Some late season orchids of southern Ontario

The subject of orchids is of interest to a great many people. The average person would not be aware of the fact that there are approximately 60 species of orchids growing wild in Ontario, and 18 of them are found at Rondeau Provincial Park. There are actually 19 species that have been recorded for Rondeau, although one, the Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine) is not native.

I wrote about early season orchids quite some time ago, and you can find that post here. This post will carry on with the orchid theme, but focus on species one might find in the later part of the season.

One of the orchids currently in flower at Rondeau is Small Green Wood Orchid (Platanthera clavellata).

 These photos were actually taken a couple of years ago. In checking some of the plants yesterday, I only noted a couple of individual flowers actually open, but in the next few days they should all open up. As one can see from the photos, this orchid isn't spectacularly coloured, and can easily be missed unless an observer knows what to look for. Case in point: they are growing on this rotting log in the slough, which is covered with lots of other vegetation!

The sloughs are, comparatively speaking, full of water this year, making access to such fallen rotting logs difficult. On occasion, one can find them growing in the mucky soil at the edge of the slough.

An orchid that may still be in flower, but does not occur at Rondeau is White Fringed-Orchid (Platanthera blephariglottis). It has been recorded in wet prairie north of here, as well as in fens and bogs. I photographed this orchid in a beautiful bog in Huron County a few years ago.

Somewhat similar in structure but very different in appearance to White Fringed-Orchid is this next one, the Yellow Fringed-Orchid, although it is more orange than yellow.

Sadly this one is likely extirpated (gone) from Ontario. If it were still present, it would likely be in flower in late July to early August. There were historical records from savanna habitat in the Leamington area prior to 1901. And no, I am not old enough to have seen this there, nor did I discover a time machine.....I visited a very nice prairie/savanna area in the greater Toledo, OH area with two other orchid hunter/photographer types in the late 1980s where some of these fabulous plants still occur. The photos here are scanned from my slides taken during that memorable foray.

An attempt was made to grow some plants from seed in the mid-1990s and plant the young plants in promising habitat in the Ojibway Prairie area, where other historical records indicated they once occurred. Follow-up searches to date have not indicated that the plantings were successful, but it takes a few years for plants to mature and flower and it has been ten years or more since anyone last investigated.

One of the rarest orchids in Canada is one that will be flowering as soon as early August: Nodding Pogonia (Triphora trianthophora). It does occur at Rondeau, and is currently the only known location for it in the entire country.

I wrote extensively about this endangered orchid in a previous post, which you can see here.

Towards the middle of August, one of the several species of Ladies'-tresses orchids will appear. A rare one, which does not occur at Rondeau but on rare prairies elsewhere, is the Southern Slender Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes lacera var gracilis). Note the spiralling arrangement of flowers, each of which as a distinctive green centre.

In very early September, one may be able to find one of the smallest of our native orchids, the Autumn Coralroot (Corallorhiza odontorhiza). It has a flowering and a non-flowering form, yet both appear to produce seed. It is about the size and diameter of a pencil, but with its brownish-purple stem and diminutive or non-existent flowers, is very difficult to find even when you know where it is. This next photo shows it in all of its non-flowering glory, greatly magnified!

Another Spiranthes is the Yellow Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes ochroleuca). One of the sites in Chatham-Kent seems to have been destroyed, but another small population on private property is still around. I photographed this in September of 2014, although it is a little past its best. It has a creamy yellow centre of its flower.

The largest Spiranthes in our area is Great Plain's Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes magnicamporum), appearing at Rondeau in good numbers by mid-September and lasting until about the first of October. Its flowers are relatively massive compared to the others in that genus, and it has a distinct scent. Some say it smells a bit like vanilla, but not to me. I think it smells faintly like a soft plastic toy that has been left in the hot sun for too long! Not sure what that says about my olfactory.......

The smallest Spiranthes that grows in Ontario, but has yet to be found at Rondeau, is Oval Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes ovalis). One can tell from this next photo, where it is on the left and S. magnicamporum is on the right, just how small it is.

It is also the latest flowering orchid we have, often not beginning to flower until about the end of September and continuing well October. I even found one still flowering on November 11 one year. It was first found at Walpole Island in the early 1980s, but seems to have disappeared from there. However it is known from several locations on Pelee Island.

Oval Ladies'-tresses

So there is a bit of information on some of the orchids present in southern Ontario in the latter part of the season!

Life on a milkweed

I'm a big fan of milkweeds. There are 9 species that are native to southwestern Ontario, some of which are quite rare. The most common species is...you guessed it...Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca). It can vary in colour......

...but they all seem to be very fragrant. To me, it seems to be the most fragrant of all of the Asclepias species, and judging by the number of pollinators and others that can be found on it during the time it flowers, it is quite fragrant to all of these insects as well.

Fortunately I have a dozen or more plants in my yard, which enables me to keep close tabs on what insects are visiting, and many of the following photos were taken there. But whenever I am out in a natural area, I try and take a look to see what I can find and photograph on the milkweeds there.

Some of the critters are quite tiny. This first image shows the Ailanthus moth, which is named for its association with Tree-of-heaven. This tree is not native, but does well in disturbed areas and abandoned city lots. They are also invasive in even higher quality natural areas, unfortunately, but at least the moth is colourful.

Ailanthus moth

This next one is a very small day flying moth, called a Currant Clearwing. The larvae feed on raspberries, which we have in fair abundance in our yard.

Currant Clearwing

 An even tinier flying insect is this iridescent Long-legged Fly resting on the milkweed leaf. It is incredibly fast. I couldn't use the Through The Lens flash metering system of the camera as that system sends a quick burst of light to the subject to evaluate how much light is needed before generating a second flash during the actual photo. In the less than 1/1000 sec between the initial burst and the one given during the time the photo was taken, the fly had disappeared completely out of the frame, so I had to resort to manual flash where just a single burst is given.

Long-legged Fly (Condylostylus sp)

 This next one is a One-spotted Stinkbug. I didn't get a chance to see if it lived up to its name. This was photographed at Bickford Oak Woods and is the second time I have seen and photographed one there.

One-spotted Stinkbug

 Next is the aptly named Red Milkweed Beetle. They are fairly abundant.

In a previous blog post I highlighted how death comes to insects looking for nectar. This next image shows a medium-sized bee that has just been 'caught'. Note its right hind leg which is outstretched behind and up into the flower. The bee struggled and struggled and eventually was able to escape.

Even butterflies can end up with their legs caught. This Mourning Cloak in the next image

is a good-sized butterfly, but it was caught. At first I just thought it was busily feeding on the nectar, but after awhile I realized it couldn't get away. It struggled for a long time. I eventually gently grabbed its leg and tugged just enough to get its leg out intact, whereupon the butterfly moved over to an Echinacea plant nearby and just sat there for the longest time, presumably exhausted by its struggle and trying to decide whether the nectar at that fragrant milkweed was worth the risk.

Mourning Cloak

 Other butterflies include this Banded Hairstreak, only the second one I have noted in our yard.

Banded Hairstreak

Northern Broken-Dash Skipper

Question Mark

Tawny-edged Skipper (tentative ID)

 Sometimes one comes across a more vicious looking creature. While prowling around looking for something tiny to photograph, I came across this cluster of Earwigs tucked in waiting for darkness so they could head out searching for plant or insect matter to feed on. Those pincers are impressive!

Another impressive looking insect is this quite large Great Golden Digger Wasp. Most members of the bee and wasp family that are found here are mostly interested in the nectar or other insects. I've never been bothered even though I am using a macro lens and flash. Moving slowly and carefully is the key, I think. There is one extremely large bluish black wasp that I have yet to photograph, but when it comes around it is constantly on the move and I haven't been able to get close enough....yet.

Great Golden Digger Wasp

 This next critter is one of the several different kinds of Flower Long-horned Beetles that can be found visiting flowers. Characteristic of this group is the very long antennae, usually at least half the total length of the insect's body.

Flower Long-horned Beetle

It looks like I can expect another generation of Red-banded Leafhoppers on my milkweed next season!

Red-banded Leafhopper

We don't have any squash growing in our yard, but we had this Squash Vine Borer, another type of day-flying moth, visiting the milkweed.

Squash Vine Borer moth

There isn't much water near by, but we get the occasional dragonfly. This female White-faced Meadowhawk is just using the milkweed as a resting place, and probably waiting to launch itself out to capture a flying insect for its next meal.

Milkweeds are indeed, great places to look for wildlife!

Honey Locust to Stinkhorn.....native plant highlights

A couple of posts ago, I gave a summary of some of the interesting species of fauna I came across while conducting a flora and fauna survey of a decommissioned railroad in Chatham-Kent. This post will focus on some of the highlights of the native flora. A future post may describe some of the many non-native species of plants.

Such railroad corridors are largely unexplored, since they frequently have 'No Trespassing' signs at the typical access points. When the railroads are in operation, if you are not paying attention trains can sneak up on you in a hurry! (Don't ask...... :-).

Typical scene along one section of this rail corridor

 Obviously there isn't much, if any, pristine natural area habitat along these corridors, but it is surprising how much native flora and fauna use what habitat there sometimes is. For example when doing a survey on a corridor in 2012, I discovered a provincially rare plant that had never before been seen in Chatham-Kent and a butterfly that had very limited records in C-K.

In such wide open sections as shown in the image above, there is always the hope that some prairie vegetation may be found, maybe even a patch of prairie. Such was the case in 2012.

Most obvious prairie vegetation becomes more visible from mid-summer to late summer. I'm hoping that my future visits to this corridor in the next few weeks will enable me to find more prairie species along here. Historically areas not far from this corridor had some of the largest extent and best quality tallgrass prairie in Ontario!

Some of the prairie associates that I have found so far, include:

Canada Anemone

 Canada Anemone (Anemone canadensis) is certainly not limited to prairies, as it is frequently found along the sunny edges of woodlands. Prairie is where this plant really does well.

Prairie Milkweed

 Prairie Milkweed (Asclepias sullivantii) is rare in Ontario, limited mainly to the extreme southwest. It is just coming into peak flowering condition now, slightly later than the similar looking Common Milkweed. Butterflies and other pollinators love it!

Yarrow

 Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is often found in disturbed old field, but is definitely a prairie associate, and numerous pollinators can be found using it.

Climbing Prairie Rose

Climbing Prairie Rose (Rosa setigera) is rare in Ontario, being officially designated as "Special Concern', and is largely limited to Essex, Chatham-Kent and Lambton, although small populations do occur beyond those areas.

Some sections of this corridor are adjacent to bits of woodland, and there the diversity of flora changes.

Some species occurring there are likely remnants of the forest habitat that was there prior to the railroad being constructed.

Honey-Locust

Honey-Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) is unofficially rare in Ontario, being most common in the extreme southwest.

Wild Yam

Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa) is a climbing vine which is uncommon in Ontario. It doesn't have showy flowers......they don't get much showier than those tiny little balls on the slender branches shown here, but their leaves are distinctively heart-shaped.

Michigan Lily

Michigan Lily (Lilium michiganense) is a tall, brightly coloured flowering plant. It is widespread in southern Ontario but never seems to be abundant. It often occurs in woodland openings, and its bright orange flowers are pleasing to the eye.

Along the sides of the corridor are wet areas, prime habitat for plants such as this Southern Blue Flag (Iris virginica).

Southern Blue Flag

Another 'plant' that I came across, although not everyone would initially identify it as being a plant, is this unusual fungus:

Dog Stinkhorn

Dog Stinkhorn (Mutinus ravenelii) is, as its name suggests, a stinky fungus. I usually encounter them in the late summer or early fall, but for some reason, this one was evident in late June. One can usually smell them before seeing them, depending on which way the wind is blowing. It is this feature than enables them to spread their spores. Flies are attracted to the odour thinking it is a rotting bit of flesh and are looking for a place to lay their eggs, which fly larvae (maggots) will hatch out from and consume the rotting material. The flies crawl over the gelatinous tip of the fungus from where the odour emanates, searching for a place to lay their eggs, and this is where the spores are located. The spores then stick to the flies feet and are transferred to the next place the fly is inspecting. Just another one of the many wonders of nature!

Life and death in the backyard

Some days, one doesn't have to go far at all to see wildlife in action. The scale of the wildlife may be a bit different, but it is every bit as dramatic.

Milkweeds are in prime condition these days. I've never liked the name 'Common Milkweed' especially since, at least in Ontario, it has been considered a noxious weed for so many decades. Landowners were, up until a couple of years ago, required by law to eliminate it. Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is actually rather attractive and aromatic; its role in the insect and invertebrate world is quite amazing.

Numerous pollinating insects zero in on the colourful and fragrant flowers. But therein lies a huge risk for some of the critters. Note the intricate detail of the close-up of milkweed flowers in the next photo.

Some of these tiny flowering parts are a bit flexible, depending on how much pressure is put on them, and that can spell serious trouble to the insects applying that pressure. In the next image is a reasonable sized bee. It looks okay at first glance, but it is very dead.

As it has crawled over the flowers trying to collect nectar, one of its feet slipped between some of the flowering parts, and it is stuck. A bigger insect might have had the strength to free its foot. A smaller insect would not have gotten caught. But just as in the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, this third one was just right....or as far as the bee is concerned, just wrong. It was trapped and is now very dead. On rare occasions I have seen a leg remaining in the grip of these milkweed flowering parts, so somewhere there is a pollinator missing one of its six legs.

In previous years, the milkweeds are not as large and robust as they are this year, thanks to the much greater rainfall which has resulted in greater growth. As a result, when the plants and flowers are smaller, an insect the size of this bee would have escaped easily, and only smaller insects would have been caught.

On a recent occasion, I was taking a photo of a dead bee and it wasn't until I got the image on the computer that I noticed two creamy white legs somehow involved with the bee.

The white legs were from a Goldenrod Crab Spider which had caught this bee and was  presumably sucking the juices out of its victim.

After awhile, I went back outside to the scene of this incident and noted the now empty carcass was sitting on a milkweed leaf.

 And there not too far away, was the crab spider, with legs outstretched ready for another victim. In the case of a crab spider, the front four legs are larger and stronger than the back four, enabling it to capture and subdue its victim.

Crab spiders are able to change their colours from yellow to white to pink and various combinations in between. This enables it to lie in wait very inconspicuously. The change doesn't occur instantly, but normally takes several hours.

Other spiders are sometimes seen. In this next image is a Zebra Jumping Spider. There are several dozen different jumping spiders, all quite small, and some of them are quite elaborately coloured.

 And they can be found feasting on their prey, as in the case of this next image showing a jumping spider sucking the juices out of a fly.

In any natural environment, one can see death, but one can also see the promise of new life.

Cabbage White butterflies are common.

 Eventually one may find a caterpillar of this butterfly.

Black Swallowtail butterflies periodically show up.

 They search out dill, parsley and other members of the same family to lay their eggs on, as the caterpillars require them for nourishment.

This next image shows a very young caterpillar at about the first instar stage:

 At about the third instar stage:

 And just before it is ready to form a pupa.

Another butterfly that is quite often around our yard: the Question Mark.

Other insects include, unfortunately, Japanese Beetles.....colourful to be sure, but not desirable!

Lots of 'this' going on, but three's a crowd!

A few days ago we had some of these Mayflies, sometimes called Fishflies, hanging around.

Years ago they were reported along the Lake Erie shoreline to be so abundant that they would pile up on the roads deep enough to clog up the radiators of vehicles driving by to the point that the vehicles would overheat and be forced to stop! Large numbers of these insects are, in some respects, a good thing from a water quality standpoint. The greater the abundance of these insects, the better the water quality.

I started this post with a purplish-pink wildflower, and I will end it with a similarly coloured one that is in our yard: Climbing Prairie Rose (Rosa setigera), which is quite rare in Ontario and officially ranked as Special Concern. True to its name, it likes climbing when given a chance. One of the plants in our yard has climbed up at least 5-6 metres in an open branched tree.

Climbing Prairie Rose