A beautiful spiderweb

Decomposers

Two of the peaches in the bag were almost ripe.
As for the third...

At the bird feeder

Mealworms brought Dad bluebird, whose babies fledged a week ago tomorrow.

At least one goldfinch, a male and female cardinal, and a red-headed woodpecker also were visiting the feeder. Everyone was chased away by some tough-looking bluejays.

Red-shouldered bug nymph (Jadera haematoloma)

Also called soapberry bug
10 July, 2013, Grass Dale Center, Delaware City, DE

Monotropa uniflora

This Indian pipe is a really interesting plant--it doesn't have chlorophyll. Instead of using sunlight for energy, it parasitizes a fungus that in turn lives off the roots of a tree. Because the Indian pipe doesn't need sunlight, it can grow in the dark understory of the forest.

Lums Pond, near the boat ramp, July 10, 2013

Fern

American carrion beetle (Necrophila americana)

These beetles lay eggs in fungi or dead animals. When they show up at a carcass, they start by eating the larva of their competitors, the flies who got there first. Then they lay their own eggs. When the eggs hatch, the larva continue eating the fly larva along with the carcass!

Lums Pond State Park, 6 July 2013