Autumn in Wisconsin

 

“I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.”   
-Henry David Thoreau
 

“Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.”    

-George Eliot

I like autumn a lot.

-Fred Thorne

 

 

These photos were taken during fall outings in Ozaukee County, Marinette County, North Kettle Moraine, the rustic roads in the Holy Hill area and other parts of Wisconsin.  

 

 

Goodman, Wisconsin mill pond.

 

Dave's Falls, Marinette County

North Kettle Moraine

 



Cedar Creek, Cedarburg

 

 

Kettle Moraine

Mequon Road

 

Northern Wisconsin



Northern Wisconsin

Dave's Falls

Cedarburg, Wisconsin

 

 

 

Fall Abstract, Lion's Den Gorge, Grafton, Wisconsin



                                                                               

 

Moths and Mimicry

The Bumblebee Moth (Snowberry Clearwing) and the Hummingbird Moth (Common Clearwing) are imposters. 

You guessed it!  One imitates a Bumblebee and the other a Hummingbird. Both have a very large proboscis (stop giggling!) which is coiled until ready to insert into a flower to extract the nectar within.  Both moths hover around the flowers and are ready for a fast escape if needed.

It is surmised that the Bumblebee Moth mimics a real Bumblebee to intimidate possible predators who would otherwise have it for lunch but are wary of Bumblebees.



Note the translucent wings and Bumblebee-like markings.

Proboscis unfurled.

 

The Hummingbird Moth has more coloration and emits a "humming" sound much

like a hummingbird.  (I was not able to identify the intruder moth.)

 
 

You can clearly see the proboscis in action here.




 

This moth obviously mimics "Vlad the Impaler, " aka Dracula.  I have no idea what kind of moth it is---I post it only because it's very cool!