07-Jun-2018
Forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria)
Photographed in spring 2018.
21-JUN-2018
Honey bee (Apis mellifera)
Many bees enjoying the flowers of flowering raspberry. A happy sight!
21-JUN-2018
Purple flowering raspberry (Rubus odoratus)
Late day sun on the big stand of flowering raspberry above the ravine. The flowers were attracting numerous bees.
21-JUN-2018
The amphibian pond
Looking particularly pretty in mellow late day light. Green frogs were calling from the pond, and no doubt there are tadpoles of that species as well as of tree frogs and toads and wood frogs (though the the latter two may already transformed and left the pond).
21-JUN-2018
Plume moth (Pterophoridae)
Hanging on the door of the Resource Centre, and despite the opening and shutting of the door many times, it clung there unperturbed. Not sure which species this is.
21-JUN-2018
Pale glyph (Protodeltote albidula), #9048
This small Noctuid moth was hiding in the grass and was fortunately fairly easy to get a photo of, which is not always the case.
21-JUN-2018
Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
Almost ready to open as is the common milkweed, in fact some of the latter are in full flower. These two species attract numerous insects.
21-JUN-2018
Viper's bugloss (Echium vulgare)
These non-native plants are a beautiful shade of blue, don't seem to spread aggressively and attract bees and butterflies, sometimes in good numbers. They are also host to a beautiful moth caterpillar, though I have not seen it at FWG.
21-JUN-2018
Canada elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
The flowers of this native shrub are large, creamy white and beautiful. Not only do the flowers attract insects, but the berries are devoured by birds. A good shrub to plant if you want to attract wildlife.
21-JUN-2018
Black swallowtail butterfly caterpillar (Papilio polyxenes)
Isabelle found two of these feeding on the Rue plants in the Backyard Garden area of the FWG, and showed them to Sandy who showed them to me. Wonderful to see them. And amazing how those rue plants attract butterflies such as this species and the giant swallowtail, to lay eggs on it. There is a 3rd, early instar caterpillar with these two which may be a giant swallowtail or may be this species. Need to wait until it gets a bit bigger.
07-JUN-2018
Seed-eating Weevil (Acanthoscelidius)
A tiny seed-eating weevil on goldenrod.
07-JUN-2018
Moth caterpillar (Dichomeris) sp.)
Several found on goldenrod leaves.
07-JUN-2018
Picture-winged fly (Seioptera vibrans)
According to bug Guide, the larvae of these flies live in dung and decomposing plant matter.
07-JUN-2018
Picture-winged fly (Seioptera vibrans)
According to bug Guide, the larvae of these flies live in dung and decomposing plant matter.
07-JUN-2018
Cabbage white butterfly (Pieris rapae)
Nectaring on dame's rocket (Hesperis matronalis). Along with a few clouded sulphurs and a couple of white admirals, this was the only other species I noticed on Thursday.
07-JUN-2018
Song sparrow
Perched in a walnut tree, this song sparrow is one of many at the garden, all of them feeding young. These birds will have a second brood a bit later.
07-JUN-2018
Four-lined plant bug nymph (Poecilocapsus lineatus)
This bug was perched on a DSV leaf which has been well chewed by something.
07-JUN-2018
Pyraloidea moth frass tube
This trumpet shaped structure is made by a moth caterpillar in the Pyralid and Crambid moth group, and constructed of frass (insect poop). In this, the larva can hide.
07-JUN-2018
Oblong running spider (Tibellus)
A slender and distinctive spider, very common, though small enough to escape attention much of the time. This may be T. oblongus.
07-JUN-2018
Signal fly (Rivellia sp. )
Not sure which Rivellia sp. this is, but there is one, R. melliginis, that is associated with black locust trees. This and several others, were at the south end of the old woods, close to a stand of black locust, so it is a good guess that they are R. melliginis. However, Bug Guide notes that this species and R. viridulans (which is more common) can only be told apart by dissection.
07-JUN-2018
Snail (Cepaea nemoralis)
These non-native snails are common. The patterns on the shell, and the colour, vary. They are a large and attractive snail.
07-JUN-2018
Stinkbug (Banasa dimidiata)
Found on red osier dogwood, which is where I frequently find this species, one of the most common of stinkbugs.
07-JUN-2018
Dog-strangling vine
DSV, also known as pale swallowwort, is truly an invasive species,unlike some of the other plants labeled as such. This one, once established is very hard to get rid of, let alone even control. Unlike many other non-native plants, it is not used by wildlife.
07-JUN-2018
Canada anemone (Anemone canadensis)
A native wildflower that spreads like crazy. This was a small clump in the butterfly meadow; there are more in the old woods area.
07-JUN-2018
Dame's rocket (Hesperis matronalis)
This colourful member of the Mustard family is another European plant considered invasive, but while it has been around the FWG for decades it never seems to spread all that much. Besides, bees seem to like it so it has some uses I guess!
07-JUN-2018
Blue flag iris (Iris versicolor)
Beautiful native iris which can be abundant in some areas. I saw a damp field full of these near Larose Forest.
07-JUN-2018
The amphibian pond
Both cattails and flowering rush are growing in the pond, the latter not as welcome as it is an invasive, but all the vegetation also helps provide cover for birds and amphibians, and gives some shade.
07-JUN-2018
Common whitetail (Plathemis lydia)
Not many dragonflies around, but there were several of this species, a few dot-tailed whitefaces, a few damselflies.
07-JUN-2018
White admiral butterfly (Limenitis arthemis)
As there were few dragonflies, butterflies were also scarce. Perhaps it was just the day as it was only sunny occasionally. However, I did see two of these butterflies, a few clouded sulphurs and a couple of cabbage whites. Something largish and orange flew past the pond, but i saw it fleetingly and out of the corner of my eye. Could have been a monarch, a few are being reported, or it might have been a viceroy.
07-JUN-2018
Bumble bee on comfrey
Bumble bees nectar on comfrey, as do honey bees and many others.
06-JUNE-2018
Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)
Another non-native species, also a member of the Borage family like the hound's tongue posted earlier. Like that plant, this one is also considered an invasive species. It has certainly spread at the FWG far more than the hound's tongue, but it does attract pollinators (see previous image).
07-JUN-2018
Cobweb spider (Theridula emertoni)
These spiders are minute, but when seen up close not only colourful but interestingly shaped. They can also be seen with a deep red colour.
07-JUN-2018
Hound's tongue (Cynoglossum officinale)
This non-native plant, a member of the Borage family, grows in small numbers at the FWG. It is considered to be an invasive species in many areas, but at the garden it seems to behave itself, with only a few stands here and there. In the past, we've noticed the caterpillars of the striking Haploa moths (a native species) feeding on hound's tongue.
07-JUN-2018
Hound's tongue (Cynoglossum officinale)
Because the flowers droop (see previous photo), one doesn't often see how pretty and brightly coloured they are until looking underneath.
07-JUN-2018
Butterfly meadow lupines
The lupines have naturalized over the years, spreading through the butterfly meadow. Bees in particular like these pretty plants.
07-JUN-2018
Lupine
The lupines at FWG are not native species, but the garden variety. Nonetheless, they attract numerous bees.
07-JUN-2018
A hidden corner of the butterfly meadow
This is at the west end of the meadow, underneath a magnolia tree.