#tracksandsignsofinsects

[norfolknaturalist]

Goldenrod Gall Fly (Eurosta solidaginis) on the Lynn Valley Trail, March 2020. These round swellings in the stems of Goldenrod are caused by the internal feeding of a larval fly, the Goldenrod Gall Fly. These Galls tell a fascinating story of natural selection. Parasitic wasps lay their eggs inside the galls so that their larvae will eat the Gall Fly larva and be safe within the gall. The wasps prefer smaller galls, because they can't reach the gall fly within galls that are too large. If the Galls are too large, however, they will come under attack by birds (mostly Chickadees and Downy Woodpeckers). So because natural selection is working in both directions at once, the optimum size for the Galls is not too large and not too small. . . . . . . . #nature #ontario #goldenrodgall #goldenrodgallfly #galls #plantgall #tracksandsignsofinsects #insects_of_our_world #insect #insectlovers #insectecology #evolution #naturalselection #interspeciesinteraction #ecologyinaction #ecologicalrelationships #lynnvalleytrail #norfolkwild #blognorfolk #scienceeducation (at Lynn Valley Trail) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMcWLt_gYFg/?igshid=107bvxmfjdg8h

#nature #ontario #goldenrodgall #goldenrodgallfly #galls #plantgall #tracksandsignsofinsects #insects_of_our_world #insect #insectlovers #insectecology #evolution #naturalselection #interspeciesinteraction #ecologyinaction #ecologicalrelationships #lynnvalleytrail #norfolkwild #blognorfolk #scienceeducation

[norfolknaturalist]

Tussock Moth (Genus Orgyia) eggs under a bridge railing on the Lynn Valley Trail, March 2018. Female Tussock Moths can't fly but the males can, and search for females to mate with. Once mated, the female laid these eggs on top of the remains of her cocoon (the silky hairy bundle supporting the eggs). . . . . . . . #nature #ontario #tussockmoth #insecteggs #tracksandsignsofinsects #macros #macrophoto #macrophotography #insects_of_our_world #lynnvalleytrail #norfolkwild #blognorfolk #insectsign #identifyinsect (at Lynn Valley Trail) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMW3xPng7Ll/?igshid=ktl4cl0szrxy

#nature #ontario #tussockmoth #insecteggs #tracksandsignsofinsects #macros #macrophoto #macrophotography #insects_of_our_world #lynnvalleytrail #norfolkwild #blognorfolk #insectsign #identifyinsect

[norfolknaturalist]

Cocoon of a Campoplegine Wasp on the Lynn Valley Trail, June 2018. Looking almost like a tiny Easter Egg, this cocoon was formed by the larval wasp after it had eaten another insect from the inside. The host was most likely a Caterpillar, but this Subfamily of Wasps is also known to target Sawflies and a few Beetles. When laying her eggs inside the host, the female wasp will also inject special viruses that compromise the host's immune system, which is an incredible example of symbiosis. . . . . . . . #nature #ontario #campopleginae #waspcocoons #tracksandsignsofinsects #cocoon #macroworlds #insects_of_our_world #parasiticwasp #viralsymbiosis #parasitoidwasp #tinynature #macrostructure #lynnvalleytrail #blognorfolk #norfolkwild (at Lynn Valley Trail) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPtFU7PA2cf/?utm_medium=tumblr

#nature #ontario #campopleginae #waspcocoons #tracksandsignsofinsects #cocoon #macroworlds #insects_of_our_world #parasiticwasp #viralsymbiosis #parasitoidwasp #tinynature #macrostructure #lynnvalleytrail #blognorfolk #norfolkwild