the abdomen is, characteristic of the family Lestidae, and you can see the powdery blue ring near the end of the abdomen. Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

An female emerald spreadwing damselfly (Lestes dryas) resting on a stalk of grass. The female does not have the blue ring at the end of the abdomen of the blue patches on the sides of the thorax. Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A pair of emerald spreadwing damselflies (Lestes dryas) laying eggs on a stalk. The male clasps the female by the neck while she lays in order to prevent other males from mating with her. Notice that this time she is laying the eggs well above the water, while in earlier pictures this same pair had laid eggs below the water's surface. Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A pair of emerald spreadwing damselflies (Lestes dryas) laying eggs on a floating stick, with a small snail lurking beside the male. The male clasps the female by the neck while she lays in order to prevent other males from mating with her. Notice that this time she is laying the eggs well above the water, while in earlier pictures this same pair had laid eggs below the water's surface. Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

An male emerald spreadwing damselfly (Lestes dryas) resting on a stalk of grass. Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A lone female emerald spreadwing damselfly (Lestes dryas) laying eggs on a dry stalk well above the water. This is the same female that had been laying eggs while a male clasped her by the neck, and now she is laying eggs alone, like one of the "widow damselflies." Also, she is laying eggs almost three feet higher than the surface of the pond, while her earlier clutches were less than an inch above the water, or even underwater. It seems this species likes to lay in a variety of circumstances, perhaps maximizing the chances that some of their offspring will survive if conditions should change before they hatch. Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

An ebony jewelwing damselfly (Calopteryx maculata). Their broad wings give them a slow-flapping, fluttering flight more like that of a moth than a damselfly, and the opaque wings add to that illusion. Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A water spider (family Cybaeidae) lurks on the surface of Wildlife Pond while an emerald spreadwing damselfly (Lestes dryas) rests on a leaf stem of pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) and a whirligig beetle (family Gyrinidae) swims dangerously close. Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A water spider (family Cybaeidae) lurks on the surface of Wildlife Pond while an emerald spreadwing damselfly (Lestes dryas) rests on a leaf stem of pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) and a whirligig beetle (family Gyrinidae) swims dangerously close. Notice the raised-tail posture of the damselfly. Male damselflies and dragonflies (suborder Epiprocta) do this as a signal of aggression toward rival males, and even raise their tails while flying when they seen an intruder in their territory. Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A water spider (family Cybaeidae) lurks on the surface of Wildlife Pond while an emerald spreadwing damselfly (Lestes dryas) rests on a leaf stem of pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) and a whirligig beetle (family Gyrinidae) swims dangerously close. Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A very small crab spider (family Thomisidae, possibly Misumena vatia) on a yarrow (Achillea millefolium) flower cluster that is beginning to wilt and set seed. This may be the same species I had seen on goldenrod (Solidago sp.) in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and described in my story, Goldenrod Crab Spider. Other crab spiders that I have seen on yarrow were white, matching the flowers pretty well, but this one has a greenish head and legs and a yellowish abdomen. At less than an eighth of an inch long, this one is by far the smallest crab spider I have ever photgraphed. Can't see it? Click to see the full-sized version of the picture for a better look. It's on the flower head just above and to the left of the copyright mark. (All right, I'll admit it: I didn't even see the spider until after I got home and took a good look at the picture.) Summer, Old City Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A hoverfly (family Syrphidae) on a flower cluster of redroot (Ceanothus ovatus). Summer, Wapack Trail, Pack Monadnock.

A crab spider (family Thomisidae) on a dead twig of redroot (Ceanothus ovatus). This is the same size and color, likely the same species, as the one I saw in the White Mountains a couple of weeks before. It was sitting motionless on a dead twig within inches of several flower clusters. For an instant, I actually thought it was a stunted or malformed flower cluster. Notice the way it holds its two forward pairs of legs in a manner reminiscent of a crab, whence the common name of this family of spiders. Summer, Wapack Trail, Pack Monadnock.

A crab spider (family Thomisidae) on a dead twig of redroot (Ceanothus ovatus). It holds on with its hind four legs, while holding its forward four legs ready to grab any insect that mistakes it for a flower. Summer, Wapack Trail, Pack Monadnock.

A crab spider (family Thomisidae) on a dead twig of redroot (Ceanothus ovatus). Annoyed by my camera, the spider retreats along a strand of spider silk to take up its ambush somewhere else. Summer, Wapack Trail, Pack Monadnock.

A crab spider (family Thomisidae) on a dead twig of redroot (Ceanothus ovatus). Having retreated a foot or so, the spider takes up a new ambush position on another dead twig among some leafier branches. This large spider, maybe an inch and a half long, seemed to prefer imitating a flower on a bare twig rather than simply hiding among the real flowers. Summer, Wapack Trail, Pack Monadnock.

An unusual bumblebee (Bombus sp.) on a redroot (Ceanothus ovatus) flower cluster. There were several bumblebees, as well as numerous other pollinating insects, flitting among the profuse blossoms of redroot near the summit of Mount Monadnock, but this one was different. It was smaller than most bumblebees, and it had a large rust-red patch on the dorsal surface of its abdomen. It was also much more energetic than most of the bumblebees, spending no more than a couple of seconds on each cluster of blossoms and never sitting still. It took me many attempts to get a couple of clear pictures of this busy little bee. Notice the pollen baskets, nearly full of the surprisingly white pollen of the redroot. I'm pretty sure I've seen this type of bumblebee before, but I can't quite place it. Vaguely recall that it was also near a mountain peak. Summer, Wapack Trail, Pack Monadnock.

An unusual bumblebee (Bombus sp.) and a white-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata) on a redroot (Ceanothus ovatus) flower cluster. As I focused my attention on the unusual bumblebee with the rusty patch on its back, I didn't quite notice that the other insect on this flower was also an unusual pollinator. When I looked at the picture, I remembered that the first insect I attempted to photograph on the redroot that day was a white-faced hornet, and here it is again! Most closely related wasps are predators, like the true hornets, but the white-faced "hornet" (not a true hornet, but shaped rather like one) is an important pollinator of many plants. Summer, Wapack Trail, Pack Monadnock.

A small crab spider (family Thomisidae) on last year's dead, dry seed head of redroot (Ceanothus ovatus). Don't know whether this is the same species as the white and pink one above. It's pale green, and much smaller than the other, but it might just be a young one. Also, at least some crab spiders are known to change color. Like the larger one, this one was in a place that would not normally attract insects, but in this case, I don't think this little spider was convincingly flower-like. Of course, I'm not a pollinating insect, so I might not be qualified to make such a judgment. Summer, Wapack Trail, Pack Monadnock.

A small crab spider (family Thomisidae) on last year's dead, dry seed head of redroot (Ceanothus ovatus). The spider is pretty hard to see. When I first found it, it was plainly visible on the surface of the seed head. As I tried to take pictures - and the seed head kept moving in the wind, making that rather difficult - the spider retreated inside the seed head. Summer, Wapack Trail, Pack Monadnock.

A small crab spider (family Thomisidae) on last year's dead, dry seed head of redroot (Ceanothus ovatus). The spider is pretty hard to see. When I first found it, it was plainly visible on the surface of the seed head. As I tried to take pictures - and the seed head kept moving in the wind, making that rather difficult - the spider retreated inside the seed head. Summer, Wapack Trail, Pack Monadnock.

A small white crab spider (family Thomisidae, possibly Misumena vatia) on a yarrow (Achillea millefolium) flower cluster. This may be the same species I had seen on goldenrod (Solidago sp.) in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and described in my story, Goldenrod Crab Spider. As I mention in the story, this species is known to change color. They are yellow when seen on goldenrod, but they can turn white when they live on white flowers, and yarrow is one of the white flowers they are known to use. In mid-July in southern New Hampshire, the goldenrod was just beginning to bloom, so this spider may have turned white and set up ambush on a yarrow while waiting for its namesake flower to become available. Can't see the spider? They have an excellent disguise,don't they? Summer, Marion Davis Trail, Pack Monadnock.

A small white crab spider (family Thomisidae, possibly Misumena vatia) on a yarrow (Achillea millefolium) flower cluster. This may be the same species I had seen on goldenrod (Solidago sp.) in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and described in my story, Goldenrod Crab Spider. As I mention in the story, this species is known to change color. They are yellow when seen on goldenrod, but they can turn white when they live on white flowers, and yarrow is one of the white flowers they are known to use. In mid-July in southern New Hampshire, the goldenrod was just beginning to bloom, so this spider may have turned white and set up ambush on a yarrow while waiting for its namesake flower to become available. Can't see the spider? They have an excellent disguise,don't they? Summer, Marion Davis Trail, Pack Monadnock.

Beetles (order Coleoptera) on a flower cluster of redroot (Ceanothus ovatus). I'm not sure what species of beetle this is, but I've seen quite a few of them this summer, both here in Mine Falls Park and in my own yard. Summer, Mine Falls Park.

A water spider (family Cybaeidae) standing on a raft of duckweed (Lemna minor). The duckweed is not supporting the weight of this medium-sized spider. He's walking on the water. Summer, Mine Falls Park.

A dragonfly (suborder Epiprocta) with tricolor wings rests on a twig. I often see these somewhat smallish dragonflies with opaque black inner parts to the wings, a blue-gray medial stripe, and transparent outer parts. I ought to find out the name of this species. Summer, Mine Falls Park

A "daddy long legs" (order Opiliones), also called a "harvestman," climbing among the grass on the edge of the Mill Pond. This one has distinct and unusual markings on its body and its legs, so someone who knows more about them than I do should be able to identify the species. Summer, Mine Falls Park

A "daddy long legs" (order Opiliones), also called a "harvestman," climbing among the grass on the edge of the Mill Pond. This one has distinct and unusual markings on its body and its legs, so someone who knows more about them than I do should be able to identify the species. Summer, Mine Falls Park

A damselfly (suborder Zygoptera) laying eggs while sitting on a raft of duckweed (Lemna minor). This is one of a group of damselflies that are sometimes called "widow damselflies," because they lay their eggs alone. In many species, the male clamps onto the female to prevent other males from mating with her, and he accompanies her while she lays her eggs. I watched this female for several minutes. She would land, lay, then rest for a minute or so. Eventually, a few water striders (Gerris sp.) would stalk her, and she would fly away a few feet and repeat the process. Summer, Mine Falls Park

A damselfly (suborder Zygoptera) resting on a raft of duckweed (Lemna minor) after laying eggs. Summer, Mine Falls Park

Several water striders (Gerris sp.) close in on a damselfly (suborder Zygoptera) as the damselfly rested after laying eggs. The water striders seem rather clumsy among the duckweed (Lemna minor). They have to crawl, like "ordinary" insects, rather than gliding across the open water. The damselfly flew away as the predators got closer. Summer, Mine Falls Park

A pair of damselflies (suborder Zygoptera) coupled after mating as they prepare to lay their eggs. The male (in front) has a clasper on the end of his abdomen which holds the female at the joint between her head and thorax. They fly joined like this while the female repeatedly dips her abdomen into the water to lay the eggs. Notice that the male is supporting their combined weight, holding onto the leaf while the female just hangs helplessly. From this angle, especially in the full-size photo (click on the photo), you can clearly see two differences between damselflies and dragonflies (suborder Epiprocta). The easier one to see is that the damselflies hold their wings back over their bodies while resting, but dragonflies keep their wings out to the side. Also, damselflies have proportionally smaller eyes than dragonflies. A dragonfly's eyes are so large they touch each other in the middle, but the damselfly's eyes are clearly separated from each other. Summer, Mine Falls Park

Crab spider (family Thomisidae) hiding inside a rugosa rose (Rosa rugosa). This spider is similar to the Goldenrod crab spider which I describe in one of my stories. It is much larger, and a completely different color. Only six of its legs are clearly visible, but it has eight: The hindmost pair are pointing straight back and hidden by the petals. The flower is a true wild rose, unlike the ones that grow in the meadow near Elephant Head, but it is not a native species. It was introduced from Asia. Summer, Saco Lake Trail, Crawford Notch State Park.

Spittlebugs (Superfamily Cercopoidea) were uncommonly plentiful around the Crawford Connector Trail Head this particular day. These larvae hide themselves in froth that is sometimes called "snake spit." It is actually a froth of plant sap produced by the larva to hide itself from predators. I find them most often on plants like this: Tallish single-stalked plants with stemless leaves. (Don't know the name of the plant.) Summer, Crawford Connector Trail Head, White Mountain National Forest.

Closer look at the "nest" of a spittlebug (Superfamily Cercopoidea). I find them most often on plants like this: Tallish single-stalked plants with stemless leaves. (Don't know the name of the plant.) The black flecks on the surface of the "spittle" are just wind-blown detritus and not associated with the spittlebug itself. Summer, Crawford Connector Trail Head, White Mountain National Forest.

This slug has a bit more of an orange tint than the usual yellow ones I see in the White Mountains. Summer, Webster Cliff Trail, Presidential Range, White Mountain National Forest.

A beetle grub (order Coleoptera) writhes on the ground. Grubs of this stage of development rarely come above ground. If you look closely at the full-sized image (click on the picture), you can see that the grub is under attack by black carpenter ants (Camponotus sp.) and also by smaller dark brown ants (family Formicidae). Out of frame a short distance upslope is the hole where, I suspect, the smaller ants found the grub and began attacking it. Once they had driven the grub above ground, the carpenter ants discovered the fracas and decided to claim the juicy prize for themselves. The abdomen of one of the brown ants is plainly visible to the left of the annotation, "www. ..." while the black carpenter ants are pretty much all over the place. Summer, Rocky Ridge Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A damselfly (suborder Zygoptera) of a striking glossy black with an irridescent blue tail. Even its wings are unusually opaque and dark black. Summer, Old City Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A Chalk-fronted corporal dragonfly (Ladona julia), one of the few dragonflies I know by species. They are quite common in most places where I hike near ponds, such as Saco Lake, Mine Falls Park, and here beside Wildlife Pond. Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A solid black dragonfly (suborder Epiprocta), one of the many dragonflies that I do not know by species. It is all black, and even its wings, while translucent as most dragonfly wings, are distinctly black. Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A Chalk-fronted corporal dragonfly (Ladona julia), one of the few dragonflies I know by species. They are quite common in most places where I hike near ponds, such as Saco Lake, Mine Falls Park, and here beside Wildlife Pond. Summer, Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH.

A water strider (Gerris sp.) harasses a water spider (family Cybaeidae). I'm not sure what was going on. Both of these creatures hunt in a similar manner, monitoring the surface of the water for vibrations, then rushing across the surface to catch the trapped victim, so maybe the insect saw the spider as competition and wanted to drive it away. On the other hand, the water strider might have been testing to see if it could overpower the spider and eat it. (This is a middle-sized water strider and a rather small water spider. Later in the summer, the spider will be twice as long and ten times as massive as the largest water strider, and the spiders sometimes stalk water striders, though I've never seen them catch the quick insects.) For whatever reason, the water strider approached and "poked at" the spider several times, then left it alone. Early summer, Mine Falls Park

A water strider (Gerris sp.) and a water spider (family Cybaeidae) face off between minor wrestling bouts. For whatever reason, the water strider approached and "poked at" the spider several times, then left it alone. Early summer, Mine Falls Park

A water spider (family Cybaeidae) sits motionless on the surface of the Mill Pond, waiting for the vibration that would signal a trapped insect and its next meal. Early summer, Mine Falls Park

A small water spider (family Cybaeidae) sitting on top of the Mill Pond. I had never seen one in this stilt-legged posture before, but this one has just been attacked - notice the ripples where a bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) had just attempted to eat the spider. I don't know if this posture has to do with his means of escaping from fish. The fish attempted to catch the spider at least half a dozen times while I watched, and the little spider escaped every time. I've never seen a fish catch a water spider, and this was the first time I'd ever seen one try. Late spring, Mine Falls Park

A common bluetail damselfly (Ischnura heterosticta) rests on a blade of grass. Notice the large bulge at the base of the wings, which is where the huge wing muscles are. Notice that the damselflies (suborder Zygoptera) hold their wings back over their bodies when resting, unlike the dragonflies (suborder Epiprocta), which hold their wings out in more or less the same position as when flying. Late spring, Mine Falls Park

A dragonfly (suborder Epiprocta) hovers over the Mill Pond while guarding his territory from intruders. Late spring, Mine Falls Park

The flower cluster of a maple-leafed viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium). Notice that the individual flowers are very similar to those of the hobblebush (Viburnum alnifolium) but with longer stamens. All the flowers in the cluster are the same size, while the hobblebush has much larger flowers around the edges of the cluster. The cluster is also much more open than the densely packed cluster of the hobblebush. There is a tiny beetle (order Coleoptera), perhaps one of the pollinators of this plant, climbing near the center of the cluster. Late spring, Mine Falls Park

A dragonfly (suborder Epiprocta) hovers over the Mill Pond while guarding his territory from intruders. Spring, Mine Falls Park

A tiny maggot (order Diptera, probably suborder Brachycera, infraorder Muscomorpha) wriggles on top of the picnic table. We had never seen them before, but for a couple of weeks this May, they rained out of the white pine (Pinus strobus) above the picnic table at a rate of dozens per day as the tree was flowering. They were much smaller than the maggots of a housefly (Musca domestica), but I have little idea what species they might be. By the end of May, there were only one or two per day, and they were gone by the time the tree had shed all its infertile flowers in early June. Spring, my back yard, Nashua, NH

An irridescent green beetle (order Coleoptera) scurries across the exposed bedrock just below timberline. Spring, White Cross Trail, Mount Monadnock

A dragonfly (suborder Epiprocta) basks in the sunny trail. Spring, White Cross Trail, Mount Monadnock

A nest of eastern tent caterpillars (Malacosoma americanum). These are often mistaken for the invasive and destructive Gypsy moth caterpillar (Lymantria dispar), but the similarly hairy larvae of the Gypsy moth do not build these communal nests. Also, the native species, having plenty of natural predators, rarely increases its population to the point of being widely destructive of hardwood trees, as the Gypsy moth can. Spring, Mine Falls Park

A closer look at eastern tent caterpillars (Malacosoma americanum). These are often mistaken for the invasive and destructive Gypsy moth caterpillar (Lymantria dispar), but the similarly hairy larvae of the Gypsy moth do not build these communal nests. Also, the native species, having plenty of natural predators, rarely increases its population to the point of being widely destructive of hardwood trees, as the Gypsy moth can. Spring, Mine Falls Park

A bumblebee (Bombus sp.) sipping nectar from a maleberry blossom (Lyonia ligustrina). Spring, Mine Falls Park

A small earthworm (order Haplotaxida, suborder Lumbricina) on the grass on a sunny afternoon after a rainy morning. Read about the red-tailed hawk that was eating worms like this. Spring, Roby Park, Nashua, NH

A queen bumblebee (Bombus sp.), probably the last survivor of her hive for this season, crawls through the leaf litter in the autumn chill. Her burrow is the circular hole at the bottom of the picture, a little left of center. Fall, Mine Falls Park

Insect larvae (don't know what kind) snug in their coccoons as they begin the long wait for spring. Fall, Mine Falls Park

A bumblebee (Bombus sp.), torpid from the autumn chill, struggles to save herself from the Mill Pond, where she has fallen in. Fall, Mine Falls Park

A wet, bedraggled bumblebee (Bombus sp.), rescued from drowning in the Mill Pond, crawls through the leaf litter to find the entrance to her burrow. She just might survive hibernation to start her hive all over again in the spring. Fall, Mine Falls Park

A spider in a small bush at the top of Arethusa Falls. Late summer, Arethusa Falls Trail, Crawford Notch State Park

Some sort of fly or perhaps a wasp on a stiff aster (Aster linariifolius). Late summer, Arethusa Falls Trail, Crawford Notch State Park.

Some sort of fly or perhaps a wasp on a stiff aster (Aster linariifolius). Late summer, Arethusa Falls Trail, Crawford Notch State Park.

A dragonfly (suborder Epiprocta) hovers briefly near the end of a glossy buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula) overhanging the Mill Pond, while a water strider (Gerris sp.) sits on the surface of the pond below. Summer, Mine Falls Park

A water strider (Gerris sp.) on the Mill Pond. Summer, Mine Falls Park

A click beetle (family Elateridae) stopping by my cubicle for a quick chat. Early summer, Riverside Office Park, Andover, MA

A brown dragonfly (suborder Epiprocta) with nearly invisible wings rests on the leaf litter. Late spring, Mine Falls Park

A "daddy long legs" (order Opiliones) on the wall of the screen house. There are many creatures called by this common name, but this is the type that I've always called "daddy long legs." It is also called a "harvestman," and while it is an arachnid (class Arachnida), it is not a true spider. It is distinguished by having the head and thorax fused into a single oval-shaped body, while the true spiders have two distinct segments. Another creature which some people call "daddy long legs" is the cellar spider (family Pholcidae), which is a true spider. In researching this tidbit, I also learned that in the U.K., crane flies ( family Tipulidae) are sometimes called "daddy long legs." These are not spiders at all, but insects of the order Diptera closely related to my Snow Flies (family Trichoceridae). Summer, my back yard, Nashua, NH

A mayfly makes its final moult, transforming from aquatic larva to winged adult, at the surface of the pond. With no solid object to support it, it can only use the surface tension of the water to stand on as it pulls itself out of its old skin. Early spring, Mine Falls Park

Having shed its last larval skin but not yet able to fly, the mayfly uses its wings to motor along the surface of the Mill Pond and find a safe twig to climb out of the water before a fish is attracted by its struggles. Early spring, Mine Falls Park

A yellow swallowtail butterfly (Papilio glaucus), also known as the eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly, on a wild strawberry plant (Fragaria virginiana). The small blue areas on the hind wings suggest this is a female. In June, the White Mountains are overrun with these butterflies. Late spring, Crawford Notch State Park Downloaded 301 Times.

White-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata). This individual was hibernating by clinging to the underside of a rotten log, and there was a small cavity in the soil beneath. Whenever I go looking for hibernating hornets like this, I place the log carefully back where I found it, inserting each wasp back into the hole from which she came. Early spring, Greeley Park, Nashua, NH Downloaded 185 Times.

A beetle, probably a click beetle (family Elateridae), but this is the only red-headed click beetle I recall having seen. Spring, Beaver Brook Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH Downloaded 159 Times.

A rather large, long-legged wolf spider (family Lycosidae). This is "Branden's spider." My grandson found it and insisted it was his, and there was no room for discussion. Spring, Beaver Brook Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH Downloaded 199 Times.

A tick (family Ixodidae) on my son's sweater. Spring, Beaver Brook Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH Downloaded 219 Times.

A winter crane fly of the family Trichoceridae rests on the winter snow. The straight line under the insect is an illusion. It is actually the fly's left legs, the foreleg extending straight out in front and the hind leg extending straight out behind. Winter, Mine Falls Park Downloaded 166 Times.

A winter crane fly of the family Trichoceridae rests on the winter snow. Read more about my "discovery" of these unusual insects in Snow Flies. Winter, Mine Falls Park Downloaded 320 Times.

A huge bumblebee (Bombus sp.), possibly the queen, coming out of the burrow. Unlike honeybees (Apis sp.), queen bumblebees leave the nest to gather nectar and pollen just as the "workers" do. Early fall, Mine Falls Park Downloaded 113 Times.

Water spider (family Cybaeidae). The surface he's standing on is actually water with a dense growth of tiny duckweed (Lemna minor) floating on it. Summer, Mine Falls Park Downloaded 401 Times.

A dragonfly rests on a twig of glossy buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula). I had previously misidentified this plant as black gum, so that is what the picture file name says. Summer, Mine Falls Park Downloaded 141 Times.

Question mark butterfly (Polygonia interrogationis), summer, Mine Falls Park Downloaded 211 Times.

A monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), the first one I saw in 2007, on a flower overhanging the Mill Pond, mid-summer, Mine Falls Park Downloaded 266 Times.

Water spider (family Cybaeidae), mid-spring, Mine Falls Park Downloaded 112 Times.

Question mark butterfly (Polygonia interrogationis), early spring, Crawford Notch Downloaded 115 Times.

A smallish bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) surrounded by the ripples he made when he caught a bug on the surface of the Mill Pond. Summer, Mine Falls Park

A very young fish, maybe an inch and a half long, lies on its side on top of a leaf just below the surface of the Mill Pond. (I can't tell a bluegill from a perch from a bass at this age, but it's certainly of the order Perciformes.) Spring, Mine Falls Park

A very young fish, maybe an inch and a half long, swims for shelter under a log. I had thought it was dead, but when I moved in for a closer look, it flipped off the leaf and swam away. (I can't tell a bluegill from a perch from a bass at this age, but it's certainly of the order Perciformes.) Spring, Mine Falls Park

Striped minnows loitering in a patch of clear water in the otherwise swampy Beaver Pond. I don't know the species or classification of these fish, but I've always called them "striped minnows." Early summer, Beaver Brook Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH

Two male bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) circle each other in a threat display after one got a little too close to the other's nest. Spring, Mine Falls Park Downloaded 22 Times.

A northern pike (Esox lucius) hanging out in the Nashua Canal. Spring, Mine Falls Park Downloaded 105 Times.

A pair of bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) spawn in the shallows of the Mill Pond. The male swims on his side, fertilizing the eggs as the female lays them in his nest. Spring, Mine Falls Park Downloaded 25 Times.

A northern pike (Esox lucius) looking for an unwary bluegill. Spring, Mine Falls Park Downloaded 108 Times.