27 August 2017 - Butterflies and other six-legged creatures

This summer continues adding on to my fascination with birds, bees, butterflies and pretty much everything out there in the world. The difference is that instead of just admiring them, I am now learning what they are. Yes, there will probably be a quiz.  Here are some of the beauties I've seen recently. 

Arizona Sister

Red Admiral

 Tiger Swallowtail

Pale Swallowtail

Weidermeyer's Admiral

Skipper

Long-tailed Skipper

Pearly Crescent

Milbert's Tortoiseshell

Gulf Fritillary

Painted Lady

Orange Tip

There are quite a few more that I have yet to identify.  

The caterpillars can be just as pretty as the butterflies, such as this one that ends up being a Spotted Tussock Moth. The larval stage is prettier than the moth. 


There were some new-to-me insects this year, in addition to many favorites like praying mantis, which tend to show up in the yard every August. 

One of these is the Bee Assassin. 

And this Long-horned Beetle. It is always good to have a friend who is willing to hold something so you can get a photo!


I also have an on-going love affair with dragonflies. This year has had a bumper crop of dragonflies, which probably means there were even more gnats, flies, mosquitoes and the like for them to eat. 

While I knew that dragonflies are considered one of the deadliest hunters, can reach speeds of 30 miles per hour, and are able to catch 95% of their prey, I didn't realize they ate each other as well. 

I just got a dragonfly field guide. Males and females are different colors. They don't make it easy. There are over 348 species of dragonflies and damselflies in the Western U.S.  Got my work cut out for me. 

Paper wasps. I have a lovely nest of paper wasps right by one of my outside switches. We have been doing a really good job of letting each other be. I leave them alone, they leave me alone. If I get a little too close, they will bristle--go absolutely still and put their wings up. I am smart enough to get the message and back off. But it has been fun watching the cells get built, egged up, sealed in, etc. 

Yesterday I went out to turn the switch off and the nest was gone. No sign of it anywhere. I called my brother to share the oddity and he asked if a skunk had been through lately. Turns out skunks love bees, and could have ripped the nest off and had a lovely midnight snack of wasp larva.  Yes, there was a faint odor of skunk. Today the remaining wasps are all over the post. Angry! 




There is so much to see! Get out there and look--it's my number one rule. Circumspice!