Images

A monarch butterfly drinks nectar from a plumeless thistle flower in an abandoned agricultural field.

A tiger swallowtail butterfly drinks nectar from a plumeless thistle flower in an abandoned agricultural field.

A tiger swallowtail butterfly drinks nectar from a plumeless thistle flower in an abandoned agricultural field. This is the yellow form of the female Eastern tiger swallowtail. Females have blue scales on the lower hind wing.

A monarch butterfly drinks nectar from a plumeless thistle flower in an abandoned agricultural field.

An Eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly (female, black form) drinks nectar from a plumeless thistle flower in an abandoned agricultural field. Females have blue scales on the upper side of the lower hindwing.

A pipevine swallowtail butterfly drinks nectar from a plumeless thistle flower in an abandoned agricultural field.

A monarch butterfly drinks nectar from a plumeless thistle flower in an abandoned agricultural field.

A zebra swallowtail butterfly rests on a blade of grass in an abandoned agricultural field.

A tiger swallowtail butterfly drinks nectar from a plumeless thistle flower in an abandoned agricultural field.

A tiger swallowtail butterfly drinks nectar from a plumeless thistle flower in an abandoned agricultural field.

A zebra swallowtail butterfly drinks nectar from a plumeless thistle flower in an abandoned agricultural field.

South Fork of the Shenandoah River with trees and mountain in background.

Southern Virginia farm of Christmas trees of various types.

Beth Stettner, USGS, demonstrates rock identification at the National Scout Jamboree.

Libellula vibrans at rest on a blade of grass.

A USGS geologist samples spring water near a gold prospect in the Shotgun Hills, Alaska.

Texas City, Clear Lake piezos

U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2018-5101

I was hiking to Mt. Cammerer in the park and got caught in a torrential thunderstorm.  On my way back to the campground, I met this view of the swollen creek and crossed by foot using hiking poles at the widest, shallowest point I could find. 

Crater Creek warm springs, Mount Spurr Volcano. Chris Waythomas measuring temperature, pH, and conductivity.

An adult great spangled fritillary butterfly rests on the strap of a backpack left in the sun at a field research station. It may have been attracted to the radiant heat or salts left behind on the strap in human sweat.

An adult great spangled fritillary butterfly rests on the arm of a chair at a field research station.