Gem, Mineral, Jewelry and Fossel Show

The Gem, Mineral, Jewelry and Fossel Show sponsored by the Richland Lithic and Lapidary Society was held at the Richland County Fairgrounds on June 7 and 8.

Loudon, Chad and Lucas

Loudon, Chad and Lucas joined me in attending.  I love this show.  It is recognized in the surrounding states as a "stand out" show.  I told Tom Kottyan that he had outdone himself again this year in organizing it.

I find that I get lost in looking at the rocks, all identified for me.  What a pleasure.  Tom displayed two cases full of gorgeous agates and Pam Laurer displayed a case of beautifully crafted and polished lithic jewelry.  The other cases were also filled and were too numerous for me to mention them all.

Lucas and Loudon brought some of their allowance and enjoyed the silent auction and the other beautiful rocks for sale.  They enjoyed buying geodes and watching them opened.  They went home very pleased.  Time got away from us.  

I believe this show is a yearly occurrence and is recommended to anyone interested in the Earth and science thereof.

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Blue Dasher Teneral II

Blue Dasher Teneral

The posture looks more like that of a dragonfly at this stage with the wings extended.

Blue Dasher Teneral

Blue Dasher Teneral

This sequence of photos took from 6/14/2014, 8:52:59 AM to 6/14/2014, 11:16:34 AM to occur according to camera metadata.   It is the most extensive record of this type of event that I have.

I believe the above to be a female.

 

Blue Dasher Male

This is a very photogenic dragonfly.  It is also quite easy to photograph because it returns to the same perch time after time.

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Blue Dasher Teneral

Blue Dasher Teneral

I photographed this sequence of a dragonfly and another one of a damselfly one morning.  It took over an hour to happen.

Remember that the insect is enlarging and the exuvia is probably shrinking due to drying.  The relationship of size make it difficult to believe that the insect came out of the exuvia.  Remember also that I was there and saw the process beginning with the large image at the top.

This insect was located about even with my camera and I was able to capture the eyes and the tail with DOF.  I can't get much lower than this level.

 

It was windy that day and the it blew the insect around to the leeward side of the stem.  It gave me an opportunity to photograph more views.

Blue Dasher Teneral

If you have looked at dragonflies much you will probably note that dragonflies don't hold their wings in this position.  That is because this teneral dragonfly still has development ahead in time.  We will look at more tomorrow.

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Ohio Spiderwort

Ohio Spiderwort

Spiderwort is in glorious bloom currently.  I love their color!

Ohio Spiderwort

I seem to notice some variation of color between plants.   I don't know whether there is more than one species or what would explain this.  There are three groupings of them in the front bed by the bench. Two are blue and one is purple.  

I like photographing the bees on these plants.

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Eastern Forktail Teneral II

Eastern Forktail Teneral

I sat photographing the stages of this process for almost 2 1/2 hours.

You should notice that the abdomen is lengthening in this stage.

I would not show many of these except to show this process.

You might notice the white string like tissue exiting the exuvia, old skin, behind this insect.  Some times seeing those is the only way I can tell whether the moult has occurred or not.  Come to think of it,  I don't think that I have actually seen the larva exit the water.

I am unsure what those tissues are.

Eastern Forktail Teneral

I shot the first image at 6/14/2014, 9:59:58 AM and the last at 6/14/2014, 11:15:43 AM.  This data is from the camera metadata saved with the image.

I am sure the insect lengthens during this process but I also think the exuvia shortens from drying out.

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Eastern Forktail Teneral

Eastern Forktail Teneral

I discovered this damselfly moulting just a few inches from my seat the other day.  "Teneral" means that the insect has not formed its exoskeleton as yet.  They don't have bones inside like we do to give their body form.  Their "bones" are on the outside and is called "exoskelton."

They must remain immovable while their new body forms.  I wondered where they get the fluid they pump into their wings.

The wings are compressed in little paddles on the back of the larva.  At moult, they come out still compressed.  As the insect forms, it inflates its wings to their "adult" size.  The wings are the light yellow appendages just behind the thorax.

I have never been able to catch this process and photograph it to completion until this day.  When the wings started to inflate, it was a rapid process.  I would estimate that it took about 1 1/2 minutes.

I know that I am giving you a lot of images to view so I will share the remainder tomorrow.

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Honey Bees

Honey Bee

I have read that the honey bee population is declining.  I was glad to find them visiting the spiderwort plants currently in bloom.

Honey Bee

Bees come out earlier and are active even on days that other insects don't show up.

Honey Bee

Honey Bee

Honey Bee

I can sit among the spiderwort plants and observe their activity.  They don't seem intimidated with my presence.

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