30-JUL-2010
Robber fly (Asilid sp) with prey
This medium-sized robber fly landed in front of me with its prey, which appears to be a Sarcophagid fly.
31-JUL-2010
Bumblebee on joe-pye-weed
This plant is in full flower at the moment and a mecca for all sorts of insects.
31-JUL-2010
Honey bees (Apis mellifera)
There have been good numbers of honey bees around lately. Today many of these flowers had 4 to 6 bees each. Given the decline of this species, it is really nice to see so many, although "many" is a relative term.
31-JUL-2010
Lady beetle (Coleomagilla maculata) on Coneflower
These little lady beetles are a native species that appear in early spring and can be found in good numbers on dandelions, carry on through the summer and are still found in fall.
31-JUL-2010
Treehopper (Enchenopa binotata)
I have spent a long, long time looking for these guys which just fascinate me! Finally I found a few on some nannyberry shrubs. Since I first found one individual I have gone back many times and stared at the shrubs until my eyes feel like they are falling out, looking for these minute treehoppers. Previous photos have been terrible! Today I finally found three of these guys and managed a few shots that are reasonably OK, not great, but adequate.
To me they look they miniature dinosaurs. That big thorn-like projection is actually the pronotum which in many treehopper species has developed to cover much of the body, like a shield I guess. Many species have these thorn-like or horn-like projections. On twigs of shrubs they look like parts of the plant! You can see the head with a big dark eye under the "thorn", on the right side of the insect.
30-JUL-2010
Amphibian pond spillway
The new spillway on the pond can sometimes look like a natural rocky streambed when water is flowing over and down it.
30-JUL-2010
Black duck
One lone black duck in the pond. Fewer ducks than we sometimes have, but they certainly still drop by for awhile. Often earlier and later in the day.
27-JUL-2010
Two-spotted stinkbug (Cosmopepla bimaculata) nymph, on Thimbleweed
This tiny nymph was in the Backyard Garden, and when I looked at the thimbleweeds the following day, it was still there, though it had moved to a different seed head. You can see the two black spots on red, which in the adult are reversed, red on black!
26-JUL-2010
Ambush bug (Phymata)
Another view of the gnarly and primitive looking ambush bug, lurking around waiting for something to drop by. They are amazingly patient bugs which makes them an easy subject for macro photos.
22-JUL-2010
Red-banded bumblebee (Bombus ternarius) on Burdock
I have seen more red-banded bumblebees this year than in several previous years. They are quite noticeable both at the FWG and elsewhere.
22-JUL-2010
Mourning Dove
A lovely shot of a mourning dove by Jeewa. These birds are quiet during nesting season but are now starting to be seen again more frequently at the garden.
22-JUL-2010
Black swallowtail (em>Papilio polyxenes) caterpillar
This large caterpillar was munching away on the leaves of wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa). At the moment, the public has discovered this plant, thanks to the hysteria surrounding Giant Hogweed, and the news that this plant too can cause skin blistering. I hope some well-meaning soul does not come along and whack down this and other of the parsnip plants at the garden. They are always well used by a huge variety of nectaring insects and as can be seen, are always host to the caterpillars of the spectacular black swallowtail.