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Drew Monkman

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Invertebrates

Columns

Winter survival part 3: The genius of trees and invertebrates 

Peterborough Examiner  – February 18, 2022 – by Drew Monkman             It’s no exaggeration to say that this winter has been brutally cold. On January 29, the mercury plummeted to -34 C!  While we enjoy the luxury of our cozy, heated homes, plants and animals are on their own. Surviving this kind Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 1 yearFebruary 18, 2022 ago
Sightings

The beautiful Tomato Hornworm (Five-spotted Hawkmoth)

I was doing maintenance in the vegetable garden today and found three very large and healthy Tomato Hornworms which will soon pupate and become a Five-spotted Hawkmoth. I placed them on some tomato seedlings that came up in the compost pile as the larvae have a sweet tooth for the Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 7 yearsAugust 2, 2016 ago
Sightings

Giant Swallowtail at Curve Lake

I got a picture of this Giant Swallowtail butterfly today (August 1, 2016)), a species I had never seen before. So again, something unusual has popped up at Curve Lake!  I did some reading and these butterflies are moving northward. Reports thus far say that they are now found at Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 7 yearsAugust 2, 2016 ago
Sightings

First Giant Swallowtails of the summer

I saw my first Giant Swallowtail of the year in the garden today, hovering around the phlox. I checked the dill plantation but there were no larvae. No Monarchs have been seen. Bill Snowden, Ennismore Note: I saw my first Giant Swallowtail today, too, just east of Havelock.  Giant Swallowtails Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 7 yearsJuly 29, 2016 ago
Sightings

No reports of Giant Swallowtails yet this year – Few Monarch sightings

I have not seen a Giant Swallowtail this year at all. Although I haven’t kept count of Monarchs this year, I did see my first one  on May 29th – my earliest ever – and my second on June 2nd.  The first was near Warsaw, and the other, near Stoney Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 7 yearsJuly 16, 2016 ago
Columns

INSECT-WATCHING FOR ALL: People of all ages are captivated by butterflies, moths and dragonflies

The Kawarthas is home to at least 100 species of butterflies, 135 kinds of dragonflies and damselflies and a thousand or more different moths. Learning to identify the more common species is a great way to connect to the natural world around us and get kids interested in nature. Butterflies Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 7 yearsMay 19, 2016 ago
Columns

Insects on ice – There’s more invertebrate activity in winter than you might think!

Even people who don’t like winter will grudgingly admit “well, at least, there’s no bugs.” Guess again. Insects are indeed out and about in the winter woods. The good news, however, is that the species you’re most likely to encounter ‑ the minuscule snow flea ‑ has no interest in Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 7 yearsFebruary 18, 2016 ago
Columns

Naked and Wrapped in Silk – by Tim Dyson

If you think from reading the title that you are about to read an excerpt from a steamy romance novel, I am afraid you might be disappointed. If, however, you have an interest in where moths go during the cold months, then I hope you`ll find the following of interest. Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 8 yearsJanuary 1, 2015 ago
Columns

The stingers of summer: Are wasps, hornets and yellowjackets ruining your outdoor enjoyment?

As pleasant as a late summer picnic might be, there always seems to be a handful of unwanted guests. Like corn-on-the-cob, tomatoes and blueberry pie, hornets and yellowjackets are often part of a late summer outside meal. They would be little more than an annoyance if it wasn’t for the Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsAugust 14, 2014 ago
Columns

Life cycle and conservation of our native bees

In my last column, I began a discussion about the importance of our native bee species. It is becoming increasingly clear that native wild bees – not just Honey Bees – are vitally important pollinators for our food system and ecosystem health in general. The bad news, however, is that Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJuly 17, 2014 ago
Columns

Native bees deserve more respect, protection – Part 1

One of the joys of tuning into nature is discovering the many amazing organisms that exist right under our nose and often go unnoticed until someone points them out. When it comes to flying under the radar, there are few better examples than Ontario’s native bees. Susan Chan, a pollination Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJuly 3, 2014 ago
Columns

Can we save the Monarch migration? – Loss of milkweed in American Midwest proving to be disastrous for this iconic species

  Over the past couple of weeks, the milkweed plants in my perennial garden have literally bolted out of the ground. The Common Milkweeds already have flower buds, and the patch of Butterfly Milkweed is much larger than it was last year. However, as I admire these remarkable plants, I Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 9 years ago
Columns

High summer at Big Gull Lake

You’ll hear hummingbirds and insects by day, owls and loons by night Click here to read column Note: The bumble bee shown in the photo is not a rare Rusty-patched Bumble Bee but rather a Tri-coloured Bumble Bee, which is a much more common species.

By Drew Monkman, 10 yearsAugust 15, 2013 ago
Columns

Nature’s almanac for July 2013

Plants in bloom, bird song winding down during the hottest month of the year Click here to view column NOTE: The web address for dragonfly and damselfly pictures was mistakenly omitted from the column. Go to http://www.odonatacentral.org/

By Drew Monkman, 10 yearsJune 27, 2013 ago
Columns

Check out the bugs of winter (how invertebrates overwinter)

Look around and you’ll find there’s no such thing as a bug-less snow season Click to view column

By Drew Monkman, 10 yearsNovember 15, 2012 ago
Columns

Insects’ summer symphony (insect sounds/song)

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By Drew Monkman, 11 yearsAugust 23, 2012 ago
Columns

Light it up and go mothing (moth-watching)

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By Drew Monkman, 11 yearsJuly 12, 2012 ago
Columns

Bites and buzz are blossoming (mosquitoes)

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By Drew Monkman, 11 yearsMay 17, 2012 ago
Columns

Mad about Mussels

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By Drew Monkman, 11 yearsApril 12, 2012 ago
Columns

Surviving the winter freeze-up (how invertebrates overwinter)

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By Drew Monkman, 11 yearsFebruary 23, 2012 ago
Columns

Population Trends in Invertebrate and Plant Populations

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By Drew Monkman, 11 yearsNovember 24, 2011 ago
Columns

Where the Butterflies Hang Out (Petroglyph butterfly count)

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By Drew Monkman, 14 yearsSeptember 3, 2009 ago
Columns

Fast Flyers, Many Monarchs

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By Drew Monkman, 14 yearsMarch 24, 2009 ago
Columns

Deep Freeze for Frogs

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By Drew Monkman, 14 yearsFebruary 3, 2009 ago
Columns

Saving Monarchs (butterfly gardening)

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By Drew Monkman, 15 yearsMay 13, 2008 ago
Columns

Colonies in Crisis (honey bee decline)

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By Drew Monkman, 16 yearsMay 8, 2007 ago
Columns

Armed and Dangerous (wasps & yellowjackets)

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By Drew Monkman, 17 yearsAugust 29, 2006 ago
Columns

Hidden Beauty (underwing moths)

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By Drew Monkman, 17 yearsAugust 22, 2006 ago
Columns

The Gentle Art of Mothing (moths)

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By Drew Monkman, 17 yearsJune 20, 2006 ago
Columns

Hordes of Herbivores (caterpillars)

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By Drew Monkman, 17 years ago

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