19-SEP-2016
Work starts on the pond rehabilitation
The big machine is in place and in no time, the work is finished, perhaps a couple of days at most.
19-SEP-2016
The pond just before work started on it
The pond looking lush and full of life, just before the work commenced to scoop out the vegetation and deepen the pond a little.
12-SEPT-2016
Cuckoo wasp (Chrysis sp)
A truly beautiful little wasp, photographed in great detail by Barry. This is parasitic on other bees and some wasps, but especially on leafcutter bees (Megachilidae).
12-SEPT-2016
Locust borers (Megacyllene robiniae)
Closely associated with black locust trees, these longhorned beetles can be common on goldenrods in late summer-early autumn.
12-SEPT-2016
Stinkbug (Brochymena)
A large stinkbug often found in late summer as well as early spring, but not in between. It eats a variety of plants, seemingly not fussy, and is thought to be occasionally predatory on other insects. The adults overwinter.
12-SEPT-2016
Gall on red oak
Oaks are notorious for the huge number and variety of galls on leaves, stems, petioles, twigs, branches. They are usually made by Cynipid wasps, but other insects also have a go at the oaks. This one, I think, is made by a gall midge (CH).
12-SEPT-2016
Gall on red oak
This is the back of the gall, the front is in the previous image.
12-SEPT-2016
Weevil, perhaps in the Ceutorhynchinae subfamily
Barry found this weevil on some goldenrod. It is tiny, but difficult to determine species, though it might be in the subfamily, Ceutorhynchinae.
12-SEPT-2016
Giant puffball (Calvatia gigantea)
These common puffballs can grow to quite astonishing sizes, as big as soccer balls or bigger. They don't last long and soon disintegrate into a brownish soggy mass.
12-SEPT-2016
Buffalo treehopper (Ceresa diceros)
A pretty common little treehopper with its two "horns" giving rise to the common name. There are actually quite a few species in the genus Ceresa, including some that are vivid green.
12-SEPT-2016
Eastern tailed blue butterfly (Cupido comyntas)
This butterfly can be seen flying right through to October. Larvae typically feed on plants in the Fabaceae family.
12-SEPT-2016
Metalmark moth (Caloreas leucobasis), #2641
A small, less than 10mm, moth often found on yellow flowers. Barry found this on a sunflower.