28mm body length. Under peeling bark of rotting pine log. Exuded cyanide-like scented substance. Probably Auturus evides or Euryurus leachii, despite occurring under bark of a pine log
2.5mm body length. Under peeling bark of large rotting log. Active. Air temperature about 59°F
Polysphincta sp female ovipositing on Tetragnatha sp (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/19529926), identified at BugGuide 1000173. – https://bugguide.net/node/view/1000173
A point of interest here; this male brought two fish at once back to the nest. Both parents fed the little ones at the same time. I typically don't see the male helping out with the feeding.
This is a HUGE female "Eastern" Hellbender (amusingly referred to as the "Snot-Otter" by local fishermen), at 27.5" (Record is 29"). After reading Bishop's seminal work "Handbook of Salamanders", my best friend/cousin/herper Pete and I decided to check out some historical records listed in the book. We decided to examine some old locality records in Delaware County, and were amazed to find a population still extant at this locale (observed a total of 4 individuals). Unfortunately, we noticed the water quality decreasing as we searched downstream, encountering several small factories pumping effluent directly into the river. I believe this had affected this population negatively even then, as we observed no sub-adults/juveniles, and all were apparently old adults. One specimen had an unusual, large, egg-shaped tumor/lesion on its tail, possibly related to the poor water quality. I often wonder as to the fate of this population of magnificent "Giant Salamanders", some thirty-odd years later.
Guarding nest; both adults visible at once for long periods; possible hatch.