15-JUL-2016
Wild grape (Vitis riparia)
Wild grapes are very adept at covering anything in their path. In this case a dead tree. The number of birds coming and going from this tangled thicket was quite something. They know a safe refuge when they see one.
15-JUL-2016
Leafhopper nymph (Coelidia olitoria)
A common nymph at this time of year. In case you are wondering, the head is at the bottom, and those two yellowish dots are the eyes! Here is a photo of the adult:
http://www.pbase.com/fwg/image/145274104
15-JUL-2016
Plume moth, probably (Hellinisia sp.)
This plume moth is one of the larger ones, many others are half this size. It was clinging to the underside of a goldenrod leaf and so the photo is not too good, but I knew if I moved the leaf that would be that, it would be gone.
15-JUL-2016
Flower long-horn (Typocerus velutinus)
Although I have never seen many species of long-horned beetles around the garden, flower long-horns such as this species are quite common.
15-JUL-2016
Small milkweed bugs (Lygaeus kalmii)
These bugs were abundant around the garden, not only on milkweeds but on a variety of plants, as well as crawling up snags, logs and posts. The adults reportedly feed both on milkweed seeds and the nectar of milkweed flowers.
15-JUL-2016
Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
The luscious looking fruit of the native chokecherry is attractive to birds and other wildlife.
15-JUL-2016
Honey bee (Apis mellifera)
This bee was just about to lift off, but I got a quick, though blurry shot of it. You can see the face is pollen encrusted.
15-JUL-2016
Butterfly meadow
At the north end of the butterfly meadow is a bee box which is very busy. Lots of Megachilids coming and going as well as their wasp and bee predators.
15-JUL-2016
Butterfly meadow
A flourishing medley of flowers and grasses attractive to butterflies and other insects.
15-JUL-2016
Primrose moths (Schinia florida), #11164
When the native evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) blooms, you know it is time to look for the gorgeous evening primrose moth. Here, two are huddled inside the flowerhead. This is the way you almost always see these moths during the day, but occasionally one might be perched mostly outside the flower and then you'll see that they have lovely big green eyes and what looks like a white fur cape. Check out a couple of other photos of this moth:
http://www.pbase.com/fwg/image/148381002 and
http://www.pbase.com/fwg/image/104979563
06-JUL-2016
Spittlebug, possibly Philaneus spumarius
Spittlebugs are abundant, and most abundant is the meadow spittlebug, Philaneus spumarius, which this one may be. It is so varied in colour and pattern as to appear to be a variety of different species instead of one.
06-JUL-2016
Twice-stabbed Stinkbug (Cosmopepla lintneriana)
These small but colourful stinkbugs are very common in the region and can be seen over the course of the summer. Diane photographed a mating pair in perfect light. They can be found on any number of different plants, not confined to one or two species, but they do little damage.