28-JUL-2014
Cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum)
Photographed in the butterfly meadow. These tall, impressive plants are a striking addition to any garden, and it is surprising that nurseries haven't decided to sell this native species. It beats the cultivated/exotic plants any day! Growing up to 8 ft in height, it attracts insects when flowering and birds and squirrels when in seed.
July 2014
Green Heron
Green Herons are still in our area. This one was photographed near our Amphibian Pond by Simon Audy.
28-JUL-2014
Stinkbug eggs and nymphs on ash leaf
Recently hatched stinkbugs huddled near their egg mass on an ash leaf.
28-JUL-2014
Planthopper nymph (Acanalonia)
I am pretty sure this is the nymph of the Acanalonia planthopper. It looks like a bit of dried up plant fluff when seen on plants... which probably helps it survive. Only when it moves does one realize it is a critter!
28-JUL-2014
Ambush bug (Phymata)
These guys begin to appear in early July (usually) and are soon abundant, found on a wide variety of flowers. Here, this one is on a queen anne's lace. They are adept at hiding, lying flat on the flower's surface, or even hiding in the flower where they wait until another insect lands and then they pounce.
28-JUL-2014
Chalcid wasp cocoons (Eulophus)
These are the cocoons of a Chalcid wasp in the genus Eulophus. They are ectoparasitoids of caterpillars. The wasps themselves are tiny. The red cocoons with the little pile of feces (the yellow stuff) makes for a visually attractive (I think) image.
28-JUL-2014
The Asteroid caterpillar (Cucullia asteroides), #10200
Found on a goldenrod plant in the butterfly meadow. David Wagner in his caterpillar field guide says that the colours of this caterpillar can range from "green to tan, brown or purple and brown."
28-JUL-2014
Mayfly (Stenonema)
The little white dots behind this mayfly are aphids, so you can see how small this pretty, bulbous-eyed ephemeroptera is.
28-JUL-2014
Wild clematis (Clematis virginiana)
A profusion of blooms on the native wild clematis growing over the split rail fence at the south end of the ash woods. Despite the cloudy, showery weather, this was attracting a lot of insects.
20-JUL-2014
Northern Green frog (Rana clamitans)
Green frogs come in a variety of colours, from a lovely bright green to dull brown and variations in between. Sometimes one sees them with a blueish head, as here in this great shot by Hans Blokpoel.
28-JUL-2014
Aphids (Myzocallis sp.)
On a red oak leaf. There is one winged adult (the larger one with the black stripes)in the mix here. This is a species that is almost exclusively restricted to oak trees. Many aphids are specialists, feeding on only one plant species, or on plants in one family.
28-JUL-2014
The old woods
It is quite astonishing to see how the jewelweed/touch-me-not has grown up in such profusion along the site of the former fern trail, now that the canopy has been opened up.
28-JUL-2014
The old woods
Another view of the lush growth of jewelweed surrounding a large old red oak and the former fern walk.
28-JUL-2014
Striped maple keys (Acer pensylvanicum)
I think this is the prettiest of all our native maples, with its lovely pale gray striped bark, beautiful leaves and key clusters as here.
28-JUL-2014
Bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata)
This wasp is scraping bits of wood fibre from a wood pallet which it will use to create its big paper nest. Imagine the number of trips the wasps must make to create their large pendulous nest.
28-JUL-2014
Butterfly meadow
A view SW across the butterfly meadow. The bounteous flora attracts many birds (hummingbirds love the monarda), butterflies, bees and other insects.
28-JUL-2014
Butterfly meadow
This is the north end of the original butterfly meadow, where some years back a split-rail fence was built. It makes an interesting entry point to the meadow.
28-JUL-2014
Grass-carrying Wasp nest (Isodontia mexicana)
In the next photo, Sandy shows an Isodontia wasp carrying long strands of grass to a nest hole, in the 'bee hotel' south of the ash woods. Today, I found another nest in one of the bee boxes set up around the garden. Normally, these wasps nest in hollow stems and similar small natural cavities or tunnels.
27-JULY-2014
Grass-carrying Wasp (Isodontia mexicana)
The genus Isodontia is known as the grass-carrying wasps, for good reason. As shown in this neat photo by Sandy, the female wasps carry long fibres back to their nest cavities, in this case, a hole in the 'bee hotel' by the old woods. This species captures prey in the Orthoptera family, mainly tree crickets which they use to stock the nests for their larvae.
11-JUL-2014
Gray catbird, juvenile
It seems that the meow-like call of the catbird is one of the most common sounds anywhere there are meadows with scattered shrubs, gardens, or parks. These birds are not shy about making known their displeasure at our intrusion!
11-JUL-2014
Slender spreadwing (Lestes rectangularis)
Diane photographed this delicate looking spreadwing, one of many spreadwings in our region.
23-JUL-2014
Bee wolf (Philanthus sp.)
Diane photographed this very attractive wasp nectaring. The name bee wolf indicates not that these wasps are bees or wolves, but that they provision their nests with bees for their larvae to eat. So, like a wolf hunting down prey, I guess!
16-JUL-2014
Bee wolf wasp (Philanthus sp.)
Another view of this very beautiful small wasp. The name is confusing because one sees the word 'bee' and think this is a bee, but instead it is a bee-hunting wasp! It doesn't eat the bees itself, but stocks its nest with them, to feed their larvae.
23-JUL-2014
Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes)
A beautiful shot by Diane of a beautiful butterfly. This is about the 3rd year we've seen this species at the garden. And to think... up until three years ago, these were very rarely seen, and now they are far more common in the region.
23-JUL-2014
Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes)
Another view of this very large and very beautiful butterfly by Diane.
23-JUL-2014
Gray treefrog (Hyla versicolor)
Diane noted that she found seven of these little guys in the Backyard Garden area of the Fletcher Wildlife Garden, sitting on lily leaves.
Now is definitely the time to find these treefrogs as they have finished breeding for the year and hence, have left the pond for their upland habitat, and the young are now transforming from tadpoles, and altogether there are a lot of treefrogs around! Look on any plant with leaves big enough to support a tiny frog. I've found them on reed canary grass leaves, raspberries, milkweed, etc.
23-JUL-2014
ChippingSparrow with insect
Diane photographed this little guy as he caught himself some lunch. Although more likely it was food for hungry youngsters.
11-JUL-2014
Leafhopper nymph (Coelidia sp.)
These nymphs are everywhere right now, not just at FWG, but almost anywhere there is some open sunny sites with flowers and grasses. The adult is a remarkably handsome leafhopper, appearing dark green in some light, more yellowish in others. The nymph is variable. To see the adult:
http://www.pbase.com/fwg/image/145274104/medium
11-JUL-2014
Leafhopper nymph (Coelidia sp.)
16-JUL-2014
Eastern-tailed blue (Everes comynta)
Our first eastern-tailed blue of the year, as far as I know, found and photographed by Diane.
16-JUL-2014
European Alder Spittlebug (Mem>Aphrophora alni)
One of many species of spittlebugs in the region, this one photographed by Diane. For those who don't know, these are the insects who make the foamy little balls of 'spittle' on plants, in which their nymphs live until ready to transform.
11-JUL-2014
Elegant Grass-veneer (Microcrambus elegans)
A tiny but very beautifully patterned moth photographed by Diane. There are many of these small grass-veneers and they reward closer examination with their unique patterns and colours.
11-JUL-2014
Kemptville MNR Stewardship Youth Rangers
The pond is below this slope where the rangers are working at raking the soil prior to planting.
11-JUL-2014
Kemptville MNR Stewardship Youth Rangers
Each year we are lucky enough to have a group of Stewardship Rangers spend a day at the garden helping out. This year, Diane made good use of their energy to help plant a triangle of land above the pond. Here it is easy to see how hard they are working.
11-JUL-2014
Kemptville MNR Stewardship Youth Rangers
Each year we are lucky enough to have a group of Stewardship Rangers spend a day at the garden helping out. This year, Diane made good use of their energy to help plant a triangle of land above the pond.
11-JUL-2014
Primrose Flower
A gorgeous shot by Diane of this pretty flower.
16-JUL-2014
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
A gorgeous shot of a very fresh looking butterfly. I found a larva of this species on a nettle leaf a few weeks ago. Nettles are an important larval host plant for this species.
11-JUL-2014
Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella)
Diane photographed this elegant dragonfly perched, for a moment. July seems to be peak time for these skimmers.
09-JUL-2014
Potter wasp (Eumenes)
One of the wasps that make little clay pot nests. Very amazing construction, although not the only wasps to make clay nests.
09-JUL-2014
Evening primrose moth (Schinia florida)
This stunningly coloured moth (no touch ups or post processing, this is the colour of the moth) contrasts well with its host plant, the native evening primrose, Oenethera biennis. In addition to the pink wings, this moth has bright green eyes and a lovely white head.
15-JUL-2014
Beautiful Wood Nymph moth (Eudryas grata)
This beautiful moth was found on the grape vines in front of the centre today. As grapes are the larval host plant, this is not surprising! An extraordinarily handsome moth, and it is equally beautiful in the caterpillar stage - to see the caterpillar:
http://www.pbase.com/laroseforest/image/122463757/medium
09-JUL-2014
White-marked tussock caterpillar (Orgyia leucostigma) #8316
There were two of these caterpillars in the nannyberry shrubs. This brightly coloured yellow one, and a more typical one with white colouration.
09-JUL-2014
Beyond the Edge: Artists' Gardens
This is one of several gardens set up by a group of artists adjacent to the Fletcher Wildlife Garden. This one, by cj fleury, is called "Our lady of complete protein". Planted within on a grid pattern, are sunflowers and millet. You'd never think this was in the heart of the city, would you!
09-JUL-2014
Buprestid beetle (Agrilus)
This tiny shiny blue beetle is in the same genus as the emerald ash borer, but not all Buprestid beetles are as destructive by any means. This is likely Agrilus cyanescens, introduced from Europe in the early 1900s.
09-JUL-2014
Toadflax brocade caterpillar Calophasia lunula), #10177
Eating its way along a toadflax plant, also called butter-and-eggs (Linaria vulgaris). Both the plant and the caterpillar are from Europe. The caterpillar was introduced in Canada in the 1960's to control toadflax. Whether it is working or not, seems to be up for debate, but I know that I do not see as many plants as I used to. At the Fletcher garden there are very few at present.
09-JUL-2014
Case of casebearing beetle larva
This minute brown 'thing' is actually the larval case of a species in the Cryptocephalinae, or case-bearing leaf beetles. The larvae make cases of fecal matter which they carry with them, retreating into it when threatened.
09-JUL-2014
Galinsoga (Galinsoga)
A non-native species often found along edges of fields and roads.
09-JUL-2014
House wren
In recent years, this species has become a regular nesting bird at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden, usually fledging two broods a year.
09-JUL-2014
Stinkbug eggs (Pentatomidae)
Found on the underside of a red elderberry leaf. Clusters of stinkbug eggs are common on all types of vegetation.
09-JUL-2014
Song sparrow carrying food
Song sparrows return early and nest early, and by now are on brood number two. This one was by the old field and every time I went by there were several song sparrows calling and getting agitated by the presence of anyone even remotely close by. The old field area has long been a favourite nesting site for this species which nests on the ground or low in shrubs.
09-JUL-2014
Clearing of the old woods
This used to be called the ash woods, until all ash trees were removed this summer. The work is finally done, and all the trees are piled up outside the woods, and the work of replanting has begun. The logging is thanks to the emerald ash borer, a Buprestid beetle, beautiful but deadly to ash trees.
09-JUL-2014
Bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata)
This hornet was very much enjoying the nectar of the figwort flowers. ALthough the flowers are not really all that much to look at, and one would not necessarily think they would attract insects, I've found many insects feeding on them. The bald-faced hornet is not in fact a true hornet, but rather a paper wasp, known for the elaborately large paper nests hanging from trees and shrubs.
09-JUL-2014
Plume moth (Pterophoridae)
A tiny insect, very un-moth like. The larvae of these moths are quite unusual and look almost like hover fly larvae.
09-JUL-2014
Treehopper (Enchenopa)
Sitting on a nannyberry fruit, which gives you an idea of how tiny these bugs are. Apparently the treehoppers in this genus (Enchenopa) found on nannyberries may possibly constitute an undescribed species, according to Bug Guide.
09-JUL-2014
Gray catbird, juvenile
A whole family of catbirds around the garden today, calling from numerous perches. We usually see a couple of families rearing young each year.
09-JUL-2014
Rudbeckia
This is a small section of the butterfly meadow at the FLetcher Wildlife Garden. The rudbeckias not only attract the human eye with their gorgeous summery glow, but also appeal to many insects.
09-JUL-2014
Tumbling flower beetle (Mordella)
These minute little beetles with the very unusual shape, are common enough on summer vegetation. There are a number of species, some prettily patterned, others more plain, as here. Their common name comes from their habit of tumbling off flowers when disturbed. This one, however, just sat!
09-JUL-2014
Asian ladybeetles (Harmonia axyridis)
These ladybeetles are on a burdock plant, which is infested with aphids from top to bottom. The aphids are the black things in the background. Both the adult beetles and their larvae will eat the aphids. In addition to these two, there were several others on the plant.