09-JUL-2015
Mason bee sign
On the southern edge of the old woods at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden, is an insect hotel (see NEXT image) created by Sandy. It has been well used by bees and this year has the addition of these mason bee boxes which were made at a spring workshop. They were quickly used by mason bees but sadly, the nests were opened and the larvae removed, but we are not sure by whom.
09-JUL-2015
Insect hotel
An interesting and quite artistic structure designed to help bees by providing homes for them. Of course, other creatures sometimes can be found here too. Sandy found a garter snake curled up behind some of bee boxes!
6 July 2015
Snake moves in
You can just see a medium-sized garter snake disappearing from behind one of our mason bee boxes on the 6th floor of our "insect hotel."
09-JUL-2015
Old woods
A view of the the old woods looking north along the main trail. This is year two after the big cut, when approximately 50 large ash trees were removed (dead, thanks to the emerald ash borer). I never thought I'd say this, but I find the site now more appealing. Not only are many trees being planted but the vegetation that is growing up naturally is very diverse and this year is different from last, and will be again next year. Unfortunately, not all the vegetation is welcomed, and while the dog-strangling vine is remarkabaly absent (thanks to hard work by volunteers), the invasive motherwort and common burdock have sprouted up in good numbers.
09-JUL-2015
Butterfly meadow
This is another part of the Fletcher Wildlife Garden that has been created by the hard work of many volunteers. It is lush and full of plants to attract butterflies and pollinators.
09-JUL-2015
Stinkbug eggs (Pentatomidae)
More stinkbug eggs discovered yesterday, also on a goldenrod leaf. Unlike the previous ones posted, these are not predatory stinkbug eggs.
09-JUL-2015
Predatory stinkbugs eggs and nymphs
Just hatched stinkbug nymphs clustered around their eggs on the leaf of a goldenrod. I later found another set of such predatory stinkbug nymphs on a nannyberry leaf, as well as more, unhatched, stinkbug eggs on another goldenrod leaf.
09-JUL-2015
Parsnip webworm ( Depressaria pastinacella)
There is not a lot of wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) at the garden, but the few that are there are now showing signs of the presence of parsnip webworm. This non-native species feeds exclusively on the wild parsnip, but whether it will ever get to the point of controlling the huge populations of the plant around the region, is doubtful.
09-JUL-2015
Dogwood spittlebug (Clastoptera proteus)
During May and especially June, dogwoods (Cornus) are often festooned with tiny blobs of white foam. These are the nymphal shelters for this dogwood. By July the adults have started appearing and are numerous, mostly on dogwoods but also on many other plants. These critters are tiny, about 3 mm.
09-JUL-2015
Lady beetle (Brachiacantha)
A common little lady beetle, about 3mm in size, often found on milkweeds.
09-JUL-2015
Leafhopper (Graphocephala)
One of our most colourful leafhoppers, quite exotic looking with their rainbow colouring. There are a number of species all quite similar. The nymph is a creamy white and was seen frequently until the adults appeared recently. They are now abundant.
09-JUL-2015
Two-spotted stinkbugs (Cosmopepla)
On Figwort, which these bugs seem to quite like.