19-Sep-2019
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
There are still monarch butterflies and even caterpillars in some parts of the region, but time is passing and the migration has already begun as these butterflies head south.
19-Sep-2019
Red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
All around the garden we can see food caches created by red squirrels, stocking up for the long winter. Here, the red is eating a pine cone.
19-Sep-2019
Bumble bee on jewelweed
It took awhile for this bee to grab onto the flower securely. It then hoisted itself along the flower to the opening and dove in.
19-Sep-2019
Painted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui)
It has been quite the summer for these butterflies which began to appear in large numbers from mid-summer onward.
19-Sep-2019
Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
The distinctive seedpods of swamp milkweed. Like the more familiar common milkweed, these plants also attract numerous insects with their flowers, and monarch butterflies will lay their eggs on these plants.
19-Sep-2019
Bumble bees on goldenrod
The various goldenrod species attract numerous bees and butterflies and other insects.
19-Sep-2019
Bumble bees on goldenrod
Goldenrods and asters are the flowers of late summer and the bees (and other insects) love them.
19-Sep-2019
New england asters (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
These beautiful native asters are, along with goldenrods, the colour of autumn. Bees and butterflies love them.
19-Sep-2019
Grape vines
These grape vines are impressive and give the illusion one is in a tropical jungle somewhere. On a hot humid day at the garden, the feeling is further enhanced. Birds love to hide in the tangle as it provides protection from the eyes of predators.
19-Sep-2019
Beggarticks (Bidens)
The seeds of these plants stick tight and are hard to dislodge, one of the ways they are able to spread.
19-Sep-2019
Hickory tussock moth caterpillar (Halysidota tessellaris), #8203
I don't see these caterpillars very often at the garden. They are more common in places such as Larose Forest. They turn into a very attractive, boldly patterned moth.
19-Sep-2019
Banded tussock moth caterpillar (Halysidota tessellaris), #82013
This year the banded tussock caterpillars seem to be particularly abundant, though I have not found many at the FWG (only two on the 19 Sept), but there are very likely a lot more than just a few at the garden. One day in Larose Forest I counted over 200. They are variable in colour ranging from this pale yellow, to a rich deep yellow, to white, to gray.
19-Sep-2019
Hover fly larva (Syrphidae)
Another type of larva is this odd looking thing, the larva of a hover fly. They are predatory on insects, particularly aphids.
19-Sep-2019
Asian lady beetle larva (Harmonia axyridis)
Another fierce predator of aphids is this critter, the larva of a lady beetle.
19-Sep-2019
Black walnut (Juglans nigra)
Adding to the natural bounty of wild food for wildlife are the many walnut trees which are laden with nuts at the moment. Most, if not all, of these trees were planted by squirrels over the years.
19-Sep-2019
White snakeroot (Ageratina altissima)
This native plant does well in shady areas, grows tall, adds a dash of brightness to the undergrowth and attracts insects to nectar on it.
19-Sep-2019
Mountain ash (Sorbus)
At one time there were, I think, four mountain ash trees at the north end of the old woodlot and at this time of year saw much activity as birds feasted on the berries. Now only this one tree remains, but for how much longer? It is gnarly and broken, but still producing some of this beautifully coloured fruit.
19-Sep-2019
Twice-stabbed stink bug (Cosmopepla)
Although September is racing by, there are still numerous insects out and about such as this small but attractive stink bug.
19-Sep-2019
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
There were still several monarch butterflies flying around the garden, nectaring on the numerous new england asters.
02-Sep-2019
Bee fly (Sparnopolius confusus)
Nectaring on flat-top aster.
02-Sep-2019
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
Another monarch photo, also in the Butterfly Meadow. This one was on grass-leaved goldenrod.
02-Sep-2019
Red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
It seemed as if this squirrel was trying to pretend to be part of the trunk, hoping I wouldn't see him.
02-Sep-2019
Buffalo treehopper (Ceresa)
There are various Ceresa species, often found clinging to twigs or stems of plants.
02-Sep-2019
American lady butterfly (Vanessa virginiensis)
Similar in many respects to the painted lady butterfly, this one has not been nearly so numerous this year. A couple of this species were nectaring in the Butterfly Meadow.
02-Sep-2019
Butterfly meadow
A panoramic view of part of the meadow, showing the abundant goldenrod so attractive to butterflies.
02-Sep-2019
Locust borer longhorn beetle (Megacyllene robiniae)
This beetle is closely associated with black locust trees and in late summer emerges to feed mainly on goldenrod nectar.
02-Sep-2019
Painted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui)
Another view of the butterfly, this time with its wings closed showing the 4 spots which are an identifying feature separating this from the american lady butterfly.
02-Sep-2019
Painted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui)
One of many painted lady butterflies nectaring on goldenrod in the Butterfly Meadow.
02-Sep-2019
White admiral (Limenitis arthemis)
Found near the Resource Centre, this butterfly was intent on getting minerals from the soil.
02-Sep-2019
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
One of five monarchs seen in the butterfly meadow. There were also a few more elsewhere in the garden.
02-Sep-2019
Butterfly Meadow
The meadow really lived up to its name yesterday, as numerous painted lady, american lady, monarch, clouded sulphur, eastern-tailed blue, and cabbage white butterflies fed constantly on the goldenrod. The goldenrods, Canada, grass-leaved and rough-stemmed, were all being visited by numerous butterflies and other insects, but in the Butterfly Meadow especially, there were numerous fresh painted lady butterflies flitting from flower to flower.
02-Sep-2019
Asian lady beetle larva (Harmonia axyridis)
This larva is starting to transform into a pupa, as in the next photo. Both the larvae and the adult beetles consume vast numbers of aphids.
02-Sep-2019
Asian lady beetle pupa (Harmonia axyridis)
This is the pupa of the Asian lady beetle. At the moment both pupae and larvae are quite common on a variety of vegetation.
02-Sep-2019
Calligraphic beetle (Calligrapha californica)
A member of the Chrysomelid family, this small shiny beetle is one of many in the genus Calligrapha. Others have intricate and attractive "calligraphic" patterns, unlike the straightforward lines on this one. It was found on beggar ticks (Bidens).
02-Sep-2019
Ambush bug (Phymata)
The ambush bug, is hidden in plain sight on the goldenrod. By sitting entirely still they are able to ambush their prey, in this case, a honey bee.
02-Sep-2019
Pennsylvania leatherwing beetle (Chauliognathus pensylvanicus)
The goldenrods are the place to be these days if you are an insect because they are busy with bees, flies, bugs, butterflies and beetles, in this case here, a mating pair of Pennsylvania leatherwings, a member of the Soldier Beetle family (Cantharidae).
02-Sep-2019
Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans)
This one was in the small pond in the Butterfly Meadow, which has become quite an attractive place for various frog species in the last few years.
02-Sep-2019
Honey bee (Apis mellifera)
Flat-topped asters (Doellingeria umbellata) were also busy with insects including numerous honey bees.
02-Sep-2019
Banded tussock moth caterpillar (Halysidota tessellaris)
This species is, at the moment, very common, not just at the FWG but throughout the region. You can often see them as they lower themselves from treetops on silken strands, which this one was doing.
