They’re arachnids, but they’re actually more closely related to scorpions than they are to spiders. They don’t produce silk, have just one pair of eyes, and have a fused body (spiders have a narrow “waist” between their front and rear). They are not venomous and are found as a variety of interesting species throughout the world. These four were found under the same rock at Pine Ridge Park.
During the Great Depression of the 1930s the Works Progress Administration employed men in Indiana County to work on various road and stream projects. One reminder of the WPA work are the low head dams located on Little Mahoning Creek near Rochester Mills. The photo depicts the Steele No. 1 Dam and the Rochester Dam. The construction year was 1937 and the projects were sponsored by the Indiana County Commissioners.
By the end of June Bee Balm is in bloom along our park trails. The Getty Run Trail at Blue Spruce Park is a good place to observe this plant and the hummingbirds that like to feed on its nectar.