Nature Moncton Nature News: Oct 2 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, for Oct. 2, 2017 (Monday)

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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)

** Mac Wilmot had nice surprise visitors on Saturday when a pair of PILEATED WOODPECKERS [Grand Pic] arrived to share his bountiful Lower Coverdale grape crop. It’s that time of year when we can see Pileated Woodpeckers enjoying berry crops occasionally, but in your own yard is a value-added bonus.

** Richard Blacquiere was greeted by a striking FOG BOW on the morning of October 1, at HighLow Farm just outside of Hampton, looking down over the fields to Darlings Lake.It was too wide for a single photo, so Richard used the panorama function on his cell phone to capture the whole image. (nice trick to keep on mind!)

** Brian Coyle came across a large OYSTER MUSHROOM growing on an old feral apple tree in nearby woods. It was nine and a half inches across. Usually this mushroom appears in groups but this one was a loner. It gave a white spore print and was maggot-free, so quite acceptable for the frying pan for drying for later enjoyment.

** Brian Stone visited the trails behind Crandall University on the cool day of Sunday. An AUTUMN MEADOWHAWK [Sympétrum tardif] dragonfly, an expected late flyer, was about. A GARTER SNAKE [Couleuvre rayée], as is often the case, Brian could not resist having a closer chat with, along with birds like GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET [Roitelet à couronne dorée], DOWNY WOODPECKER [Pic mineur] and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH [Sittelle à poitrine rousse].

Brian took photos of the sun on Sunday to show three SUN SPOTS [Tache solaire]. Brian uses his own techniques to safely photograph the sun without looking directly at it.

** As an addendum to yesterday’s comments on the TACHINID FLY that parasitized a Monarch butterfly chrysalis, Bug Guide has moved it to a subfamily called Exoristinae.

** Aldo Dorio photographed a PAINTED LADY [Belle dame] butterfly still moving on the very cool day October 1. It was looking very worn.

** Jamie Burris points out that some mushrooms featured on September 30 that were suspected to be SHAGGY PARASOL are actually the MALODOROUS PARASOL, which is not considered edible. As Jamie comments, the red-brown cap and small size are a key feature and it grows in grass. Shaggy Parasol is much larger and light brown or white. Jamie feels these two species are not even close in comparison when seen in the field. The photos are re-attached today with the attached link:

http://www.mushroomexpert.com/lepiota_cristata.html to learn more. The Sept. 30 BlogSpot is corrected.

** I have several Mason Bee houses erected and the majority of the 5/16 inch openings and 5-inch deep holes were taken by Mason Bees [Abeille maçonne] and Potter Wasps. However, in one house I noticed three holes in which empty pupal cases (exuvia), were protruding. Mason Bees would not be expected to emerge until next spring, so BugGuide was consulted. It reported that this was a METALLIC WOOD-BORING BEETLE that used the holes with the adult stage emergeing leaving the pupal cases. This beetle appears to have used only the three holes in only one of the houses. The larvae are known as flat-headed borers and the beetles are in the family Buprestidae.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton