22-SEP-2017
Great golden digger wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus)
Nectaring on mountain mint which is a magnet for insects in late summer-early autumn.
22-SEP-2017
Blackberry looper moth caterpillar (Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria), #7071
This small Geometridae caterpillar turns into a beautiful little green moth seen in early to mid-summer.
22-SEP-2017
Great golden digger wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus)
Found just one lone digger wasp nectaring on mountain mint in the backyard garden. They are impressively large and attractive creatures who stock their nest sites with live, but paralyzed Orthoptera for their young to eat.
22-SEP-2017
Song sparrow
While many birds have already left the region, there are still many hanging on. Song sparrows return early and leave relatively late. This was one of many seen at FWG, along with gray catbirds, robins, white-breasted nuthatches, starlings, chickadees, cardinals and so on.
22-SEP-2017
Painted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui)
Most reports of painted ladies indicate that they are favouring asters to nectar on, not surprising given the preponderance of this species. In other sites I have seen them on dandelions and on red clover too, and here at the FWG, they've also been found on sunflowers in the butterfly mneadow.
22-SEP-2017
Butterfly meadow
A panoramic view of the butterfly meadow with the path bisecting it. The Monarch Waystation kiosk is on the right side, the bench on the left.
22-SEP-2017
Garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)
A very large garter snake that was hanging out by the pond, no doubt hoping to find supper amongst the frogs there.
22-SEP-2017
Garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)
Another shot of the garter snake showing how big it is.
22-SEP-2017
Cynipid wasp galls (Phylloteras poculum)
There were numerous galls on the underside of bur oak leaves. The wasp that makes these galls is tiny, so tiny that it probably goes unnoticed, certainly far, far smaller than the galls. I have always found these on bur oaks, not so far, on red oaks, though I have seen photos of them on white oaks, so they be on more oak species than I know. I find them quite interesting in their shape, like small drinking vessels.
22-SEP-2017
Cynipid wasp galls (Phylloteras poculum)
Another shot of these galls on bur oak, this one looking at them top down.
22-SEP-2017
Garden cross orbweaver (Araneus diadematus)
High up in a walnut tree, snug in her shelter, this orbweaving spider waits for a tug on her web some distance below. It is amazing, truly, how fast these spiders move when they think something has become entangled in the web. Speed of light (almost!), and the speed with which they wrap their prey is also astonishing.
22-SEP-2017
Red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
Although it feels like July, it seems the squirrels aren't fooled and they are extremely busy gathering food for the winter.
22-SEP-2017
Butterfly meadow
Always showy in spring (lupines) and autumn (sunflowers) the meadow is also attracting hundreds of bumble bees, honey bees and the currently ubiquitous painted lady butterflies.
22-SEP-2017
Cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum)
Now the yellow petals have fallen, the seeds are left, ready to be eaten by birds and squirrels. I think the seedheads are especially pretty.
22-SEP-2017
Painted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui)
These butterflies have been passing through the region in huge numbers in recent days. This phenomenon is not confined to the Ottawa region, but is seen throughout the Maritimes, Quebec and points south. It is always such a treat to see this kind of natural phenomenon, where countless numbers of butterflies can be found, albeit for a short time. These butterflies are migratory, as are the red admiral and american lady butterflies, and of course, the well-known migratory monarch!
22-SEP-2017
Eastern white pine cone (Pinus strobus)
Lots of sap on this one, still hanging on the tree. Many have been cut by red squirrels and are on the ground waiting to be gathered and stored in caches for winter food.
22-SEP-2017
New england aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
This beautiful species is abundant at the garden, attracting hundreds of bees as well as the lovely painted lady butterflies and clouded sulphurs.
01-SEP-2017
Sand wasp (Bicyrtes)
Another shot of this large and very attractive wasp, here nectaring on Canada goldenrod.
01-SEP-2017
Bumble bee (Bombus),on Bidens
The sweet sound of buzzing bees filled the garden as scores of bumble bees, and a few honey bees, buzzed around the Bidens, goldenrods, asters, joe-pye-weed, etc. now blooming around the garden.
01-SEP-2017
Gray treefrogs (Hyla versicolor)
These two treefrogs have not completely transformed yet and you can see the long tadpole tail.
01-SEP-2017
Pine tree cricket (Oecanthus pini)
According to NatureServe, this species is considered an S1 species, critically imperilled in Ontario.
01-SEP-2017
Butterfly bush (Buddleia)
Planted in the butterfly meadow, this shrub is appealing to many insects, not only butterflies.
01-SEP-2017
Aphids (Myzocallis walshii)
These aphids are a native species which, as far as I can determine, are restricted to red oaks (Quercus rubra).
01-SEP-2017
Moth eggs
There are scores of tiny moth eggs laid on this blade of grass. When viewed from only a few feet away, the grass looks as if it is simply discoloured. But looking more closely, these eggs are revealed.
01-SEP-2017
Bumble bee (Bombus)
Nectaring on New England Aster, and just about any other flower, the garden is alive with the sound of bees busily feeding.
01-SEP-2017
Spotted Lady beetle (Coleomagilla maculata)
Found from early spring right through to autumn, these small native lady beetles can be abundant at times, especially in spring on dandelions.
01-SEP-2017
Sand wasp (Bicyrtes)
Late summer is when these large attractive wasps appear. This one is nectaring on goldenrod. This genus captures true bugs to stock its nest with.
01-SEP-2017
Treehopper eggs (Enchenopa sp.)
Actually, these are not the eggs but the sticky covering that is placed over the eggs which are inserted into the stem. The white substance dries to a hard covering that protects the eggs.