Took an unexpected trip to the big little city of Reno today, so no time to post and discuss many from yesterday's hike in the Lakes basin. Two of my favorites will suffice for now. This great cluster of aphids was attached to a tiny, damaged fir tree. I love to introduce people to aphids in the wild as they always prompt a negative reaction. That gives me a chance to demonstrate their interesting characteristics and ecological relationships and advocate for unpopular critters in general. We saw the ants herding aphids like cows and feeding off their secretions. We also saw an interesting reaction to an approaching hand or camera. They reacted as one to either the visual stimulus or possible compressed air pushed ahead by the hand or camera. Not really sure what they were responding to, but they were definitely responding to our approach. One of my hiking companions is sometimes bothered by aphids in her garden. I suggested that the aphids, especially those herded by ants, might be such an interesting attraction that she might want to cultivate aphids for ecology lessons. I don't think she was convinced.
The Monkshood is one of the more interesting members of the Buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. Beautiful, preferring damp shady habitat, and poisonous to eat. More about Monkshood later.
And more photos from this hike tomorrow.
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