Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Tarnished Plant Bug

Rather wish I hadn't bothered to post this photo, but I don't have the time or energy to look for a different one. I grabbed it last night, hoping to add a change of colour on my photostream, which is looking very green these days : ) Fortunately, at least the Hollyhocks and Gladioli were still in bloom and in good condition when I called in briefly at the Reader Rock Garden after an afternoon volunteer shift on 26 August 2015. Most of the flowers there had finished for the season and many of the ones that did still exist were past their prime. Still managed to get a few photos, though, including this beautiful pink Hollyhock flower. I think its little visitor is a Tarnished Plant Bug. "Alcea (Ál-ce-a), commonly known as hollyhocks, is a genus of about 60 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae. Most species are native to southwest and central Asia, although a few are native to southeast Europe or Egypt." From Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcea I wasn't sure whether I should go there or not that day, as the air quality had been very poor for a number of days, due to smoke blowing across from the devastating forest fires in Washington State, northwest US. Fortunately, the rain that had been falling for a few days helped the firefighters fight the flames.

These common wildflowers, Tall Lungwort/Languid Ladies/Tall Bluebell - and Dangling Damsels, according to one of my friends! - grow in many places, and I occasionally stop to shoot a little hanging cluster of the blue flowers and pink buds. This time, I was lucky enough to spot what I think is a Tarnished Plant Bug on the plant I was photographing. On 7 June 2015, it was a hot day – way too hot for my liking. I was not keen on the idea of being out in the sun for three hours, but neither could I have stayed in my place one more minute - it felt like an oven! I decided to join birding friends for a walk at the west end of South Glenmore Park and we had a lovely, leisurely walk going westwards, stopping often to look at, or listen to, a variety of birds. I think my favourites were a pair of colourful American Goldfinch. It was also fun to see a little Black-capped Chickadee looking out from its nest cavity. There were quite a few species of wildflower as well, including these dainty Tall Lungwort flowers. I so rarely go on a walk these days, so I tend to miss many of the wildflowers. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mertensia_paniculata "The dried leaves were used in herbal tea mixtures, especially when treating the lungs. (It was considered stimulating to the respiratory system.) Externally, the leaves can be used as poultices on cuts and wounds. Northern Bluebell can be used as a potherb, but is a bit too hairy for salads." From BorealForest.org. www.borealforest.org/herbs/herb23.htm Will add Janet and Bernie’s bird list below, for my own memory. Thanks for such an enjoyable afternoon, both of you! A stop afterwards at the Good Earth café was so much appreciated and enjoyed, too. 1. Great Blue Heron - 1 2. Canada Goose - 40 3. Mallard - 5 4. Gadwall - 2 5. Swainson's Hawk - 1 6. Franklin's Gull - 30+ 7. Woodpecker sp. likely Sapsucker - 1 8. Olive-sided Flycatcher -1 9. Least Flycatcher - 12 10. Red-eyed Vireo - 2 11. Black-billed Magpie - 1 12. American Crow - 4 13. Common Raven - 1 14. Tree Swallow - 4 15. Black-capped Chickadee - 2 @nest site. 16. House Wren - 11 17. American Robin - 6 18. Cedar Waxwing - 6 19. Yellow Warbler - 10 20. Chipping Sparrow - 1 21. Clay-coloured Sparrow - 4 22. Baltimore Oriole - 1 23. Red-winged Blackbird - 3 24. Brown-headed Cowbird - 3 25. House Finch - 3 26. American Goldfinch - 5 27. House Sparrow - 2 Least Chipmunk - 1 Muskrat - 1 Yellow Swallowtail Butterfly - 10+ Blue Azure - 1 Alpine sp. Butterfly - 15+

These very tiny insects are one of my favourites to see - though I'm not sure if they are classified as "pests". I love seeing the tiny heart-shaped pattern on their back. Found this one on one of the Maximillan Sunflowers near the "hide" at Frank Lake, on September 3rd. I can never remember just where the "hide" is at Frank Lake, so I've just marked Frank Lake as a whole on my map. www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/insects/fad40s00.html

This very tiny Tarnished Plant Bug was on a Yarrow plant growing in Jim Coutts' amazing homestead garden, just north east of Nanton, southern Alberta. Love seeing these little bugs with their white heart pattern : ) The adult is about 3 mm wide and 6 mm long. and has a "distinctive, triangular or ‚ 'V'- shaped marking in the upper centre of their backs and membranous wingtips ... Only recently have lygus bugs been considered serious economic pests of canola." Just got home from a busy, busy day, birding for maybe three hours this morning and then a special trip just south of the city to the Calgary Zoo Ranch. We are very fortunate to get this chance, and so were able to see a few endangered Whooping Cranes, which are in a breeding program there. Sandhill Cranes are also kept there. Also saw endangered Vancouver Island Marmots and several endangered Przewalski's Horses. www.srd.alberta.ca/BioDiversityStewardship/WildSpecies/Bi... nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/AsiaTrail/fact-phorse.cfm www.marmots.org/

I was trying to photograph several of these teeny Tarnished Plant Bugs at Pearce Estate this afternoon. One climbed on to my hand, so I made the most of it. Had to do a heavy crop in order to see it! I love the tiny heart shape that these bugs have on them. Jan, another heart for you!