11-AUG-2010
Black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) caterpillar
I was at FWG early this morning while the dew was still on the ground, and on the insects. This large caterpillar was found on Queen Anne's lace in the Butterfly Meadow, very appropriately!
10-AUG-2010
Argid sawflies on red oak
These very small sawflies are doing that characteristic pose of the sawfly larvae, as if standing on their heads. These are very pretty little critters, only about 8 of them on the leaf.
9-AUG-2010
Catskill potter wasp (Ancistrocerus catskill)
On fennel in the BYG. The huge bronze fennel plant is well used by insects and was just about as busy as the goldenrods. Thanks to iNaturalist for ID.
09-AUG-2010
Cedar waxwings, fledged young
These youngsters look so ungainly somehow, and so cute!!!! Cedar waxwings nest later in the season, close to the time that goldfinches do.
9-AUG-2010
Treehopper (Enchenopa latipes)
This is yet another example of a treehopper with a thorn-like projection over its head. This one was found on Queen Anne's Lace but is most often seen on goldenrods. It is slightly larger than the Enchenopa I saw a week or so ago, and in many respects more striking. This was found in an area of high insect activity. I got out of the car, walked about 40 feet, and got stopped for the next 30 or 40 minutes looking at all the activity around a large patch of Canada goldenrod with a nearby small stand of Queen Anne's lace. There were hover flies of several species, various bumblebee species, yellowjackets, vespids, potter wasps, mason wasps, soldier flies, greenbottle flies, locut borer beetles, Pennsylvania leatherwing beetles, sweat bees, honey bees, Isodontia wasps, and this little guy!
10-AUG-2010
Treehopper (Enchenopa latipes)
Another view of this pretty and intriguingly shaped little treehopper, found on Queen Anne's lace.
09-AUG-2010
Mating asian ladybeetles (Harmonia axyridis)
A gorgeously coloured pair of ladybeetles photographed by Jeewa. These ladybeetles are EVERYWHERE in the garden right now. They are predators on aphids and other insects. I have seen them devour small caterpillars too, which can be bad if the caterpillars are butterflies, but most often they seem to take the smaller caterpillars that are usually moths, some of which are considered problem moths.
9-AUG-2010
Bee fly (Villa cf. alternata)
This is another new addition to the FWG insect list. I am sure these common flies have been around before but have gone unnoticed.
10-AUG-2010
Bee fly (Villa cf. alternata)
A head on view of this lovely striped bee fly on Queen Anne's lace. Even if the flowers are not used for nectaring, their wide umbels offer great perches for many insects. This one, however, was indeed feeding.
9-AUG-2010
Pelecinid wasp (Pelecinus polyturator), female
I went back to the FWG this afternoon, hoping to see the American Snout butterfly. No luck, but I was actually even more excited to see this huge Pelecinid wasp near the Ash Woods. She landed right in front of me (talk about luck!). I had told Jeewa some weeks ago that I hoped one day to see this common (but not commonly seen) wasp at the FWG, and there she was. That long stinger-like thing is her abdomen. She does not have a stinger. It is unfortunate that people see these wasps and mistake the long thin abdomen for a vicious stinger. These wasps are as gentle as can be. The males are tiny and are rarely seen, leading some folk in times past to assume that there was no male of the species!
09-AUG-2010
Chipmunk on Cup Plant
Every year chipmunks gather the flowerheads of these flowers and have a feast!
9-AUG-2010
Black and yellow orb weaver (Argiope aurantia)
I was looking around the field for the other Argiope spiders when I saw this huge female A. aurantia. Much bigger than the A. trifasciata. Truly the queen of the orb weavers!
