I can happily report that, where last week there were six empty nest boxes, there are now only three. The Cow Pasture, Sailboat Pond, and Picnic Dome nest boxes remain untouched, nothing but an empty berry basket inside each. The Bungee Jump, Amphimeadow, and Butterfly House nests are all active, each for the second time this season! The nest box next to the Bungee Jump has the beginnings of a bluebird nest inside its cedar walls. This nest box hasRead more
Posts filed in: Summer
Harvesters Have Arrived!
The caterpillar in the above photo was about 5 – 6 mm in length when the photo was taken. Those are aphids, in various stages of developement, on either side of the caterpillar. Ever since spotting the woolly aphids on an alder on the north side of the Wetlands I’ve been watching for harvester caterpillars to appear. They’re here. Last year I spied the first harvester caterpillars, the only North American carnivorous caterpillars, on the alder during the first weekRead more
In The Mean Time
While we wait for fall to arrive (we’ve already passed a turning point in the seasons) I thought I’d show you some images of what’s happening now. The partridge pea above has been groomed and readied for cloudless sulphur butterflies to come along and lay their eggs on the plant. So far I’ve seen not a one of the large yellow butterflies. I will keep looking. Speaking of butterflies, I spotted a least skipper flying about the smartweed in ExploreRead more
What’s the Difference?
Top Photo: Sawfly larva or caterpillar? I received an email, with a blurry photo attached, stating that the emailer had taken the photo in Explore the Wild. The subjects in the photo looked to be caterpillars, but may have been sawflies, I couldn’t tell. I had to go look for myself. The email said that the caterpillars, or whatever they were, were on a birch tree on the north side of the Wetlands. There are three birches on the north side ofRead more
Finally!
Top Photo: Silver-spotted skipper. After a slow start to the butterfly season I finally saw a few leps other than the silver-spotted skippers (SSSK) that have been buzzing around the Museum this summer. But, even the SSSKs have been fewer in number this year. The paucity in leps may have been caused by the late cold of this past winter and spring. Whatever the reason, there have been far fewer butterflies this year. I keep parsley on my back porchRead more
Summertime Sightings
Top Photo: Gray hairstreak. With the summer just about gone (for me, fall starts around mid August), I thought I’d give you a pictorial update on some of what’s being seen on our 84 acre campus here at the Museum. Last month I mentioned that there were again woolly aphids enjoying the sap of one of our alders in the Wetlands in Explore the Wild. The colonies are growing considerably and many bees and wasps are visiting the sight, includingRead more
Odes Around Us
Top Photo: Carolina saddlebags. Dragonflies and damselflies belong to an order of insect called Odonata. Dragonflies are in the suborder Anisoptera, the damsels in the suborder Zygoptera. Dragonflies usually hold their wings out to their sides when at rest. They are typically larger and bulkier than damselfies. Dragons have large compound eyes which, in many species, cover most of the head. Some species eyes only just meet at the top of the head, but still cover a large portion ofRead more
Bluebird Update 8/5/14
The occupants of the last remaining active nest in our six nest boxes here at the Museum have fledged. Four new bluebirds have been added to the local avifauna. I do not expect further activity in any of the boxes. All that remains is the counting. Curiously, the total number of birds fledged (33) was precisely the same as last year. However, the make up of that total was different. Last year there were 20 bluebirds and 13 Carolina chickadeesRead more