Perhaps many readers of my blog might be surprised at the diversity of life that may be found in a suburban backyard. Here are just a few of the organisms we have observed, and taken pictures of.
Believe me when I tell you there is more. Much more!
April
An Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) is an appealing creature, almost begging to be cuddled, but it is a bane to gardeners everywhere. Just ask Miriam!
May
It seems that year by year Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilocus colubris) becomes rarer.
This male was the first visitor of the year but we have had very few sightings since.
Last year we tried our hand at raising Polyphemus Moths (Antheraea polyphemus), never an easy task, and only two survived the holometabolous process to adulthood. Here is the first one to greet the world.
We had an old birch tree removed and the stump exuded a sticky liquid for a couple of weeks, attracting a variety of insects, including striking Bald-faced Hornets (Dolichovespula maculata).
If you encounter this wasp be cautious and give it lots of respect. An angry individual can inflict a very painful sting.
In the picture below you see a Picnic Beetle (Glischrochilus fasciatus) in the lower part of the picture and a Dried-fruit Beetle (Carpophilus hemipterus) in the upper segment.
Picnic Beetle is known for its love of ripe or decaying plant matter so its presence at the oozing birch stump is not surprising.
Dried-fruit Beetle (Carpophilus hemipterus) is also a sap feeding beetle so it, too, was no doubt well rewarded. How the curious name "Dried-fruit Beetle" came about, I don't know.
Walk around with eyes open and you will find Greenbottle Flies (genus Lucilia).
Rove Beetles (genus Aleochara) were present too.
Hoverflies in the genus Brachyopa are known collectively as Sapeaters, so it seemed entirely appropriate that they should join the party.
Common Shiny Woodlouse (Omiscus asellus) scurried frantically, looking for a dark place to hide.
Blue Blowfly (Calliphora vicina) is not a species I see often; probably due to my lack of attention rather than as an indication of rarity.
Nemopoda nitidula is a small species of Scavenger Fly (sometimes called Ensign Flies) that resembles an ant.
The picture below will convey an impression of the concentration of insects drawn to the sticky exudation of the birch stump.
June
Nomad Bees (genus Nomada) were often seen, but they are very difficult to identify, notoriously so in fact. In a few species, only one sex has been described.
A Zebra Jumping Spider (Salticus scenicus) is aptly named. It is quite common and a friendly little arachnid.
There is more, but I think this post is quite long enough. I'll save the rest for another time.
Beautiful and captivating series, David!
ReplyDeleteHari Om
ReplyDeleteThank you David - you'll make of yourself an entomologist yet! YAM xx
...it's a buggy world out there!
ReplyDeleteIf it weren’t we wouldn’t be here. That might be a good thing!
DeleteI just cannot get enough of hummingbirds!! The only insect that I like is ladybugs...
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing what we can find in our own backyards. We are loaded with rabbits, deer, squirrels, all kinds of birds, and every now and then a hummingbird! Lots of insects and bees as well. I was stung this summer by a bee this summer for disturbing an underground nest by dropping a planter on it unknowingly ! The sting hurt by was minor. I was lucky it was only one bee that got me. I ran!!!!
ReplyDeleteOuch! Being stung is no fun!
DeleteIt is amazing how alive our back yards are. Watching the crows feeding on the lawn speaks volumes. I love how you highlight the oft forgotten critters, David.
ReplyDeleteOur dog, Gus, loves to bark at bunnies but they don't scare easily when he is confined inside a fence. We only had one hummingbird this spring but he didn't stay long. Lots of colorful insects and bees. Enjoyed your post.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful series of photos, David.
ReplyDeleteI don't like wasps, my favorite photo this time is the hummingbird.
Best regards Irma
Plenty to see, right outside the door. When we are driving somewhere I look at the plants along the way. My husband looks at houses, cars, people. Funny what we choose to focus on.
ReplyDeleteIf only I had hummingbirds in my garden, hehe. Since I was a kid, I always find it odd there are hummers living in North America, I just associate them with the central and southern part of the continent. The eastern cottontail looks endearing.
ReplyDeleteCertainly Central and South America have most species.
DeleteNice David, that Polyphemus Moths are so nice (and new for me).
ReplyDeleteThey are spectacular.
DeleteThere's so much to see if only we have the eyes and attentiveness for it.
ReplyDeleteLife abounds indeed! A wonderful series, thank you David!
ReplyDeleteThat's a beautiful moth. Do all those little bugs get stuck in the sticky ooze? I came across a young praying mantis in my yard yesterday.
ReplyDeleteThey are very light and the liquid was quite viscous. I never saw any of them get stuck.
DeleteI understand that Miriam is tired of the rabbits in the garden, David. I am very glad that I don’t have rabbits here. I have enough damage from the deer in the winter. The hummingbirds are so beautiful, and I hope there will be more of them in your garden in the future.
ReplyDeleteHugs and kisses, Marit
Totally agree, treat the wasps with respect! Great backyard adventures. Our gardens over here are so much smaller than yours over there but still plenty of delights in my garden. Love the Zebra Spider, seen plenty in mine and posted as well. :-D
ReplyDeleteLots and lots of insects out and about now. Thank you for the pictures and commentary. Found 2 Monarch larvae recently, a far cry from the dozens we had a few years ago. I would be interested in hearing more about your moth raising experience.
ReplyDeleteSend me an email address. Too long to go into here.
DeleteInsects are wonderful and interesting. That moth is fantastic.
ReplyDeleteInsects are wonderful and interesting. That moth is fantastic.
ReplyDeleteSo much to see right in your own yard--very cool! The moth is quite something.
ReplyDeleteYour yard is crowded with all kinds of creatures. Great show, David.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing what can be seen and found in our own gardens/backyards.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
I didn't see many Ruby Throated Humming Birds at my feeder last year, but this year they are there every day, probably the same mum and dad hummer as I never see more than one at a lime. Lovely little creatures.
ReplyDeleteIt is probably a random occurrence that a male and a female visit your yard. Beyond the simple act of mating the male has no connection to the female and takes no part in raising the young.
DeleteRaising moths! Even if it didn't work out, I give you A for ambition.
ReplyDeleteThey are all a living work of art; all perfect in their own right.
ReplyDeleteGreetings, dear David, from cold Argentina. 🌷💛
I didn't know you can raise Polyphemus Moths at home!...I have only raised butterflies....that Hummingbird is beautiful!!...Abrazotes, Marcela
ReplyDeleteInteresting post. I rarely photograph the tiniest creatures that are in my yard.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing what nature brings to our gardens or backyards. Lovely photos.
ReplyDeleteAmazing insect photos, David! The Bald-faced Hornet is perhaps the most handsome but the Picnic Beetle has the best name.
ReplyDeleteHappy August to you and yours!
Nature here still looks green but there's clearly something autumnal, adventurous in the air.
Hi David,
ReplyDeleteTaking a careful look at insects certainly is worth doing that. Their anatomy is many times very complicated and ingenious. So every now ad then I observe them and take pictures of them. Because there is so much to see in nature I make choises, as is many times necessary in life. Dragonflies, butterflies, crickets , to mention a few, certainly get my attention. But there is so much left. So, in such cases I just look at pictures and see the beauty of those creatures.
Greetings, Kees
Lots of insects. I like the bunny, we have only birds, in the past frogs and a hedgehog
ReplyDeleteI found several bald faced hornets dead on top of my rain barrel. I was a little worried because I read about them being fierce, but luckily I haven't seen any others. You have a regular entomological park in your yard David. Very cool! Hope you're having a good week.
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy insects and watching them. That was not a thing for me until I discovered photographing them. I'm not very good at ID'ing them, but you found some amazing insects.
ReplyDeleteThe bald faced hornets have been working on grabbing flies off the side of our house. I give them space and just stand still to watch. They are pretty fascinating as long as they are not disturbed.
Hummingbirds indeed a wonder in nature. We love to see them here.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing.
Nada pasa desapercibido a la lente de tu cámara. Bonitas fotografías.
ReplyDeleteSaludos.
I would see a lot of what were called "bluebottle flies" in Ireland growing up in Ireland. Carrion lovers my father called them, spreading disease. I'don't' recall seeing them in Canada. Great shots of the everyday. David.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
It's so cool to see all the life you've documented.
ReplyDeleteHello David :)
ReplyDeleteSo sorry I'm late commenting. Today is cooler and I have regained some of my energy. It was interesting to see that so many insects were attracted to the Beech Tree sap, and didn't get stuck in the sticky exudation. The moth is exquisite, and the Ruby throated Hummingbird is one of my favourites and so is the Bald faced Hornet..A wonderful series of backyard creatures,
Hugs and kisses
Sonjia.
It’s pretty hot here, too. I can’t wait for the first frost!
DeleteQuiet place, if there is a rabbit there.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting blog of insects, mostly different to what we have here. If only we could walk together in our two different worlds, how interesting it would be. We are heading for another heatwave, and even the insects do not like these high temperatures. It is hard to find a good daily photo which I do try to do. Gross bisous mon ami. Diane
ReplyDeleteTo be able to walk with you, even once, would be a dream come true, Diane.
DeletePues me ha encantado, espero la siguiente. Muchos besos.
ReplyDeleteThe Polyphemus Moth is mesmerizing, David, and so very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI am very lucky to live in a neighborhood with a lot of wildlife - gray fox, raccoon, skunk and possum are regular visitors, and so are the deer (in the front yard). No hopping little creatures though, I guess the coyotes take care of that. A couple years ago we even had a mountain lion here, I could hear her from my bedroom window (she did wake me up and I'm so glad she did).
Have a lovely weekend, hugs - Carola
There are many things in your garden. I don't know how big it is, but it looks interesting. Only birds come to my house; there are few insects. Where I live now has a tiny yard. Greetings.
ReplyDeleteMy garden is very modest, Hernán; a "regular" size for a standard North American subdivision. What really makes a difference is that we have naturalized it and eschew the use of chemicals. The fact that we are observant helps, too! Un abrazo.
DeleteThat bunny is such a cutie -- he could come to my garden anytime! You've a lovely garden, David. You and Miriam do well!
ReplyDelete