Insects Weed Lake Wetland

1 insects

1.1 butterflies
1.2 diving beetles
1.3 dragonflies
1.4 ladybugs
1.5 grass spiders

insects
butterflies

butterflies can found around weed lake. if lucky, might see monarch butterfly. these beautiful insects can migrate 3,200 km mexico arrive around weed lake , other locations in canada summer. insect eats nectar flowers , sap trees. 4 inches long , have orange , black on wings. male monarch butterfly darker orange , female monarch butterfly lighter orange. there white monarchs. predators include birds/spiders , other insects around weed lake. during life cycle, butterfly lays eggs , hatch caterpillars. caterpillars eat ton of food until turn pupa. in few weeks pupa turns chrysalis butterfly.

diving beetles

if water @ weed lake, might able spot diving beetle. have quite though because 4 – 5 mm long. diet consists of dead plants , fish , live week. start eggs, pupa, larvae , adult. diving beetles fly pond pond. these beetles’ predators include frogs, fish, salamanders, , water spiders. there on 300,000 species around world. diving beetles ride on backs of fish. bodies , nose round. can black, brown, , green.

dragonflies

when @ weed lake during summer months, might able find few dragonflies. dragonflies times can blue or green or brown clear wings. dragonflies live off mosquitoes , flies. dragonflies can 1.9–13 cm. found near fresh water. insect can live 3 weeks or 6 month if weather dry , warm. life cycle includes stages; eggs, nymph , adult. dragonflies lived 300 million years ago. grown dragonflies master fliers.

ladybugs

lady bug @ weed lake march 2015

you can find ladybugs in dry , grassy parts of weed lake. eat aphids, pollen, nectar, other insects, plants, mushrooms , many others. life cycle begins adult ladybugs mating. lay eggs, hatch , turn larva. larva molts, turn pupa, young adult , mature adult. ladybugs can come in different sizes. ladybugs different. ladybugs can red, orange, yellow or black. predators small birds , ants. there 5,000 different kinds of species left. lay golden eggs. touch , taste antenna. ladybugs keep warm huddling together. live 1–2 years.

grass spiders

the grass spider (agelenopsis) has interesting life cycle. starts out little egg hatches , looks tiny adult. sheds skin grows. these arachnids eat grasshoppers, ants , crickets. things prey on grass spiders include cats, dogs, owls , birds. humans predator of grass spider , people don’t them , choose step on them. can grow 1/3 2/3 inches when full grown. if want find grass spider located in north america , lives around grassy areas, stone fences, , small shrubs. find these critters @ weed lake careful not step on them. brownish grey prominent stripe markings. life span year long.