Nature Moncton Nature News: July 13 2015

*** Penny Clark reports that the young eaglets at the Camp Wildwood BALD EAGLE [Pygargue à tête blanche] nest at McKees Mills are standing on the edge of the nest. No inaugural flights have been seen yet and they are not hearing them vocalize.

** On Sunday, Roman Steeves came across a beetle at his home that he had never encountered before, a very colourful one. It turns out to be the ROUND-HEADED LONGHORN BEETLE, a.k.a Yellow-marked Beetle (Clytus ruricola). The U-shaped band is apparently quite distinctive. It’s a wasp mimic and is a wood borer, with its larvae feeding on rotting wood, especially maple. Roman comments that it made a loud hissing sound while he held it briefly for a photo.

** Anna Tucker shares a photo of a CABBAGE BUTTERFLY [Piéride du chou] that is so common that we tend to overlook it. They are basically white, with some showing the yellow blush on the hindwing that can cause second looks sometimes.

** Anne Marsch had a visit from a first-spring male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK [Cardinal à poitrine rose] to her Lower Coverdale feeder yard for the first time this year. Black speckling was still visible on the breast and no white remaining on the head.

** Brian Stone photographed an egg mass on the underside of an alder leaf. BugGuide has identified it as the egg mass of the ASSASSIN BUG [Réduvidé prédateur].

** A few orchids noted on Saturday's botany field trip are added today, including two pinks, CALOPOGON, a.k.a. GRASS PINK [Calopogon tubéreux] and ROSE POGONIA [Pogonie langue-de-serpent], both in full bloom, and the NORTHERN WHITE-FRINGED ORCHIS [Platanthère à gorge frangée] that was just coming into bloom nicely. This orchid yesterday was referred to as WHITE BOG ORCHIS which can be confused with another species which does not have a fringed lip.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton