by Angela Hartley | Jun 30, 2024 | Insects in the Gardens
Last winter, I created a page for the solitary bees I photographed in my garden the previous spring and summer. At that time, I didn’t have any shots of mason bees. Most of the shots I did have were just dumb luck: I accidentally got photos of bees while I was focusing on flowers. This spring, I knew what to look for, and I wasn’t disappointed. The mining, mason, and carpenter bees were the first to appear, and they visited the viburnum, crab apple, and other flowers that opened early in the season.
Mason bees belong to the genus Osmia in the family Megachilidae. Mason bees are named for their habit of using mud or other similar materials to construct their nests in naturally occurring gaps such as cracks in stones or other small dark cavities.
I really like the mason bees. They are smaller than honey bees and shy. It’s not easy to get close for a clear shot. The Megachilidae family also includes wool carders, leaf cutters, and resin bees. Bees in this family are all solitary, and they have one very interesting physical trait in common: they carry pollen on their abdomens instead of on their legs with special hairs called scopae. Here you can compare the scopae (pollen basket) of the mason bee to the leaf cutting bee.
Pollen broom (scopa) on mason bee.
Pollen broom (scopa) on leaf-cutting bee
Three types of mason bee are common in Pennsylvania. According to Penn State Extension, two species in the genus Osmia are currently being used on a limited basis for tree fruit pollination: the blue orchard bee (Osmia lignaria) and the Japanese orchard bee (Osmia cornifrons). The latter was introduced by the USDA into Mid-Atlantic region fruit orchards from Japan in the 1990s. Another Japanese bee, Osmia taurus, was found in Maryland, although this species was not introduced intentionally and therefore was not quarantined for parasites and pathogens. O. taurus is very similar in appearance to O. cornifrons. Look for long, widely spaced horns on the face of O. cornifrons. However, according to bugguide.net, it is not always possible to distinguish the two species based on photographs.
So the shots below could be either!
In May, I saw the blue orchard bee only twice. They are black with a metallic blue sheen, and a dead giveaway is the fluffy scopae on the abdomens of the females.
Since my quest started to identify more insects in the garden, I’ve also photographed the Osmia Georgica. The Georgia mason bee can be found from Massachusetts to Michigan, south to Georgia and Texas and it is seen from March to August. It has been recorded on multiple types of flowers including brassica, chrysanthemum, erigeron (shown here), lupinus, malus and others. They are a dark metallic color like the blue orchards, but they have striped abdomens. John Ascher at bugguide.net helped me with the id.
Only one mason bee has found the houses so far, and it was a blue orchard. I hope they fill up soon.
To support mason bees, plant varieties of shrubs and perennials that flower early in the season when they begin to emerge. Some choices include
- False indigo
- Wild geranium
- Virginia bluebells
- Phlox
- Foam flower
- Golden Alexander
by Angela Hartley | Mar 24, 2024 | Insects in the Gardens, The Gardens
Mimic fly, Mallota posticata, on viburnum.
When we think of pollinators, we often think of bees and butterflies; flies might not come to mind. However, the Penn State College of Agricultural Science noted that flies are the second most important pollinators after bees, especially in environments that have fewer bees. Unlike other pollinating insects that have two pairs of wings, flies have only one pair of wings, hence the name of the order Diptera, which means two wings. Most flies do not have specialized pollen-carrying hairs like bees and are therefore generally thought to be less efficient pollinators by comparison.
Flies serve many purposes in the garden.
- Pollinators. Flies can be seen on multiple garden plants, including a range of annual and bulbous ornamental flowers. Some plants specifically pollinated by flies include pawpaw, skunk cabbage, goldenrod, and members of the carrot family. Some plants have evolved to be pollinated only by flies, such as the Amorphophallus konjac or Voodoo lily.
- Predators. Flies can be predators as larvae, adults, or both. The most common predatory fly is the robber fly or assassin fly (family Asilidae). They feed mainly or exclusively on other insects. The more delicate long-legged fly captures smaller insects (such as aphids and gnats), mites, and other tiny arthropods. The diet of the larvae of predatory flies varies by species.
- Detritivores. A detritivore obtains nutrition by feeding on detritus, organic matter made up of dead plant and animal material, or by feeding on feces. Detritivores and decomposers contribute to the breakdown of all dead and decaying material in any ecosystem; therefore, they play a crucial role in the cycling of nutrients. They are essential to most biogeochemical cycles, including the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles.
A few interesting flies that I have observened in my garden are detailed below.
HOVER FLIES, family Syrphidae
Hover flies make up the insect family Syrphidae. Adults of many species feed mainly on nectar and pollen. Larvae (maggots) eat a wide range of foods depending on species, including plants; decaying plant and animal matter in the soil, ponds, and streams; and aphids, thrips, and other plant-sucking insects. Hover fly larvae are important for the biological control of these garden pests.
Syrphus ribesii is a very common Holarctic species of hoverfly. Its larvae feed on aphids. In common with many other species of hoverfly, the eyes of the males meet on the top of the head, and the eyes of the females are widely separated.
Sphaerophoria contigua. A species of syrphid fly that is a predator of aphids when in the larval stage.
Common oblique hover fly, Allograpta obliqua, is a North American species. The larvae are important predators of aphids, and the adults are pollinators.
MIMIC FLIES, family Syrphidae
Some species in the Syrphidae family have appearances that mimic other insects, usually bees or wasps.
The Mallota posticata is a widely distributed genus of hover fly well known for its bee-like appearance. As larvae they are detritivores, rat-tailed maggots that filter feed in water-filled tree holes, and as adults they are nectarivores.
Williston’s Wasp fly, Sphiximorpha willistoni, is a rare species of syrphid fly found in eastern North America. It is a strong wasp mimic with darkened forewing, elongate antennae, black and yellow markings on the thorax, and banded yellow markings on a thin-wasted abdomen. When I photographed the individual here, I thought it was a small wasp.
Common green bottle fly, Lucilia sericata, on oxeye daisy.
The common green bottle fly, Lucilia sericata, is a blowfly found in most areas of the world and is the most well-known of the numerous green bottle fly species. The larvae feed exclusively on dead organic tissue. The adults eat carrion and feces as well as pollen and nectar. They are important pollinators in their native ranges and important agents of decomposition. The pollen, which the flies can digest, may be used as an alternative protein source when they cannot reliably find carrion.
They are particularly attracted to sapromyophilous flowers that exude a carrion-like odor, such as the Amorphophallus konjac, which trick the flies into pollinating them by mimicking the scent of a corpse. These flies also frequently visit myophilous flowers such as the oxeye daisy — they are attracted to the color yellow and to the scent of flowers. This indicates that the flies are attracted to flowers not only for their smell, but also for their pollen.
The black-horned gem, Microchrysa polita, is a species of soldier fly found in Europe, Asia, and North America. It breeds in dung, rotting vegetable matter, and compost heaps. Adults feed on flower nectar, and larvae feed on decaying organic matter.
Black-horned gem, Microchrysa polita, on dahlia bud.
The Mydidae family, or Mydas flies, are a cosmopolitan family of flies that are generally large in size, including the largest known fly, Gauromydas heros. Many of the species are also mimics of stinging hymenopterans, especially wasps. Most mydids are found in arid and semiarid regions, but they are also found in other habitats. When immature, they prey on soil-dwelling insect larvae, especially on coleopteran (beetle) larvae, including white grubworms and the larvae of other beetles. Mydas flies are infrequently encountered because the adult life span is very short.
Long-legged flies, family Dolichopodidae. Adults are predators similar to miniature robber flies that capture smaller insects, including gnats and aphids, mites, and other tiny arthropods. Their mouthparts are knifelike and they use them to pierce their prey.
The diet of the larvae varies by species: some are predatory, others eat plants, and others scavengers that eat decomposing organic matter such as rotting vegetation.
Visit this page for more information and photos.
by Angela Hartley | Mar 9, 2024 | Insects in the Gardens, The Gardens
Every year, it’s exciting to see seeds germinate, new shoots emerge, and flowers appear. But this year, I seem to have amplified spring fever. The difference, I suspect, is that I went through all of my photos from last year to share on willowdalefarm.org. I found so many shots of insects that I didn’t even know I was taking! I was able to identify many species of solitary bee, for example, that I didn’t realize were in the gardens. Now I can’t wait to go looking for them.
A few weeks ago, we had a random warm day that forced some of the mahonia buds to open. I was able to take lots of good photos of our honey bees. They were the first insects I photographed in 2024 (February 9).
Last weekend, the magic began: my one lonely clump of crocus opened, and the daffodils were almost ready.
Since then, we’ve had lots of rain, but the daffodils are open, and many shoots have started popping up. I hope the rain is a sign of good things to come in the garden this summer.
by Angela Hartley | Oct 14, 2021 | Bees, Insects in the Gardens, The Gardens
So far, we’ve had what I believe is an unseasonably warm fall. The tropical milkweed is still going strong, and the cleome is just starting to look worse for the wear. The bees are out and about: the bumble bees are tending my fall-bearing raspberries and they actually sleep in the flowers. Ben’s honeybees are on the milkweed, Russian sage, Montauk daisies, and remaining wild flowers. Here are some photos of the beauty of fall in my garden.
by Angela Hartley | Aug 31, 2021 | Insects in the Gardens, The Gardens
Skippers are the unsung and underappreciated butterflies of the garden. They are not big, or bold, or fancy like the swallowtails. They don’t have their own rescue and Facebook groups like the monarchs, at least not to my knowledge. People don’t obsess over the fate of the skippers; in fact, many people never even notice them.
But to me, skippers are the stalwarts. They will hang out anywhere: from weed patches to rose gardens. They are not picky. They happily go about their way, quietly pollinating and gently minding their own business. Their colors are generally not so flashy as their larger cousins, but they have beauty and charm nonetheless. The photos below are all of Hobomok skippers (except one dingy–can you find him?) on lavender, coneflower and wallflower.
And although the cabbage whites are not skippers, like the skipper they are always around but much harder to photograph. I’ve also included a pearl crescent and a tiny Eastern tailed blue. Their movements are fast and darting, just like the skippers.
by Angela Hartley | Aug 15, 2021 | Bees, Insects in the Gardens, The Gardens
It’s Sunday. I’m doing laundry, cleaning, shredding zucchini for bread and to freeze. I should be scrubbing the kitchen floor. Instead, I decided to walk around the yard with my camera,and this is what I found.
Now, I’ll go scrub the floor!
