31-JUL-2009
Wasp: Gasteruption sp., female
These tiny wasps are unique in having a long neck. Note the long ovipositor, which some people mistake for a stinger... it isn't!
Water scorpion (Ranatra sp. )
Sandy, Diane and I watched this odd looking insect balancing on this bit of plant stem in the pond. He is "wearing" a hat of duckweed so we can't see his head, unfortunately.
31-JUL-2009
Japanese beetle
Looking quite formidable!
31-JUL-2009
Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)
This is the most enticing photo of this non-native species I've seen. Stephen has made it look very exotic! In late summer this plant will produce brilliant, glossy red berries, but the fruit is poisonous.
31-JUL-2009
Blue vervain (Verbena hastata)
A beautiful native plant that is growing well in parts of the FWG.
31-JUL-2009
Queen anne's lace
Stephen photographed this pretty non-native but naturalized plant at the garden. Can you see the Crab spider on the left side? Just a hint of yellow!
31-JUL-2009
Bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare)
Stephen photographed this bull thistle, a non-native species at the FWG
31-JUL-2009
Lupine
Stephen Bégin took some beautiful shots of flowers around the FWG. Lupines are usually late spring-early summer flowers, but there are always some that bloom into mid-summer. This one is a non-native species.
31-JUL-2009
Downy Woodpecker
Cathy photographed this little male Downy woodpecker at the garden today.
30-JUL-2009
Midland painted turtle
Looking at the Amphibian Pond today I noticed what I thought at first was the smaller of the two painted turtles, basking on a log. Something looked a bit odd though, so I looked through my binoculars and was surprised to see a Red-eared slider! This species occurs in the southern US but not in Canada. However, it is commonly sold in the pet trade, but unfortunately, when the cute little baby turtle gets big people decide they no longer want it. This is when the turtle if it is lucky, I guess, gets dumped into a pond or wetland somewhere. It looks like someone deposited their pet turtle here. It is strikingly similar to the painted turtle. I put in this photo of the painted turtle taken today as an excuse to talk about the slider as I couldn't get a photo of it.
30-JUL-2009
Ambush bug (Phymata)
These adult Ambush bugs have started appearing lately. Earlier, the bright green nymphs were visible. Lots of interesting insects around the garden, many Braconid, Sphecid, Vespid and Ichneumonid wasps. Lots of hoverflies (Syrphids) of at least 7 species, various bee species, a lovely little Pyralid moth Pyralis orphisalis, and so on and on!