NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, Aug 3, 2020
(MONDAY)
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** Aldo
Dorio got some photos of BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS (Pluvier argent) at Hay Island
on Sunday. They are showing remnants of breeding plumage, each bird seeming to
be at different stages. Thanks to Gilles Belliveau for confirmation.
Aldo also
got a photo of a CAPE MAY WARBLER (Paruline tigre), and a MALLARD (Canard
colvert) and BLACK DUCK (Canard noir) in the same frame. The present plumage
and bill colour of these ducks does not reflect on what we see in breeding
plumage.
**Brian Stone’s daughter called him Sunday to say she
had an infestation of small wasps in her back yard. He went over and found that
her back yard was covered with dozens of very small holes with very small wasps
coming and going from them. He photographed one coming out of its hole after
trying to drag in a small, dead fly. He collected the wasp and did a
"studio" shot of it. He also got photos of the openings into the
ground nests. The wasps were a small 12 mm in size. Bugguide has confirmed
Brian’s find as SQUAREHEAD WASPS. Many of us may not be familiar with this
species but Brian’s photos of their nest excavations along with the small size
and body pattern will make them identifiable.
**I noted a few BLACK SWALLOWTAIL
BUTTERFLIES nectaring on thistle heads recently. Blooming thistle is a popular
nectaring source for many butterflies. This would be a second brood coming on
as adults that will be laying eggs on their host plants in the carrot family
(carrots, celery, and dill) that become larval colourful caterpillars that go to the chrysalis stage and overwinter in
NB. The signature yellow in the central cell shows nicely (arrowed) however the
long tails are missing in the photos, possibly the target of a predator that
worked to let the butterfly escape and complete its mission!
** I'm
attaching a few photos to show activity in the Rheal Vienneau constructed cage
in my yard for MONARCH (Monarque) butterflies. I placed two pots of Common
Milkweed in the cages and put a few female Monarch butterflies in the cage.
They have laid a significant number of eggs that have hatched out and are
chewing away on the plant leaves, as a photo shows their munching. The adult
photo is of Lucy 2, appearing to be laying more eggs. Another photo shows the
cage setup and a few photos show some still very young caterpillars.
The
adults came from milkweed patches on the Riverfront Trail. I have seen many
eggs deposited at these patches but have yet to find a caterpillar. I think it
shows the high mortality from predation in the wild and the possibility of so
many more surviving in captivity, then released when hopefully all get to
chrysalids and emerge to be released to head to Mexico. A tag will be
placed on all emerged adults released. Lucy 2 is fed a 20% fructose
solution late each evening.
Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Transcript by: David Christie
maryspt@mac.com
Info Line #: 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
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