The Kamana Tourist Test

This is a great way to test your own knowledge of your area's natural history and to help you become a better naturalist!

"...If you don't know the answer right off, just move on to the next question. It shouldn't take you that long, maybe an hour. Enjoy the test and regardless of whether you feel you were able to answer many of the questions or not, take time to reflect upon this once you have finished."

INSTRUCTIONS: The first thing you should remember when taking this test is that honesty is the best policy. The object is not to prove anything, but to simply find out what you know and what you do not know.
Find a quiet place where you will be able to concentrate. Answer the questions in short, succinct phrases or with single word answers. If you do not know the answer, leave a blank. Quick guesses are fine. If you were asked, "What is 2+2", in a second you would write "4". This is how we want you to treat this test.

Here's the link: http://www.wildernessawareness.org/PDFs/TouristTest.pdf

Some Common Plants of Charlottesville-- their ecology and uses

Here's a link to a chapbook of common trees, flowers, and shrubs growing in and around Charlottesville. It has plenty of full color photographs of every part of the plants, as well as detailed information about the ecology and uses of each plant.


https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6SzTj0JK3HheVpkNlZRa1VaWVk/edit?usp=sharing

Useful links and resources for Virginia botanists!

My favorite site for botany is the Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora.

http://vaplantatlas.org/
http://vaplantatlas.org/index.php?do=browse:county

This gem, with its staggering breadth and great usefulness, was amassed by the Virginia Native Plant Society and others during the process of the creation of the Flora of Virginia, the most comprehensive book of the plants in our area out there.

This site has lists of all the plants by county as well as by family. Why is this useful? Well, if you have narrowed a species down to the genus but can't quite figure out the species, just go to the atlas and search for that genus in your county. This will help you narrow it down quite a bit based on which species are in your county.

If you are truly dedicated, you could also devote a little time each night to learning about some of the plants on the Albemarle County list. Then, when you see them in the field, you will be able to recognize them and know about them to some extent in advance.

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My favorite book is, of course, the Peterson's guide to Wildflowers of the Northeast. It lacks photographs, however, so you might want to get other guidebooks with photographs. The Newcomb's Guide to Wildflowers is also quite good. If you want something truly comprehensive, and if you're into keying things out, the Flora of Virginia is the way to go.

Common Insects of Virginia for the beginning student of Entomology

BUTTERFLIES & MOTHS (ORDER LEPIDOPTERA):		DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES (ORDER ODONATA)
(Ailanthus Webworm Moth, Atteva punctella, Yponomeutidae, Lepidoptera)		Black Saddlebags Skimmer, Tramea lacerata, Libellulidae, Odonata
American Painted Lady Butterfly, Vanessa virginiensis,  Nymphalidae, Lepid.		Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis, Libellulidae, Odonata
Isabella Tiger Moth AKA Banded Woollybear, Pyrrhactia Isabella, Arctiidae, Lepidoptera		Blue-fronted Dancer, Argia apicalis, Coenagrionidae, Odonata
Black Swallowtail, Papilio polyxenes, Papilionidae, Lepidop.		Common Green Darner, Anax junius, Aeshnidae, Odonata
Cabbage White Butterfly, Pieris rapae, Pieridae, Lepidoptera		Common Sanddragon, Progomphus obscurus, Gomphidae, Odonata
Clouded Sulphur Butterfly, Colias philodice, Pieridae, Lepidoptera		Common Whitetail Skimmer, Libellula lydia, Libellulidae, Odonata
Clymene Haploa Moth, Haploa clymene, Arctiidae, Lepidoptera		Common Pondhawk, Eastern Pondhawk, Erythemis simplicicollis, Libellulidae
Common Buckeye Butterfly, Junonia coenia, Nymphalidae, Lepidoptera		Great Blue Skimmer, Libellula vibrans, Libellulidae,
Dingy Cutworm Moth, Feltia jaculifera, Noctuidae, Lepidoptera		Dragonfly Larvae:
(Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth, Malacasoma americanum, Lasiocampidae, Lepidoptera)		TRUE BUGS, CICADAS, APHIDS, HOPPERS, SPIT BUGS (ORDER HEMIPTERA)
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Papilio glaucus, Papilionidae, Lepidoptera		Aphids, Aphis spp., Aphididae, Hemiptera
Eastern Tailed Blue Butterfly, Cupido comyntas, Lycaenidae, Lepidoptera		Rosy Apple Aphid, Dysaphis plantaginea, Aphididae, Hemiptera
Fiery Skipper, Hylephila phyleus, Hesperiidae, Lepid.		Assassin Bug, Pselliopus barberi, Reduviidae, Hemiptera
Forage Looper Moth, Caenurgina erechtea, Noctuidae, Lepidop.		Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius, Cimicidae, Hemiptera
Giant Leopard Moth, Ecpantheria scribonia, Arctiidae,		Boxelder Bug, Boisea trivittata, Rhopalidae, Hemiptera
Giant Swallowtail Butterfly, Papilio cresphontes, Papilionidae,		Milkweed Bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus, Lygaeidae, Hemiptera
Gray Hairstreak Butterfly, Strymon melinus, Lycaenidae, Lepidop.		Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys, Pentatomidae, Hemiptera
Hoary Edge Skipper, Achalarus lyciades, Hesperiidae, Lepid.		Buffalo Treehopper, Stictocephala spp., Membracidae, Hemiptera
Hummingbird Moth, Hemaris sp., Sphingidae,		Candy-striped Leafhopper, Graphocephala coccinea, Cicadellidae, Hemiptera
Least Skipper, Ancyloxphya numitor, Hesperiidae, Lepid.		Eastern Leaf-footed Bug, Florida Leaf-footed Bug, Leptoglossus phyllopus, Coreidae, Hemiptera
Long-Tailed Skipper, Urbanus proteus, Hesperiidae, Lepid.		Giant Water Bug, Lethocerus americanus, Belostomatidae, Hemiptera
Luna Moth, Actias luna, Saturniidae, Lepidopt.		Helmeted Squash Bug, Euthochtha galeator, Coreidae, Hemiptera
	Monarch Butterfly, Danaus plexippus, Nymphalidae, Lepidopt.	Kudzu Bug, Megacopta cribraria, Plataspididae, Hemiptera
	Pandorus Sphinx Moth, Eumorpha pandorus, Sphingidae	Leaf-footed Bug, Acanthocephala spp., Coreidae, Hemiptera (no white band down the middle)
	Pearl Crescent Butterfly, Phyciodes tharos, Nymphalidae,	17-Year Cicada, Periodical Cicada, Magicicada septemdecim, Cicadidae, Hemiptera
	Pipevine Swallowtail, Battus philenor, Papilionidae,	Planthopper, Acanalonia conica, Acanaloniidae, Hemiptera
	Plume Moth, Hellinsia homodactyla, Pterophoridae,	Squash Bug, Anasa tristis, Coreidae, Hemiptera
	Polyphemus Moth, Antheraea polyphemus, Saturniidae, L.	Swamp Cicada, Tibicen chloromera, Cicadidae
	Rustic Sphinx Moth, Manduca rustica, Sphingidae, Lepidoptera	Locust Treehopper, Thelia bimaculata, Membracidae, Hemiptera
	(Saddleback Caterpillar, Acharia stimulea, Limacodidae, Lepidoptera)	Wheel Bug, Arilus cristatus, Reduviidae, Hemiptera
	Silver-spotted Skipper, Epargyreis clarus, Hesperiidae	GRASSHOPPERS, CRICKETS, KATYDIDS (ORDOR ORTHOPTERA)
	(Slug Caterpillar Moth, various species, Limacodidae, Lepidoptera)	Carolina Locust, Dissosteira Carolina, Acrididae, Orthoptera
	Small-eyed Sphinx Moth, Paonias myops, Sphingidae, Lepidoptera	Differential Grasshopper, Melanoplus differentialis, Acrididae, O.
	Snowberry Clearwing Moth, Hemaris diffinis, Sphingidae, Lepidoptera	Field Cricket, Gryllus pennsylvanicus, Gryllidae, Orthoptera
	(Southern Emerald Moth, Synchlora frondaria, Geometridae, Lepidoptera)	House Cricket, Acheta domestica, Gryllidae
	Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly, Papilio troilus, Papilionidae, Lepidoptera	Fork-tailed Bush Katydid, Scudderia furcata, Tettigoniidae, O.
	Tobacco Hornworm Moth, Manduca sexta, Sphingidae, Lepidoptera	Katydid, Microcentrum rhobifolium, Tettigoniidae, Orthoptera
	Vine Sphinx Moth, Eumorpha vitis, Sphingidae, Lepidoptera	Northern Mole Cricket, Neocurtilla hexadactyla, Gryllotalpidae
	Walnut Sphinx Moth, Amorpha juglandis, Sphingidae, Lepidoptera	Red-Legged Grasshopper, Melanoplus femurrubrum, Acrididae, Orthoptera
	White-lined Sphinx Moth, Hyles lineata, Sphingidae, Lepidoptera	(Southeastern Lubber Grasshopper, Romalea microptera, Romaleidae, Orthoptera)
	Wasp Moth, Melittia species, Sesiidae, Lepidoptera	Spotted Camel Cricket, Ceuthophilus maculatus, Raphidophoridae, Orthoptera
	BEETLES (ORDER COLEOPTERA)	Spur-throated Grasshopper, Melanoplus ponderosus, Acrididae, Orthoptera
	American Oil Beetle, Meloe americanus, Meloidae, Coleoptera
	Asian Multicolored Lady Beetle, Harmonia axyridis, Coccinellidae, Coleoptera	BEES, WASPS, ANTS (ORDER HYMENOPTERA)
	American Carrion Beetle, Necrophila Americana, Silphidae, Coleoptera	American Bumble Bee, Bombus pennsylvanicus, Apidae, Hymenoptera
	Big Dipper Firefly, Photinus pyralis, Lampyridae, Coleoptera	Common Eastern Bumble Bee, Bombus impatiens, Apidae, Hymenoptera
	Black Vine Weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus, Curculionidae, C.	Golden Northern Bumble Bee, Bombus fervidas, Apidae, Hymenoptera
	Boll Weevil, Anthonomus grandis, Curculionidae, Col.	Augochlora Sweat Bee, Augochlora pura, Halictidae, Hymenoptera
	Cedar Beetle, Sandulus sp., Callirhipidae, C	Cuckoo Bee, Sphecodes spp., Apidae, Hymenoptera
	Checkered Beetle, Enoclerus rosmarus, Cleridae, Coleoptera	Eastern Carpenter Bee, Xylocopa virginica, Apidae, Hymenoptera
	Cottonwood Borer, Plectrodera scalator, Cerambycidae,	Small Carpenter Bee, Ceratina spp., Apidae, Hymenoptera
	Darkling Beetle, Eleodes spp., Tenebrionidae,	Honey Bee, Apis mellifera, Apidae, Hymenoptera
	Dogbane Leaf Beetle, Crysochus auratus, Chrysomelidae, C.	Bald-faced Hornet, Dolichovespula maculate, Vespidae, H.
	Eastern Hercules Beetle, Dynastes tityus, Scarabaeidae, Coleoptera	Cicada Killer, Sphecius speciosus, Crabronidae, Hymen;
	Eastern Eyed Click Beetle, Alaus oculatus, Elateridae, Coleoptera	Common Thread Waisted Wasp, Ammophila procera, Sphecidae,
	Emereld Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis, Buprestidae, Coleoptera	Eastern Velvet Ant, Cow Killer, Dasymutilla occidentalis, Mutillidae, Hymenoptera
Green June Beetle, Cotinus nitida, Scarabaeidae, Coleoptera		Five-Banded Tiphiid Wasp, Myzinum quinquecintum, Thynnidae, H.
Hardwood Stump Borer Beetle, Mallodon dasytomus, Cerambycidae, C.		American Pelecinid Wasp, Pelecinus polyturator, Pelecinidae, Hymenoptera
Hister Beetle, Acritus spp., Histeridae, Coleoptera		Ichneumon Wasp, Megarhyssa macrurus, Ichneumonidae
Ivory Marked Beetle, Eburia quadrigeminata, Cerambycidae, Coleoptera		Horntail Wasp, various species (genuses include urocerus, sirex), Siricidae, Hymenoptera urocerus:    sirex:
Japanese Beetle, Popillia japonica, Scarabeidae, Coleoptera		Pigeon Tremex, Tremex columba, Siricidae, Hymenoptera
Locust Borer Beetle, Megacyllene robiniae, Cerambycidae, C.		Yellow Jacket, Vespula spp., Vespidae, Hymenoptera
Mealybug Ladybird, Mealybug Destroyer, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, Coccinellidae, Coleoptera		Potter Wasp, Eumenes fraternus, Vespidae, Hymenoptera
Net-winged Beetle, Calopteron terminale/reticulatum, Lycidae, C.
Pennsylvania Leatherwing Beetle, Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus, Cantharidae		Black Carpenter Ant, Campotonus pennsylvanicus, Formicidae, H.
Predacious Diving Beetle, Cybister fimbriolatus, Dytiscidae, Coleoptera ___		Formica Ant, Formica spp., Formicidae, Hymenoptera
Red Headed Ash Borer, Neoclytus acuminatus, Cerambycidae, Coleoptera ____		Red Pavement Ant, Tetramorium caespitum, Formicidae, Hymenoptera
Red Oak Borer, Enaphalodes rufulus, Cerambycidae, Coleoptera _____		MANTIDS (ORDER MANTODEA)
Southern Pine Bark Beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis, Curculionidae, Coleoptera ___		Carolina mantis, Stagmomantis carolina, Mantidae, Mantodea ______
(Scarlet Machalite Beetle, Malachius aeneus, Melyridae, Coleoptera)		Japanese Giant Mantis, Chinese Mantid, Tenodera aridifolia, Mantidae, Mantodea _____
Rose Chafer, Macrodactylus subspinosus, Scarabaeidae, Coleoptera		Praying Mantis, Mantis religiosa, Mantidae, Mantodea ____
Signate Lady Beetle, Hyperaspis signata, Coccinellidae, Coleoptera		EARWIGS (ORDER DERMAPTORA)
Soldier Beetle, Chauliognathus spp., Cantharidae, Coleoptera		European Earwig, Forficula auricularia, Forficulidae, Dermaptora
Spotted Tree Borer Beetle, Synaphaeta guexi, Cerambycidae, Coleoptera		Maritime Earwig, Anisolabis maritima, Anisolabididae, Dermaptora
Stag Beetle, Lucanus capreolus, Lucanidae, Coleoptera		Ring-legged Earwig, Euborellia annulipes,  Anisolabididae, Dermaptora
Striped Blister Beetle, Epicauta vittata, Meloidae, Coleoptera		COCKROACHES AND TERMITES (ORDER BLATTODEA)
Three-Lined Potato Beetle, Lema trilinea, Chrysomelidae, Coleoptera		American Cockroach, Periplaneta americana, Blattidae, Blattodea
(Varied Carpet Beetle, Anthrenus verbasci, Dermestidae, Coleoptera)		German Cockroach, Blatella germanica, Blatellidae, Blattodea
White Oak Borer Beetle, Goes tigrinus, Cerambycidae, Coleoptera		SILVERFISH, FIREBRATS AND BRISTLETAILS (ORDER THYSANURA)
White-Spotted Sawyer Beetle, Monochamus scutellatus, Cerambycidae, Coleoptera		Firebrat, Thermobia domestica, Lepismatidae, Thysanura
MAYFLIES (ORDER EPHEMEROPTERA)		Gray Silverfish, Ctenolepisma longicaudata, Lepismatidae, Thysanura
Coffinfly, Ephemera guttulata, Ephemeridae, Ephemeroptera		Silverfish, Lepisma saccharina, Lespismatidae, Thysanura
Giant Mayfly, Hexagenia limbata, Ephemeridae, Ephemeroptera		Jumping Bristletail, Pedetontus sp., Machilidae, Thysanura
CADDISFLIES (ORDER TRICHOPTERA)		TELSONTAILS, PROTURANS (ORDER PROTURA)
Horn-cased Caddis Fly		Proturan, Acerentomon sp., Acerentomidae, Protura
LACEWINGS, MANTIDFLIES, ANTLIONS (ORDER NEUROPTERA)		SPRINGTAILS, SNOW FLEAS (ORDER COLLEMBOLA)
Brown Mantidfly, Climaciella brunnea, Mantispidae, Neuroptera		Seashore Springtail, Anurida maritima, Poduridae, Collembola
DOBSONFLIES, ALDERFLIES, FISHFLIES (ORDER MEGALOPTERA)		Sminthurid Springtail, Ptenothrix atra, Poduridae, Collembola
Dobsonfly, Corydalus cornutus, Corydalidae, Megaloptera		Water Springtail, Podura aquatic, Poduridae, Collembola
Fishfly, Chauliodes pectinicornis, Coryladidae, Megaloptera		FLEAS- ORDER SIPHONAPTERA
FLIES (ORDER DIPTERA)		DIPLURANS (ORDER DIPLURA)
Bee-like Tachinid Fly, Hystricia abrupta, Tachinidae, Diptera		Japygid Dipluran, Metajapyx spp., Japygidae, Diplura
Cranefly, Tipula spp., Tipulidae, Diptera		WALKING STICKS (ORDER PHASMATODEA)
Hover Fly, Toxomerus geminatus, Syrphidae, Diptera		Giant Walking Stick, Megaphasma dentricus, Diapheromeridae, Phasmatodea
Long-Legged Fly, Condylostylus spp., Dolichopodidae, Diptera		Northern Walkingstick, Diapheromera femorata, Diapheromeridae, Phasmatodea
Mydas Fly, Mydas clavatus, Mydidae, Diptera
Robber Fly, Diogmites sp., Asilidae, Diptera
Robber Fly, Efferia,
Robber Fly, Promachus
Robber Fly, Diogmites species, Asilidae, Diptera
Robber Fly, Efferia, Asilidae, Diptera
Robber Fly, Promachus, Asilidae, Diptera
Small House Fly, Fannia spp., Muscidae, Diptera
Tachinid Fly, Juriniopsis adusta, Tachinidae, Diptera