18-AUG-2011
Wood duck, male
This guy is in eclipse plumage and feeling a bit vulnerable I think, so he is hiding out at the FWG where it is quiet and safe. Even without his gorgeous plumage, he is still a handsome duck!
17-AUG-2011
Red-eared slider
We haven't seen many turtles in the pond this year, so it was nice to see that at least one is still there. Although this is not native to our area (it is a species native to the southern US), it is often found in local waterways because people buy them as pets from pet stores and then, for whatever reason, let them go in ponds and streams. There is no way of telling if this is the same one that we have seen for several years at the pond, but if so, it means it has survived two winters. Normal cold winters often kill off this southern species, but lately our winters have been pretty mild so I guess it can survive them (if this is indeed the same one from the last few years).
12-AUG-2011
Hover fly (Helophilus)
This nicely patterned hover fly was photographed by Barry at the garden. This species can be found in spring and throughout the summer, and is, for a hover fly, quite large.
17-AUG-2011
Red-banded bumblebee (Bombus ternarius)
There seem to be a lot of these very attractive and distinctive bumblebees around this year.
17-AUG-2011
Bumblebee (Bombus)
Very pretty shot of this pollen laden bumblebee taken by Diane.
12-AUG-2011
Male Cabbage white (Pieris rapae) caught by ambush bug
Barry wondered why this cabbage white was so cooperative! Looking more closely he discovered why... it had been caught by the well-named Ambush bug. This buttterfly has one black dot, indicating it is a male.
17-AUG-2011
Paper Wasp (Polistes dominula)
This is the European paper wasp. It is smaller than the native P. fuscatus, and has orange antennae. It is also more boldly patterned in yellow and black, like a yellowjacket, whereas the native paper wasp in this area is much darker overall.
17-AUG-2011
Sand wasp (Bicyrtes) on goldenrod
This very strikingly patterned wasp is quite common in the region,including at the FWG, from mid-summer onward. They seem to particularly like goldenrods for nectaring.
17-AUG-2011
Clouded sulphur on Monarda
There were several sulphurs in the BYG and more in the rest of the Fletcher garden, along with 2 eastern-tailed blues, a dozen or so cabbage whites, and two monarchs.
17-AUG-2011
Treehopper (Acutalis tartarea)
This tiny treehopper (about 4-5 mm) seems to appear at this time of year on the sunflowers in the Butterfly Meadow. It was a three treehopper day today, with this one, the Enchenopa, and a buffalo treehopper. Previously called A. brunnea.
17-AUG-2011
Monarch, female (Danaus plexippus) on red clover
I saw two monarchs today at the garden, but only one sat still long enough for me to see that it was a female. She was just south of the New Woods, in an area where the vegetation had been cut and new milkweeds were coming up. They were between 6-12 inches tall, and when I first saw her, she was flitting around them. I can't believe she didn't lay eggs on them! I searched for eggs on many plants but saw none. However, there are so many milkweeds that it needs a more concerted effort.
17-AUG-2011
Pennsylvania leatherwing (Chauliognathus pensylvanicus) on tansy
These soldier beetles are very common right now. They seem to particularly like yellow coloured flowers such as goldenrods and tansy, perhaps because they blend in so well!
