Fruiting.
Some fruits (achenes) were removed (photo 4), revealing part of the fruiting receptacle (photo 5 & 6).
Male and female foraging in wood next to trail. A major rarity for the area, maybe only the third known site for Ontario
growing as a tall shrub, too tall for the native species (already ~5m tall, and rapidly still growing in height). This is the first time I've seen an exotic Corylus species growing wild near Ottawa.
Twig and growth form features appear to match Common Hazel much better than other exotic candidates such as C. colurna
First found in the Meadows by Mr. Moss. These are probably the start of the second flight (very fresh). If so, there may be quite a few here and elsewhere in Mississauga over the next week.
Over 100 Northern Pearly-eyes sipping secretions on a distressed American Elm, largely defoliated by Gypsy Moth caterpillars.
Feeding on Common Hop Tree (Ptelea trifoliata).
landing mark - nearest trees >40 feet away
This one was very bright yellow compared to other skippers so it showed up from a distance: a very good thing as it did NOT stay in the area. Within a couple of minutes it had moved on and was not seen again despite standing still in that area for an hour watching the other butterflies coming and going, and checking again when I passed through the area a couple of hours later. Since the habitat is low quality, I think it continued on into the nearby yards where it would find lots of flowers etc. I would not recommend this as a spot to normally find Fierys only a few Wild Indigos and Peck's.
Note the fairly narrow subterminal yellow band on the underside of HW, about half as wide as Great-spangled Fritillary, red-brown colour on underside of HW, open orange margins of upperside, and diagnostic black mark at base of the upperside of FW. Eye colour is difficult to discern from photos
Preying on a halloween pennant. I heard the struggle and the pondhawk was struggling to hold onto the halloween pennant for a while before it eventually succumbed.
I am not at all confident in this ID. Good match based on photos from Wagner’s book and Layberry et al’s description but I am not familiar with the degree of variability in Eastern-tailed Blue. Feeding on Vicia cracca, more typical of ET Blue, but Fabaceae is in Eurosid II clade with Rosaceae, so leaf chemistry somewhat similar to Striped Hairstreak more typical Rosaceae diet. Note tending by ants; typical of Lycaenids.
Northern apple sphinx larva with braconid pupae (polyembrony)
The jumper: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/6048799