30-JUL-2011
Ambush Bug (Phymata) with bluebottle fly (
Lucilia
Barry watched the ambush bug ignore the ant in the other photo and wait for the fly to come close, at which point he attacked. Ambush bugs are very well named. They sit and wait, knowing patience to be a virtue!
30-JUL-2011
Ant, fly and ambush bug on Queen Anne's lace
Barry watched this ambush bug considering both the ant and the fly. However, the choice finally made left the ant free and the fly caught. A wise choice on the part of the bug, as ants are not too tasty!
30-JUL-2011
Lady beetle (Brachiacantha)
A lovely shot of this tiny (3-4mm) lady beetle on Queen Anne's Lace, photographed by Barry. This little brown and yellow beetle is not most people's idea of a lady beetle, but that's what it is.
30-JUL-2011
Sweat bee (Halictid) and Honey bee (Apis mellifera)
A nice catch by Barry of two different bee species on a mallow plant. These are garden escapes, and quite striking. They certainly attract insects who seem to find copious amounts of nectar and pollen.
30-JULY-2011
Honey bee (Apis mellifera)
This industrious bee is absolutely covered with pollen from the mallow flowers.
27-JULY-2011
Black Swallowtail
A gorgeous shot of a black swallowtail butterfly on swamp milkweed, taken by Diane. We've had plenty of caterpillars of this species around the garden this year, reassuring in a year when so many butterflies are so scarce.
29-JULY-2011
Black swallowtail caterpillar (Papilio polyxenes)
Barry photographed this series of black swallowtail caterpillars on wild parsnip at the garden on July 29th. The four early instar caterpillars he found on one plant a few days previously, had, he reports, been reduced to two on Friday, and none on Sunday. Hopefully they have moved on to another plant... but they are prey for other creatures.
29-JULY-2011
Black swallowtail caterpillars (Papilio polyxenes)
Two together, photographed by Barry on wild parsnip overhanging the DSV. On Tuesday, we saw one of the caterpillars on the DSV.
29-JULY-2011
Black swallowtail caterpillar (Papilio polyxenes)
A shot from underneath showing the caterpillar's fat little feet!
27-JULY-2011
Hover fly (Allograpta)
One of many insects coming to these cup-plants at the garden.
26-JULY-2011
Muskrat
The muskrat was close to shore this morning. I watched it for a little while, until it swam off, carrying a mouthful of flowering rush!
26-JULY-2011
Bumblebee (Bombus)
One of the many bumblebees around the garden. This one was reluctant to leave the milkweed leaf and so I was able to get a couple of close up shots.