Friends of Murphys Point Park

Our #SpeciesOfTheWeek is the Northern Ribbon Snake. Often found near marshes, lakes, and ponds, the Northern Ribbon Snake is frequently spotted here at Murphys Point near the Park Store on the shores of Loon Lake. It makes sense that we should find Ribbon Snakes along the water’s edge in this particular spot, since their scientific name (Thamnophis) is derived from the Greek thamnos (shrub or bush) and ophis (snake), and there are plenty of shrubs in this area including Juniper Bushes. Sometimes mistaken for various species of Garter Snakes, the Northern Ribbon Snake is distinguishable by its slender build, its whitish crescent-shaped markings in front of large eyes, and the ‘clean’ look of its striping — colourations that look as though they had been painted onto the snake. This individual was sighted behind the Park Store at Murphys Point.

This week’s #SpeciesOfTheWeek is the Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos). Commonly found throughout the park, they get their name from a dark marginal patch containing light crescents on their hindwing. Pearl Crescents are commonly mistaken for Northern Crescents, as they were considered the same species until quite recently. Pearl Crescents do, however, have more black markings on their hindwings in comparison to Northern Crescents, which have more orange. A fun fact about the Pearl Crescent is that three different generations of this butterfly emerge every year in Ontario! This Pearl Crescent was spotted near the McParlan House, so be sure to keep an eye out when hiking along Hogg Bay!

This week’s #SpeciesOfTheWeek is the Red Milkweed Beetle (Tetraopes tetrophthalmus). This is a commonly sighted species at the park, particularly in the fields of milkweed plants near the Lally Homestead. Both its genus and species name mean “four eyes”, derived from the way that the socket of its antenna divides each compound eye into two, creating four eyes. Female Red Milkweed Beetles lay their eggs at the base of Common Milkweed stems. The larvae then burrow down to the roots where they feed until early fall. Overwintering within the root, they continue to feed in the spring before pupating and emerging a month later as adults. The adults eat the buds, leaves, and flowers, meaning their entire life cycle is dependent upon this one species of milkweed. Here at Murphys Point, these critters are quite commonly found in the milkweed field by the Lally Homestead – have you ever seen one?