Catch-up Time

30 June, 2023

At home, Waterloo, ON

     The backyard, as always, is a nature reserve in miniature, and there are always interesting sightings for the patient observer.

     The caterpillars of Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) are often lurking in the parsley or the rue, and this individual disliked being disturbed.

     When agitated they evert their osmeterium and produce a foul odour to scare off potential predators. 

     One of our most common hoverflies is Margined Calligrapher (Toxomerus marginatus), a beautifully patterned species.

     A Single-dotted Wave (Idaea dimidiata) is quite common too, often clinging to the masonry during the day.

     I am fairly sure the following insect is a small carpenter bee in the genus Ceratina but it is so dusted with pollen it is hard to get much beyond that.

     A Common Pill Woodlouse (Armadillium vulgare) trundles along like a little tank, always seeking dark spaces to get away from the prying eyes of humans.

08 July, 2023

At home, Waterloo, ON

     Miriam's crows still come to visit, although not as frequently as during the winter.

     I am assuming that they are preoccupied with young and natural food sources are readily available in July.

     The Black Swallowtail caterpillar below is an early instar, quite different from the one you see above.

     Miriam was out working in the garden when she noticed this nest of American Robin (Turdus migratorius) in a shrub at the side of the house.

     It was not long before we saw the architect.

11 July, 2023

At home, Waterloo, ON

     Our Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) is quite spectacular and at times hums with activity.

     A Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) evidently found it agreeable.

     Do your best not to irritate a Bald-faced Hornet (Dolichovespula maculata); I have been stung by one - not an experience I would recommend!

     A Seven-spot Lady Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata) is a tad less aggressive.

12 July, 2023

At home, Waterloo, ON

     This Black Swallowtail caterpillar has just moulted from one instar to another (2nd to 3rd?) and it will shortly eat its cast skin.

19 July, 2023

At home, Waterloo, ON

     One of the caterpillars we are raising indoors has anchored itself in preparation for metamorphizing into a crysalis.

     The other one will not be far behind.

20 July, 2023

At home, Waterloo

     One caterpillar has now pupated and the second one is very curious, having already stopped eating and begun wandering.

     At times the caterpillar approached the chrysalis so closely as to be almost touching it, and the chrysalis would thrash around wildly, as though trying to lunge at the caterpillar. We were afraid it might break the filament attaching it to the side of the cage. This was not a behaviour we had witnessed before.

25 July, 2023

At home, Waterloo, ON

     This beautiful little fly in the genus Rivellia was on the car one day when we went out.

     I am still trying to narrow it down to the species.

29 July, 2023

In the Countryside of Waterloo Region

     We were driving through the Region and, of course, had a camera with us.

     We spotted a couple of baby Killdeers (Charadrius vociferus), but curiously did not initially see the adults.

   When we did locate the adult(s) they appeared quite nonchalant about our proximity to their young, and never attempted any form of distraction behaviour.

     In fact, I am fairly sure that we only saw one of the parent birds.

     An Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) was hawking for insects from an overhead wire.

     Not only is this the time of year for wild creatures to have their young, farm animals too have been busy.

     These are just two of the many foals we saw.

     This completes my roundup of odds and ends not used on earlier posts. Hope you enjoyed them.