Nature Moncton Nature News: July 2 2016

**As July begins it’s always hard to accept the first returning migrant Shorebirds [Oiseaux de rivage] will soon be arriving, if a few haven’t already.

**Louise Richard got a photo of what appears to be a GREEN LACEWING FLY [Chrysope verte]. This is a Fly valued by gardeners as its larvae are avid consumers of some garden pests, especially Aphids [Puceron]. Louise also got a photo of a Spittlebug [Cercope] that had ventured out of its spittle nest. The spittle nests seem everywhere at the moment, with the larvae usually well hidden inside.

**Aldo Dorio got a photo of a SHORT-TAILED SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY [Papillon queue-courte] in the Neguac area on Friday. This Butterfly, similar to the BLACK SWALLOWTAIL [Papillon du céleri], has a restricted range that would include the shoreline of New Brunswick down to the Bouctouche Dune area, those parts of Quebec surrounding the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and Cape Breton Island. They are also present in Labrador, Newfoundland, and Anticosti Island. One of its favourite food plants is SCOTCH LOVAGE [Livêche écossaise, Persil de mer], which is a coastal plant. Jim Edsall points out to look for the short pointy tail lacking a central yellow spot in the cell of the hindwing. Aldo also got a photo of a GREATER YELLOWLEGS [Grand Chevalier] in that area. On looking at Aldo’s photo, am wondering if there may be something, possibly a tracking device, attached to it’s back or is it a bit of plumage.

**I put out a grape jelly and jam selection each year in hopes of attracting GRAY CATBIRDS [Moqueur chat] which are in the bushes around the feeder area. Ralph Eldridge seems to routinely get them to his grape jelly offerings. The Catbirds have never come to the sweet offerings for me; however, one did come regularly to peanut butter one year. The Catbirds may not use the jelly; however, the local YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS [Pic maculé] love it, and are regulars to it and will soon be bringing their young. The containers have to be topped off frequently, as the CHIPMUNKS [Suisse] and FLYING SQUIRRELS [Polatouche] also find it a tasty treat.

**I’m attaching a few more photos of the Sphinx Moths [Sphinx] that seem to be abundant this year at the Moth light, including WAVED SPHINX [Sphinx ondulé], AZALEA SPHINX [Sphinx de l'alisier], and BLINDEYED SPHINX [Sphinx aveugle].

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton