Endlessly cute and engaging, as Barry's photo shows.

Barry photographed this member of the Scarab beetle family. It is an attractive little insect though not always enjoyed by gardeners as it will eat a variety of vegetation, not just roses as its name suggests. While the adults feed on the visible parts of the plant, the larvae feed on roots of a variety of species.

Another photo by Barry of a leafhopper nymph. I think this may be the very colourful, as an adult, Graphocephala, which is just now, late June, appearing. A very common species.

A very nice crisp photo of one of the larger fireflies we get in this area, in the Genus Photuris. Fireflies are actually beetles, despite their name.

Odd looking little flat beetles in the same subfamily (Cassidinae) as the also unusual looking tortoise beetles. Both these and the tortoise beetles are in the Chrysomelidae family which has some of the most beautifully coloured and patterned beetles. This pair more than likely belong to the species B. nervosus as this is, I think, the only species that lives this far north. It is native to the area, but the group as a whole is more neotropical in distribution with only three species native to North America.

These small (roughly 20-30mm) wasps are odd-looking little creatures. Their abdomen is so high that they appear distorted, and they have a long 'neck' (not really a neck, but that is what it looks like) that is quite distinctive. Adults nectar and the larvae are apparently predators on hymenoptera that nest in holes in wood or in stems.

Diane photographed the two snails in the above photo, identifying the one on the left as Cepaea sp, and the one on the right as a Grove Snail, Cepaea nemoralis.

These may be the eggs of a ladybird beetle (Coccinellidae). At any rate, ladybird beetles lay golden oval-shaped eggs such as these, but so do some other beetles.

This was minute and difficult to photograph as it was both dark under the tree and windy. But I put it here for interest's sake.

I think these medium sized (about 14 mm) beetles are rather elegant looking and though common I don't see them as often as I'd like. Barry found and photographed this one.

As far as I know, this is the first monarch butterfly sighted at the garden this year, and a welcome sight it is.

Iris flowers attract a lot of insects including this really pretty little hover fly (Syrphidae).

As I was looking at white pines in the New Woods area today, this caddisfly flew in and hunkered down amongst the needles. It was not only dark but the needles made it difficult to get a decent shot. However, we have few caddisfly photos in our galleries, so here is another one.

When we see holes in leaves and other "messes" we don't get annoyed, we rejoice. These signs mean that wildlife - insects, birds, mammals, etc. - are using our wildlife garden! So, when we found silky "nests" on the leaves of these Field Pussytoes (Antennaria neglecta) left over from our plant sale, we knew that caterpillars had found the plants or, more likely, a butterfly had laid eggs on them. A little further investigation revealed Painted Lady caterpillars (identified by Diane Lepage). We often see American Lady caterpillars on Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea) in our Backyard Garden, but this is the first time we've seen similar signs of Painted Ladies. A cause for celebration!

Sandy just posted a photo showing painted lady larval "nests." Here is a photo of a very worn painted lady butterfly taken by Barry. This migratory species would also be familiar to anyone from across the pond, as it occurs in Europe. In fact, it occurs almost everywhere.

Henry Steger, who organized the event, waiting for volunteers to settle at the table so he could begin to speak of Charlie's contributions to FWG.

This shows the woodland walk section of the Backyard Garden component of the Fletcher Wildlife Garden. The woodland area showcases native plants of our local woodlands, and allows visitors to see how beautiful our native plants can be, and how they can be used in a traditional garden setting.

photographed by Barry on a dame's rocket (Hesperis matronalis). The tiny Toxomerus hover flies (Syrphidae) are abundant. We have two species, T. geminatus and T. marginatus. The latter has a yellow stripe along the side of the abdomen but unfortunately I can't see much detail here. However, the photo shows how one typically sees these minute flies.

A delicate damselfly that consumes large numbers of mosquitoes.

Barry photographed this beautiful littel sawfly larva. It may be in the genus Pseudosiobla, but it is difficult to say for sure. I have photographed these larvae in the past at both FWG and elsewhere and have never been able to satisfactorily ID them. Dogwood sawfly larvae can look similar to this as early instars, so can other species of sawfly.

At this time of year, these flies are numerous throughout the garden. The females are the most noticeable with their red eyes and very fringed legs. The females are real princesses! They don't hunt for their own food, waiting instead for the male to feed them.

Probably Zelus luridus. The slender male is in contrast to the greener, bigger females, which are more noticeable and more commonly encountered.

Another photo of the honey bee investigating the comfrey.

An attractive little hover fly which like so many in the Syrphidae family, resembles a bee.

Jumping spiders are very common around the FWG, and many species occur. However, they can be a challenge to ID as many look different as immatures. Furthermore, many species look similar. However, this one photographed by Barry, could be a Phidippus, possibly P. clarus.

The backyard Garden is a showcase for using mostly native plants in a traditional garden setting. Those non-native plants used are there because they are good for pollinators and other wildlife.

One section of the Backyard Garden behind the Interpretive Centre. While most of the species planted in the garden are native, this bed pays tribute to the horticultural plants that have become garden favourites over time AND which also attract insects and birds.

Heavy rain most of the morning didn't dampen this little visitor to the roses in front of the centre.

A very fine shot of a nomada bee. Although common, these little wasp-like bees rarely sit still long enough for a photo. They are parasitic on Andrena and Colletes bees, as well as some other genera.

Another view of the beautiful white fly photographed by Barry.

Barry photographed this black bug whose ID I am not sure of at the moment. It looks like a plant bug (Miridae) of some sort.

Always a joy to see these birds at the garden. They have nested there for years, usually raising two broods. A fine photograph by Barry.

Every year in June, a team of PWC volunteers comes to help out at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden. We really appreciate their strong backs and in this case their quick minds as we grapple with a new tent to be used during the plant sale the next day - if we can figure out how it goes together.

The PWC volunteers also helped thin some of the more robust plants in the Butterfly Bed. Rough Goldenrod, Flat-topped Aster, and Joe-Pye Weed were all cut back to make room for the shorter plants, including Pearly Everlasting, which was hosting American Lady caterpillars.

The small black larvae of the Trirhabda beetle is very numerous this year on the goldenrods. It is always present in good numbers but this year seems especially abundant. According to Bug Guide, identification to species level is difficult. There are several species found on goldenrods and all the larvae look virtually identical.

The lupines in the butterfly meadow, although not native, attract numerous insects, bees in particular, here, a bumble bee.

These unusual looking insects overwinter as adults, and when spring comes and they become active again, they feed on a variety of insects, including caterpillars. This one had been feeding on a tiny, tiny red admiral caterpillar, on some nettle. This bug is about 7mm in length, and in the next photo you can see it with the early instar caterpillar.

There were numbers of these tiny flies around the pond, landing on cattails, as here, and other aquatic vegetation. I think this is in the genus Chaetopsis, which is typically found in marshy areas, with lots of cattail growth.

A top view of this small shiny beetle seen also in the next shot. They are common around the big Amphibian Pond.

A common weevil at this time of year, one of three in the genus introduced (accidentally) from Europe. Often found on poplars.

Photographed in the Butterfly Meadow where its tall form and golden flowers catch the eye including of insects. This native species is rare around the Ottawa area known from only a few locations.

At this time of year, the meadow is a palette of soft hues with the lupines and dame's rockets. Bees are especially attracted to the lupines, but the dame's rocket also attracts many insects.