September 8, 2024

Now we're really into September.  The Goldenrod is beginning to fade, but what a lot of creatures have visited it in the past couple of weeks!  They now say that Goldenrod pollen is NOT the big allergen we always thought it was, but in my opinion, it has made my life hellish - I want to see or do the research on this topic.  This season has been the most annoying I can remember when it comes to runny nose, especially in the evening and morning.  I suggest you Google this topic and see what you can find!  By the way, the light-blue thing in picture 1 seems to be a Goldenrod Gall.

I have never seen so many different creatures than what showed up this week in the Goldenrod.  Here are some of the Wasps.   First is a Dark or Northern Paper Wasp.  I don't know what the next two are.

These first two are both in the Tachinid Fly genus Gymnoclytia.  Third is a Grey Hairstreak Butterfly pursued by a tiny Leafcutter, Mortar, or Resin Bee of  Genus Megachile.

Meanwhile, we've now seen most all of the critters we (I) associate with the Goldenrod world.  First is that lovely Spotted Cucumber Beetle. We ended up last week with the Locust Borers, which finally showed up a bit later than [I think] usual.  Third here is the Pennsylvanian Ambush Bug.  First in the next row is the Silver-spotted Skipper. Last but not least is the Thick-legged Hover Fly.  I thought you'd like to see that one again - to show how easy it is sometimes to guess a Fly is a Bee or Wasp.  

Lots of Bees love the Goldenrod.  

The little Cabbage Butterfly (Pieris rapae) and this unknown butterfly  also love the Goldenrod.  This is the first picture I've taken of P. rapae in a long time.   It was so interested in the Goldenrod it didn't mind my sneaking up on it.

I imagine you are beginning to ask, but what about other creatures that aren't attracted to Goldenrod?  Well, for one thing, the Fishes are more or less stuck in the Pond and don't go chasing after pollen - they're carnivores!   

Froggy is another creature who can't fly.   Remember we've been having trouble seeing him/her lately?  Well, a big surprise happened last evening as I was finishing up photographing the Pond denizens.   Suddenly I had TWO Green Frogs in the camera:  one at upper left (picture 2) is a tiny one, and the one at lower right (picture 3) is a  MUCH bigger Frog!   I think I've been taking their pictures and mistaking the apparent differences in their photos for their distances from me!  Do you think it's possible that p.2 is a baby, maybe of p. 3?  In the past two years we have had baby Frogs in the album..  Anyway, I now will stop guessing any Frog is Froggy!  

Flowers in view now:  of course even though the Goldenrod diverted a lot of my attention lately, the Asters are still going, and from the number of tiny buds I think we can safely guess that there will continue to be more, Many more!   

The Japanese Anemones are still blooming a bit.  Here's one.  Picture 2 is of the Phlox, which is over as of this week.  Picture 2 also contains a little Skipper, probably the Zabulon Skipper, so common here in Albion.  Also gone this week: the Water Lilies are no longer even putting up buds now.  Oh, I lie.  Here is a flower bud (picture 3), communing with its friend, one of the Froggies.  Picture 4 is a tiny Tree Frog from the Seidls' siding.

I do love it when I see a Barklouse - it is a real cause for celebration - the conditions on the North Wall don't seem to be as fruitful as they were a couple of years ago!  Here (bottom) is a little creature that has just moulted - the old nymphal skin is the top image.  Picture 3 shows one of the genus Polypsocus as it hatches from the nymph.  

Here are a few other Barklouse-related things.  The bigger creature is most likely in the Polypsocus genus.  I don't know what the other 4 or 5 items are!

Well, I hope this gives you an idea of some of the changes in the yard in the past week or so.  Fall is here.  Enjoy the cool air and do whatever you can to keep your amazing world going.  Love, Martha