SpruceHaven, St. Agatha, ON

 The more I study nature, the more I become impressed with ever-increasing force, that the contrivances and beautiful adaptations slowly acquired through each part occasionally varying in a slight degree but in many ways, with the preservation of these variations which were beneficial to the organism under complex and ever-varying conditions of life, transcend in an incomparable manner the contrivances and adaptations which the most fertile imagination of man could invent.

Charles Darwin

10 July, 2025

     It's always a pleasure to visit SpruceHaven; on this occasion the pleasure was enhanced by having Pam make her first visit there.

     As soon as we stepped out of the car we heard the loud, rollicking song of a House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) and quickly spotted a male close to the first nest box along the trail.

     It didn't take us long to learn that he was constructing a nest there, hoping to attract a female and gain her approval.

     Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) was both plentiful and beautiful, but we saw nary a Monarch (Danaus plexippus) taking advantage of it.

     Creeping Bellflower (Campanula rapunculoides) is a beautiful plant that always commands our admiration.

     Bluets (genus Enallagma) were active.

     Several sparrows worked the grassland but mostly they were up and down so quickly they thwarted efforts to identify them. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) was the exception, often trilling its distinctive song as though to announce its name.

     Flies (order Diptera) are fascinating and varied, but I need more study and practice to identify many of them.

     A Small Milkweed Bug (Lygaeus kalmii) is distinctive and unmistakable.

     Condylostylus flavipes has no common name.

     Water droplets convey an image of rare beauty.

     Seven-spotted Lady Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata) is quite common. Lady beetles in general are looked on with favour even by those who profess not to like insects.

     A lady beetle in your garden should be met with thanks since they are ferocious devourers of harmful aphids.

     Draeculacephala antica is a type of leafhopper exhibiting colour variation from tan to green, occasionally blue.

     Could you ever fail to be impressed with Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)?

     I know I couldn't.

     Tumbling flower beetles are small wedge-shaped  beetles with a distinctive "pintail." They can make small, twisting jumps when disturbed enabling them to escape predators. The following is a Blistered Tumbling Flower Beetle (Mordellina pustulata).

     We were very happy to see a couple of Eastern Bluebirds (Sialis sialia) including one feeding young in a nest box.

     We did not approach closely since the adult was passing food, barely thrusting its head into the nest box, indicating that the young are advanced and possibly close to fledging. We did not wish to incur the possibility of panicking the nestlings into leaving the next prematurely.

     A Sharp-legged Robber Fly (Dioctria hyalipennis) would make a tasty, nutritious snack for a growing bluebird.

    Among other insects, however, a robber fly is a fearsome predator. They dart after any other insect that flies by, being very catholic in their choice. Prey is seized with their front legs and paralyzed with a bite.

     This beetle is found in the subfamily Chrysomelinae.

    It is difficult to identify to species, in part because

of interspecific variability.

    Regular readers of my blog will now be familiar with the superbly attractive Margined Calligrapher (Toxomerus marginata).

     Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) has attached itself to Orchard Grass (Dactylis glomerata).

     In the fall Virginia Creeper produces fruit favoured by small birds, but toxic to humans.

     Ashgrey Blister Beetle (Epicauta fabricii) is capable of causing lesions on human skin, so better to avoid contact.

     In sufficient numbers it can also cause significant damage to the foliage of potatoes and other crops. 

     A male Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) looked somewhat askance at us.

     Here is a plant bug in the family Miridae.

     This impressive green caterpillar is probably that of a Hooded Owlet Moth (genus Cucullia) - but I am not a hundred percent sure!

     Goldenrod Leaf Beetle (Trirhabda canadensis) is ubiquitous.

     Common Red Soldier Beetles (Rhagonycha fulva) are even more ubiquitous.

     And active!

     You will notice in the picture above other beetles with large pincers, but I have been unable to identify them.

     Calleida punctata is a species of ground beetle.

     Lepyronia coleoptrata is a species of spittlebug native to Europe, introduced into northeast North America.

     Orange Blister Beetle (Zonitis vittigera) inhabits grassland vegetation.

     An American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) is a familiar species of longstanding association, in stark contrast to some of these insects!

     Elegant Grass Veneer (Microcrambus elegans) is a quite common moth.

    This elegant little chap is an Oblique Streaktail (Allograpta obliqua) attracted to a beautiful flower in the family Asteraceae.

     As you will have gathered, identification of some insects to species level is often very difficult, sometimes requiring examination under a microscope.

Here is an individual found in the Fruit, Signal, and Picture-winged Flies (superfamily Tephritoidea)

     A Yellow Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia) with its distinct web is always an exciting find.

     As is Miriam's way she invited a Lined Orbweaver (Mangora gibberosa) to visit for a minute or two!

     And here is a Spotted Orbweaver (genus Neoscona).

     Japanese Beetles (Popillia japonica) have successfully and extensively invaded North America.

     They are undeniably attractive, but fecund - and very destructive.

     Just like the rest of us, however, they're here to stay.