DOUBLE-TOOTHED PROMINENT
Witness the Double-Toothed Prominent (Nerice bidentata), in all its leaf-edge-mimicking glory! Not surprisingly, Double-Toothed Prominents are a favorite around here. We love how accurately their double-toothed backs imitate the double-toothed elm leaves on which they live and feed. We love searching for them on little sunburnt elm trees along roadsides. We love their scientific name, Nerice bidentata, which has inspired us to nickname them “crazy old Nerice,” a deeply obscur
SNOWBERRY CLEARWING
Here's Hemaris diffinis, the snowberry clearwing. Sphinx caterpillar season has arrived in New England. Walking along roadsides near meadows and gardens, we are starting to spot tiny irregular holes in the leaves of honeysuckle bushes. Turning over these leaves uncovers tiny first instar clearwing caterpillars - light bluegreen with a narrow black horn. The final instar is a delightful caterpillar with black "porthole" spots surrounding each spiracle. They often turn to look
