11-SEP-2018
Old field area
A panoramic shot showing the old field in front and to the right, with the sumacs pushing their way in, and some work on controlling dog-strangling vine, AKA pale swallowwort, on the left (the big tarpaulin helps to prevent the plants from growing).
Please view in original size.
11-SEP-2018
Cabbage white butterfly (Pieris rapae)
11-SEP-2018
Oleander aphids (Aphis nerii)
These were all over a swamp milkweed plant, and needless to say there were predators too, specifically, Asian lady beetles who must have been happy with this feast.
11-SEP-2018
Oleander aphids (Aphis nerii)
Another shot of the oleander aphids, this time clustered under a swamp milkweed leaf.
11-SEP-2018
Obedient plant seeds (Physostegia virginiana)
The seedhead of the obedient plant.
11-SEP-2018
Locust borer (Megacyllene robiniae)
I saw three of these long-horned beetles around the goldenrods in the butterfly meadow. They are closely associated with black locust trees.
11-SEP-2018
Greenbottle fly (Lucilia sp.)
Such a bright shiny green fly, common as anything, but very pretty.
11-SEP-2018
Obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana)
A bumble bee entering one of the obedient plant flowers, which are very attractive to a variety of bees, but especially bumble bees.
11-SEP-2018
Drone fly (Eristalis tenax)
A non-native hover fly. The larvae are aquatic - found in stagnant water.
11-SEP-2018
Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis)
Highly variable, these beetles can have no spots, a few spots or be covered in multiple spots; the can also range in colour from pale orange to deep dark red.
11-SEP-2018
Goldenrod bunch gall
These galls look very flower-like, and are formed at the tip of goldenrods, particularly the Tall Goldenrod (Solidago altissima). They are made by a tiny midge, Rhopalomyia species, in the Cecidomyiidae family.
11-SEP-2018
Flat-topped aster (Doellingeria umbellata)
Another showy, tall, attractive native wildflower which attracts myriad insects.