17-SEP-2013
Dogwood calligrapha (Calligrapha philadelphica)
These beetles are present for most of the summer on dogwood shrubs, usually red-osier dogwood. We have a variety of calligraphic beetles around the region, but have only found a couple of species at FWG thus far. This is one of the very common ones at the garden. They are in the Chrysomelidae family, the leaf-eating beetles, a group that contains some of the most beautiful of all beetles.
17-SEPT-2013
Insect hotel
Sandy created this bee hotel over the last month, and it is now quite ready for bees, bugs, beetles and whichever other creatures would like to use it. Sandy photographed the 'hotel' after adding a few more items to it - a bundle of hollow daylily stems, pieces of cattail, weeping tile tubes, and a rolled up plastic blind. Although we think natural materials are best, the latter two components are a bit of an experiment - just to see what happens. For example, we have previously found praying mantis egg cases inside these black weeping tile tubes. They may also shelter a toad next summer.
17-SEPT-2013
Bee in bindweed flower
You'll often find bees curled up in flowers like this of the bindweed, which afford some protection on cool days. Other times, bees will cling to the undersides of leaves, or on flower stems underneath flowerheads. Sandy photographed this bee at the garden.
18 September 2013
Bracket fungi on elm
Sandy took this photo was taken only a day later than the next image. She notes: "I was astonished to see how much this fungus had grown in such a short time." And indeed, these fungi can grow phenomenally fast, seeming to double in size in a day.
17-SEPT-2013
Bracket fungi on elm
A close-up view of the bracket fungi on the elm tree.
18 September 2013
Bracket fungi on elm
Again, this is the same fungus as in the next photo, but a day later.
17-SEPT-2013
Bracket fungi on elm
These fungi have recently appeared on this big old elm snag, dead these last few years. Sandy photographed these, giving a good overall view of the multiple fungi.
17-SEP-2013
Locust borer beetle (Megacyllene robiniae)
These beautiful big long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae) are closely associated with black locusts. In areas where the locust trees are native, these insects are considered a pest, but here where the locust is considered invasive, one would hope that the borers would help control them. But that doesn't appear to be the case! These insects are common on goldenrod from mid-August through September.
17-SEP-2013
Twenty-spotted ladybeetle (Psyllobora vigintimaculata)
This is a very tiny lady beetle, usually less than 2 mm, sometimes up to 3 mm. It is unusual in being a fungus and mildew feeder. Indeed, though you can't tell here, the leaf it is on had quite a bit of mildew and nearby were other leaves more mildewed, and with more of these little insects. In my own garden, I have found a large number of these lady beetles in all stages, larva, nymph, and adult, on mildewed leaves of sunflowers. At first glance they look like very tiny versions of the fourteen-spotted lady beetle.
17-SEP-2013
Twenty-spotted lady beetle (Psyllobora vigintimaculata)
Another shot of this minute lady beetle.
17-SEP-2013
Eastern phoebe
Whether this is one of the nesting eastern phoebes at the garden, who can say, as birds are definitely moving through at great speed these days. In addition to this species, there was a red-tailed hawk in the ash woods (flew to a tree just south of there), lots of chipping sparrows and goldfinches feeding on the coneflower seeds in the butterfly meadow. Catbirds still vigorously calling, along with chickadees and cardinals.
17-SEP-2013
Assassin bug nymph (Zelus sp.)
Although a bit cryptic against the pale green of the leaf, this bug does at least have a bright red eye to help pinpoint its presence. Note the tiny prey. These insects are considered one of the beneficial ones for the garden as they prey on an array of many of the "pests". This is one of the most common of all the assassin bugs in the area, and can be found anywhere. I found half a dozen or so just by stopping to peer at leaves here and there.