16-OCT-2012
Polypore (Phlebia radiata)
This spreading jelly-like polypore, was nice and fresh on a birch log. You can see how it has wrapped itself around the base of a twig emerging from the log. When I went back a few days later, this was all dry and withered and the orange colour had faded to white. This is a very common fungus and I've often found it on standing dead birch trees.
20-OCT-2012
Western conifer seed bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis)
Autumn is the time to see these large (about 20 mm)seed bugs. A native western species, they moved eastward over the decades and have lately been introduced to Europe. They are completely harmless to humans, no biting, stinging, etc. I find them quite fascinating.
20-OCT-2012
Western conifer seed bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis)
You will often see these guys on the sides of buildings, getting warm, and also seeking somewhere warm to spend the winter.
20-OCT-2012
Hover fly (Syrphid) on New England aster
There were few asters in bloom today, compared to even a week ago, and the big stand of grass-leaved goldenrod that was attracting so many insects, is now over and done with. But on the few aster blooms that I did find, there was generally an insect or two, as here.
Over on the farm, there are scads of dandelions, late blooming after the last mowing. They were attracting numerous honey bees and a few Eristalis tenax hover flies (bee mimics).
20-OCT-2012
Green-striped grasshopper (Chortophaga viridifasciata)
On the wall of the Interpretive Centre. Apparently these grasshoppers overwinter as a partly grown nymph, which is what this one is. Unfortunately, this poor guy had lost its right leg as you can see in the next photo.
20-OCT-2012
Green-striped grasshopper (,em>Chortophaga viridifasciata)
On the wall of the Interpretive Centre. Apparently these grasshoppers overwinter as a partly grown nymph, which is what this one is. Unfortunately, this poor guy had lost its right leg.
20-OCT-2012
Spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata )
These two were oblivious to the cold and happily mating on a new england aster.
20-OCT-2012
Stinkbug (Brochymena)
These large (approx. 18 mm)stinkbugs are pretty common right into mid-autumn. There were two around the Interpretive Centre today. They are often called tree stinkbugs because they are most often found on trees, and certainly that is where I usually find them. They will overwinter as adults in leaf litter, like many bug species do.
20-OCT-2012
European paper wasp (Polistes dominula) nests
Still a few of these wasps around, and if you look closely, you can see a couple wandering around their empty nests. These wasps are very docile. Those biologists who work with wasps say that you need to work hard at provoking them. And I've certainly found this to be true, as I have spent a lot of time around them in various locations, photographing them and just watching them and have yet to be stung by them. Yellowjackets are a bit more assertive!
20-OCT-2012
Asian ladybeetle (Harmonia axyridis)
This was on the lower part of the red barn by the New Woods. On the Interpretive Centre, there were about 20 a few days ago, but fewer today. These beetles spend the winter as adults, hiding out in a warm dry place, such a building.
20-OCT-2012
Coneflowers in the Butterfly Meadow
Fewer flowers in bloom, but these ones, planted in the meadow this year, are flowering profusely.
20-OCT-2012
Small milkweed bug (Lygaeus kalmii)
This was one of several crawling over the large rocks by the Butterfly Meadow, and heading down to the leaf litter where they'll overwinter once it gets really cold, not emerging until spring. But once spring does come again, they'll be amongst the first insects out and about. You can see how similar this looks to the box elder bug in the next photo. But they are in fact, two different families. This one belongs to the Seed Bug Family, while the box elder bugs, are Scentless Plant Bugs.