07-AUG-2009
Burrower bug (Sehirus cinctus) on coneflower
Although most burrower bugs are busy around the roots of plants, this species is more often found on top of plants. We see these frequently around the FWG on a variety of flowers, but particularly on Figwort and on Stachys.
07-AUG-2009
Flower longhorn beetle (Typocerus velutinus)
These beetles are being seen more often now. This one looks like it has been gilded with gold dust!
07-AUG-2009
Black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) on Coneflower
This black swallowtail was really busy around the BYG coneflowers this afternoon. For more than 10 minutes she flitted from bloom to bloom. One of the few black swallowtails I've seen this year. I think I've seen perhaps 4 others at FWG over the summer. Today was not a butterfly day with all the wind, but I did see a female Great spangled fritillary in the butterfly meadow, and several each of Clouded sulphurs and Cabbage whites.
07-AUG-2009
Blister beetles (Nemognatha sp.) on Rudbeckia
Tiny little black blister beetles often found on Rudbeckia flowers. Sometimes they are abundant.
07-AUG-2009
Ambush bugs with fly
At this time of year, you'll often see insects hanging from plants. If you look closely you'll no doubt find they've been caught by an ambush bug or a crab spider.
07-AUG-2009
Song sparrow with grasshopper
This sparrow, who looks like she's having a bad hair day, is still feeding young.
07-AUG-2009
Chickweed geometer moth (Haematopis grataria)
These pretty pink and yellow moths are often found during the day. This is the time of year to look for them, and they can sometimes be fairly common.
4-AUG-2009
Braconid wasp
This lovely red wasp is one of the many Braconids we get around the garden. They are difficult to ID and certainly difficult to give a genus or species.
05-AUG-2009
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) on Canada thistle
Still only very occasional sightings of these butterflies, but I did find a caterpillar on the weekend, though not at FWG
05-AUG-2009
Fly with entomophthora fungus
Many flies, especially Muscid flies, are affected by this Entomophthora fungus. Spores from the fungus attach themselves to adult flies, work their way into the body, and kill them from within. Afflicted flies climb to the tops of plants or tips of leaves, spread their wings and stay there. The fly sticks its proboscis into the plant to enable it to hang on and there it stays until dead. This one has been dead awhile because you can see the fungal spores that have come out of the flies body and landed on the leaf and along its legs. This is a severely abbreviated explanation! A bit gruesome.
5-AUG-2009
Cuckoo wasp (Chrysis) sp.) on lichen covered rock
These very tiny wasps (under 5mm) are stunning when seen close up. Many are kleptoparasites or ectoparasitoids, targeting solitary bees and wasps.
5-AUG-2009
Pennsylvania leatherwing (Chauliognathus pensylvanicus)
These soldier beetles are now appearing all over the place, including at FWG. They seem to prefer goldenrods, but at the moment goldenrods are just beginning to bloom, so they are making do with Queen Anne's lace. Actually, I've also seen them widely distributed on thistle and other flowering plants, but goldenrods are for sure, their favourite.
Lots of other insects are appearing too, and many such as yellowjackets are nesting. They will nest under rocks, in holes in the ground, and so on. Another good reason not to leave the paths and wander through the fields at FWG!