Whatever draws us into the forest—be it birdwatching or logging, hiking or hunting—all of us are unified by the sense of wonder we feel in the outdoors. The forests, fields, and streams of our region are full of mystery, and if you stop and look closely, you’ll see all sorts of oddities.
Below find a picture of one such woodlands curio. Guess what it is and you’ll be eligible to win a Northern Woodlands woodpecker magnet designed by artist Liz Wahid. A prize winner will be drawn at random from all the correct entries. The correct answer, and the winner’s name, will appear when the next column is posted and in our newsletter (sign up here!).
This sessile-leaved bellwort (Uvularia sessilifolia) is spotted with bright green dots while the rest of the plant turns yellow. What’s happening here?
These spots are created by a gall midge in the genus Menunieriella. As these midges feed, they secrete compounds that delay the breakdown of chlorophyll, which keep the galls green even as the rest of the plant begins turning yellow.
This week’s contest winner was Steve Plumb