Dave Ingram's Natural History Blog

Thatching Ants | Formica spp.

As the days get shorter and the temperature starts to drop activity at the thatching ant (Formica spp.) mound in my mother-in-law’s yard begins to change. Early in the cool morning there is little happening on the surface. A few ants move slowly around the entrance holes, arranging fir needles and other bits of woody and plant debris. Later as the day heats up the mound more ants emerge and the activity becomes more frenetic.

While most people don’t like ants I find them quite fascinating. Thatching ants are entertaining to watch and are beneficial in controlling other insects. In addition, many species of birds visit the mound to use the ants for “anting” in an effort to rid themselves of skin parasites. I enjoy sitting and watching a mound at work – there’s something meditative about it!

Top of the Mound

More photographs and video below!

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Rough-skinned Newt | Taricha granulosa

I had a call from a woman in Parksville today who had discovered a rough-skinned newt (Taricha granulosa) and was wondering if she had reason to be concerned because she had eaten after handling the amphibian.

The skin of the rough-skinned newt contains tetrodoxin which if ingested blocks nerve impulses – their orange belly is a warning to predators to think twice about eating them. Fortunately newts are docile and gentle amphibians and only release the toxin if they are extremely agitated. Interestingly, according to the RBCM Handbook Amphibians and Reptiles of British Columbia, tetrodoxin has not been found on the skin of rough-skinned newts on Vancouver Island. Regardless, it is suggested that you wash your hands after handling (gently) a rough-skinned newt.

The phone call reminded me that with the fall rains it is common to see newts moving through the forest (these photographs were taken in October a couple of years ago). These beautiful amphibians are a delight to see and photograph. Watch for them crossing roads and trails through dark old-growth forest with a lot of leaf litter on the ground. If there’s a swamp or pond nearby there is a good chance that you may see a rough-skinned newt!

Rough-skinned Newt | Taricha granulosa

Red-legged Frog | Rana aurora

This handsome red-legged frog (Rana aurora) was hopping across a trail close to Black Creek in Miracle Beach Provincial Park this weekend. Was interesting to see the frog in the forest – when we first spotted it we thought it might be a western toad (Bufo boreas) due to its size and the habitat. However, a closer look at its golden eyes and distinctive red colouring on its hindlegs quickly confirmed it as a red-legged frog. The frog patiently allowed me to take a few photographs before moving deeper into the woods on the other side of the trail.

The red-legged frog is Blue listed in BC and Vulnerable by Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) primarily due to habitat loss and competition from introduced species of frogs and predatory fish.

You can learn more about frogs and other amphibians in British Columbia by visiting the BC Frog Watch website.

Variable Darner | Aeshna interrupta

I had the opportunity to lead a Young Naturalists Club walk this morning out at Woodhus Slough just north of the Oyster River. We were looking for dragonflies and on this sunny morning were fortunate to find a few. It’s late in the year for dragonflies and many of the ones that we caught (and released) were looking tattered.

With children, dragonfly watching can be challenging. A fair amount of patience and the ability to stay still for long periods of time are both prerequisites. Those using nets also need the skill required to catch these amazing fliers without harming them.

Still, we had a good morning out in the sedges at the edge of the slough. We caught a couple of paddle-tailed darners (Aeshna palmata) and one striped meadowhawk (Sympetrum pallipes). The kids had a good close-up look at these two species in-hand before they were released.

I returned to the edge of the water after the group had left and perservered for another forty-five minutes or so. As the day heated up so did the activity around the water. I was able to catch and photograph a variable darner (Aeshna interrupta) and got a fleeting look at a damselfly moving through the sedge. All in all, it was an enjoyable way to spend the morning – I highly recommend it!

Variable Darner | Aeshna interrupta

Paddle-tailed Darner | Aeshna palmata

Paddle-tailed Darner | Aeshna palmata

It was a very windy day on the east coast of Vancouver Island today and tree seeds were on the move. We took a family walk in Miracle Beach Provincial Park this morning and at one point it seemed like it was snowing seeds! At first we thought that the seeds were all bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) due to their spinning descent but quickly realized that some of the seeds were smaller. Sorting through the collection of seeds on the side of the trail we discovered two other types of tree seeds that behaved very similarly to the samaras of the bigleaf maple.

Bigleaf Maple | Acer macrophyllum

The first was the much smaller and more “delicate” seed of the Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). I think that most people are familiar with Douglas fir cones and their distinctive bracts that have been described as “mouse tail and hind legs.” I hadn’t given much thought to how Douglas fir spread its seeds but today it was obvious that wind plays a significant role in dispersal.

Douglas Fir Seed | Pseudotsuga menziesii

The second seed was a little more robust and often covered in sticky pitch. It was attached to thick scales that sometimes fell to the ground in clumps. Both of these are characteristics of the grand fir (Abies grandis) which has upright cones that break apart in the autumn when seeds are dispersed.

Grand Fir | Abies grandis

It was a lovely day to spend walking in the woods and examining tree seeds. Once again I marveled at how resourceful trees are at reproducing successfully. Using wind to disperse seed has an aspect of chance to it but this is offset by the volume of seeds produced and the potential for the seeds to travel a significant distance. It seems likely that at least some of these seeds will survive and grow.

For more, read Meet the Bigleaf Maple and Coastal Conifers on Jocie’s blog.