Update for 07-05-14

On a recent walk at Bona Dea Park, I went by a picnic table right under a very big American Sycamore tree. I had noticed that for some reason these trees had shed more of their bark this year than in any years past that I can remember. The ground is literally littered with bark. But I also noticed a caterpillar walking on the picnic table. I took these photos of the caterpillar

. A Sycamore Tussock-Halysidota harrisii. They seem to be indigenous to these trees. With the caterpillar photos are photos of what the adult result is. A Sycamore Tussock Moth. I think both the caterpillar and moth are pretty. Also photos of a Sycamore tree and the scattered bark that these trees shed. Looks like the experts believe that the tree outgrows the bark in the middle section of the trees and breaks loose. Maybe due to the cooler, wetter weather we have had in this area this spring and summer, the trees are growing faster that usual.