28-AUG-2009
Garden cross orb weaver (Araneus diadematus)
More and more of these large orb weavers will be seen now, in late summer. The really big ones are the black and yellow argiopes. Best time to see them is early morning when the dew highlights their webs.
28-AUG-2009
Brown-hooded owlet caterpillar (Cucullia convexipennis), #10202
These beautifully coloured caterpillars are striking and eye-catching. They have turned up at the FWG for some years now, always around this time of year. As adults (moths), they are the opposite of colourful, being a nondescript brown job! Sandy photographed this one in the BYG.
27-AUG-2009
Hover fly (Spilomyia sayi)
I really love these large, very wasp-like flies. They are such great mimics, don't you think? This one was agitating its wings quite vigorously and hence you can see the shadow on the raspberry leaf which almost looks at first glance as if this fly has four wings (like a Hymenopteran).
27-AUG-2009
Apple maggot fly (Rhagoletis pomonella sp.) on crabapple
These fruit flies are beautifully patterned, often brightly coloured, particularly the eyes. They are NOT the same as the fruit flies we get around fruit in our houses. One theory for the black and white banded wings on flies in this family is that to predators they resemble jumping spiders when seen from behind (the banded wings look like the banded legs of many jumpers). Who knows? But again, isn't it an interesting example, if true, of mimicry?
26-AUG-2009
Youthful Underwing (Catocala subnata), #8797
This striking, large moth was found on the trellis in front of the Interpretive Centre. Sandy photographed it and Diane Lepage identified it for us. Now is the season for these underwing moths.
26-AUG-2009
Olive-sided Flycatcher
This is a great shot of a juvenile Olive-sided Flycatcher which Heather photographed at the FWG. This bird has been around for a few days and a number of birders have come to look for it. Heather said she saw two.
26-AUG-2009
Woolly bear feet (pseudopods)
Stephen Begin photographed the feet or more correctly, pseudopods of this caterpillar because as he says "I wanted to see why some caterpillars seem to be able to walk up glass (like this one) and some can't." Pseudopod, as you probably know, means "fake foot"! They enable the caterpillar to grasp onto things in a way that many other creatures can not.
26-AUG-2009
Ambush bug (Phymata sp.)
How close can you get? This phenomenal shot by Stephen Begin shows the face structure of these small bugs very well. Notice the swollen femora, a characteristic of these bugs. The Phymata are quite closely associated with the Reduviidae or Assassin bugs, and are sometimes considered a part of that family.
26-AUG-2009
White marked tussock moth caterpillar (Orygia leucostigma)
This caterpillar was found crawling along the sweater worn by Stephen Begin's friend. Often with caterpillars, it is difficult to decide which end is which!
24-AUG-2009
White marked tussock moth caterpillar (Orygia leucostigma)
Another view of this caterpillar
26-AUG-2009
Syrphid fly
One of many syrphids around the FWG these days. Stephen's photo shows the eyes well, though it is difficult to determine species from this angle, but possibly a Syrphus or Epistrophe.
22-AUG-2009
Hybrid or Downy Yellowjacket(Vespula flavopilosa)
Diane found this yellowjacket in the BYG
22-AUG-2009
Great black digger wasp (Sphex pensylvanicus) on aster
Found in the BYG. This is the time of year to see these large and impressive black Sphecid wasps, which are quite harmless.
22-AUG-2009
Bee fly (Bombylius sp.)
These golden little flies are quite abundant right now.
22-AUG-2009
American crow on bicycle stand
This crow seems to be picking up the colour of the bicycle stand in front of the Interpretive Centre.
21-AUG-2009
Hover fly (Eristalis arbustorum) on yarrow
Hover flies (Syrphids) are beginning to be found in more abundance and variety now. There are many species of Eristalis syrphids and they can be difficult to separate out sometimes.
21-AUG-2009
Hover fly (Sphaerophoria) with entomophthora fungus
21-AUG-2009
Nursery web spider (Pisaurina mira) on goldenrod
Commonly found in meadows and woodland edges, this spider does not build a nest but wanders around grasses, flowers, etc. hunting for prey. It is called "Nursery web spider" because the egg mass is placed on a leaf which is then folded over and held fast by silk threads.
20-AUG-09
Arrow-leaved tear-thumb (Polygonum saggitatum)
This native species is a new addition to our FWG Plant list. I found it in the Ravine alongside the stream, where it was clambering over other vegetation. I can tell you from long experience with this plant, that it really pays to avoid it!!
18-AUG-2009
Backyard Garden just after sunrise
The sun came up and was briefly seen this morning, before cloud moved in again. The cloud made for a much more bearable temperature for walking, but the sun gave a glow to the BYG which is looking particularly lush at the moment!
18-AUG-2009
Grey Squirrel (black phase)
This little black squirrel (really, the melanistic phase of the grey squirrel), was running very purposefully down the service road from the barn (AKA Green Heron Way), Clearly he had run through the wet grass for he was quite damp. Every so often he'd stop, stand up like this, and look around. He really reminded me of the White Rabbit in Alice: I could almost hear him saying "I'm late, I'm late...". He was almost upon myself and Tasha before he realized we were there. He stopped dead, gave a sort of "eek" sound and dove into the trees nearby!
18-AUG-2009
Black squirrel
This shot shows the squirrel just before he stopped dead and and vanished upon seeing me and Tasha.
18-AUG-2009
Mating craneflies
Craneflies are abundant right now, all over the place, in the grass, on shrubs, on the wall of the Interpretive Centre, as here.
18-AUG-2009
Eastern forktail (Ischnura verticalis), immature female
These pretty little damselflies are common, and even abundant in many places. This is the immature female. As she matures she will turn blue with a sort of dusty frosting. Usually seen near slow moving streams, they can also be found some distance from water.
18-AUG-2009
Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
We have an abundance of jewelweed at the garden this year. It seems to be popping up in profusion in places where it has not been seen before. Here, for example, is a wide swath of this plant between the Pond and the New woods. Early this morning, at about 7, a ruby-throated hummingbird was feeding on the nectar provided by the flowers. Because these are a favourite with hummingbirds at this time of year, it pays to scan all the jewelweed stands for hummers. I saw two more hummingbirds chasing each over over the Butterfly meadow a little later.
17-AUG-2009
Red-eared slider
This non-native species must have been dropped off at the pond by someone who no longer wanted to care for it. Unfortunately, these turtles are popular in the pet trade. When they become too big their owners often take them to a local wetland or pond and dispose of them, thinking they will be able to survive. Some do, some don't. Turtles as pets is a very bad idea. This one has been around the pond for about 3 weeks at least. It was sharing the turtle raft with one of the painted turtles.
With the addition of a Blanding's turtle sighted at our pond the other day, we now have four species of turtles in the pond: 2 painted turtles, one snapping turtle, one red-eared slider and one blanding's.
17-AUG-2009
Mayfly, possibly Hexagenia sp.
17-AUG-2009
Moth
Stephen Bégin was at the FWG very early this morning and found some moths still hanging around the building (they come at night attracted to the lights and some remain until well into the morning). This extreme closeup makes it difficult to ID the species, but it is interesting for the details it shows that few of us get to see.
23-AUG-2009
Elm Spanworm moth (Ennomos subsignaria)
This is head on shot of the moth shown in another photo by Stephen Begin. You get a good view of the proboscis and the palps.
17-AUG-2009
Elm Spanworm moth (Ennomos subsignaria)
A nicely detailed look at the feathery antennae
17-AUG-2009
Elm Spanworm moth (Ennomos subsignaria)
This was found on the Interpretive Centre early this morning by Stephen Bégin. Thanks to Diane Lepage for the ID of this moth.
17
Moth
Another extreme closeup, though difficult to ID without more details. However, interesting for the tremendous detail of the moth's face
17-AUG-2009
Ambush bug (Phymata sp.)
A truly remarkable macro of this small but bizarre looking insect which hides amongst flowers patiently waiting for something to land. They will attack prey 4, 5, or more times their size, and with great success.
14-AUG-2009
Blanding's Turtle
Sandra Garland photographed this Blandings turtle at the pond. She says: " When I went back to the pond with my camera and binoculars, he was sitting at the corner of the bridge. He must have been climbing the waterfall when David and Nicole were taking DO readings a few minutes earlier."
14-AUG-2009
Blanding's Turtle
I took a few photos then walked over to the right to get a good view of the woodpecker that was tapping at the birdbox on the south side of the pond. When I glanced back at the turtle, he was in the middle of the near side of the bridge. As I watched, he reached forward and threw himself off the edge hitting the rock that's right near the bridge. I walked over to make sure he was okay and found him lying on his side. Within a minute or so, he got himself upright, turned around and swam into the pond. (Sandra Garland)
11-AUG-2009
Digger wasp (Crabronid sp.)
This lovely little wasp is possibly an Ectemnius sp. but I didn't get a great look at it, just a couple of quick photos. Many, many of the Crabronid wasps look almost identical.
The Crabronidae is a large family and includes many of our most interesting wasps, such as the sand wasps (see the photo of the Bicyrtes elsewhere in this gallery), and the currently popular Cerceris wasps. I say "popular" because one species, Cerceris fumipennis, is being looked at for biocontrol of the dreaded Emerald Ash Borer (a Buprestid beetle). I found an aggregation of these Cerceris wasps while out butterflying behind the airport a few weeks ago. I've been keeping an eye on them and the number of nest holes is growing.
11-AUG-2009
Common pondhawk, (Erythemis simplicicollis) female
This gorgeous dragonfly was also in that little stream just below FWG. Occasionally they fly upstream into the ravine, but not often as far as the pond. While wandering around FWG I saw a couple of the big mosaic darners, one of which was a Lance-tipped. The other didn't land, so no idea. Also saw an intriguing looking dragonfly that was zipping back and forth at the south end of the Ash woods. Sadly it vanished, but from the nano-second look I had at it, I wondered if it was a black-shouldered spinyleg. It was about this time last year that one turned up at the garden.
11-AUG-2009
Long-horned leaf beetles (Donacia sp.)
Although photographed today in the Arboretum, they are also found in the Amphibian Pond at FWG. They are usually easier to photograph in the Arboretum, however! Some Donacia beetles are quite spectacular. One in particular is a bright shiny emerald green. I haven't seen that one at FWG yet.
11-AUG-2009
Sand wasp (Bicyrtes sp.)
These are one of the most beautiful wasps, in my opinion anyway. They begin appearing about late July and by mid-August are fairly common, particularly on goldenrods. I love their big green eyes and their clean and shiny black and white colouration. These are members of the Crabronidae, or digger wasps.
08-AUG-2009
Inside a coneflower
Stephen Bégin was at the FWG on the weekend and took some gorgeous shots of flowers and insects. This one shows a great closeup of the Coneflower.
08-AUG-2009
Black-and-yellow mud dauber (Sceliphron sp.) on Queen Anne's lace
Another commonly found wasp around the area is this mud dauber, a member of the Sphecidae or Thread-waisted wasps.
07-AUG-2009
Paper wasp (Polistes fuscatus) on Pearly everlasting
One of the most common wasps at the garden, found from early spring right through to fall, but most abundant right now! Although often found nectaring on flowers, they are excellent hunters who will take prey as big as grasshoppers to feed to their larvae.
08-AUG-2009
Eye to eye with a grasshopper
08-AUG-2009
Grasshopper, perhaps Melanopus sp.
Grasshoppers are abundant right now. With many, you need to see the wing colour for ID purposes.
08-AUG-2009
Up close with a Japanese beetle
These scarab beetles are surely one of the most photogenic, though I doubt gardeners feel quite the same way about them if they become abundant in the garden.
07-AUG-2009
Male and female damselflies
Male damselflies often hold on to a female they have just mated with until she lays her eggs. This prevents other males from mating with her during that time.
07-AUG-2009
Black swallowtail butterfly
07-AUG-2009
Tiger lilies in the butterfly meadow
07-AUG-2009
Poppy seedpod
A very artsy take on this plant
07-AUG-2009
Coneflower (Echinacea)
A different perspective on this flower.
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!
05-AUG-2009
Snapping turtle
This medium sized snapping turtle was perched quite precariously on a small log in the Amphibian Pond. He kept kicking one of his back legs as if to shake something off. With all the duckweed covering his head he looks more prehistoric than ever. When I first noticed him, I thought he was injured or even dead, as he was lying with his head hanging in the water. Eventually he raised it and then began the kicking movement with his leg. Nearby, a painted turtle floated just below the surface of the water.
05-AUG-2009
Sphecid wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus) on swamp milkweed
The Sphecid wasps are also called Thread-waisted wasps. It is easy to see why this particular wasp species was given the specific name "ichneumoneus"! Never abundant at FWG (although common in the region), they can be seen nectaring on flowers, along with the other large Sphecid, the Great black digger, Sphex pensylvanicus. Like many sphecids, this one creates a burrow in the ground which it stocks with prey for its larvae.
5-AUG-2009
Ambush bug (Phymata sp.) on Queen Anne's Lace
It is tough to get a head shot of these guys. They are so gnarly and lumpy that it obscures features. However, in this one you can at least see the eyes!
