Japanese Climbing Fern is an introduced species that is well established in Mississippi woodlands as well as in urban environments. The species is a native of Japan which escaped from cultivation; in some areas of the Homochitto National Forest it is now the most common fern. Fertile fronds have narrow, finger-like lobes with swollen tips.

This plant is a shrubby perennial common to the woodland and streamside habitat of central Mississippi. Stems remain green throughout the year and at least some of the oppositely arranged leaves may stay on the stem. The fruits, shown in this image, are quite distinctive.

The Gulf Fritillary is a member of the tropical Heliconian group of butterflies which feed on passion vine. The adult is bright orange with larve silvery blotches on the undersides of the wings. Larvae are also distinctive with the bright orange pigment and black spines which give a fearsome appearance.

These colorful fungal fruiting bodies are common on dead, and to a lesser degree on living wood throughout the Center. They are particularly common on the post-Katrina remnants still present along many of our trails.

Ageratum is a fall-blooming species often found in moist habitat or along drainage lines in woods and meadows. The flowers resemble those of Ironweed but are pale blue to purple instead of violet-magenta.

Monarch Butterflies returned to our area in mid-August and have been laying eggs on local milkweed plants throughout September. Some of the earlier individuals have already completed their larval and pupal periods and emerged as adults. This female emerged recently and is the first of our Fall 2007 group to be tagged and released to join those migrating to Mexico.

The Carolina Mantis, one of six species found in North America, is our most common Mississippi species. Adults reach body lengths of about 2 ½  inches and vary in color from brown to green. Female specimen, like the one in this image have shorter wings and a broader abdomen than males.

Orb Weavers produce large vertically oriented webs often with prominent areas of thick zigzag sections of silk known as “stabilimentum”.  This species, the Black and Yellow Argiope spider, one of our larger species, often attains a body length of an inch or more and may measure up to 3 inches from the tips of the forelegs to the hindleg tips. These spiders can inflict a painful bite but they are not considered dangerous; this specimen is feeding on a large silk-wrapped moth captured in its web. Webs can be consumed by the spider if they choose to relocate.

Numerous species of small beetles in the family Scolytidae are noted for the formation of engravings, or galleries, under bark on the wood surface of various tree species. Many of these beetles are of economic importance due to the damage they cause to pines and other trees. These intricate galleries are found on Winged Elm logs located along Pioneer Trail and are apparently formed by the Elm Bark Beetle, an introduced species which vectors Dutch Elm disease.

Several species of sunflowers are found in our area, but one of the more distinctive ones is the Small Flowered Helianthus, due to the height and the small diameter of the flower. As in many other members of the Aster Family, the tiny fertile flowers are grouped in the central disk and are surrounded by petal shaped, sterile, ray flowers. These plants are often found along roadsides, fence rows and the edges of woods.