30-AUG-2011
Larch lappet moth (Tolype laricis), female, #7673
This beauty was sitting on the front wall of the Interpretive Centre. You never know what moths will turn up there, and over the years we've found quite a few species resting on these four walls, some of them new to our list.
30-AUG-2011
Green frog (Rana clamitans) in BYG Pond
Isn't this frog brilliantly emerald green on its head! This is one of at least 11 green frogs found in the BYG pond.
30-AUG-2011
FWG Interpretive Centre
After the rain shower, everything in front of the centre looked fresh and lush. This is looking south across the ravine, in the front of the centre.
30-AUG-2011
Fruit fly (Rhagoletis pomonella)
There were several of these tiny, tiny (a couple of mm in size) flies around the nannyberry shrubs today.
24-AUG-2011
Lemon drops (Bisporella citrina)
These tiny little sac fungi were found on top of an old post at the garden.
24-AUG-2011
Bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata)
This hornet was very busy scraping slivers of wood from this post at the garden. It will add to its nest, as the 'renovation' work is ongoing!
24-AUG-2011
Bee fly (Sparnopolius confusus)
There were a number of these little bee flies on the rudbeckia at FWG. They are true flies (Diptera), but because they look so much like bees, they've been given the common name of bee flies.
24-AUG-2011
Bee fly (Sparnopolius confusus)
A side view of this pretty little fly on the rudbekcia.
25-AUG-2011
Ragweed Leaf beetle (Zygogramma suturalis) on Beggarticks
There were ragweeds all around this beggartick plant. Perhaps the beetle was taking a rest! This is a native species, and has actually been exported to Russia for control of ragweed there. However, it appears that it is not doing a very effective job! It is, however, a very pretty beetle, and a new one for our FWG insect list.
18-AUG-2011
Spotted lady beetle (Coleomegilla maculata)
Another of our little native lady beetles, eating the contents of an insect or arachnid case on the underside of a milkweed leaf.
18-AUG-2011
Spotted lady beetle (Coleomegilla maculata)
This small (4-5mm) indigenous lady beetle is investigating an insect cocoon. I found another one of these beetles with its face inside another insect case, eating the contents!
19-AUG-2011
Monarch caterpillar on burdock
Yesterday I spent well over an hour checking a patch of milkweed for monarch butterfly eggs and caterpillars. I didn't find any eggs, but I found two caterpillars (very hopeful sign!), one about 2 days old, and this much bigger one. I went back today to see how it was doing only to discover it was no longer on the milkweed plant. I could see caterpillar frass on the leaves indicating it had been there. Looking around the immediate vicinity I was surprised to find it on a burdock leaf! I put it back on the milkweed, and went off looking for more caterpillars in the rest of the milkweed patch (found no more). When I got back about 45 min. later, this guy was back on the burdock.