06-OCT-2009
Monarch butterfly on Canada thistle
This male monarch was nectaring on New England aster when I first saw him, but he flew off to a Canada thistle where I managed to get a couple of shots. He then flew away out of the garden. One of the handful of monarch sightings I've had this year around here.
06-OCT-2009
Black maple (Acer nigrum)
We have a couple of black maples at the FWG, the most visible is north of the Ash Woods. Feel the back of the leaves... if they are nice and fuzzy, you are looking at a black maple.
06-OCT-2009
Hover fly (Spilomyia sayi)
One of my favourites amongst the Syrphidae, or hover flies, is this very large, wasp mimic. No matter how often I see them (and they are not found in great abundance, at least not by me!), it is always a thrill to see them again. Don't you think it looks like a wasp?
06-OCT-2009
Hover fly (Spilomyia sayi)
Here is another view of this wasp mimic, investigating my hand.
06-OCT-2009
Yellowjacket
Yellowjackets are still pretty common around the area. This one was having a grooming session on a milkweed leaf!
06-OCT-2009
Northern crab spider (Mecaphesa sp.)
This is another crab spider, also very tiny, but in a different genus from the more familiar goldenrod crab spider.
06-OCT-2009
Goldenrod crab spider (Misumena vatia)
This little crab spider was on the head of a coneflower in the BYG this afternoon.
06-OCT-2009
Western conifer seed bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis)
In late summer and early fall, these large bugs are common. They can often be found on walls of buildings as well as on vegetation. Notice the distinctive flattened area on the hind tibia.
04-OCT-2009
Sweat bee (Agapostemon splendens)
Diane was at the FWG on Sunday, 4 Oct., and said "I was happy to see a few insects in and around the BYG. I saw at least three Agapostemon splendens flying around the Black Eyed Susan. They were not flying rapidly and one of them just sat there for a long time. While I was photographing them a Tortricid moth sat on a petal, but I was not able to identify it. On the wall I saw a moth that appeared to be an Autographa, but it was too high to take a picture.
04-OCT-2009
Sweat bee (Agapostemon splendens)
A back view of the sweat bee.
04-OCT-2009
Paper wasp (Polistes fuscatus)
There are still a few paper wasps around, both this species and the introduced Polistes dominula.
05-OCT-2009
Canada Darner
Diane also photographed this mosaic darner which she identified as a Canada.