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Dear All, Oct 20, 2007
We took a leisurely walk at North Alton yesterday and, as is often
the case, noticed some things while sitting that would otherwise have
been overlooked.
The 'capsule' of Star-flower aka _Trientalis borealis_ (really a
~2-mm diameter, globose slightly coherent aggregation of ~10 dark seeds,
each encased in a glowing white sheath of hexagonal lace) is quite
striking now when viewed from arm's length above soil level. But more so
when viewed at 10, 20 or 40 X.
We also found a 16-mm long Lampyrid (Firefly) larva on the underside
of some White Pine bark that had been shed from a dead tree. I have not
seen a Lampyrid larva previously but it had Lampyrid written all over it
and resembles an illustration of _Pyractomena borealis_ in American
Beetles. The head is nearly 3 times as long as wide and can be almost
entirely (as viewed from above) withdrawn into the prothorax, which has
pink along the lateral margins.
From habitat (litter of a well drained forest soil) and law of
averages, I am guessing _Ellychnia_ our common fireless firefly. It did
not glow in the dark although apparently _Ellychnia_ larvae can do so.
Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville
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