Life Abounds in a Suburban Backyard in Waterloo, ON

     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!

     Actually, I have seen less of them this year than has been true in the past. I have, however, seen a sleek, healthy fox patrolling the neighbourhood from time to time and that probably accounts for the reduced number of rabbits.

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.