06-JUL-2009
Plant bugs (Neurocolpus sp.) on wild parsnip
Even in the rain these insects were not at all deterred. On this one small section of the Wild parsnip flower you can see many plant bugs, an ant, and the nymph of another bug sp.
06-JUL-2009
Eastern forktail, male
One of the tiny little damselflies that are at the pond all the time!
06-JUL-2009
Butterfly meadow
The Butterfly meadow is looking truly beautiful now! If you haven't visited it, you should. Compared to last year when it was just being cleared and planted the change is dramatic. The plants are flourishing and are attracting all sorts of neat insects. For those of you new to the FWG, new that is, in the last few years, I'd like to mention that Gillian Boyd started the original Butterfly Meadow and did a phenomenal job on it. Between her and Diane and all the volunteers who have faithfully come to work on it on Wed. evenings these last few years, we have one of the most insect and bird rich areas in the garden.
02-JUL-2009
Ladybeetle larva, possibly Coleomegilla maculata
03-JUL-2009
Milbert's Tortoiseshell butterfly (Nymphalis milberti)
A short while ago, Diane found a lot of caterpillars of this species on the nettle she'd planted in the Butterfly Meadow. And on July 3rd she found an adult of the species.
03-JUL-2009
Raspberry pyrausta (Pyrausta signatalis), #5034
Diane was at FWG a few days ago and saw this gorgeous little raspberry coloured moth. It is fairly common yet not often seen.
02-JUL-2009
Young Rabbit resting
Diane caught this little fellow having a rest!
03-JUL-2009
Grove snail (Cepaea)
Diane saw this snail on the underside of a leaf. It is intriguingly coloured.
02-JUL-2009
Rose chafer beetle (Macrodactylus subspinosus) on DSV
In addition to this little beetle, there were green lacewings, various moths, a few long dash skippers, a nice fresh summer azure butterfly, a large northern pearly eye, and about 30 European skippers. As well, there were all sorts of plant bugs, wool carder bees, megachilids, bumblebees, honey bees, sweat bees, and so on. All this despite the showers that came on suddenly. Since they didn't last too long, once the sun came back out, so did the insects.
02-JUL-2009
Young eastern cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus)
This sweet little guy was unafraid, which is not good! He allowed quite a close approach and then only moved a few feet. I hope he survives.
02-JUL-2009
Tree swallows
I was passing by this nest box when a youngster stuck his head out. I stopped a little ways off and watched for a few seconds, Sure enough, in came Mum with food which she transferred to her hungry youngster. I took a couple of photos and quickly moved off.
01-JUL-2009
Fireweed with sweat bee (Halictid)
This lovely tall native plant is growing well in the new section of the Butterfly meadow. If fireweed likes a spot, it will take off. It gets its name from the fact that it was one of the first plants to spring up after a fire had passed through a natural area. I remember seeing great swathes of this plant in old burn sites in the middle of forests in BC. Insects are greatly attracted to fireweed and all sorts of bees, syrphids, and others were fluttering around.
