June 13 and 14, 2015 Avon, Connecticut ecosystem in a flower pot
I spent some time at my parents' apartment and was not able to get out and visit some special protected preserve, but on there 3rd floor deck in a flower pot of Calibrachoa was a very active ecosystem. Here is a breakdown:
Producers:
- Calibrachoa
Primary Consumers:
- Aphids - plant fluids
- Adult Flower Flies - nectar
- Adult Green Bottle Flies - nectar
- Treehoppers
Secondary Consumers:
- Larval Flower Flies - eating aphids
- Blue-Black Spider hunting wasps - chasing jumping spiders
- Two species of spiders, unidentified, one jumping and another small web weaver (this one eating flies)
??Consumer:
- Adult European Paper Wasp feeding on aphid honey dew
All is a little pot of flowers, I am sure there was more!
Observations
Photos / Sounds
What
Eastern Calligrapher (Toxomerus geminatus)Observer
jholmesDescription
On Calibrachoa.
Photos / Sounds
What
Archasia belfrageiObserver
jholmesDescription
Archasia belfragei (Tree Hopper) on Nasturtium.
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Flower Flies (Genus Syrphus)Observer
jholmesDescription
Larva of Syrphidae on Calibrachoa hunting aphids (also in photo). There were many Toxomerus marginatus adults in the area, this larva could have been one of theirs. The larvae have a very interesting movement, waving their anterior end around and tapping the leaf surface, then "inching" forward.
Photos / Sounds
What
European Paper Wasp (Polistes dominula)Observer
jholmesDescription
Polistes dominula feeding (?) on bread. Seems odd, but it looked like it was eating the bread. On 3rd Floor deck of apartment building.
Photos / Sounds
What
Greenbottle Flies (Genus Lucilia)Observer
jholmesDescription
Lapping aphid honey dew from Calibrachoa leaves and visiting flowers.
Photos / Sounds
What
Aphids (Family Aphididae)Observer
jholmesDescription
Aphids feeding on Calibrachoa.
These were being preyed upon by syrphid fly larvae.
Photos / Sounds
What
Oblique Streaktail (Allograpta obliqua)Observer
jholmesDescription
Touching abdomen to plant surface. I believe that it was laying eggs. I have other images taken on this same day of the larvae and I believe an egg which I saw a fly laying.
Photos / Sounds
What
Insects (Class Insecta)Observer
jholmesDescription
I saw a Toxomerus marginatus perched on the leaf in the center of this image, curve its abdomen around and touch it to the edge of this leaf. When it flew away the small green ovoid objects was on the edge of the leaf. Possible Toxomerus marginatus egg?
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