It is hard to believe that June is drawing to a close, so it's time for a review of what we have observed during the month.
At home, Waterloo, ON
02 June, 2023
Many American Robins (Turdus migratorius) are already incubating second clutches, and this youngster is finding its own way in life.
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis), on the other hand, does not normally lay until the end of June, with incubation occurring in July.
09 June, 2023
The Seven-spotted Lady Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata) is a European species that has become widespread in North America.
In many areas it outcompetes native species, and while it is useful in controlling aphids, its efficacy in so doing is somewhat overrated.
Several Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) caterpillars have been seen in our yard feeding on Common Rue (Ruta graveolens); many we have watched from first instar through subsequent moults.
As I create this post on 27 June I am sad to report that most have been lost to parisitoid wasps or birds and only one remains. We hope that it is able to pupate successfully and emerge as a magnificent butterfly.
Most caterpillars do not make it to final emergence as butterflies or moths, and I know that they are a critical source of food for many other organisms. Indeed, neotropical migrant birds would be unable to raise their young without caterpillars, but we are nevertheless saddened to see the loss of the ones we had observed daily, and checked on regularly. It is remarkable how attached you can become to a caterpillar.
17 June, 2023
European Harvestman (Phalangium opilio) is distantly related to spiders and is frequently found around human habitation. Commonly referred to as Daddy Longlegs, it is - in contradiction of popular myth - completely harmless.
Jumping Spiders are fascinating arachnids, and a Zebra Jumping Spider (Salticus scenicus) is exceptionally handsome too.
Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar), a long-standing name, is considered to be a pejorative term in this era of political correctness, and for a while the moth was known as LD Moth in deference to its scientific name, but now the appellation Spongy Moth seems to find acceptance. Its larva is both distinctive and destructive; and should be destroyed whenever possible.
Its introduction into North America is yet another classic illustration of human folly.
The following Ichneumonid wasp is probably in the genus Therion but I have been unable to identify it as to species.
Perhaps this individual was the agent of the demise of our swallowtail caterpillars, all in the service of provisioning its own larvae, of course.
18 June, 2023
You will appreciate just how large and beautiful our swallowtail caterpillars had become.
The larva of an Asian Lady Beetle (Harmonia axyridis) reveals another invasive insect, this species probably having arrived in consignments of fruit, and now thriving here.
Never a day passes without Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura) in our backyard.
They are lovely elegant birds - and native too!
24 June, 2023
An industrious Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) moved from flower to flower gathering nectar.
It is always uplifting to watch pollinators at work, but especially in recent times when they have become very scarce in many areas.
This bug has the intriguing name of Twice-stabbed Stink Bug (Cosmopepla linteriana).
It is a generalist feeder and apparently quite common, although I don't recall having seen it before. I will be sure to check on the derivation of its unusual name.
Finally, let me give you one last view of one of our wonderful caterpillars, on the last day we saw it alive.
It had so much promise. We will miss its company.
We visited several local parks and wetlands in June too, but I'll save the report of those outings for the next post.
Caterpillars are amazingly beautiful. The invasive species of animal or fauna is a challenge here in Calif.
ReplyDeleteThe caterpillars are amazing. Does the coloration work for them or against?
ReplyDeleteIt does not seem to be aposematic, Susan, but the caterpillars are able to camouflage remarkably well. Predators are persistent, however.
Delete...David, you have an eagle eye!
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to believe that June is almost over, David. Winter seems like it lasts forever, but summer is always too short.
ReplyDeleteThe Mourning Doves are very beautiful. I like their color. I like the Swallowtail caterpillars too.
Hugs and kisses, Marit
Les chenilles peuvent avoir des couleurs aussi flamboyantes que les oiseaux! Bonne soirée
ReplyDeleteI love the little red ladybugs. And that last photo of your caterpillar. Beautiful, David.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this glimpse of your yard. I join you in mourning the caterpillars, despite knowing that they undoubtedly fed hungry families.
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteSo sorry of the news of the caterpillars; it seems to me that I have seen very few butterflies here, this summer, despite optimum weather. I do wish your survivors well... YAM xx
This post perfectly illustrates that one needn't travel far to observe a wide variety of wildlife. Swallowtail butterflies are plenteous here this year and so beautiful to see among the flowers.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos and great observations. The caterpillars are truly amazing to see close-up.
ReplyDeleteEncantada de ver esa oruga. Sabes que nos está llegando el humo de los incendios de Canadá, hasta Cáceres, Extremadura, a una distancia de unos 8.000 kilómetros. Un desastre los incendios. Un abrazo.
ReplyDeleteI need to improve my appreciation of caterpillars! I never pay attention to them at all, and you are calling my attention to how neat they are.
ReplyDeletebest, mae at maefoodblogspot.com
I wonder if the seven-spotted lady beetle is the little ladybug-like critter that drove us to distraction when we lived in the country in Illinois. No one knew what the bugs were called. People said they were beetles and farmers had introduced them into their soy bean fields to keep the aphids under control. Every day I had to clean up dozens of them in our house. I think you have finally told me what they are called.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
You notice everything around you. I'm not a fan of spiders but I know they do good work. Sorry about the caterpillars. I can get attached to
ReplyDeleteHello David,
ReplyDeleteYou have taken a wonderful series of photos.
I really like the American Goldfinch.
Fortunately, you can still find caterpillars, it is really very sad here, there are almost no butterflies left and we hardly see any dragonflies anymore.
It is really a pity that nature is deteriorating so much.
Greetings Irma
Good to see all of what you have shown. Life as it is for the insect world isn't always ideal, as something comes a long and they are gone for food...such is life.
ReplyDeleteHi David.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Birds.
And beautiful those Insects and Butterflies.
Beautiful these species.
Greetings from Patricia.
I can understand your disappointment at the loss of those caterpillars, David. We are similarly affected by the loss of our Orange-tip caterpillars - at one time we had six that I was watching, but now (as of this morning) only one remains. We are almost certain that the tits that visit our garden are responsible.
ReplyDeleteThat Twice-stabbed Stink-bug is rather fine! It seems to be from the same group of insects that we call Shield-bugs, but are commonly referred to as Stink-bugs as they emit a foul-smelling liquid when handled. Those two red marks on the scutellum are probably the reason for the 'twice-stabbed' epithet.
I have enjoyed this account of the June happenings in your highly admirable nature-friendly back yard.
My very best wishes to you and Miriam - - - Richard
I inadvertently deleted a comment from Guillermo Saúco (why do they put the "publish" and "delete" option so close together?), so I have copied it from the email, and here it is. Thank you, Guillermo.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing to see there is so much wildlife around us, in our parks and gardens. Reading your post, it amazes me how many European animals you get in North America. The Papilio caterpillar looks exactly like our European Swallowtail Papilio machaon and it also feeds on rue and fennel too, which grows mainly on road verges and waste grounds. Wonderful pictures, once again. Take care x
It's ok :)
DeleteWonderful photos! Now you have me wondering how much I'm missing in my own back yard. I must admit, spiders creep me out but the caterpillars are quite lovely.
ReplyDeleteLove what you observe in your own backyard. That last caterpillar took my breath away,
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
I am loving all the catepillars, and fully understand the attachement. we get attached to all the critters and butterflies in our yard. now that we have a dog that doesn't bother critters, we have more than ever. a baby dove fell out of a nest a few days ago and i watched it for an hour afraid the mama would not come get it, but she did. I do know the food chain is set up and is normal but it upsets me when one of the herons grabs one of our NAMED lizards. LOL.. we name some of the ones we talk to. I like that ugly lady beetle that is beautiful. I found each photo very interesting, and was happy to see the colors of diffrent catepillars. we have had none in about 5 years, from the drought.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful retrospective ! Gorgeous pictures of visitors !
ReplyDeleteHave a great day !
Anna
The end of June has caught me unawares. A great selection of photos for the month. You see some very attractive caterpillars in your corner of the world.
ReplyDeleteAnother fantastic post. I always learn so much here. Thank you, David.
ReplyDeleteYour yard looks very much like mine...Except for the bugs..We probably have the same ones..I just don't pay that much attention to them..
ReplyDeleteOur Stink Bugs are all drab brown..Love the "twice shot"....We are beginning to see Monarchs now.
Wonderful photos
This is such a beautiful post! You are an excellent observer, David.
ReplyDeleteMuy animado está el patio, con tantos visitantes.
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo
Lovely summer photos.
ReplyDeleteThe caterpillar photos are fantastic - was that Miriam's magic hand? I appreciate that you often also write about the insects and it had inspired me to look more for them in my own garden. No caterpillars so far, unfortunately, but I have noticed that this year there are way more butterflies and moths. I'm waiting for the appearance of my personal favorite, the Fiery Skipper.
ReplyDeleteMiriam's magic hands for sure, Carola.
DeleteWonderful pictures, especially the one of one of my favorite birds, the Mourning Dove. It is the first bird that I remember being able to independently identify when I was growing up. It was identifiable to me mostly by its lovely song which some people think of as mournful but I never did. It was, and is, a song that meant "home" to me.
ReplyDeleteGoldfinches have been visiting the garden in my front yard, but so far they are shy and I have not gotten pictures.
ReplyDeleteYour remark that June is ending reminds me that I should think about a vacation. Unfortunately, Charlie does not like riding in the car and I would feel sad leaving him in the kennel for a week.
hello David
ReplyDeleteI never paid much attention to caterpillars or walked past them without paying attention, but in close-up they are very beautiful animals.
Greetings Frank
They are remarkably diverse too, Frank, deserving of your attention.
DeleteI would love to spend a day in your backyard. I had all of that wildlife at my lake house, but here (a sterile housing development that is closer to my son's work) there is nary a caterpillar or a butterfly ... and very little of anything else, though I do have spiders and I do love my Daddy Longlegs (European Harvestman). I used to see the swallowtail caterpillars and many other varieties and I miss all of it. Your pictures are wonderful and capture the vivid beauty of them. The Asian Lady Beetle larva looks like a cross between a spider and a fly ... not as pretty as she soon will be :) Young Robins we have and gold finch occasionally fly through but rarely stay around. Perhaps the presence of my Lady Hawk is why the birds are absent.
ReplyDeleteYou are so lucky to be able to go behind the scenes at the Museum. When I was young, my father would get us behind the scenes at the University Field Museum and I remember it being interesting, but as a child, I don't think I appreciated what a treat it was. And yes, I know there is much more to be seen though it is hard to imagine. I took my Granddaughter (that is her under the extinct bird) and she was a little overwhelmed by the size of the dinosaurs. They don't have anything like that in Thailand, but they have some giant beetles :)
My trip to Knoxville was wonderful. I may post some of my pictures at some point, but I saw very little in the way of birds ... not that they weren't there, but the trees were so plush that, though I heard their songs, I couldn't see them. The Smokey Mountains are amazing and refreshing ... there are so many trees everywhere that the air even feels clean. I too am sad about the loss of wildlife in the wild fires. We have had the same fires in our California forests ... even the great Red Wood Forests. The Red Woods seem to have survived it, but for how long? There are a lot of fires burning these days, especially political fires ... somehow, though, they don't seem to burn down what needs to be burned down. I fear for what my children will have to live in some day. Enough ... there are many like you who are working hard to educate and to save and/or restore our ecosystems so that all life can survive, so I prefer to focus on that. Thank you for all you do, David ... it all matters :)
Andrea @ From the Sol
Estimado amigo David, maravilloso reportaje como cierre de un mes que ha pasado demasiado rápido. Es una enorme pena los incendios que se están dando en tu tierra, al parecer están llegando pequeños restos de partículas hasta mi país, debe ser horroroso vivir esa situación.
ReplyDeleteUn gran abrazo de vuestro amigo y compadre Juan y espero que disfrutéis de unas buenas vacaciones estivales.
A sad story about the caterpillars but yes they are food for other creatures, nature has its way. Interesting that you have so many bugs that are the same or similar in our garden here. I have recently added a couple of blogs around the garden and we have similar photos.
ReplyDeleteHope all is well. Bisous Diane
Estimado amigo David, al parecer las publicaciones de mi blog no se actualizan en el tuyo, ya que aparece un post antiguo, simplemente te lo quería comentar por si puedes arreglarlo.
ReplyDeleteUn fuerte abrazo amigo y profesor y muchas gracias.
June has certainly passed by very quickly.
ReplyDeleteYour photographs were all lovely to see.
All the best Jan
Hello David, great to see you have so much to watch over in your garden. The birds, insects, caterpillars and butterflies.
ReplyDeleteMost wonderful.
Regards,
Roos
Too bad about those swallowtail caterpillars. They do get quite handsome, don't they? And I didn't know goldfinches nested so late. I haven't seen mine since the feeders came down except for an occasional fly by. Hope it's been a nice week, other than the caterpillars. . hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteInteresting bird with spotted belly. You have found some good looking caterpillars and insects.
ReplyDeleteUrocze gąsienice. Ja zawsze poszukuję na koprze włoskim gąsienic pazia królowej. Ale i inne znajdą miejsce w moim ogrodzie. Oby tylko za dużo nie zjadły. Piękne wiosenne obserwacje.
ReplyDeleteHi David - there are a few bugs around, but not nearly as many as usual. The thing I have noticed this year is how loud the birdsong is ... maybe less traffic - I'm not sure. But walking into town the birds sing out ... now I'm free-er I hope to do longer walks - wonderful photos with notations ... I did enjoy seeing the Daddy Longlegs - cheers for now - Hilary
ReplyDeleteThe dearth of bugs seems to be a problem worldwide, Hilary.
DeleteWonderful pictures of wonderful creatures. I love the sound the Mourning Dove makes.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteInteresting diversity has s in the patio of your house, many beautiful insects and spiders and several beautiful birds. Here we have an almost identical Zenaida and equally common everywhere. Greetings
I thought your American robin was a thrush and as it is Turdus, I suppose it is. Beautiful photographs and such informative captions. It's a shame about your caterpillar - I have seen people erecting tents over them, but I don't know how successful that is. Harlequin ladybirds are very attractive but a menace to native species.
ReplyDeleteCoccinella septempunctata - The girls hold it in the palm of their hand in Europe, and by the direction in which it flies, they know that there will be the boy who will marry them.
ReplyDeleteTime is running fast. June is coming to an end, July is ahead of us. I admire your wonderful photos. You always present interesting birds and insects on your blog.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice weekend and greetings from Poland.
I enjoyed this glimpse of your yard.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about the caterpillars.
Have a great weekend, David.
My favorites are the Goldfinch and the caterpillars. Great insect photos.
ReplyDeleteHave a happy weekend.
Your yard is a busy place.
ReplyDeleteSo many familiar insects you show today David. Ladybug often happens in my garden. As a child, we sang: Ladybug fly to the sky, your children are there ... I really don’t like the stink bug. When I pick black currants, it gets into my hand and the smell is disgusting. I don't know why it likes berries. The photo of Spinus tristis is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteoh, daddy longlegs, yes harmless to people but they have colonized the garage and are working on the house. I have no idea how they get in. couldn't be because I leave the door open with no screens in the spring and fall when the weather is nice. I keep intending to remedy the screen thing.
ReplyDeleteNature is fantastic, the caterpillar in the last photo is incredible.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos!
wow, lots of gorgeous critters today. Loved to see the Goldfinch.
ReplyDelete