Nature Moncton Nature News: July 25 2020

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, 25 July 2020 (Saturday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Catherine Clements

Info Line #: 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS) **Yvette Richard got a nice photo of a SWAMP SPARROW [Bruant des marais] with its head feathers up in a bright rusty crest, obviously annoyed with something. Yvette also got a photo of several BALD EAGLES [Pygargue à tête blanche] perched on the westbound ramp of the Trans-Canada Highway at Lakeburn near some chicken-raising barns.

**There are two very common grasshoppers out there right now in hot dry areas, especially roadsides. One makes a crackling sound when it flies; the other is silent. Brian Stone got unopen-winged photos of both the CAROLINA GRASSHOPPER [Oedipode à ailes noires] and the CRACKLING FOREST GRASSHOPPER [Oedipode verruqueux]. They do look very similar except when they fly, as the open underwing pattern is different. It was a surprise when doing a Google search to find one reference to the Nature Moncton Information Line of September 5th, 2015, that showed open-winged photos of each, that are re-attached today. I’d totally forgotten about them, but Mr. Google hadn’t!

**Attached is a photo of a SAY’S CICADA [Cigale ridée]. The empty chamber to the rear allows them to make a loud stridulation. These large fly-like insects come out of the ground from the pupa stage to exit an exuvia much like a dragonfly or a damselfly would, but do have a specific appearance. Maureen Girvan received a photo from a friend that captures an empty cicada exuvia beautifully.

**Brian Stone got some interesting activity on his rounds on Friday, to include a COMMON WOOD NYMPH BUTTERFLY [Satyre des prés], some fading NORTHERN CRESCENT BUTTERFLIES [Croissant nordique], a Crab Spider [Araignée-crabe] appearing to have cornered some small beetles, and a Say’s Cicada among pine needles, where they like to be best.

**For those following Lucy the MONARCH BUTTERFLY [Monarque] saga, I fed her nectar Friday evening using Rhéal Vienneau’s technique, and she actually let her proboscis be put in, and took in the nectar.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton