30 August 2016
Grey Treefrog
One of our Tuesday afternoon volunteers, Taegyn, spotted this tiny treefrog in a hawthorn tree. Most treefrogs we see are placidly napping, but this one was chasing a large insect. Its movement caught Taegyn's eye and we all watched its acrobatics.
30 August 2016
Insect
This is the insect our treefrog was trying so hard to catch. It fell out of the tree at just the wrong moment - for the frog.(Sandy)
From what can be seen of this wasp, it appears to be an Ichneumonid in the genus Thyreodon. (Christine)
30 August 2016
Still fighting DSV
Putting a tarpaulin over a mass of DSV plants in the gully above the pond opened up an area for planting milkweeds. Both Common and Swamp Milkweeds thrived there this summer and other species, like Figwort, Horseweed, Catnip, and Black Nightshade, also appeared. We decided to try to build on that success and cover another area full of DSV and Comfrey. It will take more than a year to kill these invasives, but the wait will be worth it if we can replace them with native wildflowers. In the photo, Catherine (left) and Melanie (right).
10-AUG-2016
Eastern Giant swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes)
Nectaring on phlox. These butterflies are increasingly common in the region now. I have seen them just about everywhere I go, from the western to the eastern reaches of the region and points south.
17-AUG-2016
Wood frog (Lithobates sylvatica)
Diane photographed this handsome wood frog, which we don't see very often at the FWG. They can be heard in the Amphibian Pond in spring for a few days, but never in any sort of numbers,and not every year either (they are the frogs that sound like ducks quacking). So it was quite a happy surprise to come across this beauty in the garden.
17-AUG-2016
American Goldfinch
Diane photographed this handsome male goldfinch eating thistle seeds, a favourite food. She notes that on August 17: "I saw a Giant Swallowtail flying around in the BYG. Photographed the small moth seen last year: Metalmark moth (Caloreas leucobasis) on the sunflower on the side wall of the centre. Many rabbits around. Arriving in the Butterfly Meadow, American Goldfinches were there in large number, plus two Flickers in the Model Monarch Waystation area. Saw an Eastern-tailed blue in the Butterfly Meadow, Common Ringlet and many other pollinators."
17-AUG-2016
Eastern tailed blue butterfly (Cupido comyntas)
This is the beautiful little butterfly that Diane notes she saw in the Butterfly Meadow, along with common ringlet and lots of pollinators.
17-AUG-2016
Metalmark moth (Caloreas leucobasis), #2641
A tiny moth, less than 10mm, which is sometimes found on sunflowers and other flowers, around the Interpretation Centre.
17-AUG-2016
American toad (Bufo americanus)
Diane found this large, healthy looking toad in the middle of the Bill Holland Trail. They breed in the Amphibian Pond,and once breeding season is over, they head back to the upland area, as do the wood frogs, which Diane also photographed on the same day.
03-AUG-2016
Shining flower beetles (Olibrus)
tiny round shiny beetles that appear on various flowers, but most especially it seems to me, on goldenrods. Adults of this genus feed on pollen, but many species in this family (Phalacridae) feed on fungi, as do the larvae.
Black swallowtail butterfly caterpillar (Papilio polyxenes)
A very early instar of the black swallowtail butterfly larva.When they mature a bit more they turn into the more familiar large greenish caterpillar (
http://www.pbase.com/fwg/image/126764882). Isabelle found a couple of these larvae and Sandy photographed them.
Black swallowtail butterfly caterpillar (Papilio polyxenes)
Another shot of the early instar black swallowtail caterpillar. It is great to see these caterpillars as black swallowtails seem to be scarcer this year. A few years back, we found quite a few of these larvae, but few since.
03-AUG-2016
Briseis underwing moth (Catocala briseis)
Looking for insects, especially moths, on the bark of trees in the old woods area, I came across this Catocala. It is not one I've seen before and ID was tough, so I asked Diane (our moth expert) and she promptly identified it for me.
03-AUG-2016
Great black digger wasp (Sphex pensylvanicus)
Found in the Butterfly Meadow on Cimicifuga.
03-AUG-2016
Ambush bug (Phymata)
I always enjoy seeing these prehistoric looking creatures. They patiently wait for prey to drop by and when something does land, they grab with lightning speed.
03-AUG-2016
Backswimmer Notonecta sp.)
There were several of these aquatic insects in one small section of the pond. It seems as if this one has found food, likely another aquatic insect. These bugs swim upside down in the water.
03-AUG-2016
Bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata)
Nectaring on queen anne's lace (Dauca carota). These are the wasps that make the large hanging paper nests. And if you really think about it, what an amazing feat for these insects to undertake. They actually make paper and out of that make a strong, sturdy, complex nest.
03-AUG-2016
Sweat bee (Sphecodes)
Yet another visitor enjoying the boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) in the Butterfly Meadow. This little red-bellied sweat bee is unique in its colouration, but is quite a common bee.
03-AUG-2016
Paper wasp (Polistes fuscatus)
Another wasp attracted to the boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) in the Butterfly Meadow. This Polistes species is native, unlike the Polistes dominula. Both are quite harmless, though people don't always think so. They attack only if they feel their nest is threatened, and even then, it takes some doing to get them to sting you! The P. dominula is even more passive and I've frequently been around their nests taking photos while they back off and wait for me to leave.
03-AUG-2016
Potter wasp, either Ancistrocerus or Euodynerus
The boneset plants (Eupatorium perfoliatum) in the Butterfly Meadow were pulling in a lot of insects including a number of these potter wasps. Both Ancistrocerus and Euodynerus look very similar, and I'm going to leave this as either/or for the moment.
03-AUG-2016
Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
Lots of the native monarda blooming now in the Butterfly Meadow and attracting lots of insects.
03-AUG-2016
Banasa stink bug (Banasa dimiata)
One of the most commonly encountered stink bugs, especially at the FWG. While it is attracted to many plants, I most often see it on red-osier dogwood.
03-AUG-2016
Amphibian pond
The invasive flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus) has taken over a huge part of the pond, despite being cleared out annually. I recently heard that it is a protected species in the Netherlands. Like many non-native species here that spread and grow aggressively, yet are scarce in their native habitat.