A hodgepodge of flora and fauna

I've been busier than usual, with travels to nearly all corners of this great state of Ohio in recent weeks. Following is a smattering of stuff from the past week or so, from the shores of Lake Erie to the banks of the Ohio River.

Blinded Sphinx caterpillar, Paonias excaecata. Adams County, Ohio.

A larger perspective of the previous photo.

White-banded Crab Spider, Misumenoides formosipes, ready to pounce. Adams County, Ohio.

A Rough Greensnake, Opheodrys aestivus, peeks from the pawpaws. Adams County, Ohio.

Up close with a Dot-lined White Moth, Artace cribaria. Adams County, Ohio.

The stegosaurus-like caterpillar of the Double-toothed Prominent moth, Nerice bidentata. Adams County, Ohio.

Tiny blooms of Elephant's-foot, Elephantopus carolinianus. Note the compliment of insects (at least four species). Adams County, Ohio.

A Hummingbird Clearwing Moth caterpillar, Hemaris thysbe, just prior to pupation. Adams County, Ohio.

Brown-hooded Owlet moth caterpillar, Cucullia convexipennis. Adams County, Ohio.

White Furcula caterpillar, Furcula borealis. The "tails" are greatly elongated anal prolegs and are used to swat away insect predators. Adams County, Ohio.

A Sanderling, Calidris alba, in between chasing the waves. Lucas County, Ohio.

A pair of Greater Yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca, foraging in Lake Erie marsh. Ottawa County, Ohio.

The largest tern species in the world, the Caspian Tern, Hydroprogne caspia. At rest on a Lake Erie beach, Ottawa County, Ohio.

The largest gull species in the world, the Great Black-backed Gull, Larus marinus. At rest on a Lake Erie beach, Ottawa County, Ohio.

Fringed Gentian, Gentianopsis virgata, Castalia Prairie, Erie County, Ohio.

A Great Egret, Ardea alba, hunts in Lake Erie marsh. Lucas County, Ohio.

Monarch butterfly chrysalis, Erie County, Ohio.

Prairie Rattlesnake-root, Prenanthes racemosa, Castalia Prairie, Erie County, Ohio.