100 Species #57: Striped harvestman

This striped harvestman (or "daddy long-legs," Leiobunum vittatum) was on the front wall of the house, missing two of its legs.

I dislike the word "harvestman," but I fear I must use it in place of "daddy long-legs," the name I called this animal as a child, to avoid confusing it with the crane fly or the cellar spider, which also go by that name. The harvestman is a creature of mystery to laypeople. As recently as last week I had to dispel the bunkum that the daddy long-legs is the most venomous spider. First, it's not a spider at all, it's more of a gigantic mite with obscenely extended appendages. Second, it has no venom glands and no fangs. Harvestmen are predatory on smaller creatures, but also feed on detritus and carrion, being unusual among arachnids for tearing up and swallowing solid food particles. Spiders gooify the insides of their prey, sucking down liquid nourishment.

The striped harvestman is the most common and conspicuous one in North America, with a distinctive dark marking on a gray to pinkish orange body. The body darkens as the creature ages, and late season specimens' stripes disappear into the background color. Harvestmen can be handled quite safely--for the human--the harvestman usually ends up losing a few legs in the process.

This same species (represented by a nice reddish individual) was 365 urban species #329.

100 Species #58: Lily leaf beetle

A lily leaf beetle Lilioceris lilii on a leaf of tiger lily.

The beetle order Coleoptera, noted for hard lacquered-looking wing covers, is rich with attractive colorful species. This is certainly one of them, earning a variety of different common names with the word "red" or "scarlet" in them. I'm going with a simpler name: this is a leaf beetle (family Chrysomelidae) that specializes on certain kinds of lily plants. It will feed, for example on tiger lilies, but not on daylilies, interestingly.

The lily leaf beetle was once found only on the Eurasian continent. In the 1700s it made its way to Britain, in the mid-20th century it found it's way to eastern Canada. In 1992 it was first discovered in the United States (in the great state of Massachusetts--home of the gypsy moth introduction). The lily leaf beetle has no natural enemies in the New World, and is becoming a creature of concern, devouring ornamental lilies with impunity. Presumably its bright red color either warns birds that it tastes bad or sends that signal incorrectly, but I could not find information on that point. (Many lilies are toxic--perhaps the beetle sequesters plant toxins, as many milkweed-feeding insects do?)

Lily leaf beetle larvae protect themselves by crawling about in a suit of armor/disguise made from their own droppings. Not quite as charming as a shiny red shell.

Portland advice!

Hello all!
I know some of you are Portlanders, damn Portlanders, or former Portlanders (talking about Oregon) and I need a bit of advice. My brother, father, and I are going drive around the coast of Oregon, but we are going to fly into Portland first, and spend the first night there. My brother is getting there ahead of us on another plane, and wants to find us the hotel so he can check in, drop his bags and explore. I seem to recall the area around the airport (like is the case in most cities) being not all that fun. Perhaps I'm wrong, but you tell me: is there a hotel reasonably near the airport that isn't too depressing to hang out at/around? We won't be there long, but no need to start the trip on a bummer.

Thanks in advance!