INTRODUCTION:
We've had fun putting these caches out and everybody seems to be having fun finding them (unless of course, certain insects are out to "get you"). So, we are putting out more (caches, not insects). The theme this time is INSECTS (as you've already figured out by the title). Some of these you may encounter on your geocaching trips and some of them you may wish you had not. Instead of a steady line of caches down the trail, we thought we'd try something new for us. All are easy puzzle caches and the geoart is one of our favorite insects: the dragonfly - as it eats what annoys us all the most: mosquitoes.
Note: There may NOT be cell phone service in some areas of the K & P Trail.
TRANSPORTATION:
The K&P trail is a single lane dirt road with gravel on it in some areas. You can hike it, bike it or drive it albeit very slowly. When placing the caches we never drove over 15 km/hr. Mostly it was at about 10 km/hr. Just when you think it's smooth going a huge puddle hole will "get" you. On bikes, you will have no trouble except if you go out after heavy rain (or during rainfall) as it will be muddy in areas. On foot, be aware that there are very few houses along the way - so don't go alone. Safety in numbers. There are some pretty streams along the way, wetlands and Graham Lake just North of Lavant Station (a nice place for a picnic lunch).
INSECT:
Spring azure
Spring azure (Celastrina ladon) is part of a complex of closely related species that is currently under study in North America. The upper surface is pale blue (purplish blue in western Canada), with a broad blackish-grey border on the outer quarter of the forewing in females. The underside is pale brownish grey with dark grey spots and a zigzagged submarginal line on the hindwing. In most of Canada there is also dark grey shading along the margin of the hindwing, or in the middle of the hindwing connecting many of the central spots, or in both areas. Wingspan is 18 to 28 mm.
The Spring Azure occurs throughout Canada as far north as the treeline.
The Summer Azure (C. neglecta) is larger and has white shading over the blue, especially on the hindwing, and is white or very pale grey underneath with tiny dark spots; it flies later than the Spring Azure, usually between mid-June and early September. The Cherry Gall Azure (Celastrina sp.) is very similar to the Spring Azure above and below, but tends to be a little paler and flies in late May and June after the flight of the Spring Azure.
Eggs are laid singly on flower buds; the larvae eat flowers and developing fruits and are tended by ants. The larva is most commonly green but also may be yellowish brown or reddish brown with a darker middorsal stripe. It hibernates as a pupa with the adult emerging in the early spring. The larvae feed on a wide variety of usually white-flowering trees and shrubs. Favoured foodplants in Canada are cherry, blueberry, and early blooming viburnums.
The Spring Azure is fairly common in most of its Canadian range, though never occurring in large numbers. It is uncommon to rare in southern Ontario where it is more confined to rich deciduous woods than farther north.
Adults are on the wing from early April to mid-May in southern Ontario and from late April to mid-June in the rest of its Canadian range, generally flying later in the far north and in cooler maritime areas than elsewhere.
Adults are most commonly seen in open woodlands and along woodland margins where flowering shrubs are common.
Spring Azure
Spring Azure
Spring Azure Caterpillar
The cache can be found at:
North Rh B.Co N --- West Os Tc.Cr He