Freds, frogs, spinx caterpillar

The Freds   <= tracking data

My faithful readers have been enjoying the Freds. Bless your hearts, you make my day. Our first Fred (RIP) would disappear to her winter burrow in August. Last year Auntie Fred, went down for winter Sept. 12th. I saw her with leaves in her mouth, and the next day no sign. They'll arise in March, according to past history. 

Auntie has a burrow in the flag pole garden. She was out for hours munching nearby. 

You may giggle. I had a great photo last week. Both Freds were out, Auntie at the top X and MiniFred nearer the deck, at the second X. In some computer glitch it disappeared. 

The sun makes a pretty interesting photo on the trailcam!

Then there are two frogs in the goldfish pond. (Soon the fish will have to come in.) The second biggest frog has an issue with its eye. I wanted a closer look. It doesn't seem to be suffering, but I can't help. Those of us with cataracts can empathise. He seems to be able to eat.

Do you come here often?! 

Pandora Sphinx Moth Caterpillar

I've no photos of the adult. You can see one on Wiki. I was fascinated. It was in the front garden. 

A moth... 

Cinnamon and I went walkies to fetch trailcams. Caterpigly was walking across the driveway, towards Cinn! After I fetched the trailcam memory card, I walked back and it was still on the driveway. It was picked up and placed on the grass. 

 

The Dogwood plants have produced fruits...

or flowers. Rose of Sharon with one bloom. There are a couple more to come, but three have been chomped off my someone. Ah, nature.

Bright red berries which we must enjoy. Soon the trees will sleep for winter.

Another huge caterpillar

I was out working on the flag pole and Dorah, who likes to bring home frogs, snakes, mice, etc.

Hermit Sphinx moth, Aren't they huge?

Another Sphinx

caught this and brought it in from our forest,
beside the lawn in the backyard. She dropped it on the lawn, and sat on it, so I wouldn't take it away. She did the same with a 2' garter snake. Sigh.

     "Nothing here, Mommy. Go away."

This is:
Ceratomia amyntor Elm sphinx

They have a horn on the back, quite intriguing. A lovely bright green colour, unlike the scary-looking black one I found the other day. Also a sphinx. They are the largest moths, and quite non-descript.

From BAMONA

Wing Span: 3 1/4 - 4 1/2 inches (8.2 - 11.5 cm).

Life History: Fully-grown caterpillars pupate and overwinter in burrows underground.

Flight: . One brood in the north from June-July, two broods in the south from March-October.

Caterpillar Hosts: Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), and cherry (Prunus).

Adult Food: Adults probably do not feed.

Habitat: A wide variety of forested and open habitats.

Range: Nova Scotia west to Saskatchewan and western North Dakota and Colorado; south to central Florida, the Gulf Coast, Texas, and New Mexico.

Elm sphinx from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
Dorah found a Ceratomia amyntor, Elm sphinx caterpillar in the forest. She brought it over to me and I liberated it.

It's that time of year with fall on the horizon

Just a few leaves are turning.

The sun has been shifting, cooler at night. It's a nice break and I don't mind the seasonal changes. Snow doesn't bother me and I'm thankful for warm clothes.

Jerry isn't thrilled with the temperatures. Geraldine just goes underwater all night.

Jeremiah was staying in the warm water.

Above the garage door on the wall...

Dragonflies are going to be gone!
Can you see the hopeful tree frog?

Look closer!
They will be hiding under the leaves soon.

Then, I moved the BBQ under the eaves, which I should have done after I finished cooking last night, and look what I found underneath.

Expert confirmation: Hypercompe scribonia Great Leopard Moth

Then, on our way in to see the chiropodist in Carleton Place, yes yet another medical appointment - he's high maintenance between food intolerances and PSA. He needs looking after, and me!
This dude passed us on a double line, going up a hill. Next, he passed the truck in front of us, he was doing 90km/hour as well. Can you see the oncoming car?

P.S. I have an ID for my previous caterpillar, with a face only a mother could love:
Lintneria eremitus Hermit sphinx

It looks something like this

Sphingidae family; Hawk Moths, or Hummingbird Moths – another 'last one'

Diurnal clearwing: a smaller sphinx moth
AKA Hummingbird moth

 Here is another critter that will soon disappear. The Hawk Moths, or Hummingbird Moths are fascinating.

Here are some of my giant moth photos. Most are nocturnal, I'd guess to avoid birds! Hubby was reading in the backyard the other day and a dragonfly landed on his book, carrying a spider larger than the dragonfly's head, and promptly began to eat it!

Paonias excaecata
Blinded sphinx

I do depend on the volunteer experts at BAMONA to help me ID them. You'll notice that the Butterfly and Moth books feature very few caterpillars. Thing is, we see them flit about the garden as moths, but it is so much easier to photograph them as caterpillars, and then they cocoon and fly away for the rest of the seasons (Fall, winter, spring.) It is most discouraging that they are hard to differentiate at the caterpillar stage.

Sphinx Chersis

Hubby helped with photos!

You can see the size of them!

Of course, once I get into my files, I find more of the lovely moths that I shall miss, once winter sets in.

Io moth;  Saturniidae; Automeris io

We're not sure which one my 8cm caterpillar might be, but since I've had quite a few Hyles lineata; White-lined Sphinx. They adore my phlox plants and I've battled mosquitoes in the night to get photos. Here are a few shots of the nocturnal beauties.

The Sphingidae belong to the Superfamily Sphingoidea.
Members of this family are commonly called "hummingbird," "sphinx," or "hawk" moths, and some can be mistaken for hummingbirds. Most are medium to large moths, with heavy bodies; wingspread reaches 5 inches or more in some species. The Sphingidae are strong and fast fliers, with a rapid wingbeat.
I'm thinking that this caterpillar might be the

Tersa Sphinx; Xylophanes tersa. Family: Sphingidae Subfamily: Macroglossinae

They have a fairly unmarked body.

Or Sphinx chersis
Great ash sphinx

Here is my large caterpillar buddy, found in my Wild Oregano patch. I was tempted to keep it in my aquarium, and let it morph there, but I didn't want to risk it. I found it the next day, in the same patch (such little feet) , took a few more photos and set it back down in the oregano.

Sphinx moths, Aren't they huge?

I have had expert confirmation:
Lintneria eremitus Hermit sphinx