Horse fly (Tabanus atratus)
This whopper of a fly is a large, very distinctive looking member of the Tabanidae, the horse flies (which also includes deer flies). FWG visitor, Lisa, found this sitting on a milkweed near the centre. This fly could inflict a noticeable bite, but in fact, these gals (and it is only the females who bite) prefer to bite cattle not people. So this one may have wandered over from the farm where the cows are.
31-JUL-2013
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
This is the first monarch butterfly I've seen this year. Last year, they were abundant, but this year scarce throughout their range. I can recall seeing, late last August, about 30+ nectaring on the big field of buckwheat flowers. It was quite a sight. This year, well, it is a very different story. I was very happy to see this one! Now we need to keep our eyes open for eggs and larvae on milkweed.
31-JUL-2013
Cabbage white (Pieeris rapae) on Liatris
Nectaring on the liatris, this cabbage white was oblivious to my presence, so was able to get a couple of photos. In a typical year, we might see 8 to 10 or more during any visit to the garden in summer, but not this year. As with most butterfly species (though not all), populations are not as vigorous this year.
31-JUL-2013
White admiral (Limenitis arthemis)
This beauty was one of several seen today at the garden. In this case, it was along the Bill Holland Trail, and after "buzzing" me a few times, landed literally at my feet. Unlike many butterflies, this species rarely nectars, taking sustenance instead from scat, or minerals in sand, amongst other sources.
31-JUL-2013
Ebony Jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata), male
These beautiful damselflies can be found flitting along woodland trails in the region, if there is water in the general vicinity. This one was on the Bill Holland Trail near the centre and posed briefly on the raspberry.
31-JUL-2013
Sand wasp (Bicyrtes)
These are lovely, shiny medium sized wasps, which turn up at this time of year as regular as clockwork. This one was particularly skittish, and I had difficulty getting shots, though often I've found them quite cooperative for photos. But if you could see the eyes, you'd see they are a lovely green. There are more photos of this species in our bees and wasp gallery. This one was on boneset.
31-JUL-2013
Snowberry Clearwing moth (Hemaris diffinis) on monarda
This was a busy moth, darting amongst the bumble bees to seek nectar from the abundant monarda in the butterfly meadow. The caterpillars feed on honeysuckles and of course, on snowberry.
31-JUL-2013
Chickweed geometer (Haematopis grataria) 7146
A mating pair of chickweed geometers near the ash woods. These day-flying moths are so butterfly-like with their bright colours and diurnal habits. Also, note those lovely plumose antennae on the male, not something butterflies have. The larval host plants, as the name suggests, are chickweeds, as well as plants in the polygonum group.
31-JUL-2013
Butterfly meadow
A great wave of coneflowers (Echinachea) and the tall flowers of gray-headed coneflowers also create an impression of abundance and colour.
31-JUL-2013
Liatris and cardinal flower
These vivid flowers make quite an eye-catching spectacle in the butterfly meadow. The liatris in particular, is very attractive to a variety of insects.
24-JUL-2013
Carrot Seed moth (Sitochroa palealis), #4986.1
This little moth was photographed by Diane on the vivid blazing star flower in the butterfly meadow. It is a European introduction whose host plant is queen anne's lace seedheads.
24-JUL-2013
Copper underwing (Amphipyra pyramidoides), #9638
Diane photographed this moth at the garden. I've never seen the moth, but have several times found the very pretty, bright green caterpillar, although not at FWG. These moths belong to the Noctuidae family.
24-JUL-2013
Goldenrod Crab Spider with bumblebee
Diane photographed this spider with prey and commented that bumblebees seemed to be particularly common on the coneflowers in the butterfly meadow. Unfortunately, they are so busy gathering food that they are easy prey for spiders such as this species, who just sit and wait for them to land.
24-JUL-2013
Blazing Star
Diane photographed this stand of blazing star flowers in the butterfly meadow and reports that they are attracting all sorts of insects.
Sunflower and leaf-cutter bee
A fine photograph of a sunny sunflower with its little leaf-cutter bee (Megachile) visitor, photographed by Barry.
Ipsilon Dart moth (Agrotis ipsilon), #10663
Barry found and identified this large dart moth. This species is a bit of a crop specialist, as its larvae feed on corn, beans, as well as some other non-crop plants.
Downy woodpecker, male
Barry photographed this male downy, and also sent some photos showing a red-eyed vireo feeding a brown-headed cowbird, and a nesting phoebe. This must be 'our' phoebe, who hatched her first brood, and must be back for a second.
17-JUL-2013
Seven-spotted ladybeetle (Coccinella septempunctata)
Diane and Helena were at the FWG on a hot humid day and report that insects were few, but they were happy to see a ladybeetle that was other than the usual asian ladybeetle. This one is also a non-native species, however, but less commonly found around the garden.
17-JUL-2013
Bee Balm (Monarda didyma and Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
A very pretty array of flowers around the Butterfly Meadow, photographed by Diane.
17-JUL-2013
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)and Black-eyed susan (,em>Rudbeckia hirta)
Diane and her volunteers planted this big swathe of flowers to attract butterflies and other pollinators, in the Butterfly Meadow. She photographed this on a hot, steamy day last week.
17-JUL-2013
Sunflower sp.
A sunny mid-summer flower photographed by Diane.
17-JUL-2013
Queen of the Prairie (Filipendula rubra)
Diane photographed this gorgeous, showy tall pink-flowered plant in the Butterfly Meadow (there is also some in the BYG). It is a native plant, though not native to the Ottawa district, but is found further south.
17-JUL-2013
Green heron
As they have done for many, many years, the green herons continue to seek food in our big pond. It is a wonder that the poor green frogs survive at all!! Diane photographed this handsome one. Diane and Helena were at the garden on a very hot day (humidex of about +43!), and report that in addition to the herons, catbirds were calling, and they saw common yellowthroat warbler, song sparrow, and american goldfinches.
11-JUL-2013
Ragweed fly (Euaresta bella)
This small fly is in the fruit fly family, Tephritidae. The larvae feeds exclusively on the seeds of the common native ragweed plant, ambrosia artemisiifolia, which as sufferers know, is responsible for late summer allergies (when it flowers).
18-JUL-2013
Eastern pondhawk , female (Erythemis simplicollis)
Barry took this beautiful shot of the brilliant green female pondhawk. The male looks very different, being mainly a chalky blue with green on the thorax. I first saw these years back in the Arboretum and eventually began finding them around FWG.
18-JUL-2013
Great spangled fritillary (Speyeria cybele)
This is the time of year to see the big fritillaries. Barry photographed this one on common milkweed. They are large, about 3 inches, and thus very visible. I saw one hanging around near the pond a few days ago.
Song sparrow
Barry caught this song sparrow grooming itself, probably taking a breather from feeding ever-hungry young.
Crab spider and japanese beetle
Barry photographed this image. This lovely queen anne's lace flower is host to a goldenrod crab spider in the centre, and a japanese beetle on the bottom. The crab spider has probably not been on there long enough to change colour to white, thus it stands out much more than it should.
Hover flies
While I can't say for sure what the species facing the camera is, because I can't see enough details, the other one, with its abdomen sideways to camera, is Allograpta obliqua. They are on a sow-thistle.
Hover fly, probably (Syrphus sp.)
Barry photographed this little hover fly on a queen anne's lace, a plant that is a magnet for so many insect species. Syrphus and Epistrophe species look quite similar, but I think this is probably a Syrphus.
July 2013
Virginia creeper clearwing moth (Albuna fraxini), #2532
This most un-moth-like creature really is a moth. It is in the Sesiidae family, the clear-winged moths. The larvae of this species bore into the roots of virginia creeper, of which we have an abundance. Given that, it is rather surprising that this is a first record for the FWG. I've seen them before in the Arboretum, but not for some years. Thanks to Barry who photographed this lovely moth and thereby added a new species to our moth list!
Sweat bee (Lasioglossum sp.)
Another sweat bee photographed by Barry. This makes a very effective image I think, with the bee on the yellowing leaf. Many sweat bees are so small that we barely notice them.
Sweat bee (Agapostemon sp.)
Barry photographed this beautiful little sweat bee with its metallic green thorax. Did you know that the name 'sweat bee' comes from the habit some of the species in this family have of lapping the sweat from your hands?
Bumblebees (Bombus)
Barry photographed these bumblebees all clustered together. He said they were mating for over an hour. You will often find when a pair of insects mates, others are attracted to the scene and a third or even a fourth will try to jump in! No privacy!
11-JUL-2013
Red milkweed beetle (Tetraopes tetrophthalmus)
These vividly red long-horned beetles are really beautiful I think. This one was photographed by Barry on a common milkweed plant, which is, as the name suggest, the host plant of this species.
Bee fly (Hemipenthes webberi)
Barry photographed this medium-size beefly in good light. I find these flies are very easily spooked and don't sit still long. Many beeflies are difficult to tell apart and difficult to tell from other species unless you have spent time looking at them, and even then... There is even a beefly species that looks very much like an Ichneumonid wasp.
11-JUL-2013
Small carpenter bee (Ceratina sp.)
One of the many small bees that occur at FWG. It is metallic green like some of the sweat bees, but less brilliantly coloured and a somewhat different shape. Barry photographed this one on an ox-eye daisy.
11-JUL-2013
Checkered beetles (Trichodes nuttalli)
A brightly patterned beetle, here on queen anne's lace. These are common in the region, but not seen at the FWG that often, though they are more than likely just overlooked. You may also see these with yellow replacing the red.
11-JUL-2013
Asian ladybeetle larva (Harmonia axyridis)
This spiky little creature is the larval stage of the asian ladybeetle. It is a voracious predator of aphids.
11-JUL-2013
Giant ichneumonid wasp (Megarhyssa macrurus), female
Unfortunately, this spectacular big wasp was dead. I noticed it in the middle of the Bill Holland trail near the Butterfly Meadow. I show it here only because it is not often we get the opportunity to see this beauty. This is a female, as evidenced by the very long ovipositor, the long black whip-like extension. It looks like a big stinger but it is not. These wasps CANNOT sting. They use that ovipositor to bore into trees where they lay their eggs on the larvae of the Pigeon Horntail wasp (another big wasp). It is rare to see M. macrurus males, but they are considerably smaller.
I wondered how this wasp came to be dead on the trail, and speculated that perhaps someone saw it on a tree, or on vegetation, saw that long ovipositor, mistook it for a stinger and decided this harmless creature was extremely dangerous. But who really knows.
11-JUL-2013
Giant ichneumonid wasp (Megarhyssa macrurus), female
Another view of the wasp, this time on my palm to give a sense of size. Remember, that long ovipositor is not a stinger. These wasps are harmless and cannot sting.
11-JUL-2013
Galinsoga (Galinsoga parviflora)
Photographed near the red barn. This is a plant originally from Peru, but which grows widely in Europe after being introduced there. No doubt it is from there that it made its way to North America.
11-JUL-2013
Field penny-cress (Thlaspi arvense)
A member of the mustard family, and native to Europe, this plant is pretty common, noted more for its pretty seed pods than its rather insignificant flowers.
11-JUL-2013
Cobweb spider (Enoplognatha ovata), female
These small spiders are very common, but because of their size and their inclination to hide amongst vegetation (this one is on a walnut tree), they are infrequently noted. There is great variation in their pattern and colour and if you look at our spider gallery, you'll see that some have a vivid red set of stripes on its abdomen, and sometimes the abdomen is almost entirely red.
11-JUL-2013
Cobweb spider (Enoplognatha ovata), female
Another view of the cobweb spider in its characteristic upside down pose.
11-JUL-2013
New kiosk in Butterfly Meadow
Thanks to a team of our volunteers, this kiosk was erected in the Butterfly Meadow, as a place to display information about monarch butterflies and others. Right now we have only one poster in it, one depicting the life cycle of the monarch butterfly.
11-JUL-2013
Goldenrod crab spider (Misumena vatia), male
This tiny spider is the male goldenrod crab spider, a fraction of the size of the female. You can also tell it is a male by the clubbed palps.
11-JUL-2013
Weevil (Polydrusus sericeus)
These handsome green weevils seem to be especially abundant this year. I'm seeing them on a variety of trees. This is a non-native species from Europe, which arrived, accidentally, at the turn of the 20th century in New York and is now widespread/
11-JUL-2013
Treehopper nymph (Acutalis brunnea)
This is also the time of year to find the very small Acutalis treehopper nymphs. Last year I found the shed skins (exuviae) with adults nearby. This is the one and only nymph I found today, but have found a few adults in other areas around Ottawa.
11-JUL-2013
Treehoppers, adults and nymphal cases (Enchenopa)
Every year for the last many years, I have gone looking for these little treehoppers. Mostly it is because they fascinate me, with their little thornlike protrusions. This was the first time I saw a cluster of recently emerged adults with the nymphal cases nearby.
11-JUL-2013
Treehoppers, adults and nymphal cases (Enchenopa)
Another view of the recently emerged adult treehoppers and a couple of nymphal cases, or exuviae.
11-JUL-2013
Dogwood spittlebug (Clastoptera proteus)
This tiny but brightly marked, spittlebug was on a dogwood leaf, of course. Earlier in the season, tiny blobs of spittle begin to appear on dogwoods, the moist shelter of the spittlebug nymph. Now the adults are appearing.
11-JUL-2013
Spider in silk shelter
This is, I think, a Xysticus species, from what little I could see. I didn't want to pry the shelter apart to get a look, so have to leave this as a possible Xysticus. I rather like the way the legs are coming out and clutching the shelter.
11-JUL-2013
Mallow (Malva sylvestris)
Barry photographed this mallow flower mostly for its unusual petal formation... looking like something out of the Day of the Triffids, perhaps.
11-JUL-2013
Red milkweed beetle (Tetraopes tetrophthalmus)
Found on, what else, a milkweed. This handsome longhorned beetle is very common right now on the milkweed plants.
Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica)
They're back! THese beautiful scarab beetles, with their pretty metallic colours, are unfortunately, quite destructive to plants, voraciously eating their way through a variety of plants. In a garden they can be very noticeable, but in a natural setting, their depredations are barely noticeable.
Buprestid beetle
This looks like the tiny bronzed buprestid I photographed at FWG. It is more than likely in the Genus Agrilus, but as there are several tiny bronzed buprestids, it is difficult to ID to species.
Bee on ox-eye daisy
Barry photographed this bee, and while I can't see it in its entirety, it may be an Osmia sp.
05-JUL-2013
Stinkbug nymphs (Pentatomidae)
Not sure which species these are, but they appear to have just hatched. Photographed by Barry.
05-JUL-2013
Abbot's sphinx moth caterpillar (Sphecodina abbottii), 7870
A spectacular caterpillar!! Photographed by Barry in the Backyard Garden and enjoyed by many on Friday morning. These caterpillars are very variable for each instar is different. This is the final instar. The larvae particularly like grape, of which we have an abundance. This is a new species for our moth list.
Goldenrod crab spide (Misumena vatia), female
A very pretty shot of the crab spider sitting in the middle of a mallow flower. Although called goldenrod crab spiders, these are found on all sorts of flowering plants, where they lie perfectly still, waiting for prey to land. This one is white, and with the pink stripe, blends in well with the flower. On yellow flowers they become golden in colour. Camouflage is the key to their success!
Hover fly, most likely Helophilus
This is a medium size hover fly (Syrphidae), and like most hover flies resembles a bee. It is probably a Helophilus sp. but the Parhelophilus looks similar. Barry took this fine shot.
Buffalo treehopper (Ceresa alta?)
One of our most common, and commonly seen, treehoppers. There are many species in the Genus Ceresa, and this is likely C. alta, but could be C. palmeri.
Ladybeetle (Brachiacantha ursina)
A very tiny ladybeetle, so small it is easily overlooked. I have rarely succeeded in getting a good photo as it is almost too small for my camera to capture well. Barry took this nice sharp shot. This is sometimes called, not surprisingly, orange-spotted ladybeetle, but most guides just call it ladybeetle.
03-JUL-2013
Mushrooms
This pretty cluster of dove gray tiny mushrooms, by Barry, are like Marasmius species. He said they were on a pile of wood chips.
Great crested flycatcher
Barry photographed this flycatcher sitting in a spruce, looking one way, while a wasp flies by on the right. It might have become a meal had the flycatcher seen it.
02-JULY-2013
Dark Marathyssa (Marathyssa inficita), #8955
A collage of photos of this very unusual looking moth, showing it from behind, side, and front. It was on a thistle in the old field area. I was not sure at first if it was an insect or a bit of plant debris. But when I got a better look I realized it was a moth. I am pretty sure this is the Dark Marathyssa (Marathyssa inficita), whose host plant is staghorn sumac, of which we have much at the garden, and it was about 2 feet away from a big stand of sumac.
02-JUL-2013
Common yellowthroat, male
Sitting on a tangle of dog-strangling vine, this yellowthroat was very vocal and active, scolding me all the time I was walking past where he was protecting his nest site. This guy was joined by house wrens, catbirds, robins, song sparrows, and a red-eyed vireo, all scolding vociferously!
02-JUL-2013
Common yellowthroat, male
Another shot of the lovely warbler. This species has become a regularly occurring nesting species at the garden in the last decade.
02-JUL-2013
House wren
Sitting on a stem of Dog-strangling vine (DSV), this wren was sounding an alarm, joining in with other species, all of whom were upset because I was walking by!
02-JUL-2013
House wrens
Very busy feeding young. The wrens could be heard calling from many parts of the garden today.
02-JUL-2013
house wrens
Another shot of the house wrens.
02-JUL-2013
Song sparrow carrying food
One of several pairs of nesting song sparrows at the garden.
02-JUL-2013
Larval case of a Chrysomelid beetle
These cases are quite commonly found on vegetation. This type is most commonly made by Chrysomelid leaf beetles in the Subfamily Cryptocephalinae. The case is made from the larva's excrement.
02-JUL-2013
Three-lined potato beetle (Lema daturaphila) larvae
Like many larvae of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae family), these larvae have piled poop on their back. This is likely as a protective mechanism, either to deter predators or to make them less visible, or both.
02-JUL-2013
juvenile grasshopper species
These two posed in tandem on a mallow leaf in the Old Field.
02-JUL-2013
Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
Along with the common milkweed (A. syriaca), the beautiful swamp milkweed is also now appearing. Both plants attract a wide variety of insects, and monarch butterflies will lay their eggs on both species.
02-JUL-2013
Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
One of many coneflowers found in the Butterfly Meadow.
02-JUL-2013
Honey bee caught by goldenrod spider
This poor honey bee had obviously been feeding on common milkweed, for you can see the little pollen packets on its feet (the yellow pads). Goldenrod spiders are adept at catching prey twice their size!
02-JUL-2013
Planthopper (Cedusa)
These small bits of blue, when looked at closely, turn out to be very pretty little planthoppers. They can sometimes be found in a line of 5 or 6 or more, along a twig or a plant stem.
02-JUL-2013
Banded hairstreak (Satyrium calanus)
I was walking along the north slope, below the Backyard Garden, when this hairstreak appeared in typical hairstreak fashion - flying fast and bouncily. Once settled, I was able to approach it fairly closely. I've seen hairstreaks in this area for years, always starting in early July.
02-JUL-2013
Going down the road....
...to the Arboretum. To the right is what we call the Mallow Bank because it used to be thick with Malva, a garden mallow, tall with pink flowers. But in recent years, the dreaded DSV has taken up more and more of the slope and now the mallows are reduced by about 2/3.
02-JUL-2013
Mallow (Malva sylvestris)
This is the mallow that used to cover the mallow bank. A small bee, not sure of the species, is seeking pollen.
02-JUL-2013
Metallic wood-boring beetle probably Agrilus sp.
This was an exceptionally tiny Buprestid beetle. It appears to be in the Genus Agrilus, but could be one of several species of small bronze coloured beetles in that genus.
02-JUL-2013
Mating Asian ladybeetles (Harmonia axyridis)
Lots of these non-native ladybeetles around, both in their adult stage and in larval form. These beetles can be deep red, as here, or orange, they can have many spots, a few spots or not spots at all.
02-JUL-2013
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)
A fairly common non-native plant of woodland edges, roadsides and disturbed areas. The flowers, when looked at closely, are very pretty and complex.
02-JUL-2013
Currants (Ribes)
This glistening red fruit is on a large currant shrub in the Backyard Garden.
02-JUL-2013
Robber fly (Asilidae)
There were numerous small robber flies around the garden today, both in the Backyard Garden section, and out in the wilder areas. They were sitting in their hunting pose, waiting for something to fly by so they could dart out and capture it. Many robber flies specialize in a particular insect, such as moths, other flies, etc.