המועדפים של keevilm

L2 Dytiscus sp. larva, caught in a bottle trap inspired by Inoda and Ladion's (2016) "New box trap for large predaceous diving beetles" baited with pig liver and placed in a clearing of sedges & Typha in a beaver pond.

All I can say is for certain is that they are not a D. hatchi larva. They do, however seem to be a caddisfly specialist such as D. harrisii based on morphological features such as a relatively small head and shorter mandibles as described by Leclair et al. (1986) in "Prey Choice in Larval Dytiscus harrisii Kirby and D. verticalis Say", and on account of behaviour and ability to predate caddisfly larvae as viewed in a captive setting.

Update: they have since ecdysed once and are now L3, pictures of caddisfly larvae hunting added.

Update: they have now pupated, length at the time of pupation was ~62mm, new pictures added. Pupation container 8 cm × 10 cm × 28 cm filled with 5 ½ cm of damp peat.

Update: they have reached adulthood, confirmed male D. harrisii—final adult length of ~39mm.

A nice example (I think) of Betula cordifolia in the swamp fringes of Frair Lake. I must admit this species has ducked somewhat under my radar, but with a bit of intentional effort I'm pleased to have found an example!

This turtle has been identified as "Maddie", a female who was originally caught in the Madawaska River near Lake of Two Rivers in Algonquin Provincial Park in 2014. Maddie was notched on the first left marginal scute, is missing her claws on her front left foot, and had a stubby tail (all three of these traits can be seen in my photo). See: https://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/pdf/raven_2014_3.pdf

Submitting this observation on behalf of Frank George who made the observation and took the photograph. I was contacted on July 18 due to my proximity to the location and confirmed it was a Massasauga.

M.J. Oldham # 20525, specimen record, replicates at MICH 1432797, QK, DAO, dfb, NHIC# 09962; identified as Najas marina by M.J. Oldham, !AA Reznicek; uncommon, in drifted and uprooted aquatic vegetation along shore; discovered here earlier this summer by Marianne Stainback (TRTE)

With the downward pressure of my boot, I was able to propel the crayfish out of its semi-flooded chimney.

Note (2022-02-16): The most significant threat to this occurrence would be European Common Reed (Phragmites australis ssp. australis). A stand exists within ~15 m to this observation.

If this occurrence is situated within suitable habitat, there is a myriad of suitable habitat locally for this taxon.

This was an incidental observation. This taxon was not known to exist in this area until this observation was confirmed.

A breeding aggregation - or more accurately an ovipositing aggregation - of five female Northern Two-lined Salamanders. This species is known to nest communally. There are nine eggs freshly deposited on the underside of the rock. Each one takes a female about three minutes to lay. I interrupted early in the process as all of the salamanders are quite visibly gravid.

I did not expect to find this; it was the first time I had seen reproductive behaviour in this species. The species was only confirmed to be present at this locality last year. The salamanders were ushered under an adjacent rock while the rock with the eggs was replaced very precisely and carefully.

This is in the Green's Creek complex in Ottawa's Greenbelt. I am obscuring the location to protect the specific site from "over-herping".