July 20tap images for gallery view
Ahem. Can't you see I'm eating? And, in case you haven't figured it out, I prefer to dine alone.
Well, since you're here, I'm a primrose moth, Schinia florida. As caterpillars we eat evening primroses, Oenothera biennis. As moths we like the nectar. Hence the name.
Yikes! Sorry to startle you. I'm a crab spider. There are two kinds of diners in this area. Those who like plants and those who like those who like plants. I'm in the latter group and this fleabane looks promising.
Hi. Nice to see you. I'd share some with you but this blister beetle is rather small. Oh yeah, I'm an assassin bug.
Yo. I might be tiny but you should see me in action. I leapt off one stem of grass and let the wind carry me all the way to the other stem way over there. The filament spun out behind me and I was on my way to making my web. That's because I'm an orb weaving spider. We make circular webs, eh.
July 21tap images for gallery view
Hello! It's a lot of work being a narrowleaf (aka Maximillian) sunflower, Helianthus maximiliani. The flowers, as you can see, have many parts. I'll be serving dinner in a few days. Meanwhile silvery checkerspot and painted lady caterpillars like my petals and leaves.
Yeah, I like gumweed, Grindelia squarrosa, nectar. I'm a looper moth but we're not sure which species exactly. I'll get back to you on that. Oh, and that's a salt marsh caterpillar just getting started.
Well, good morning. How nice to see you. I'm a Tortrix moth; of which there are over 10,000 species. I thought the photog here deserved a hug. So that's what I did. ☺
Hey, can you say packaging? I'm an Indian hemp, Apocynum cannabinum, and I'm pretty much done for the year. My seeds will ripen and the cases will turn brown. But I'll wait until next spring to release them.
July 22tap images for gallery view
Good day. I'm a long horned bee, in the Melissodes family. I'd share some of this beautiful sunflower nectar but, you know, it's just too darn good. Go find your own. ☺
Hey! What a great day. And this meadow blazingstar nectar is, well, you know, just superb. And there's lots of them on this site. Plus the ironweed and an assortment of milkweeds. What more could a monarch flutterby ask for?
Hi. I'm a fringed loosestrife, Lysimachia ciliata L.. I'm a native in these parts. And, I'm serving up lunch for a variety of bees. They like my pollen and the essential oil in my flowers.
So, what did I tell you? White aster-like flowers. Even though the botans finally figured out I'm a goldenrod. Upland white to be specific. Solidago ptarmicoides in science speak. Bees, flies and wasps like my nectar. That's why I don't stay in flower very long.
Yeah, you know my song. Especially those who live or spend time outside of the city. I don't like urban places much.
Did you know that western meadowlarks nest on the ground? Yeah. And loss of habitat plus excessive mowing is causing our numbers to decline. Especially the mowing.
Oh, that's rw blkbirds and kildees in the background.
July 23tap images for gallery view
Hello. Just taking a break here. I'm an American pelecinid wasp, Pelecinus polyturator. I lay my eggs on June bug grubs, Phyllophaga, when they're still in the ground. I'm a female; I can reproduce without males which are smaller and don't have the long ovipositor. The rest of the time I enjoy the nectar of various flowers.
Yep. I'm a yellow woolly bear caterpillar, Spilosoma virginica. I eat a variety of plants, including the leaves of shrubs. I will become a Virginia tiger moth, Spilosoma virginica, with a couple of black dots on my white wings.
Howdy. I'm a saltmarsh caterpillar, Estigmene acrea, and I'm about to chow down on this blazingstar. I do like these flowers.
Maybe if farmers planted more blazingstars I would leave their crops alone. ☺
Hey. I'm a female saltmarsh moth, Estigmene acrea. You just met me as a caterpillar. I don't do much but hang out for 4 or 5 days, during which time I mate and lay some eggs. The photog is lucky to have spotted me.