Saturday, July 20, 2024

Laurel Creek Conservation Area, Waterloo, ON

12 July, 2024 

     It had been a while since we had visited Laurel Creek C.A. so when the local library made passes available for a five-day loan, we took advantage of the offer to make a return visit.


     The area has campsites, picnic areas and a beach, so it is often quite crowded, but it's possible to find quiet spots too.
     

     A species of Metallic Sweat Bee (genus  Lasioglossum) was among the first insects we saw.


     It seemed willing to share the richness of Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota) with ubiquitous Common Soldier Beetles (Rhagonycha fulva).


     How ubiquitous you might ask? Judge for yourself.


     Those of you with sharp eyes will note that a Swift Feather-legged Fly (Trichopoda pennipes) has also joined the picnic. This is an extraordinary species.


     A huge range of insects is present; one only has to look. How lovely is this Obscure Plant Bug (Plagiognathus obscurus)?


     It looks like it could be used as the basis of a heraldic shield or coat of arms.
     A Slender Lizard Beetle (Acropteroxys gracilis) is impressive.


     Many insects have not been assigned common names. Such is the case with Condostylus palibulatus.


     There was a time when beetle brooches were very popular - it would have been a skilled craftsman to reproduce this beauty.
     Modellistena is a unique genus of Coleoptera displaying "odd" characteristics.


     I could mention that the larvae have characteristic tergal processes and paired urogomphi - but you don't want to know that, so we'll skip it!
     I think this is a Speckled Renia Moth (Renia adspergillus) but if someone would like to confirm that would be great.


     Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) is a rich source of nectar, and a native plant well known to a range of pollinators.


     Here is a Brown-belted Bumblebee (Bombus griseocollis) proving my point.


     A Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris) is a delight.


     Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is both familiar and beautiful, and dots the landscape with pleasing regularity.


     This tiny Midland Painted Turtle (Chrysemis picta marginata) was probably not more than a few days old (five of them could have fit on my hand) and was basking in the sun.


     There were scores of baby Northern Leopard Frogs (Lithobates pipiens) too, hopping everywhere, entering the water and returning to land just as quickly.


     Some even sought the company of the turtle.


     If we were quiet and refrained from sudden movement they were all around us.


     A Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina) sailed in on the breeze and perched conveniently.


     A Common Green Darner (Ajax junius) had somehow become trapped in the water and was struggling to escape, but appeared to be weakening and unable to extricate itself.


     A Double-banded Grass-Veneer (Crambus agitatellus) can be hard to spot, even when you have seen it fly in.


    It is only about 14mm long and is as skinny as an anorexic fashion model.
    Bluets (genus Enallagma) are easy to identify as to family, even to genus, but knowing the species is a whole other story.
    They are very delicate and beautiful.



     Miriam Darlington describes them evocatively as "fire-blue tubes on glassy wings."
     Willow Pinecone Gall Midge (Rabdophaga strobiloides) can be seen all around and it is quite beautiful.


     A Monarch (Danaus plexippus) is aptly named; it is indeed regal.


     A family of Eastern Kingbirds (Tyrannus tyrannus) with newly independent juveniles was occupied catching juicy, nutritious insects.


     Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicarial) is striking, and few would deny its appeal, but it is no friend to native ecosystems.


     We left to return home for lunch, vowing to return soon.


     It had been a very pleasant visit.
David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

I'm a life long birder. My interests are birds, nature, reading, books, outdoors, travel, food and wine.

57 comments:

  1. Hari Om
    Once again you bring us into the world of the miniature... Beautiful. YAM xx

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  2. Thanks for browsing,
    such fantastic pictures!
    It amazes me that it has so many insects!!
    This is very good!
    All these creatures are very BEAUTIFUL!
    Have a great weekend David!

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    1. They are indeed very beautiful, Katerina - and under-appreciated.

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  3. Hi David.

    A beautiful walk and beautiful photos.

    Very beautiful insects, actually they are often beautiful animals.
    Beautiful flowers.
    Beautiful turtles, frogs and butterflies.

    Greetings from Patricia.

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  4. the insect world is truly amazing, and without the digital cameras we would not be able to see the stunning details of them. they are works of art. I had forgotten the beetle brooches.
    You must have really good sight to spot all of these tiny creatures. I wish I had taken photos of the two centipede that showed up inside our house this week. Yesterday I carefully lifted it and sat it out in the yard and bob said why didn't you kill it. I said you know I don't kill anything unless its a roach or large spider in the house. He said what good is it? I asked my phone and found an abundance of info that I never knew about them and the first one said do not kill centepedes, and told all the things they take care of, and that they feed off all the things we don't want in our house. the next one will remain inside. thanks for the views of insects we might never see.. if I were 80 30 years ago I would be reading a book a day. before computers I went to the library once a week. I still read every day of my life. Our library just started giving out loan passes to the paid parks. wish they had done that a few years ago

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    1. This urge to kill everything is quite sad, as is the question “What good is it?” These creatures have every right to exist and for no reason other than they do exist. And not for the pleasure of humans. It’s that attitude that has landed us in the mess we are in. Thanks for your kindness and empathy, Sandra.

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  5. ...Loosestrife is a showy noxious weed.

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  6. That turtle looks pretty cute! Didn't know those wild flowers are called Queen Anne's Lace...thanks, David!

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    1. Their alternative common name is Wild Carrot, but that’s a little more prosaic!

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  7. What a beautiful walk! Gorgeous captures of the insects and the birds.
    I loved the turtles, frogs, dragonflies and the Monarch.
    Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.

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  8. Hello. Some insects do look beautiful.
    Have a wonderful weekend.

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  9. Birders in our area — like you — are taking interest in insects, perhaps because the birds are much less varied outside of the migration seasons, spring and fall. I enjoy your photos, but somehow can’t get excited about the insects themselves, or love them the way I love the birds.
    best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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    1. Birds are my first love, Mae, but I think that if I were twenty-five I could really get into insects!

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  10. Wow, what an amazing trip! The photos are incredible, especially the close-ups of the insects.

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  11. You made good use of that library pass, David, and shared great captures and IDs of sightings that many others take for granted or just ignore. The frogs, turtles and bluets were my favorites in this group. Skippers were always a favorite sighting when we had flowering plants and a home yard

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  12. Thanks for taking us along on your walk.
    The insets are amazing and beautifully photographed.

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  13. Queen Anne's lace is very beautiful. It's nice to see so many insects, David. I love to see the Monarch butterfly. It's so pretty. I do not have wild bergamot plants, but I have many bergamot plants in my garden. The insects are so fond of this plants. I have Lythrum salicaria growing neat my pond. It don't spread around in my garden, and I love the purple color.
    Hugs and kisses, Marit

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  14. Wonderful photos David. Good to see so many insects too. The turtle is so cute and love how the frogs are peeping out the water! Glad the turtle had a friend too. :-D

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  15. The close-ups of the insects are fabulous.

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  16. another lovely walk. were you able to give aid to the dragonfly? and I love the dinty damselflies. I like the loosestrife too and would plant it here but I think it's too hot here for it since I only see it up north.

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  17. I admit to not being a bug person, thinking of most of them as pests but I know the birds sure enjoy them. We have a family of Merlins in the neighbourhood and they are kept busy in the morning and evening feasting on the mosquitos.
    On the other, I love the wee turtles and the frogs. Great photos of all of the critters.

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  18. Wonderful photos, as always you saw a lot. Good that you got free passes for your trip! Hugs, Valerie xxxxxxxx

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  19. You are an expert not only in photographing, but also in tracking down to find all those beautiful specimens.
    But it's normal having spent so much time photographing the complicated birds.
    Greetings and have a good weekend

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  20. De camino has hecho muy buenas fotografías, con interesantes insectos.
    Que tengas un feliz domingo.

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  21. I am sure I would never have seen that amazing collection of insects. I must pay better attention!

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  22. I just finished reading a chapter on the effects of climate change on insects and it terrified me. The power they hold is incredible on the survival of our planet and not just bees but all insects.
    Your pics are lovely David and you have a keen eye for the tiny barely noticeable things.
    XO
    WWW

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  23. Wow David your insects are amazing and a pleasure to see on my virtual walk with you. I fell in love though with the Brown-belted Bumblebee it is gorgeous. Bet those frogs are noisy!! Best wishes to you both, bisous mon ami Diane

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  24. Those photos are superb. Thank you so much for focusing on the 'little' things in all their beauty.

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  25. Querido David por fin tengo un poco de tiempo para el blog y es una alegría visitarte y encontrar tan hermosas fotos y maravillosos seres, ya sabes que a mi me encantan los insectos, es muy relajante buscar entre las plantas y flores. Un fuerte abrazo para ti y para Miriam.

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  26. We have a small goldfish pond in our backyard and it seems to have become a nursery for Northern Leopard Frogs this summer. There are hundreds, if not thousands, in the yard. One has to tread carefully.

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  27. Hi David, What a delightful series of photos. I stopped at the Monarch butterfly and reflected for a while on your wonderful capture. I simply can’t look at that image, and the other amazing insects, and believe that there is no plan behind evolution. Nature above all. Thank you for sharing! John

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  28. Marvelous photos from your latest walk, thank you David! The insect world is truly fascinating. All things in nature are. Thankfully I was brought up to treat every living creature with great respect, and no harm was done to any of them, especially those who visited our home. An old cereal box and a gull’s feather often dropped in the garden were used to deposit large garden spiders outside. This is a fond memory of my father who took on the task, as he always explained that they were more frightened of me than I was of them. I am very grateful to my parents for such teachings.

    Thank you for recently identifying my insect as the Red Milkweed Beetle (Tetraopes tetrophthalmus). I very much appreciated you stopping by my blog.

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    1. If only more people had this kind of sensitivity, Denise.

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  29. Great set of pictures - as usual! The diversity of insects (and arthropods in general) is astounding!
    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  30. Beautiful photos of your walk David.
    I really like the Monarch butterfly.
    The insects, butterflies, frogs and the Midland turtle are also very beautiful.
    Greetings Irma

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  31. These soldier beetles (Ragonycha fulva) are eating up the lily buds in my garden, David. So I lost red and orange lilies :((. I often see bluets (genus Enallagma) in my pond. Lots of insects and good photos.

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  32. Great post. Love the various colourful insects. If you stop and look, the tiniest creatures have such beautiful design. The turtle and frogs photos are priceless. Love them! Great job, Miriam!

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  33. What a great idea for the library to offer free passes. Wonderful sightings there,, David, but I'm especially wild about the photo of the Queen Anne's Lace with those red beetles on them. The contrast is great!

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  34. I seem to have missed out on photographing many insects this year and don't know if it's the result of insecticides or my failing eyesight! Nice to see so many unfamiliar ones through your photos.

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    1. Much as I have no wish for your eyesight to fail, John, I hope, nevertheless, that insecticides are not the cause!

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  35. Too many bugs for me, they kinda give me the willies. But, loved the flowers, butterflies and just the general view. I have a question, is it common that you would need a pass from a library to visit a park? I've not come across that around here and wonder is that a California thing?
    Sandy's Space

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    1. It’s a specific programme by our local library board to encourage involvement with the outdoors. Normally you pay at the park entrance or buy an annual pass, but passes are available from the library for five days on a first come first served basis. I am not sure how many passes they have.

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  36. Hola, dear friend David! como estas, amigo!

    this has truly been a delicate and beautiful visit, those blue dragonflies, how beautiful they are! from the sweaty metallic bee to the majestic monarch, each creature is presented with palpable affection by you.
    Taking the time to observe and enjoy nature's small miracles is great; very beautiful and peaceful is Laurel Creek.

    Happy week ahead, lots of hugs and kisses!

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  37. Forgot to say that halloween pennant, it´s truly phenomenal!

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  38. Great views! I don’t see insects photographed close-up that often so it is interesting to see these.

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  39. Thanks David - so delighted to see all the insects beautifully photographed and labelled for us - as only you and Miriam can ... please go back soon! Cheers Hilary

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  40. Otro precioso paseo. Todo me gusta en la naturaleza, pero fotografiar insectos me encanta, descubrir insectos que no conocía me gusta mucho. Gracias por tus fotos. Abrazos querido amigo.

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  41. The white flowers and turtles made the day beautiful.

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  42. Insects are really amazing and interesting. Thanks for the great photos.

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  43. I really enjoyed all the insects in this post. The diversity is always so interesting. And it doesn't take a whole lot of effort to find them. I had a close encounter while swimming today with a snapping turtle. It was cool, but a bit worrisome too. Even though I was told that he wouldn't bother me. Happy new week. hugs-Erika

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    1. The snapping turtle is unlikely to do you any harm. Microbes in the water are probably more of a threat.

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  44. Wow.... you have practically got all of them (and their names.) Never knew that a Brown-belted Bumblebee looks like this.

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  45. More riches of nature that I can only marvel at.

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  46. Indeed it looks like a very pleasant outing, David. I'm always amazed at how many insects you see and the photos of them are exquisite. I like soldier beetles - ours look a bit different, but they are my friends in the garden because they devour all the "bad" bugs which really is the balance I want to achieve. Hugs - Carola

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  47. Hi David,
    I can imagine you liked the trip. Maybe no spectacular species of birds and mammals, but the richness of insects made it worth while. Various dragonflies and butterflies for instance are always attractive to watch.
    Greetings, Kees

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