Top Photo: Painted lady butterfly on purple coneflower.

Just a brief look at a few sights out on the Explore the Wild and Catch the Wind loop.

Asiatic dayflower grows throughout the Piedmont area. It’s a non-native, but it attracts various creatures to itself for a variety of reasons, shelter and food standing out in the case of the two creatures that were found on a stand of dayflower in Catch the Wind the past week.

The six-spotted neolema is a leaf beetle. They can be identified by their red color and six black spots on the elytra, the hard back of the beetle (actually the forewings of the beetle). There are three black spots on each wing.

Bullfrogs are a common frog nearly anywhere you go. They’re coast to coast in their range, though there are gaps in between. They’ve been introduced across the country, even to desert areas. Wherever there’s a puddle of water you’re likely to see bullfrogs. We have our share at the museum.

And of course, everyone’s favorite, red wolf pups.

I know, it’s hot outside, but you won’t see any of these things if you’re not out there with them.

Ranger Greg