11-JUL-2013
Treehopper nymph (Acutalis brunnea)
This is also the time of year to find the very small Acutalis treehopper nymphs. Last year I found the shed skins (exuviae) with adults nearby. This is the one and only nymph I found today, but have found a few adults in other areas around Ottawa.
11-JUL-2013
Treehoppers, adults and nymphal cases (Enchenopa)
Every year for the last many years, I have gone looking for these little treehoppers. Mostly it is because they fascinate me, with their little thornlike protrusions. This was the first time I saw a cluster of recently emerged adults with the nymphal cases nearby.
11-JUL-2013
Treehoppers, adults and nymphal cases (Enchenopa)
Another view of the recently emerged adult treehoppers and a couple of nymphal cases, or exuviae.
11-JUL-2013
Dogwood spittlebug (Clastoptera proteus)
This tiny but brightly marked, spittlebug was on a dogwood leaf, of course. Earlier in the season, tiny blobs of spittle begin to appear on dogwoods, the moist shelter of the spittlebug nymph. Now the adults are appearing.
11-JUL-2013
Spider in silk shelter
This is, I think, a Xysticus species, from what little I could see. I didn't want to pry the shelter apart to get a look, so have to leave this as a possible Xysticus. I rather like the way the legs are coming out and clutching the shelter.
11-JUL-2013
Mallow (Malva sylvestris)
Barry photographed this mallow flower mostly for its unusual petal formation... looking like something out of the Day of the Triffids, perhaps.
11-JUL-2013
Red milkweed beetle (Tetraopes tetrophthalmus)
Found on, what else, a milkweed. This handsome longhorned beetle is very common right now on the milkweed plants.
Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica)
They're back! THese beautiful scarab beetles, with their pretty metallic colours, are unfortunately, quite destructive to plants, voraciously eating their way through a variety of plants. In a garden they can be very noticeable, but in a natural setting, their depredations are barely noticeable.
Buprestid beetle
This looks like the tiny bronzed buprestid I photographed at FWG. It is more than likely in the Genus Agrilus, but as there are several tiny bronzed buprestids, it is difficult to ID to species.
Bee on ox-eye daisy
Barry photographed this bee, and while I can't see it in its entirety, it may be an Osmia sp.
05-JUL-2013
Stinkbug nymphs (Pentatomidae)
Not sure which species these are, but they appear to have just hatched. Photographed by Barry.