This is a very large underwing moth (Noctuidae Family), measuring between 50-70mm. According to what I read, these moths are fairly common at this time of year and on until the weather gets cold. They are an impressive size! There were two on the wall of the Interpretive Centre, and a bit earlier, one flew off looking like a large butterfly!

This is the large aster in the Backyard garden that was attracting many, many species of insects, as noted by Diane.

Flesh flies, of the Family Sarcophagidae, are very common, and probably most of us have seen them at one time or another and perhaps not paid a whole lot of attention to them. However, close looks reveal them to be very attractive black and white striped insects, often with bright red eyes. Some species in this family give birth to larvae rather than eggs, which is quite unusual.

There are many species of Tachinid flies, and you can see two more in this family, in this September blog (just scroll down).

Another view of this very large (approx. 15 mm) stinkbug. These guys are omnivores, feeding on insects and vegetation. Their cryptic colouring makes them next to impossible to see most of the time.

These are the little guys that serenade us all day and especially all night. There are many species of crickets in the world, and quite a few around here, but mostly they remain heard and not seen.

Galls are made by insects, usually small flies or wasps, sometimes moths, and sometimes other insects. On oaks, however, the trees that seem to have the most diverse collection of galls, almost all are made by tiny, tiny Cynipid wasps.

Barry noticed that the red oak near the pond was attracting lots of insects with its sticky sap. Here an Asian ladybeetle dwarfs the fly and the ant also seeking sap. Barry said the tree "was alive with ladybeetles, wasps, bees and flies, apparently feeding on the sap of buds near the ends of branches."

What a gorgeous glow to this aster that Diane photographed today!

This medium sized Tachinid fly is very, very cool. The common name is appropriate for, if you look closely, you will see "feathering" on the legs!! This is yet another insect that Diane saw on the aster in the Backyard Garden.

Despite the species name, this is a common wasp native to this area.

A gorgeous photo by Diane!! This species has been abundant this year, with some people reporting scores of them at one time, though not at FWG! Next year, who knows, they may be back to being regular but in small numbers.

A superb shot of this small, rotund parasitic fly, whose young are parasitic on stink bugs. Another similar fly seen around the garden is the Gymnoclytia.

The asters are one of the few flowers still in bloom and many, many insects are taking advantage of them. Diane was at the FWG today and said:

"One could stand beside the Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides) with its beautiful white flowers and see a great number of wasps, bees and flies and butterflies. While standing there, I saw Bumble bees, Honey bees, Bald-faced Hornets, Gymnosoma sp., Sphecidae sp, Polistes dominulus, but to me the highlight was the Feather-legged fly - Trichopoda plumipes. It was a first time that I saw a Trichopoda and I find them very special with the feather-legs. Two Summer Azure seem happy to sit on the aster. There were many more insects of different sizes on this lovely aster, but it was hard to focus on them all and of course they don't stop for very long."

This mating pair of ambush bugs may be Phymata americana, but ID of this species can be difficult.

The walls of the Interpretive Centre are a super place to look for moths which are resting there after being attracted to lights during the night. This one was near a window at the front of the building.

Making full use of the turtle raft for a little grooming time!

There is a bounty of wild grapes at the garden this year, which is good, as the wild raspberry crop is just about non-existent. Birds and other wildlife will appreciate this fruit, particularly as the fall wears on.

This is a rather small argiope, small as far as these spiders go that is!

The big pond at the garden is beginning to assume a very autumnal look. Today, there were 30+ mallards and 3 black ducks in the pond.

Craneflies are delicate looking insects, with many species occurring around Ottawa.

A gorgeous Pyralidae moth, found by Diane in the FWG.

Signifying the passing of time! As a kid, I was always told that you could tell time by blowing on the dandelion seed head. The number of puffs it took to blow away all the seeds showed the time of day. It rarely worked!