Nature Moncton Nature News: July 8 2019

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, July 8, 2019 (Monday)

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Edited by Nelson Poirier, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com>

Transcript by David Christie, maryspt@mac.com>

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

** Richard Perron got a photo of a CARRION BEETLE, a.k.a. burying beetle [scarabée terrassier]. We have several different species in New Brunswick. The quite large beetles are part of the army of species that re-cycle dead carcasses, and can do so very quickly, after a few days, and can be seen in amazing numbers, along with blow flies [calliphore]. With Turkey Vultures [Urubu à tête rouge] and Bald Eagles [Pygargue à tête blanche] little goes to waste in the wild.

Richard photographed pollen covered LONGHORN BEETLES on Saturday of which we have several species in New Brunswick. More specific identification will be sought.

** Brian Stone continues to get more nature action photos in Perth, Ontario, with a RED ADMIRAL [Vulcain] butterfly, EASTERN PHOEBE [Moucherolle phébi] nesting on the frame of some outdoor lights, and a BLACK-SHOULDERED SPINYLEG [Gomphe épineux] dragonfly.

** It was rewarding to see the first MONARCH [Monarque] butterfly that we have seen ovipositing on our COMMON MILKWEED [Esclépiade commune] and SWAMP MILKWEED [Asclépiade incarnate] planted a few years ago in our yard. We had a good number of butterflies oviposit on the milkweed patches last year and lots of eggs, but never did see a mature caterpillar, so I suspect a possible 100% failure rate due to parasites. This year, combining ideas of Rhéal Vienneau, Janet Dempster and Jim Wilson, I am collecting the eggs with a paper punch and placing them in a covered ice-cube tray to hatch them and then move the young caterpillars to a covered milkweed plant to see if the plan works, to get more mature butterflies with a chance of migrating to Mexico. The female I saw today laid eggs on the underside of Common Milkweed leaves, but seemed to prefer egg-laying on the undeveloped flower heads of the Swamp Milkweed, instead of the leaves. Photos of the pinhead-sized, football-shaped eggs and the ovipositing adult are attached.

Nelson Poirier, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com>

Nature Moncton