14 July 2012
Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), male, #8313
14 July 2012
Clover looper moth (Caenurgina crassiuscula), # 8738
This may be one of the most common moths around, but despite that, it is not always easy to get such a good photo as Doris did, here. These are the little brown jobs that fly up in spring and summer, constantly fooling those of us looking for skippers, as it darts out of the grass, flies a short distance, and drops back down.
14 July 2012
Cedar Waxwings
A terrific shot of these handsome birds, by Doris. Because these birds nest later than most species, they are frequently seen in small flocks, calling and flying around the area, while other birds are setting up territory and nesting. You can easily see the red tips to the wings that give them their common name of waxwings.
14 July 2012
Primrose Moth (Schinia florida ), #11164
Doris Potter, a visitor from out of town, was at the FWG on the weekend. She wrote, "I spent several hours at the FWG this past week-end and in spite of the heat and humidity I had a great time. I took hundreds of photos and just sent off four to the e-mail address given on the website.
I hope I will have the opportunity to visit again (maybe in the Spring next time)."
Thanks for the photos, Doris. They are wonderful!
14 July 2012
Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus)
This large (approx. 1 inch in length) wasp is in the Sphecidae family, the thread-waisted wasps. By mid-July it, and the closely related S. pensylvanicus (next photo), are common sights around flowers. Both species hunt insects in the grasshopper family and put the paralyzed insects into their underground nest. They are generally non-aggressive, as is true of most Sphecids, and I have spent many hours around them, getting to within an inch of them. However, when protecting their nest site, they may get defensive.
14 July 2012
Great Black Wasp (Sphex pensylvanicus)
Also known as the Great Black Digger, this is closely related to the previous wasp, and has much the same habits and ecology. I've watched them carrying large grasshoppers, as big as they are, or bigger, heading towards a burrow.
14-JULY-2012
Hummingbird moth (Hemaris thysbe)
We're seeing many of these large, impressive Sphinx moths at the garden (and all over the region in fact). This is probably the best time to find these beautiful diurnal moths. Although many people think they are seeing a hummingbird when this moth first darts past and hovers at flowers, it is in fact a bumblebee mimic, the theory being that it will deter predators if it looks like a large stinging bumblebee.
Cicada emerging from its nymphal case
We sometimes add photos taken in the Arboretum, which is adjacent to the FWG, especially if of observations we could just as easily see at FWG. Thus, the following photos by Barry showing the emergence of a Cicada from its nymphal case. It is quite the process and Barry was luckily able to watch this interesting event.
Cicada emerging from its nymphal case
Another view of the odd-looking newly emerging cicada. What a peculiar looking creature it is. The green colouration is the hemolymph (green blood!) that the cicada is pumping through its wings to enlarge them.
13-JUL-2012
Monarch butterfly on common milkweed
David photographed this monarch on milkweeds near the pond.
10-JUL-2012
Beaver swimming in the Arboretum
France Thibodeau kindly sent us a series of photos she took in and around the FWG today. She saw this beaver swimming in the stream running through the Arboretum and wondered whether it might end up in the FWG pond.
10-JUL-2012
Beaver
Another view of the beaver - this time swimming toward France.
