25-JUN-2012
Black-crowned night heron
Although this was taken in the Arboretum today, this heron was in the stream that flows down through the ravine in the FWG and into the Arboretum. Notice that this poor heron has very deformed feet. He must have trouble landing on branches and anything not flat. Perhaps that is why he didn't fly away as I came along.
24-JUN-2012
Bee on ox-eye daisy
A very beautiful photograph by Barry of this pretty bee feeding on the daisy. Not sure of the ID of the bee, but it could be one of the sweat bees (Halictidae).
24-JUN-2012
Bee, possibly a sweat bee (Halictid) on rose
These roses are magnets for many insects, most especially bees and the small hover flies.
25-JUN-2012
Treehopper (Enchenopa sp.) with exuviae
These funny little (approx. 4 mm) treehoppers were on nannyberry shrubs, and had only recently emerged. You can see the exuviae or shed pupal skin on which the adult is resting. Notice how the adults resemble thorns.
25-JUN-2012
Green stink bug (Acrosternum)
These are the giants of the stink bug world at 15mm, nearly twice the size of most other stink bugs we see.
24-JUN-2012
Spittlebug nymph
Barry photographed this tiny green nymph by holding it on his palm. These are sometimes called froghoppers, and are the creatures that inhabit those foamy balls we find so abundantly on all sorts of vegetation. It may be the nymph of a meadow spittlebug, but there are so many species, that it is difficult to say for sure.
24-JUN-2012
Eastern forktail (Ischnura verticalis), male
A very nice closeup of this tiny damselfly. Females are a bright orange. Forktails can be found perching on streamside vegetation, but are often also seen away from water.
22-JUN-2012
Black-dotted Gluph (Maliattha synochitis
Another interesting moth found by Diane during a mothing night at the garden recently.
22-JUN-2012
Green Arches Moth (Anaplectoides prasina)
Diane looked for moths one night at the FWG and found a number of interesting species including this one with its spectacular green colouring.
Asian ladybeetle (Harmonia axyridis)
Barry got a terrific closeup of this plump richly red ladybeetle. This species, as the name suggests, is not a native beetle. It is now one of the most common ladybeetles in Canada!
Ground beetle (Calleida punctata)
A delightfully shiny and colourful ground beetle (Carabidae family). If you don't like fall webworms, you will be happy to see these little beetles, for they feed on them.
22-JUNE-2012
Banded hairstreak (Satyrium calynus)
This little tailed butterfly is in the Lycaenidae Family, which includes our familiar blues. This one is nectaring on milkweed. Late June is when we begin to see these hairstreaks around the FWG (and elsewhere).