Nature Moncton Nature News: July 20 2023

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

July 20, 2023

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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

**The rain held off nicely to let the Nature Moncton Wednesday evening walk take place on the Ogden trail near Sackville led by Louise Nichols. It led through a heavy canopy forested area that gave habitat for some interesting flora, photos of which will appear in an upcoming edition. A few participant photos are added today with a view of the decommissioned Sackville water reservoir.

**Rheal Vienneau sends a photo of a Black Swallowtail Butterfly chrysalis that has turned dark and an adult about to emerge.

This is one of the two chrysalids in a photo on yesterday’s edition before they turned dark with impending emergence.

**Aldo Dorio sends a photo of a Virginia Ctenucha moth. This medium-sized moth is a day flyer easily confused with a butterfly.

Aldo is also noticing an adult Bald Eagle monitoring Hay Island. He is not aware of any nearby nest.

**Nelson Poirier is pleased to have 3 different species of milkweed blooming in his Moncton yard that include Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) , Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), and Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa).

One significant problem. No Monarch Butterflies yet!

**This edition ends with a series of moth photos Gordon Rattray took at Nelson Poirier’s camp moth light.

Labelling is hopefully correct, but accuracy stands to be corrected.

Appreciation to Joanne Savage for helping with some of the identifications.

The Evening Primrose Moth was taken at another location on a woods trail.

The Evening Primrose is an interesting moth with a unique relationship with the Evening Primrose plant. The moths nectar only in the bloom of Evening Primrose and act as a pollinator for the plant. They lay their eggs on the plant, and the larval caterpillars feed on the Evening Primrose, not causing serious harm.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton