Some Cool Finds!!

American Giant Millipede: Although "Milli" means a thousand, they don't really have that many legs. Depending upon the species, they can have anywhere between 24 and 750 legs. (2 pairs of legs per body section.)   https://animals.howstuffworks.com/insects/big-insects.htm.  We found this critter which was 4 inches long, crawling down a tree branch while hiking on Friday. I had no idea a millipede could grow to that size in Ontario and that they climbed trees! We never found any that large in all my years of teaching Outdoor Education. 

Brown-hooded Owlet Larva (Moth): The Field Guide appropriately states, "Each individual appears as if it were hand-painted and then glazed." The host plants are asters and goldenrod. Found in Canatara Park! Caterpillars of Eastern North America, David L. Wagner

We have an Ant/Aphid farm on a Snakeroot Plant in our garden. Ants and aphids share a well-documented symbiotic relationship, which means they both benefit mutually from their working relationship. Aphids produce a sugary food for the ants. In exchange, ants care for and protect the aphids from predators and parasites. 

Symbiotic Ants and Aphids Have a Strong Relationship (thoughtco.com)

Black Squirrel doing a Prairie Dog impersonation!