Nature Moncton Nature News: Oct 1 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, Oct. 1, 2017 (Sunday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Transcript by: David Christie maryspt@mac.com

Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

** Shannon Inman was fortunate to get a photo of the Albert County SWAINSON’S HAWK [Buse de Swainson] on Thursday morning, as it perched on a rail of a small corral beside Marsh Road, which runs between Route 114 and Midway Road. The Marsh Road location is 3 km SW of Route 915, from which this hawk generally has been seen. A nice close-up view for Shannon.

Dave Christie comments that there were two reports of Swainson’s Hawk on Saturday in NB. One at the Greenlaw Mountain hawk watch in Charlotte County and another on Miscou Island by Robert Doiron.

** Dave got a photo of the CRESTED CARACARA [Caracara huppé] at 4 p.m. on Saturday, when he drove down a farm road onto the marshes just west of civic number 5133 on Route 114 at Shepody. Approximately half a kilometre from the highway the bird appeared, flying low across the road and landing in a pasture on the east side. It walked around for a few minutes and then took off for the woods, escorted by ten crows. It briefly landed on a tree and disappeared.

** Last week Ray Gauvin enjoyed a day at the Magnetic Hill Zoo. The zoo now has 8 Flamingos which quickly caught the eye of Ray’s camera.

** Brian Stone got his first photo of October 2017, a photo of the waxing gibbous MOON [lune] showing it 72% illuminated.

Brian also shares a photo of a RED-MOUTHED BOLETE [bolet] mushroom that he took recently in Mapleton Park. The mushroom will turn blue when cut or bruised. Any red-pored boletes are not suggested edibles, as some are toxic.

** TACHINID FLIES are known to parasitize caterpillars and their chrysalis by laying their eggs in the body of the caterpillar, which is later consumed by the larval flies. Janet Kempster had some MONARCH [Monarque] butterfly chrysalids that she put aside to hatch out, when she noted some turning black and a larval grub emerged. We retained some in a container and they soon turned into the grain-sized brown cocoon. Approximately 12 days later, an adult tachinid fly emerged. Janet gave us the affected chrysalids. I grew out the larva and larval cocoon, and staff photographer Brian Stone got nice photos to show each stage.

No one likes to see these beautiful caterpillars destroyed, especially of Monarch butterflies, but it is best accepted as part of Mother Nature’s methodology. The tachinid fly is not identified to species, as we have more than one species that exhibit similar behaviour. A great site that explains more is attached:

http://www.butterfly-fun-facts.com/butterfly-enemies/parasitoids/tachinid-flies/

** Aldo Dorio submits more photos from Hay Island, including a DUNLIN [Bécasseau variable]; note the remnant of breeding-plumage feathers present on its back, more RUDDY TURNSTONES [Tournepierre à collier], a fall YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER [Paruline à croupion jaune], and an EASTERN PHOEBE [Moucherolle phébi] from two angles.

** An interesting point has come up with the NEST BOX PROJECT. A successful empty nest was left for a parasite check at the last Nature Moncton meeting. This nest was hosting approximately 200 very lively FLEAS [puce] and two larger beetles. The larger beetles were identified from BugGuide as DERMESTID BEETLES [dermestidé] which do no harm to the birds. The fleas on the other hand would be problematic as they suck blood. However, the nest appeared successful. I put about 50 fleas in a container for a week and they quickly came back to life when removed from the freezer, so I suspect that they will remain alive all winter, to infest the box nest year if the nest is not cleaned out. I had a chance to check six successfully occupied boxes of my own on Saturday. I removed and examined the nests; there were only a few fleas found in two of the six nests. I routinely place a heaping teaspoonful of diatomaceous earth and a shot of 0.05% pyrethrum spray (one of the sprays used for cat and dog fleas) in each box in April. I feel this either prevents a flea infestation or lowers numbers dramatically to manageable levels, and would suggest it to others.

** On Grand Manan recently, we found an empty body shell we were not familiar with. Laurie Murison advises that it is of an AMPHIPOD [amphipode], often called side-swimmers or scuds. She says they are very common on Grand Manan beaches and can be seen flipping rocks or seaweed when the tide is out, as they are great scavengers.

** The temperature went below zero around my moth lights on Friday night, but two moths still fly on such cold nights. The BRUCE SPANWORM and the AUTUMNAL MOTH, are both medium-sized moths that are common at this time of year at lights. The wing of of the Bruce Spanworm is more brownish and the terminal band at the apex of the wing is marked with single black dots, while the Autumnal Moth is more grey with a row of paired dark dots at the terminal band.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton