Nature Moncton Nature News: August 27 2023

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

August 27, 2023

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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

** John Inman sends a duo of photos of a Tachinid Fly that perched on his window.

John comments, “This fly may be beneficial for garden pests, but not for butterflies as they lay their eggs on the caterpillars.”

(Editor’s note: Tachinid flies lay their eggs on young caterpillars, not being too fussy about the species. The eggs hatch, and the fly larvae (maggots) begin to drink the hemolymph (blood) of the caterpillar. Just before it pupates, the maggot eats its way out of the caterpillar and carries on its mission in life.)

**Barbara Smith came across an Opine plant (Hylotelephium telephium) Monday on the Moncton side of the Riverfront Trail between the Press Club and the Gunningsville Bridge. The leaves looked thickened and succulent to Barbara and she does not think she has ever seen one before.

This plant is in the sedum family and is a garden escapee cultivar.

**Aldo Dorio photographed a Red Knot at Hay Island on Saturday. More of its kin will likely soon be joining it at this site.

**Nelson Poirier is going to monopolize today’s edition with photos taken on a visit to Hay Island at Neguac on Saturday.

The shorebirds are a big draw this time of year. It was especially interesting to watch the Ruddy Turnstones doing their thing in the washed-up seaweed masses tossing the strands about, seeking insects. It was very notable how camouflaged their plumage allowed them to be. Many Semipalmated Plovers were present with Semipalmated Sandpipers and Least Sandpipers among them. Greater Yellowlegs were present and loud, but their numbers were not high.

The beautiful Seaside Goldenrod was at its prime and its striking blooms and thick succulent leaves were noted. This plant is a very important source of nectar for late-season insect pollinators and hummingbirds.

Dusty Miller a.k.a. Beach Wormwood was starting to show its seed clusters as well as Scotch Lovage. Scotch lovage is a significant food plant for some butterfly species, but no caterpillars could be found. However, that could be a challenge with hundreds of plants to check!

Our native non-invasive Phragmites grass (Phragmites australis ssp americanus) was present to easily distinguish it from the invasive non-native Phragmites grass (Phragmites australis ssp australis), noting the red areas on the stem and the less crowded seed head.

It was pleasant to note Mountain Ash trees loaded with berries which was not the case last season. Fruit connoisseurs like Bohemian Waxwings and robins will be pleased.

Tasty blackberries were noted to provide a delicious woodland snack.

A large Polyphemus moth caterpillar was temporarily detained for photographs as it crossed a woods path. It was not impressed with being rolled over on its side for photographs and shared his thoughts with a distinctly felt bite! It was the first time Nelson had ever been bitten by a caterpillar, and its wishes were respected with release to be on its way.

A Seven-spotted Lady Beetle was encountered. This is one of our non-native lady beetles that was brought to North America for aphid control and has played a role in displacing some of our native lady beetles.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton