July 18–26 marks Moth Week — so, we decided to feature what we’re pretty confident is the Snowberry Clearwing as our Species of the Week. Part of a group known as Small Sphinx Moths, Snowberry Clearwings are often mistaken for their close cousin, the Hummingbird Clearwing. Interestingly, they are also confused with insects outside of their Order, Lepidoptera — which includes moths, skimmers, and butterflies. As a matter of fact, Snowberry Clearwings are often confused with bees, having evolved in appearance as a deterrent against predators who understand the risk of such stinging snacks. Different from bees, Snowberry Clearwings hover while feeding with their proboscis (tubular mouthpart), much like actual Hummingbirds, rather than perch. That said, their mouthparts are similar to bees’ — they are used for extracting nectar from a variety of flowering plants, including Dogbane, Honeysuckle, and, of course, Snowberry. As crepuscular (appearing at twilight) insects, Snowberry Clearwings are often found feeding on these flowers at dusk.
Welcome! Watch this space for upcoming activities.
MINE TOURS AND OTHER PROGRAMS
Yes…there will be Silver Queen Mine Tours this summer!The park is planning to have guided tours on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 10am. Sundays will feature the regular Open House at the mine (10am to noon). The first tour will be Canada Day (July 1).Registration for all guided tours will open Monday, June 27. Space is limited so you must pre-register at the gatehouse or call 613-267-5060. Registration is not required for the open houses.ALSO!Evening Programs will be Saturday nights, starting in July. The time will change based on our daylight hours.Snake Talks will be every day at 2pm outside the visitor centre, starting Canada Day.Exploration stations, prop tables, and Kids programs will be advertised the week of on our program boards.Stay tuned for a great summer!For the latest information on COVID-19 precautions and available amenities at Murphys Point (services, facilities, attractions) during the 2022 season, be sure to check https://www.ontarioparks.com/park/murphyspoint.
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