Mid-summer is when this impressively large Sphecid wasp turns up, along with another equally large Sphecid, the orange and black Sphex ichneumoneus, which I also saw today. This one is nectaring on canada thistle.

Although I mentioned low insect numbers earlier, today was actually quite a good day for seeing a variety of creatures. Included in my tally were dozens of the tiny green and black Acutalis treehoppers, one Enchenopa treehopper, Coelidia leafhoppers, Graphocephala leafhoppers, Bicyrtes wasps, a number of honey bees all nectaring on burdock flowers which are fresh right now, lots of bumblebees, a few sweat bees of different species, and a few leafcutter bees. There were many grasshoppers but difficult to get a good look at. For butterfly observations (not many), I saw a summer azure, 5 or 6 cabbage whites, and a white admiral.