Early September...

A Great Blue Heron appears to be laughing after dropping a "poop bomb" beside me while I was standing 25-30 feet below on a trail this morning.  Thanks goodness I was out of the splatter zone!

The larval stage of  this adult Ailanthus Webworm lives in loose webs that enclose the leaves of host shrubs and trees. A single web community may contain all four life stages: eggs, caterpillars, pupae, and adults. An individual moth (as seen above) can progress from egg to adult within 4 weeks. https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/ailanthus-webworm-moth

A tiny Clearwing Moth rests on goldenrod.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on Thistle

The Smartweed Caterpillar (or Smeared Dagger Moth) can be found at the edges of Beaches, marshes, swamps and open habitats. (Caterpillars of Eastern North America, David L. Wagner)