20-AUG-2018
American goldfinch, male
Canada thistle seeds are a feast for goldfinches who can usually be found clustered around a stand of these non-native thistles.
20-AUG-2018
Chrysomelid beetle (Calligrapha bidenticola)
This beetle feeds on plants in the Asteraceae family, including Bidens, which is the plant this one was photographed on. A handsome little beetle.
28 August 2018
Two-striped Grasshopper (Melanoplus bivittatus)
Catherine photographed this grasshopper laying eggs in the soil just in front of our garden shed.
20-AUG-2018
Purple coneflower (Echincacea purpurea)
Thriving in the Butterfly Meadow where it attracts numerous bees,butterflies and other insects.
20-AUG-2018
Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)
Another late summer flower. This non-native species is appealing to many insects including bees and butterflies.
20-AUG-2018
European paper wasp (Polistes dominula)
A smaller wasp than our native Polistes fuscatus, and very non-aggessive. These are the wasps that make little paper nests suspended from eaves, or sheds or here, the roof of an old bird box.
20-AUG-2018
Blue vervain (Verbena hastata)
A beautiful native wildflower that can grow up to 5 ft, and prefers moist conditions. Usually found in damp sites and edges of ponds and wetlands. The flowers attract numerous insects.
20-AUG-2018
Trashline orbweaver (Cyclosa turbinata)
A very small spider whose odd name comes from the long line of "trash" it keeps in its web. Really, the trash is just the discarded parts of its prey.
20-AUG-2018
Honey bee (Apis mellifera)
The pretty flowers of knapweed attract many bees and butterflies, but in some areas the plant is considered invasive. Though we've seen it at the FWG for years and years, it has never spread much.
20-AUG-2018
Tomentose burying beetle (Nicrophorus tomentosus)
This handsome big beetle was found next to the body of a mouse (Peromyscus sp) on the service road. The mouse looked as if it had been hit by something, a bicycle, or the small tractors that come through the garden on the way to the AAFC plant waste dump site, or...? At any rate, this beetle was underneath the mouse but came scuttling out when I stopped. Unlike most of the burying beetles, this one digs a small pit then covers the dead animal with litter.
20-AUG-2018
Locust borer (Megacyllene robiniae)
This handsome large long-horned beetle is associated closely with black locust trees as its species name suggests. They are found in late summer feeding on goldenrod. There was a time when these beetles were very common at FWG, but not in recent years. I'm not sure why, because there is still abundant goldenrod, and the locust trees in which their larvae live and feed, are more numerous than ever.
20-AUG-2018
Leafhopper (Jikradia olitoria)
Large for a leafhopper, these are also one of the more common ones. Their nymphs are also more frequently found than the nymphs of other leafhopper species. Formerly called Coelidia olitoria).
20-AUG-2018
Large green stinkbug (Chinavia hilaris)
As the name suggests, this is a large stinkbug, but it blends so well with the vegetation that it is not often noticed. The nymphs of this species vary widely from instar to instar.
20-AUG-2018
Spittlebug (Cercopidae)
Many small spittlebugs tucked away inside the goldenrods. This one could be meadow spittlebug, but given that they have a surprisingly wide diversity of colours and patterns, it is difficult to say.
20-AUG-2018
Bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii)
Growing near the pond in the Backyard Garden, these pretty gentians (also called closed gentian)are well used by bees who push their way through the closed tip into the flower.
20-AUG-2018
Carrot seed moth caterpillar (Sitochroa palealis), #4986.1
Both the plant and the moth are introduced from Europe, the plant long ago, the moth more recently, and probably an accidental introduction, as so many non-native species are. The moth itself is an attractive insect:
http://www.pbase.com/fwg/image/151528384
20-AUG-2018
Garden orbweaver (Argiope aurantia), female
A beautiful big orbweaver in her web. There are two common species of Argiope spiders, this one and the banded argiope (
http://www.pbase.com/fwg/image/105780977), both of which I have seen very few of in recent years.
04-AUG-2018
American goldfinch
It was such a hot day that many creatures were sensibly staying put, although this goldfinch was taking a drink in the bird bath.
04-AUG-2018
Pennsylvania leatherwing (Chauliognathus pensylvanicus)
These beetles are often called goldenrod beetles because it is on goldenrods they are most often found, as here. A sure sign it is mid-summer when these ones appear.
04-AUG-2018
Paper wasp (Polistes fuscatus)
A native paper wasp and much larger than the Polistes dominula, a European species now well established here. This one is nectaring on white sweet clover.
04-AUG-2018
Honey bee (Apis mellifera)
Nectaring on the flowers of the common burdock, a non-native species which can spread quite aggressively. Insects and sometimes birds can become stuck on the prickly seedheads which are nearly impossible to break free from.
04-AUG-2018
Yellowjacket (Vespinae)
Nectaring on the flowers of the native wild clematis.
04-AUG-2018
Rose-breasted grosbeak
A young grosbeak still showing some of the downy feathering.
04-AUG-2018
The old woods
Looking north into the old woods which provide some relief on a very hot, steamy day.
04-AUG-2018
Bumble bee (Bombus)
Nectaring on thistle flowers. Although not a native plant, these flowers attract many insects, as well as birds such as goldfinches which eat the seeds.
04-AUG-2018
Monarda fistulosa
A native monards growing in the butterfly meadow and also in the pollinator beds, where these ones were photographed.
04-AUG-2018
Common red soldier beetle (Rhagonycha fulva)
A common species, native to Eurasia, here on queen anne's lace, another non-native, but one that attracts numerous insects such as bees and butterflies as well as many others.
