Really Cool Insects!

We have some extremely interesting insects living in our area. Some of my favourites from the past few days are highlighted below:

Calligrapha Beetle species each have a unique pattern of black markings which include dashes, lines, dots and curves. They come in a variety of colours and often glimmer like jewels. (www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.) The Dogwood Leaf Beetle is in this family and I saw 2 on a recent walk to Canatara!

Green Lacewings are natural enemies of many types of soft bodied insects. Adults have delicate "lacey" wings and golden eyes. (https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef148) They are less than an inch in length. A friend noticed this beautiful creature as it fluttered among the plants at Blackwell Trails Park.

The ultimate camouflage! Can't get a much better match than that!!

(centre of photo, green caterpillar, underside of leaf)

The Black Giant Ichneumonid Wasp has an ovipositor 3 1/2 times the length of its body. (The 10 c.m. long, needle-like ovipositor is visible in the above photo). Although it looks menacing, they don't sting humans. The long ovipositor is used to lay eggs in the bodies of grubs, larva or pupae. Ichneumons help to control insect populations by eliminating many insects before they reach the reproductive stage. (Missouri Department of Conservation)

In the past week I have seen 2 species not normally found in SW Ontario. Above, the beautiful gold and black of the Four-spotted Skimmer is usually found around Algonquin Park.

A friend texted me about another insect not normally living in our area. Since it was a "Life Butterfly" for us, we stopped on our way home from North Lambton. The Silvery Blue is a gorgeous, small butterfly and we found a minimum of 3 individuals! Perhaps their range is increasing to the south!