wildlife

[Gail]

Having recently picked a tick off my ankle and thinking about the comparative sizes tick/human to mite/butterfly it makes sense that they must have some effect. I wondered if they are irritating to the butterfly. It is widely reported that butterflies don't feel pain, on the basis of no good evidence, but I found a study reporting that fruit flies can experience chronic pain after an injury (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/07/190712120244.htm) so assume the butterflies are experiencing something...

While googling I came across this;

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210818130604.htm
I thought I might do a study on what motivates researchers to choose their study topic - do you think the lead researcher had been comfort eating through lockdown?

[cohan]

!

[Tristan_He]

The other day I came across this golden-ringed dragonfly in the garden. It was quite cold so he couldn't fly off, and I could get some good shots.

[Tristan_He]

I also came across this cute little 10-spot ladybird, Adalia decempunctata.

[ian mcdonald]

Well done Tristan, I think I,ve only seen three Gold Ringed ever.

[Tristan_He]

Well done Tristan, I think I,ve only seen three Gold Ringed ever.

They're quite common here Ian and we get one or two foraging in the garden most years. They seem to like fast flowing streams. If they are around they are quite easy to approach (even in warm weather) as they are not terribly skittish. I think they are a stunning insect.

[Yann]

The other day I came across this golden-ringed dragonfly in the garden. It was quite cold so he couldn't fly off, and I could get some good shots.

Great shots, they're fascinating.

[Gabriela]

Beautiful dragon fly Tristan.

The monarchs are in a feeding frenzy at this time; on Liatris ligulistylis.

[Gail]

Gorgeous Gabriela. I like the Liatris ligulistylis too, not seen that before but nice pom-pom flowers.

[Gabriela]

Thanks Gail. L. ligulistylis has larger "pom-pom flowers" (inflorescences) than others and in great quantity on longer stems, it is no surprise they prefer it over other Liatris.  I also have a little species, L. microcephala nearby; they feed on it as well but for short time, so the bumblebees have it at their discretion.



Many butterflies would feed on any Liatris species if given a choice from other plants species.

[ashley]

How can I bury peanuts with all these d***ed cyclamen in the way? 

[Carolyn]

Super photo, Ashley.

[cohan]

Tristan-- cool Dragonfly- they are fascinating insects for sure, and great friends here: we eagerly await their appearance each year to help get mosquitoes under control!

Gabriela- fun to see the monarchs- they don't make it into my area.

Ashley- do they dig up your plants to do their burying? The most they do here is sit on a rock or piece of wood in garden beds occasionally to eat spruce cones- or at times when they drop thousands of cones from the tree tops, they may pile in garden edges..

[cohan]

This is a large, old Dasiphora fruticosa /Shrubby Cinquefoil cultivar/hybrid behind Mom's old house; flowers mid summer until  serious frost.. I'll have to get some wider views of the shrub, it's in an awkward place to shoot, through a fence. Although not quite full sun, I think it is still much taller and less compact than newer varieties-4-5 ft tall, couple metres wide.

There was a tiny native bee loving it plus a honeybee if you ever wondered how tiny some of those bees are, look at the contrast in size between the two!  A cool fly was also hanging out on the plant.

[cohan]

This is the same type (?) or similar tiny bee on some late flowers on a Malva- most of the plants look like the second photo!