State Forest Holds a Wealth of Biodiversity
Dr. Paul Goldstein points out a praying mantis.
Dr. Paul Goldstein points out a praying mantis.
A Chinese mantis (Tenodera sinensis) on a native legume.
A Chinese mantis (Tenodera sinensis) on a native legume.
Matt Pelikan points out a pearl crescent butterfly.
Matt Pelikan points out a pearl crescent butterfly.
A pearl crescent butterfly.
A pearl crescent butterfly.
A slender ladies' tresses orchid (Spiranthes lacera).
A slender ladies' tresses orchid (Spiranthes lacera).
Bob Woodruff with anscrub oak leaf (Quercus ilicifolia).
Bob Woodruff with anscrub oak leaf (Quercus ilicifolia).
Matt Pelikan with a brown-belted bumblebee (Bombus griseocollis).
Matt Pelikan with a brown-belted bumblebee (Bombus griseocollis).
Matt Pelikan with a cuckoo wasp (family Chrysididae).
Matt Pelikan with a cuckoo wasp (family Chrysididae).
Six-spotted tiger beetle, (Cicindela sexguttata).
Six-spotted tiger beetle, (Cicindela sexguttata).
The caterpillar stage of one of the buck moth (Hemileuca maia).
The caterpillar stage of one of the buck moth (Hemileuca maia).
Matt Pelikan holding a broad-necked root borer (Prionus laticollis).
Matt Pelikan holding a broad-necked root borer (Prionus laticollis).
Matt Pelikan with an Edwards' hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii).
Matt Pelikan with an Edwards' hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii).
Farther back from the walking trails of the state forest, shrubs and grasses give way to oaks and pitch pines, parts of a highly intact sandplain landscape that covers 5,350 acres in Edgartown and West Tisbury.
That flora and fauna diversity was at the center of a recent walk hosted by the Friends of the Manuel F. Correllus State Forest, a plein air forum of Island naturalists giving a voice to the property’s many organisms, helping them to not go the way of the heath hen.