Wheatland – Saline County
Wild Bachelor Buttons and Wheat Rows
Along Stimmel Road, rural Saline County, Kansas
Wild Bachelor Buttons and Wheat #2
Saline County, Kansas
Wild Bachelor Buttons and Wheat #1
Saline County, Kansas
Black Ant and Aphids #9451
Laird’s Pond, Flint Hills Wildlife Refuge – Using its antenna a black ant milks an aphid, freeing a small drop of “honeydew”. Called a “mutualistic relationship” aphids receive protection from predators in exchange for the sweet liquid….
Ant with Honeydew Drop
Here’s a closeup study of an ant pulling a drop of “honeydew” from a colony of aphids.
Ants and Aphids
Ants offer protection to aphids in exchange for the sugary “honeydew” left behind when the aphids feed on plant sap.
Opening Act
Lyon County, Kansas (Photographed on March 28th) – This was the opening movement of heavy rain, hail, and a funnel. No, I didn’t add that ominous face in the clouds. It’s just an accidental but cool formation.
Sitting in Froggy Paradise
After an hour or two slogging around on the pond banks I have enough mud on me that the muck dwellers accept me as one of their own. It helps me get closer to the action. But, as you can tell, I’m still looking down from above. I need to get more into the soup…
Painted Lady on Lead Plant
Found flittering at Chase County Lake
Tracks
Kahola Lake spillway
Crane Fly on Water Speedwell
The wildflower is Water Speedwell and was found at the edge of the Chase County State Fishing Lake waterfall. Check Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses for more details.
Your World is Strange to Me
Feeder stream creature, Geary County State Fishing Lake
Alligator Fantasies
Geary County State Fishing Lake
Frogart
Geary County State Fishing Lake