19-JUN-2013
Blue mud dauber (Chalybion californicum)
Lots of these smallish metallic blue wasps around today. They build mud nests, often under the eaves of buildings. Larvae feed on paralyzed spiders that are thoughtfully provided by the adults and stuffed into the nests with the eggs. These wasps belong to the Sphecidae family, the thread-waisted wasps.
19-JUN-2013
Soft-winged flower beetle (Anthocomus)
This is a tiny little creature, a few mm in length. I had a devil of a time getting a photo because it kept on running (not that I blame it, who'd want a camera stuck in their face). This is a new family for our FWG insect list (the Melyridae), and thus also, a new species.
19-JUN-2013
Bladdernut shrub seedpods (Staphylea trifolia)
You can see how the shrub got its name when you look at these bladder-shaped pods. These were on a very large bladdernut shrub not far from the pond. I am very ashamed to say that even though I walked by this for years, I never really looked at it, and forgot it was there. Yet I planted this in about 1996! It was donated to us by someone whose name I now, unfortunately, forget. I always assumed that the shrub had died because in later years I thought I'd planted much further from the pond.
19-JUN-2013
Dogwood calligrapha (Calligrapha philadelphica)
I find this particular group of beetles (Calligrapha beetles)very beautiful. They all have wonderful patterns and colours. I decided to take a look for these guys on the dogwoods and found only one. Sometimes they are plentiful. I generally find them from early June through July. These beetles are in the Chrysomelidae family, the leaf-eating beetles.
19-JUN-2013
Banasa stinkbug (Banasa dimiata) on dogwood
This is a very common stinkbug, perhaps the most common in the area. They are often seen on red osier dogwood, as here, and I was struck by the great colour coordination! Look how well the colours of the bug match the colours of the pods.
19-JUN-2013
Robber fly (Asilid sp.)
There were any number of these tiny robber flies at the garden today. They are in their typical perch mode, waiting for something to fly by that they can fly and catch.
Mating cranefles
Barry found and photographed these mating craneflies at the garden.
12-JUN-2013
European paper wasp (Polistes dominula) at a nest in spruce
Barry came across this newly constructed polistes wasp nest in a spruce tree, complete with a wasp. It is an interesting shot as these wasps usually build under eaves, or even at times, in holes in metal posts.
12-JUN-2013
Juvenal's duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis)
A very tattered but still recognizable, juvenal's duskywing skipper resting on the invasive dog-strangling vine, photographed by Barry.
Birch sawfly (Arge pectoralis)
Barry found this sawfly and managed to get a good shot showing its distinctive 'lumpy' thorax. Like many Argid sawflies, the larvae are found in aggregations, in this case, on birch trees.
Great crested flycatcher
A pair of these birds has nested again at the garden, the male a constant presence, calling constantly. I think he is nesting in a bird box, though that is not absolutely certain. Barry took this photo of the bird cocking his head in a characteristic pose.
11-JUN-2013
Iris
One of a clump by the pond in the backyard garden. Sheltering under its petals is a fly, one of many insects I saw keeping out of the rain under leaves and petals.
