Animals and Fungi
We're documenting the native fungi and animal species that we find in our biodiversity garden (easier said than done - something to do with legs and wings!).
Red-backed Salamander, Plethodon cinereus
While walking in our biodiversity garden we came upon a red-backed salamander eating an earthworm, 7 pm Monday, 14 November 2011. (photos NM Zitani, RG Thorn)
The honey bee (Apis mellifera), or European honey bee is a common sight these days in our biodiversity garden in London, Ontario. Pictured above, it is covered in pollen and rests on swamp rose mallow, our native Hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos). Although it is an important pollinator, the honey bee is not native to North America, but to Europe, Asia and Africa. Our native insect pollinators include hundreds of species of native bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, beetles and other insects. Native insect pollinators are in decline in North America due to habitat loss and other factors, and they need our help. A biodiversity garden provides critical habitat for our native pollinators, and a healthy ecosystem for humans as well. Start your biodiversity garden by planting just ONE native plant species in your garden today!