10-JUL-2012
Arched hooktip (Drepana arcuata), # 6251
This distinctive little moth was basking on the wall near the door to the Interpretive Centre. It belongs to its own family, the hooktip moths (Drepaninae). This may be a new addition to our list, unless Diane has found it in her recent mothing outings to the FWG.
10-JUL-2012
Speedwell Veronica longifolia
The veronica is in bloom in the butterfly meadow and attracting a number of bees. A non-native species, this is also known as long-leaved speedwell.
10-JUL-2012
Eastern Kingbird near the Butterfly Meadow
This species bred at the FWG this year, and in fact, has only missed a year here and there in terms of making the FWG its nesting site. They also breed in the Arboretum. Their scientific name is well chosen: Tyrannus tyrannus, for they are tyrannical in their pursuit of anything that comes near their nest or into their territory.
10-JUL-2012
Small milkweed bug (Lygaeus kalmii)
These are a common sight around milkweed patches in summer, along with the black and red long-horned milkweed beetle. Actually, if you look carefully, you can see these bugs in very early spring, just after the snow leaves, as they overwinter as adults and emerge long before many other insects.
10-JUL-2012
Faint-spotted Angle Moth (Digrammia ocellinata), # 6386
France photographed this moth in the Backyard Garden. Thanks to Diane Lepage for identifying it.
10-JUL-2012
Non-native columbine in the Backyard Garden
One of the last flowers on this horticultural variety of columbine. The native species, which is also in the Backyard Garden, has finished blooming for this year.
10-JUL-2012
Black swallowtail , male (Papillio polyxenes) visiting purple coneflower
These swallowtails have been common around the garden in the last few weeks. Larval host plants include Queen Anne's lace and wild parsnip, interestingly, both non-native species, but very well used by black swallowtails.
10-JUL-2012
Black swallowtail , male (Papillio polyxenes) visiting purple coneflower
Another lovely shot of this elegant male black swallowtail.
10-JUL-2012
Red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) on dogbane
We're seeing more Red Admirals at the garden this week - probably the offspring of the many individuals of this species that caused such excitement this spring. The larval host plant is stinging nettle, and fortunately for the red admirals, there are several large populations around the garden, and every single plant had red admiral caterpillars earlier in the season. This individual is a bit frayed about the wings, but some of the recently emerged ones are glistening in their freshness.
10-JUL-2012
Snowberry clearwing (Hemaris diffinis), #7855, feeding on spreading dogbane
Another fine shot by France, of this lovely moth. These moths, both this one and Hemaris thysbe (the one typically referred to as a hummingbird moth), are confusingly also referred to as clearwing moths, or hummingbird clearwing moths. But clearwing moths are a very different thing, and are in the family Sesiidae, while these guys are in the Sphinx Moth family (Sphingidae).
10-JUL-2012
Snowberry clearwing (Hemarisdiffinis) feeding on spreading dogbane
Like its close relative, the hummingbird moth (Hemaris thysbe), this moth can also hover in front of a flower while it sips nectar.
Buffalo treehopper (stictocephala ), nymphal skin and adult
The funny spiky object at top is the shed skin of a buffalo treehopper nymph. The adult treehopper is shown below.
