Strawberry bush and arthropods
Yesterday, I went to visit a Strawberry bush growing in the woods near my house. It's a beautiful plant that is Critically Endangered in the state of New York. Whenever I find one in the wild, I'm always super excited. It was lush and in full bloom, and on this sunny morning, many creatures were visiting the flowers and enjoying their nectar. I observed several species of ants, some plant bugs, and several harvestment visiting the flowers. That ants and plant bugs might enjoy the nectar wasn't that surprising, but I was surprised to see the harvestmen lapping up the nectar. I also saw a couple of species of small beetles on the Strawberry bush.
Here is the glorious Strawberry bush:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/220889236
Here are my observations from that day and the following day when I returned:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/220886344 - Epuraea aestiva - A small tan beetle
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/220886396 - Family Miridae - Plant bug
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/220886435 - Woodland Fuzzy Ant
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/220886534 - A small grayish harvestman
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/220886621 - Camponotus ant
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/220886735 - Leiobunum harvestmant - Maroon / brown
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/220888048 - Nylanderia flavipes ants - crazy ants
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/220888225 - Carpet beetles
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/220888287 - More Camponotus sp ants
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/220889385 - American Winter Ant
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/220944082 - Spotted Lantern Fly - early instar
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/220944054 - Plant bug