Associated People Suzanne Kahn Eder Nancy Viehmann
With the crafts festival right around the corner, the time to mow fields for parking is approaching. Unfortunately, some of the parking fields are full of milkweed and monarchs. Fortunately, this is a good time to cut the fields to encourage strong regeneration next year.
In an effort to conserve butterflies before the mow, a small team went out to find and relocate monarch eggs and larvae. They transferred 37 eggs and 25 caterpillars from the Knight Trail fields to the Muskie field. Congratulations and thanks to Dennis, Emily, Brandon, Sonny, Suzanne, and Nancy.
Nancy inspects the undersides of milkweed leaves for eggs or caterpillars.
Late and early monarch instars.
In the past couple of weeks, it's been hard not to notice the bright yellow plastic cards that have appeared in clumps of vegetation. Yesterday, I caught up with the guy who has been hanging and collecting them, field research entomologist Phil Stack. He filled me in; they are traps for catching fruit flies.
Volunteer naturalist Eileen Willard spotted this Goldsmith Beetle (Cotalpa lanigera) outside the Visitor Center on May 31 and telephoned insect enthusiast Brandon Woo to tell him about it. Brandon came and photographed the uncommon insect.
We were at the site last Sunday and enjoyed the trails... Both my husband and I are hikers and have proper gear however my husband was bitten all over exposed areas... by groups of small flies (or type of mosquito) I am not sure. They did not bite me but did land on my head gear and blouse. Can you tell me what type of inconvenient bugs these are?
Southern Maine has no shortage of biting insects. The infamous black fly is usually not too troublesome at the Wells Reserve, but the mosquitoes can be ferocious. For a few weeks each summer, visitors can also get to know the deer fly and salt marsh greenhead. Few are pleased to make their acquaintance.
Swarms of biting flies tinier than all of these are often biting midges, better known as no-see-ums (in the family Ceratopogonidae). Encountering clouds of these irritating insects can ruin an otherwise lovely walk on the trails. Insect repellent can help keep them away, as can a nice sea breeze.
One icehouse chrysalis has become translucent and a near-adult monarch is now visible through the case. Thanks, Laura L, for the irresistible photographic update.
The Reserve's milkweed feeds multitudes of monarch larvae. The adult butterflies seem to be especially abundant this summer and signs that they're reproducing are commonplace. The clapboard siding of the icehouse has proven popular with monarch caterpillars. Here, a newly formed chrysalis conceals an amazing transformation while another larva fastens up before molting its skin to reveal the chrysalis formed within.
Overheard…
I've seen the mosquitoes here before, but not like that. They were swarming.
Yes, the Culicidae conditions can cause consternation. Bring the bug dope.
As the month of May closes, so does most of the major passage of migrating birds. The movement is not over; it just isn't so obvious.
Summer approaches and with it come myriad winged creatures without feathers, so in coming weekly reports some insects might find themselves the objects of attention.
Today's butterflies (to get things started entomologically) included sulfurs, ladies, and blues, just a few of the many species that can be found here between spring and fall. Exactly how many species might appear on site is unknown; the reserve has no comprehensive list of its butterflies. Surveying them would be fascinating and beneficial.
Associated People Susan Bickford
For several years, the Wells Reserve has participated in the Maine Dragonfly and Damselfly Survey, a project initiated by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
Sue Smith Bickford, our main odonate enthusiast, was away for most of the 2005 flight season, but today shipped off 14 specimens for identification. They will be inspected and entered into the MDDS database to go with well over 100 other samples taken in the Reserve's salt marshes.
Results from the first several years of statewide odonate sampling have improved biologists' knowledge of the distribution and flight periods of dragonflies and damselflies in Maine. And Sue has contributed at least one notable record: the first Citrine Forktail documented in the state since 1958.
Showing blog posts tagged insects: 1–5 of 9
