Ariolimax columbianus “Pacific Banana Slug” Gastropoda
Olympic National Park, WA
June 2, 2013
Robert Niese
This little banana slug escaped into a hole created by a beetle larva in order to escape the midday summer heat. What a cutie!
Olympic National Park
Adiantum pedatum (aleuticum) ”Northern Maidenhair Fern” Pteridaceae
Olympic National Park, WA
June 6, 2013
Robert Niese
One of my favorite Pacific Northwest Plants, these beautiful ferns are most common in very wet areas of our lowland forests. They are particularly fond of waterfalls.
Cicindela oregona "Western Tiger Beetle" Carabidae
Olympic National Park, WA
June 6, 2013
Robert Niese
Look for these awesome predators on sandy river banks west of the Cascades. They are lightning fast and voracious hunters, but that doesn’t detract from the beauty of their iridescent exoskeleton!
Moneses uniflora “Single-delight” Ericaceae
Olympic National Park, WA
June 1, 2013
Robert Niese
This unique Ericad is found in moist coniferous forests across the northern hemisphere and is the sole member of its genus. It truly is delightful!
Cladonia sp. “Pixie Cup Lichen”
Olympic National Park, WA
June 6, 2013
Robert Niese
This easily recognizable lichen genus is one of my favorites. The tall cup-like structures for which the group is named are actually modified structures that release spores. Other members of the genus, such as Cladonia cristatella, the British Soldier Lichens, produce a bright red cap on each tall stem instead of a shallow cup.
Listera cordata “Heart-leaf Twayblade” Orchidaceae
Olympic National Park, WA
June 3, 2013
Robert Niese
This tiny orchid has a circumboreal distribution and is most often found in the moist forest understory hiding among the mosses. Twayblade orchids are fairly common in the Pacific Northwest but are usually overlooked due to their size (rarely more than a few inches tall) and unremarkable coloration. We have five species of Twayblade in the PNW – one of which is endangered.
Pacific Wren (Troglodytes pacificus) Troglodytidae
Olympic National Park, WA
June 6, 2013
Robert Niese
Pacific Wrens are some of the most accomplished vocalists in the animal kingdom. Displaying birds have been known to sing more than 60 notes per second for 120 seconds without breathing! They’re also one of North America’s loudest animals. Have a listen.
Enoclerus sphegeus “Red-bellied Clerid” Cleridae
Olympic National Park, Washington
June 2, 2013
Robert Niese
These little beetles have the unique habit of leaping off their trees and showing their bright red abdomens when threatened by predators (or my camera lens).
Pardosa sp. “Thin-legged Wolf Spider” Lycosidae, with young
Olympic National Park, WA
June 8, 2013
Robert Niese
Female wolf spiders spin an egg sac and attach it to their spinnerets, carrying around their
precious cargo until the spiderlings hatch and crawl onto her back. There, the babies will stay until they’re old enough to venture out into the world on their own.
Blechnum spicant “Deer Fern” Polypodiaceae (Blechnacaeae)
Olympic National Park, WA
June 1, 2013
Robert Niese
This fern is mostly found west of the Cascades, but occasionally in Northern Idaho. I was surprised to learn that it has never been recorded in Montana. Blechnum ferns are known for conspicuously dimorphic fertile and infertile fronds. Tall fronds with skinny leaflets are typically spore-bearing like this one here.
Northwest Naturalist 