Sumac galls

Here is the title and abstract from a paper published in Science, July 14, 1989: Below the excerpt is a current photo of sumac galls in my backyard on Durland Hill.

A 48-Million-Year-Old Aphid—Host Plant Association and Complex Life Cycle: Biogeographic Evidence

1. NANCY A. MORAN

+ Author Affiliations

1. Department of Entomology and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721.

Abstract

Biogeographical and paleobotanical evidence suggests that the aphid subtribe Melaphidina has been associated with its sumac host plant since the early Eocene when these plants were continuously distributed across the Bering land bridge. Transfer experiments indicate that the American species, Melaphis rhois, shows an unusual complex life cycle, similar to that known in Chinese melaphidines, with some generations feeding on mosses as alternate host plants. As with the association with sumac, this complex life cycle may have been established in the melaphidine lineage before the southward retreat of sumac from Alaska 48 million years ago. This example suggests that the interactions and life histories shown by modern populations may be determined, in large part, by evolutionary commitments made in the distant past.

Caterpillars on sumac

These caterpillars (image below) are feeding on staghorn sumac. Most of the plant is untouched, but a few leaflet clusters have dense congregations of early instar caterpillars - not sure of the species yet. The mosquitoes are swarming, especially near and under any foliage, making prolonged observations difficult.
Early this morning we were awakened by coyotes across the road on the Knapp's View property owned by the town of Chester - about 4:30AM they were enthusiastically yapping, yipping and howling hysterically!

Parasitic/mycotrophic plants

Up on the hill this morning in a failed effort to pick blackcaps. What I found instead was a profusion of American cancer-root (Conophilus americana - photo below) and also Indian pipe (Monotropa uniflora). The former is a root parasite, especially on oaks. The latter is a mycotrophic plant, deriving its nutrition indirectly from the trees through mycorrhizal fungi associated with the trees' roots.