Species to Look For
A sure sign of spring is the fresh smell in the air, new buds on trees and the ground speckled with ephemeral plants. Another exciting sign of spring is the cute wildlife hiding behind spring foliage that often get overlooked!
There are eager local wildlife species that can’t wait to get outside and enjoy the new season. The following species can be found in early spring before many other species, so keep your eyes peeled on your next hike. Here’s who to look for:
Bees
Did you know there are nearly 400 bee species in Ontario? Right now you can see the unequal cellophane bee, which is a species native to Canada.
This is one of the earliest spring bee species. They pollinate early flowering maple and willow trees. Cellophane bees are solitary unlike some well known bee and wasp species that nest together. Despite their solitary status, the bees tend to build their nests near one another. They nest in the ground and leave little sand piles at their doors… so watch where you step!
Salamanders
While spring sometimes means there’s still snow on the ground, this doesn’t stop salamanders from getting in the spring spirit. Salamanders begin their annual migration in late March and April.
On the first warm, rainy night of spring, thousands of salamanders leave their underground overwintering habitat and make the journey to their breeding pond. This annual mass migration is a natural phenomenon, known as the “big night.” Spotted salamanders can lay up to 300 eggs.
Beetles
Beetles are the best. The winter firefly is one of the first beetle species you will see in spring. Although as eggs, larvae and pupae, they have the ability to glow, as adults, these fireflies don’t actually glow in the dark.
They’re also called sap bucket beetles because they love maple sap and often end up in sap buckets. We don’t blame them!
Flower flies
Of the 7,000 fly species in Canada, the narrow-headed marsh fly is one of the first fly species you will see in spring.
Their larvae, which grow underwater, are called rat tailed maggots. It may not be the cutest name you’ve ever heard, but flower flies are one of many important pollinators in our watershed.
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By Kimberley Laird, Associate, Marketing and Communications