15-JUL-2016
Cuckoo wasp (Chrysis sp.)
27-JUL-2016
Praying mantis (Mantis religiosa)
The familiar praying mantis insect, a European species that has long since established in North America, after being accidentally introduced in the late 19th century. They are well-known for their beneficial role in controlling many insect "pests" while they themselves do no harm to vegetation.
27-JUL-2016
Clover looper moth (Caenurgina crassiuscula), #8738
A nicely detailed photo of this very common, but not easy to photograph, moth, taken by Diane. As the name suggests, the larval food of this species is clover, as well as grasses.
20-JUL-2016
Little glassywing skipper (Pompeius verna)
A new species for the Fletcher Wildlife Garden, found by Diane. At one time this would have been considered a real rarity, but in the last year or two, the species seems to have moved into the area in good numbers and has been found in a variety of locations, including now, at the FWG!
20-JUL-2016
Little glassywing skipper (Pompeius verna)
Another shot of this little skipper butterfly from Diane.
21-JUL-2016
Ravine
It is interesting to notice the changes here in the ravine section of the Fletcher garden. The flowering raspberry (Rubus odoratus) was present many years ago but in small numbers. Now, the entire south bank of this part of the ravine, closest to the pond, is thickly covered. And best of all, this native plant seems to have smothered the invasive dog-strangling vine (DSV). Sadly, the DSV is abundant in other parts of the garden.
21-JUL-2016
Eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
This squirrel kept up a constant stream of chatter the entire time I was in the Backyard Garden photographing. Clearly not happy...
21-JUL-2016
Peachtree borer moth, male (Synanthedon exitiosa), #2583
Another very un-moth-like moth on some tansy flowers. The Clearwing moths (Sesiidae) are an intriguing group of moths, many of them wasp mimics/
21-JUL-2016
Orbweaver spider (Argiope aurantia), male
A tiny male orbweaver spider on some grass. The male of the species is so much smaller than the female as to appear invisible when next to her.
21-JUL-2016
Backyard garden
A different view of the Backyard Garden, with the Interpretation Centre seen behind the ferns and shrubs.
21-JUL-2016
Fern walk
A view of the attractive fern walk, created for the Fletcher Wildlife Garden by Lis Allison, located in the Backyard Garden. A variety of native ferns can be found along this short trail.
21-JUL-2016
Backyard garden
Looking good in the late day light!
21-JUL-2016
Great black digger wasp (Sphex pensylvanicus)
A very large wasp in the Sphecidae family (the thread-waisted wasps). This one is on mountain mint, a plant that attracts a huge number of insects. Every summer, about mid-July onward for some weeks, this species appears, often seen at the same time as Sphex ichneumoneus, the Golden Digger Wasp.
15-JUL-2016
Primrose moths (Schinia florida), #11164
15-JUL-2016
Treehopper (Telamona concava)
A really lovely treehopper that appears to have lichens on it. It makes great camouflage, particularly when on a lichen-covered twig, which this was not, though there were a few lichens on other twigs and branches. On a lichen encrusted surface, this hopper would essentially disappear.
15-JUL-2016
Ambush bug (Phymata)
The ambush bugs started appearing a few weeks back, the immatures first, and now the adults.
15-JUL-2016
leaf mines on white snakeroot
Quite possibly made by an Agromyzidae fly, Liriomyza eupatoriella. Leaf mines can be made by the larvae of moths, beetles, flies... the variety is endless.
15-JUL-2016
Summer azure (Celastrina neglecta)
One of only a few butterfies found this morning at the garden. The others were cabbage whites and clouded sulphurs. This one is nectaring on a canada thistle.
15-JUL-2016
Bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata)
These are the insects responsible for some of the large papery wasp nests you see (there are other species that build such nests in our area). This one is scraping wood fibres off the old boards of the Insect Hotel, which will be used to make pulp to create the nest.
15-JUL-2016
Old woods
Looking northward down the trail through the old woods section of the wildlife garden, you wouldn't think that just a few years ago this was an open space, seemingly devastated by the removal of over 50 mature ash trees which had been attacked and largely killed by the emerald ash borer. Now, thanks to a combination of volunteer work and nature's determination to fill in gaps, this is a densely flourishing site, and dare I say, more interesting than it was before the trees were cut.
15-JUL-2016
Leafcutter bee (Megachilid)
Megachilids are common bees in this area. The genus has a number of species, and 8 have been identified at the garden by Sophie Cardinal of AAFC.
15-JUL-2016
Common red soldier beetle (Rhagonycha fulva)
An abundant soldeier beetle (Cantharidae) at this time of year, found on a variety of plants where they look for tiny insects to feed on; this one is on canada thistle. It is native to Eurasia but was introduced to the new world long, long ago, though whether deliberately or accidentally, I have no idea.
15-JUL-2016
Hover fly (Toxomerus geminatus), male
A tiny member of the Syrphidae family, these are also often called flower flies for the obvious reason that they are frequently seen feeding on flowers. They are also considered for this reason to be good pollinators.
15-JUL-2016
Musk mallow (Malva moschata)
This is a non-native species, a garden escape that is now common in many areas, especially here at the Fletcher garden. It attracts insects, however...
15-JUL-2016
Wild grape (Vitis riparia)
Wild grapes are very adept at covering anything in their path. In this case a dead tree. The number of birds coming and going from this tangled thicket was quite something. They know a safe refuge when they see one.
15-JUL-2016
Leafhopper nymph (Coelidia olitoria)
A common nymph at this time of year. In case you are wondering, the head is at the bottom, and those two yellowish dots are the eyes! Here is a photo of the adult:
http://www.pbase.com/fwg/image/145274104
15-JUL-2016
Plume moth, probably (Hellinisia sp.)
This plume moth is one of the larger ones, many others are half this size. It was clinging to the underside of a goldenrod leaf and so the photo is not too good, but I knew if I moved the leaf that would be that, it would be gone.
15-JUL-2016
Flower long-horn (Typocerus velutinus)
Although I have never seen many species of long-horned beetles around the garden, flower long-horns such as this species are quite common.
15-JUL-2016
Small milkweed bugs (Lygaeus kalmii)
These bugs were abundant around the garden, not only on milkweeds but on a variety of plants, as well as crawling up snags, logs and posts. The adults reportedly feed both on milkweed seeds and the nectar of milkweed flowers.
15-JUL-2016
Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
The luscious looking fruit of the native chokecherry is attractive to birds and other wildlife.
15-JUL-2016
Honey bee (Apis mellifera)
This bee was just about to lift off, but I got a quick, though blurry shot of it. You can see the face is pollen encrusted.
15-JUL-2016
Butterfly meadow
At the north end of the butterfly meadow is a bee box which is very busy. Lots of Megachilids coming and going as well as their wasp and bee predators.
15-JUL-2016
Butterfly meadow
A flourishing medley of flowers and grasses attractive to butterflies and other insects.
15-JUL-2016
Primrose moths (Schinia florida), #11164
When the native evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) blooms, you know it is time to look for the gorgeous evening primrose moth. Here, two are huddled inside the flowerhead. This is the way you almost always see these moths during the day, but occasionally one might be perched mostly outside the flower and then you'll see that they have lovely big green eyes and what looks like a white fur cape. Check out a couple of other photos of this moth:
http://www.pbase.com/fwg/image/148381002 and
http://www.pbase.com/fwg/image/104979563
06-JUL-2016
Spittlebug, possibly Philaneus spumarius
Spittlebugs are abundant, and most abundant is the meadow spittlebug, Philaneus spumarius, which this one may be. It is so varied in colour and pattern as to appear to be a variety of different species instead of one.
06-JUL-2016
Twice-stabbed Stinkbug (Cosmopepla lintneriana)
These small but colourful stinkbugs are very common in the region and can be seen over the course of the summer. Diane photographed a mating pair in perfect light. They can be found on any number of different plants, not confined to one or two species, but they do little damage.
7 July 2016
An arboreal argument
You don't often see chipmunks in trees - they rule the ground and live in underground burrows like other ground squirrels. However, this one (on the right), which we think is a baby, seemed to want to be mothered by a red squirrel. The squirrel was NOT interested and let the young chipmunk know that in clear terms.
5 July 2016
Drastic plant protection measures
We usually don't go to such lengths to protect plants at the FWG, as we're actually happy when the creatures who live there help themselves to the vegetation. However, as we want to get these new Honeworts (Cryptotaenia canadensis) established, we decided that meant keeping the rabbit away for the time being.
4 July 2016
The guilty party
Here's the Eastern Cottontail, who is no doubt the creature who ate all our Honeworts. These plants ARE in the carrot family, after all so it's hard to blame a hungry rabbit.
5 July 2016
Chipmunk and comfrey
Apparently, chipmunks can climb when they want to and they seem to enjoy the newly forming seeds of comfrey. Comfrey is spreading a bit too aggressively at the FWG, so we were pleased to see this guy make a meal of the seeds before they can turn into more plants.
2 July 2016
Bees on rainy days
Although this bee box is not being very well used by bees this year, it's providing shelter on rainy days. The holes circled in red each contain a bee (probably a leafcutter) taking shelter until the sun comes out again.