18-AUG-2010
Crab spider (Misumena vatia) on joe-pye-weed
This crab-spider is beautifully matched to her surroundings. Notice how the pink stripe blends in so well with the flower! Crab spiders are pretty successful hunters overall. They build no webs or funnels, but instead sit and wait patiently for something to land nearby. They will then grab the unsuspecting victim, give them a lethal bite and that is that.
18-AUG-2010
Gray treefrog (Hyla versicolor) on milkweed leaf
Earlier in the month, Jeewa came across a small treefrog on a DSV leaf. Today I saw a slightly bigger one on a milkweed leaf. They seem to like the leaves of plants in this family. This treefrog was near a big stand of goldenrod that was buzzing with insects, so perhaps he was waiting for lunch.
18-AUG-2010
Two Monarch butterflies(Danaus plexippus) on Joe-pye-weed
And this not very good photo shows two monarchs together.
18-AUG-2010
Bumblebee on butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
This bumblebee was enjoying the nectar from this pretty orange plant. Despite its name, I have never seen butterflies on this plant, and whether it is really attractive butterflies, I don't know. Perhaps in its native range (south of us) it is. Here, it certainly attracts bee anyway.
16-AUG-2010
Water willow (Decodon verticillatus)
This pretty plant grows in our Amphibian Pond. It is known by the common name of water willow, for very obvious reasons. It is a native plant that can become densely abundant in some situations. We have no idea how it arrived at the pond, as we didn't plant it. But it has been around for about 8 years now. It is certainly spreading, but not as fast as I thought it was going to. Nonetheless, we have a good stand of it right now.
12-AUG-2010
Leafhopper (Chlorotettix unicolor sp.)
An unusual looking little leafhopper that has a head reminiscent of a grasshopper!
16-AUG-2010
Treehopper (Acutalis tartarea)
There were several of these tiny (4 - 5 mm) treehoppers on sunflower stems in the Butterfly Meadow. They are quite distinctive in both shape and colour. Previously called A. brunnea.
10-AUG-2010
Melanopus grasshopper
These small but very colourful grasshoppers are everywhere at FWG these days. To me they look rather tropical. Once one starts looking at these little guys, a whole new world is revealed!
12-AUG-2010
Fruit fly (Eutreta noveboracensis)
This is not the type of fruit fly we get swarming around over-ripe fruit in our homes, those tiny little almost invisible creatures. This is a member of the Tephritidae family which contains some of the most beautiful of flies, with bold wing patterns and pretty colouring. Look at those striped eyes for example! I have been seeing quite a few of these around FWG lately, after not having seen any before. No doubt they were present and I just didn't notice them.
American toad watching for ants
Sandy saw this large toad waiting for ants. You can see a winged ant coming out of the hole. Sandy told me about the toad and when I went past the spot, sure enough he was sitting there, though not as intent on food as in this shot. The next day, he was there again.
12-AUG-2010
Leafcutter bee (Megachile)
Unlike many bees, this species carries the pollen on its belly. You can see how yellow the underside of the abdomen is, this is from the heavy coating of pollen. Occasionally you see these bees with whitish abdomens, clean and pollen free! These bees are pretty interesting. They cut perfectly circular shapes from leaves and use them to construct their nests, either under rocks, in cavities, under wood, and in bee boxes. Yes, last year these bees used our bee box for nesting and it was an interesting time to watch them as they carried their leaves, the balls of pollen, and finally mud to seal the entrance.
12-AUG-2010
Leafcutter bee (Megachile)
This leafcutter bee was absorbed in gathering pollen from the bull thistle, which, although a non-native species, is well used by insects including monarch butterflies, fritillaries, honey bees, and so on.
