Each year in my native landscape I discover many new types of wildlife from small insects to large birds. As I build my native landscape by planting a diversity of local plant species, I am always amazed at what is different from year to year as the landscape evolves and matures.
This year has been the year of predators. Perhaps because I’ve successfully attracted the prey in previous years by providing the right habitat and food sources.
Here’s some 2011 highlights from my 2/3 acre landscape as the season winds down.
FEBRUARY
Northern Shrikes
These medium sized birds impale their prey (birds, small mammals and reptiles) on thorns or small branches.
I hope this means that I’m providing good habitat for small mammals by leaving the plant stems and prairie grasses up for the winter?
MARCH
Great Horned Owls
Great Horned Owls are common in our area in late winter and early spring but we had more sightings and evidence that they were hunting in our yard.
The regurgitated owl “pellets” of small rodent prey were abundant on the snow and leaf litter.
APRIL
Thin Legged Wolf Spiders & Spider Wasps
More Wolf Spiders were spotted foraging in the leaf litter this spring. In June, I captured a Spider Wasp dragging a Wolf Spider back to its nest. Spider Wasps paralyze Wolf Spiders, drag them to their ground nest and feed the spiders to their young.
Orange Crowned Warbler
This warbler was seen over a two week period in our yard. It was always spotted on Red Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa) foraging in the flower buds.
I plan to investigate the Red Elderberry more carefully next year to see what exactly the warbler was eating.
Spring Ephemeral Pollinators
An Ichneumon Wasp (left) was among the many native bee species pollinating the early flowering Bloodroot and Hepatica.
MAY
Harris’s Sparrow
A first sighting ever and in our yard. This sparrow stopped by to feed on the seeds on the ground from our prairie grasses and forbs.
Brown Thrasher
First sighting of a Brown Thrasher foraging on the ground at the edge of our prairie species and shade trees.
More Migratory Birds
Three migratory birds, the Chestnut Sided Warbler, an unidentified wood warbler, and American Redstart all forage for insects on Ironwood trees (Ostrya virginiana) in our yard.
JUNE
Wasp Nectar Robber
A Wasp species takes a short cut for nectar in the Hairy Penstemon flowers by chewing a hole near the base.
Robber Flies
Several new types of Robber Flies hunted in the yard this year. Voracious predators of other insects including ones larger than themselves. They are often mimics, the one on the left resembling a bumble bee.
JULY
Wedge Shaped Beetles
This predatory beetle has the most fascinating and gruesome lifecycle. The beetles lay their eggs on flowers where wasps visit for nectar. The larvae hatch and grab hold of the wasps and hitch a ride back to their nests. They then parasitize the wasp larvae.
These beetles were abundant on the Spotted Horse Mint (Monarda punctata) and only this native plant.
Jagged Ambush Bugs
These predatory bugs were also abundant on my prairie natives. They wait on flower petals for nectaring bees and flies. They grab them with their sickle like forelegs and pierce the their bodies with their long tubular mouthparts.
AUGUST
Syrphid Fly (Spilomiya longicornis)
Another intriguing insect mimic. This is a fly dressed like a wasp. I spotted this fly hanging around some wetland natives in my raingarden. It waves its black forelegs to mimic the antennae of wasp.
Digger Bee
These bees were much more abundant this year as I had added more Gray Headed Coneflowers (Ratibida pinnata) to the prairie area. This seems to be their favorite native to nectar on. The Jagged Ambush Bugs would also hide where the petals attach to the cone, waiting to catch one of the bees.
Sand Wasp (Bicyrtes quadrifasciatus)
A new wasp sighting. This is a ground nesting wasp that liked nectaring on our Boneset. It hunts True Bugs to feed their young.
SEPTEMBER
A Monarch Caterpillar Look-Alike
Grapeleaf Skeletonizer (Harrisina americana)
This moth caterpillar looks very much like a Monarch in coloration. It was feeding on our grape vine. I only saw one caterpillar, and when I looked it up in the field guide determined that we’re at the very northern edge of its range.
OCTOBER
Yellow Collared Scape Moth (Cisseps fulvicollis)
Our late season flowering natives seem to play an important role for this moth. A first sighting in our yard, I saw it nectaring on both Aster and Goldenrod species.
It’s very similar in appearance to the Virginia Ctenucha Moth which is slightly larger and has blue coloration on its thorax.
What new discoveries did you make this year?
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Inspiring post Heather! Very impressive diversity of wildlife. I love the monthly listings.
Carol Duke recently posted..Blog Action Day and World Food Day 2011 #BAD11
Thanks Carol,
Yes it was fun to review some highlights of the whole year.
Heather recently posted..2011: New Discoveries in my Landscape
This is a wonderful post. It helped me identify some of the insects I’ve seen in my yard and their habits.
I’m glad to hear you’re seeing some of the same insects Carole. It’s fascinating to see how many prefer a narrow range of plants.
Heather recently posted..2011: New Discoveries in my Landscape
Very nice! I envy you the Harris’s sparrow!
The one mystery warbler looks like a mourning warbler to me, but that may be a shot in the dark…
UrsulaV recently posted..Migrant Season
Thanks for the ID Ursula! So many warblers this year, many are hard to identify.
Heather recently posted..2011: New Discoveries in my Landscape
Heather your native landscape is fascinating as always and I learn so much from your posts. I hope to pay more attention to insects this coming year and identify which are in the garden.
Donna@ Gardens Eye View recently posted..Friend
Thanks Donna,
I find insects so fascinating and when you learn about their elaborate and sometimes gruesome life cycles it makes all the more intriguing.
Heather recently posted..2011: New Discoveries in my Landscape
Fascinating! I really do need to bring my guide out into the garden with me so I can accurately identify all the flies and wasps. I will also be on the lookout for that Grapeleaf Skeletonizer caterpillar since I do have two to three large vines of wild grapes. Very cool. Love the Northern Shrike. I’ve only heard Great Horned Owls here. How I would love to tour your landscape. At least I can enjoy the virtual tours!
thevioletfern recently posted..Project: Saving Heirloom Tomato Seeds
Thanks Kathy,
I enjoy seeing your virtual tours of your landscape. I’m glad you wrote about the scape moth b/c I wouldn’t have looked for one in my yard.
Heather
impressive to get so much diversity in a relatively small plot.
Thanks Sue, Yes I’m always amazed at what I find. I think it illustrates that small yards can make a difference.
Heather Holm recently posted..2011: New Discoveries in my Landscape
Tons of predators here, too this year. Maybe it was something in the air? I know I say fewer insects, but maybe part of that was the big bugs at play–or the spring that couldn’t make up its mind. That last moth is something I always see in October and wonder about–thanks for the i.d.!
Benjamin Vogt recently posted..Leaf Project and Bee-tude
Benjamin,
That’s interesting that you had lots of predators too. A good form of biological control. I did have a few too many sawflies this year but found two new parasitic wasps that prey on sawflies. So maybe next year the populations will be more in balance.
Heather Holm recently posted..2011: New Discoveries in my Landscape
Heather, you do a great job of getting pictures of your birds, my best sightings are always too far for the lens I have, or when I have no camera at all.
One of my most notable discoveries this year has been planting host plants for butterflies and watching the caterpillar/butterfly life cycle.
Julie Stone recently posted..Everybody’s Doin’ It…
Hi Julie,
I invested in a longer lens last winter and it paid off because now I have many bird photos whereas before it was what I could remember seeing through binoculars.
That’s great you’ve introduced more host plants. It gives you a specific thing to look.
Heather Holm recently posted..2011: New Discoveries in my Landscape
What a perfect topic! I feel like I learn at least one new thing every week – a new insect, a new plant, a new bird or critter – all thanks to living in a space that is as natural and native as it can be!
Ellen recently posted..Native Fall Foliage – Orange/Red/Purple
That’s a great goal Ellen. I would be thrilled to find one new thing per week.
Heather
Heather Holm recently posted..2011: New Discoveries in my Landscape
We have a yard about the same size with varied habitats. I’m loving the plants and see that they are loaded with birds and various other fauna…walk on the paths and enjoy the buzzing and bird song, but haven’t examined the small predators and pollinators otherwise. You inspire me to pay more attention, make more lists, and set a good example for my grandchildren. Many thanks for the great post.