Nature Moncton Nature News: Sept 1 2018

Nature Moncton Information Line – 1 September, 2018 (Saturday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Catherine Clements

Info Line #: 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

**The colours of many of our not so often seen insects can rival those of any bird. Shawn Cormier got a nice photo of the GOLDENROD SOLDIER BEETLE [Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus] recently, feeding on its favourite plant, Goldenrod [Verge d’or], which is so abundant this time of year. Some second looks at the many Goldenrods in bloom this month may well find this colourful beetle, as well as lots of others that favour Goldenrod. Shawn also shares a few more photos his zoom camera got close to in the past days. One is the orbweaver spider commonly known as the CROSS SPIDER [Araneus diadematus]. There are two photos of it. The photo of it on the leaf shows the white cross mark heading down the back, to help identify this orb-weaver spider. We can see large ones tending their intricate web insect traps this time of year. Shawn’s insect finds also included the Harvestman, a.k.a., Daddy Longlegs. These insects are in the Arachnid group, as are spiders, but they are not spiders. They tend to feed on dead or dying insects, fungi, and other organic items, but are not venomous. They remind me of a Rice Krispie on eight long legs. Shawn also got a nice photo of a Bee [Abeille] making use of Goldenrod.

**Peter Gadd got a photo of a GREATER YELLOWLEGS [Grand Chevalier] having lunch at the Miramichi Marsh on Friday, to show their diet includes small frogs, which seem to disappear quite easily.

**Aldo Dorio got a photo of a MERLIN [Faucon émerillon]. The angle does not show many key features, but the grey back and the top of the tail having those broad black bands with thin pale bands does suggest Merlin.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton