{"id":1598,"date":"2016-09-30T01:54:00","date_gmt":"2016-09-30T01:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/?p=1598"},"modified":"2017-01-13T23:01:17","modified_gmt":"2017-01-13T23:01:17","slug":"summer-magic-in-barbs-yard-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/?p=1598","title":{"rendered":"Summer Magic in Barb\u2019s Yard"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Barb Elliot<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

When I leave my house to explore my backyard, whether by day or after dark, I enter another world.\u00a0 Transported from daily cares, I anticipate experiencing the wonders of nature. What\u2019s happening at this season? What creatures will I encounter?\u00a0 What mysteries will unfold?\u00a0 I am rarely disappointed. Life is abundant in my yard because the numerous native plants I\u2019ve planted meet the food and shelter needs of many animals.<\/span><\/p>\n

This summer I photographed some of what I observed.\u00a0 Here are highlights. \u00a0Enlarge any photo by clicking on it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Early Summer<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Interesting pollinators gather nectar and\/or pollen from my Highbush Blueberry flowers, including a Flower Longhorn Beetle \u00a0and an unknown flower fly \u2013 a good Yellow Jacket wasp mimic.\u00a0 A native Green Sweat Bee on a Black-eyed Susan is covered with yellow pollen grains.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Flower<\/a>

Flower Longhorn Beetle (Strangalia luteicornis) . Photo \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Unknown<\/a>

Unknown flower fly. Photo \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Green<\/a>

Green sweat bee on Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida). \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

In my pond, a Northern Green Frog \u00a0awaits its next meal. Near the pond edge an Orchard Orbweaver spider is ready to pounce on prey caught in its web.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Northern<\/a>

Northern Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans). \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Orchard<\/a>

Orchard Orbweaver (Leucauge venusta) spider . \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

A Cooper\u2019s Hawk, unsuccessful at catching a songbird, watches for birds to return but eventually leaves without a meal. \u00a0A male Northern Cardinal, which is starting to molt, returns warily to the feeders.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Cooper's<\/a>

Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii). \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Northern<\/a>

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

Wild Bergamot flowers attract a day-flying Hummingbird Clearwing Moth\u00a0as well as many bumble bees.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Hummingbird<\/a>

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth (Hemaris thysbe) sips nectar from Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa). \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Unknown<\/a>

Unknown bumble bee on Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa). \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

One night, I find mating Red Milkweed Beetles on a milkweed plant and a Virginia Creeper Sphinx moth caterpillar on a Virginia Creeper vine. \u00a0On another night, an adult Virginia Creeper Sphinx moth comes to my lights.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Red<\/a>

Red Milkweed Beetles (Tetraopes tetrophthalmus) mating. \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Virginis<\/a>

Virginia Creeper Sphinx Moth (Darapsa myron) caterpillar. \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Virginia<\/a>

Virginia Creeper Sphinx moth (Darapsa myron). \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

A Tent Caterpillar Moth, which I find attractive, also flies in. \u00a0Yes — this is the adult moth that comes from the Tent Caterpillars that make webs in my Black Cherry (Prunus serotina<\/em>) trees.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Eastern<\/a>

Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth (Malacosoma americana). \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

Midsummer<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

In July, I find a variety of beetles.\u00a0 My favorite, the Dogbane Beetle, is on a Dogbane plant.\u00a0 A tiny (less than 1\/4 inch) colorful beetle, the Mottled Tortoise Beetle \u00a0appears during the day (wearing its little translucent skirt!).\u00a0 A longhorn Ivory-marked Beetle, comes to night lighting.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Dogbane<\/a>

Dogbane Beetle (Chrysochus auratus) on Dogbane plant (Apocynum cannabinum). \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Mottled<\/a>

Mottled Tortoise Beetle (Deloyala guttata). \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Ivory-marked<\/a>

Ivory-marked Beetle (Eburia quadrigeminata). \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

The right side of the patio area sports both Cardinal Flower \u00a0and Great Blue Lobelia . Pickerel Rush grows in the pond on the left. The tall plants with yellow flowers in the background are Cup Plant. Cardinal Flower nectar is enjoyed by a Spicebush Swallowtail that lost part of its left hindwing.\u00a0 Probably a hungry bird tried unsuccessfully to capture this butterfly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Cardinal<\/a>

Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) and Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) on right, blue Pickerel Rush (Pontederia cordata) flowers in pond on left. Yellow flowers of the tall Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum) in background. \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Spicebush<\/a>

Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) missing part of left hindwing on Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis). \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

Cup Plant attracts many pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and moths.\u00a0 At night I find a Grape Leaffolder Moth sipping\u00a0nectar.\u00a0 One of many bumble bees that worked hard gathering nectar and pollen during the day sleeps on a Cup Plant flower. \u00a0At night, I often find bumble bees sound asleep on flowers in my garden.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Grape<\/a>

Grape Leaffolder Moth (Desmia funeralis) on Cup Plant at night. (Silphium perfoliatum). \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Bumble<\/a>

Bumble bee sleeping on Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum) at night. \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

After raising one successful brood, the House Wrens have a second set of nestlings that will soon leave the nest box.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"House<\/a>

House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) nestlings in nest box. \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Bumble<\/a>

Bumble Bee on Flowering Raspberry (Rubus odorata). \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

Several types of native bees are busy pollinating my flowers. \u00a0Of special interest, bumble bees are performing buzz pollination on my Flowering Raspberry flowers. \u00a0Bumble bees vibrate their wings at specific frequencies to get some species of flowers to release their pollen. \u00a0Note that bumble bees are used for buzz pollination of a number of crops, including tomatoes, blueberries, eggplants, and cranberries.\u00a0 The non-native honeybee is not able to buzz pollinate. <\/span><\/p>\n

To watch and hear bumble bees performing buzz pollination in my yard,<\/span> click here for the video.<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I find a\u00a0small green Nessus Sphinx moth caterpillar on native Enchanted Nightshade (Circaea lutetiana<\/em>) and decide to raise it in a small enclosure with several inches of loose soil.\u00a0 I feed it fresh leaves and within a week or so, it grows to over two inches long, molts into a brown caterpillar, and later burrows into the soil to pupate.\u00a0 I have to wait until next spring to see it emerge as a beautiful day-flying hummingbird-like moth.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Nessus<\/a>

Nessus Sphinx Moth (Amphion floridensis) caterpillar – early instar. \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Nessus<\/a>

Nessus Sphinx Moth (Amphion floridensis) caterpillar – last instar before pupation. \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

One night a strange-looking treehopper, possibly a Buffalo Treehopper, appears near my porch light.\u00a0 Even more strange and ominous-looking, a very large robber fly the size of a large wasp hunts from a perch above my pond. These flies prey on large insects such as bees and wasps and will hang from one foot while devouring a victim.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Treehopper<\/a>

Possible Buffalo Treehopper (Ceresa alta) . \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Robber<\/a>

Robber Fly (likely Diogmites sp.) hunts over the pond. \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

Late Summer<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

A Shadow Darner\u00a0dragonfly dries and expands its wings after emerging from the pond where it spent its nymphal stage. \u00a0The nymph recently crawled out of the pond and shed its exoskeleton. Because I find numerous shed skins (exuvia) during the summer, I know that my pond produces a good number of dragonflies. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Shadow<\/a>

Newly emerged Shadow Darner (Aeshna umbrosa) dragonfly dries and expands its wings. \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"The<\/a>

The shed skin (exuvia) from which a dragonfly emerged still hangs from a stem in the pond. \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

Native bees continue to actively collect pollen.\u00a0 This one deposits the white pollen of Upland Ironweed into large pollen baskets on its hind legs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Unknown<\/a>

Unknown native bee on Upland Ironweed (Vernonia glauca). \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

Eastern Tiger Swallowtails and Skippers are frequent visitors at my Garden Phlox.\u00a0 I am happy to find a Monarch, too, but regret that this is the only one I\u2019ve seen in my yard all summer.\u00a0 It\u2019s a female, so hopefully she laid eggs on my milkweed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Eastern<\/a>

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) on Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata \u2018Jeana\u2019). \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Skipper<\/a>

Skipper (probably Zabulon Skipper – Poanes zabulon) sipping nectar from Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata \u2018Jeana\u2019). \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Monarch<\/a>

Monarch butterfly (female) on Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata \u2018Jeana\u2019). \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

Two ants in the grass struggle to drag a grub to their nest.\u00a0 The grub must weigh many times more than they do.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Ants<\/a>

Ants dragging a grub to their nest. \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

My Virgin\u2019s Bower vine begins to bloom in late August and hosts a myriad of pollinators twenty-four hours a day.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Virgin's<\/a>

Virgin’s Bower (Clematis virginiana) vine in bloom.<\/p><\/div>\n

At night, this vine is a moth magnet, attracting beauties like the multi-colored Ailanthus Webworm moth and Tobacco Budworm moth.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Ailanthus<\/a>

Ailanthus Webworm (Atteva punctella) moth sips nectar at night from Virgin’s Bower (Clematis virginiana). \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Tobacco<\/a>

Tobacco Budworm (Heliothis virescens) moth sips nectar at night from Virgin’s Bower (Clematis virginiana). Note very small u-shaped caterpillar on flower to the right of the moth’s antennae. \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

Predators such as harvestmen (\u201cdaddy longlegs\u201d) and centipedes linger around the Virgin’s Bower vine to catch unsuspecting victims.\u00a0 As I watch, a Spotted Orb Weaver\u00a0spider quickly paralyzes the moth that flies into its web and then wraps it in silk.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Spotted<\/a>

Spotted Orb Weaver (Neoscona crucifera) spider quickly paralyzes a moth that flies into its web. \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Spotted<\/a>

Spotted Orb Weaver (Neoscona crucifera) spider with moth wrapped in silk. \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

By mid-September, I see some fall migrating birds in the yard, including a Northern Parula and Common Yellowthroat.\u00a0 Both find insects on my native plants that will fuel their journeys to the tropics.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Northern<\/a>

a migrating Northern Parula (Setophaga Americana) in River Birch (Betula nigra) tree. \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Common<\/a>

A migrating Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) hunts insects by the pond. \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

A Red-spotted Purple\u00a0caterpillar has eaten the tip of a Black Cherry\u00a0leaf in a pattern characteristic of this species.\u00a0 I watch it grow for almost a week.\u00a0 Then one night I make a gruesome discovery.\u00a0 A spider has found my caterpillar and is in the process of sucking its life fluids.\u00a0 However, I find another small Red-spotted Purple caterpillar a few feet away.\u00a0 I\u2019m hopeful this one will successfully overwinter and make it to adulthood.\u00a0 If so, next summer it will grace my yard as another beautiful Red-spotted Purple butterfly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>

An early instar Red-spotted Purple (Limenitus arthemis) caterpillar on Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) . \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Spider<\/a>

Spider sucking the life fluids of “my” Red-spotted Purple (Limenitus arthemis) caterpillar. \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Red-spotted<\/a>

Red-spotted Purple (Limenitus arthemis) butterfly on White Snakeroot (Ageratina altissima) in Barb’s yard. \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

I look forward to next summer and discovering nature’s mysteries anew.<\/span><\/p>\n

References<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n