Backyard Night Critters!

We made an attempt at attracting moths with lights and a sheet in our backyard this week. Being in the city, we didn't get the diversity of species as we've had at the farm, however, we were pleased with the finds! Moths were not the only critters attracted to the light!

Bilobed Looper Moth

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Isabella Tiger Moth. This is the adult of the Wooly Bear caterpillar!

Northern Yellow Sac Spider

Red-streaked Mompha Moth

Saddled Leafhopper

Topiary Grass-veneer

Banded Tussock Moth

Eastern Firefly

 Peregrine Falcon Family Training:

I enjoyed watching an adult and 2 juvenile Peregrine Falcons hunting and "playing" north of the Bluewater Bridges Thursday morning. A nesting box installed on the Michigan side of the  westbound span of the Bluewater Bridges has been used by Peregrine Falcons wishing to breed in the area. It is situated 150 feet above the St. Clair River. One year, 4 birds hatched!

I had a "front row seat" to some interesting behaviour as they seemed to be practicing their hunting skills. On at least 2 occasions, one of the falcons grabbed some leaves and twigs from a Poplar tree, flew out over the St. Clair River and dropped the foliage. Then another bird would try to catch it before it hit the water. They weren't very good at securing the catch, and will need more practice! 

In flight manoeuvres!

3 Peregrine Falcons in one picture!! Two are chasing the one holding the leaves.

Time for a rest!

 Nature Through My Macro Lens!

A young Katydid has been spending time in the front yard. Katydid's go through incomplete metamorphosis so they look like miniature replicas of the adult, but are lacking wings. The exoskeleton is shed as they grow. Wings develop during the final moulting stage.

Elliott's Plume Moths in Canatara

A Giant Robber Fly chilling on our chain link fence, waiting for its next insect meal!

Walden's Potter Wasp

White-footed Woods Mosquito doing morning yoga! It slowly but continually raised and lowered each of the hind legs while sipping on nectar from the Swamp Milkweed!

I originally thought I had encountered a Predator/Prey situation with these 2 spiders. However after posting on iNaturalist, I read the following comment from an expert on the species: These spiders are both the same species - Candy-striped Spider (Enoplognagth ovata) I suspect what is happening is that the male is attempting to mate with the female who has just moulted to maturity. (which is why her legs look translucent as her exoskeleton hasn't had time to harden yet.) We often see adult males "guarding" immature females (basically just hanging out nearby), presumably waiting for this exact moment! - Wow! Nature is amazing!

 Orchids In the Spring!

There are over 50 species of wild orchids in Ontario. Here are few we found earlier this year.

Fringed Polygala

Hooker's Orchid

Pink Lady's Slipper

Ram's-head Lady slipper

Yellow Lady's Slipper

 Non-Moths on Moth Night 2!

A Stag Beetle, flew noisily into our lighted moth area in a very haphazard, zig-zaggy flight pattern. It initially landed on the ground. You can see by the ruler that it was close to 6 cm in length!

I believe it is a Reddish-brown Stag Beetle. The "Stag" portion of the name may be attributed to its resemblance to a deer's antlers.

A Leaf Hopper landed on it's back and hitched a ride for several seconds.

Once the Stag Beetle crawled to the top of the sheet, I walked to the other side to get this angle!

A member of the "True Weevil" family with its very long snout.

This Masked Hunter was not found on moth night but I thought it was interesting. Immature Masked Hunters cover their bodies with debris and look like walking piles of dust and fluff. Without the dust and lint, they are light brown in colour. If handled carelessly, they may bite which can feel like a bee sting followed by numbness and swelling - definitely something to stay clear of!

https://extension.umn.edu/nuisance-insects/masked-hunters#Importance

 Moth Night # 2!

10 days after our first adventure, we tried again. We had some repeat species but also saw a surprising number of new ones!

Human Silhouettes!

UV Lights in the dark! Two battery powered Dewalt 20v work lights were used as well as a couple of USB powered black lights attached to a tripod.

Virginia Creeper Sphinx

Painted Lichen Moth

Spotted Apatelodes Moth

Spiny Oak-slug Moth - love the glowing "eyes"!

Bog Lygropia - such an intricate pattern!

Blinded Sphinx - gorgeous underwing colours

 A Beaver and Other Life Found on the Dragonfly Count:

River edges are good places to look for dragonflies. While scouring the water, we watched a Canadian Beaver swimming. 

The recent heavy rains mean this busy beaver is going to be even busier making repairs to the dam! 

As we walked through the sedges and long grasses, we found many insects including moths and butterflies. Some moths are active during the day, including the Beggar's Moth! 

Great-Spangled Fritillary (butterfly)

Wolf Spider carrying her egg case.

Fly Eggs on a sedge, possibly laid by a Deer Fly or Horse Fly. The case was about 2 cm x 2 cm and is the first time I've seen such a structure.

 Dragonfly Count, 

Sydenham Nature Reserve:

This was my second year participating in the Dragonfly Count at the Sydenham Nature Reserve. A new dragonfly for me was the Spot-winged Glider. Butterfly and Odonate counts aim to produce a list of species and numbers observed. Over the years, trends in populations can be evaluated to help determine the health of local ecosystems.

Spot-winged Glider! Love those huge red eyes!

Side view of the Spot-winged Glider: Dragonflies are occasionally caught to enable a closer look when trying to determine the specific species. 

Once individuals are released, they sometimes take a moment to orient themselves before departing. The Spot-winged Glider is resting on Mike's nose.

Slender Spreadwing

Blue-fronted Dancer

Midland Clubtail:  Notice the club-like end at the tip of the abdomen. They are powerful flyers and avid hunters that can grab other dragonflies out of the air. For their eggs, Midland Clubtails prefer moving water. The Sydenham River meets their needs with sunny, well-oxygenated water, some vegetation and a moderate-to-fast current, with a fine sand, mud or clay bottom.

https://uwm.edu/field-station/midland-clubtail-dragonfly/

Ebony Jewelwing

Last year we were able to cross the river at a low, rocky spot. Unfortunately, high water levels prevented that this year so our overall numbers were down.