Herping in the Catskills

[Otterwoman]

John stopped on his way back from VA and we went herping in the Catskills. Here we are fresh and hopeful at the beginning of our search. (1)
Our first stop was a waterfall with a stream running away from it (2). We had great and unexpected luck here! We found all these (3). Here are close-ups (4) (5) (6). I believe they were E. bislineata (the adults), dusky and spring salamander larvae (I forgot which scientific names he used, but I'm sure he can edit this and add them).

From John: In this post there is one Eurycea bislineata (Northern Two-Lined Salamander) and the rest are Desmognathus ochrophaeus (Mountain Dusky Salamander, northern phase) larvae at various stages of development (though that really plain one looks a little like a Spring Salamander larva - do you have any photos from the side, Dawn? Probably a dusky.

 

[Otterwoman]

We continued into some drier, more forested areas with small streams. We found redbacks (07) (08), a baby dusky (09) (10), and a mystery baby, probably a leadback, but we were hoping it might be a baby slimy (11) (12).

From John: Photos, in order-
1. Plethodon cinereus (Northern Redback Salamander)
2. Desmognathus fuscus fuscus (Northern Dusky Salamander)
3, 4. Plethodon cinereus leadback phase,
5. Northern Dusky again
6. Probably a young leadback phase P. cinereus.

 

[Otterwoman]

Finally the loose ends. These disgusting grubs were everywhere in the water (13). Can anyone identify?
Scarlet Cup mushrooms (14), Dogtooth liles (15), Dutchman's breeches (16), and that thing from Ceti Alpha that Khan put in Chekov's ear (can anyone identify?) I brought it home and put it in a small tank and am feeding it whiteworms and we'll see what it grows into. If anyone has better food suggestions, let me know.

 

[John]

The "caterpillar" looks like some kind of sawfly larva to me but I'm not an expert on new world insects. The last photo is a large beetle larva, probably from the family Hydrophilidae. Nate Nelson is the person to ask about the beetle larva.

 

[Azhael]

The rear end of the mistery larva reminds me of crane fly larvae, but the head looks all wrong (then again, i´m an old world fella like John).

Lovely to see plants too! I always feel that field reports should include a short review on the local vegetation

 

[otolith]

The last photo (creepy chekhov) is a hellgrammite, and is the larval stage of a dobsonfly.

 

[Neotenic_Jaymes]

Nice finds guys! Seems like you guys really had fun. Hanging out with Dawn is such a pleasure isn't it John?

 

[Otterwoman]

The beetle larva died. I don't know why. I was going to keep it and see what it became.

 

[John]

So that's a Hellgrammite. Live and learn: Dobsonfly - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jaymes - yes, Dawn is a pleasure to be with.

 

[Bellabelloo]

You two are the best dressed 'herpers' I have ever seen!.

 

[rad]

I know this post is quite old but Desmognathus ochrophaeus don't have a larval stage. All the larvae are Eurycea bislineata besides 1 Gyrinophilus porphyriticus ssp. porphyriticus.

 

[frank beard]

Agreed about those larvae ID's being Eurycea aside from the one Gyrinophilus.