The Tailed Beauties (Swallowtail Butterflies)

I have seen so many swallowtail butterflies this year on my hikes in forest areas, along creeks, meadows, in town and in gardens. They seem to be abundant everywhere and it is so nice to see them. The yellow, and black markings on swallowtail butterflies are very striking. Yellow and black colours in the bug … Continue reading The Tailed Beauties (Swallowtail Butterflies)

A Visit to the Cacti

The spring crickets and cicadas are still singing but the spring has been very hot and tree fruit bloom time went by very fast. A kind gentleman showed me a patch of brittle prickly pear cactus last spring and it was quite the treat to see the flowers. I saw said gentleman on an afternoon … Continue reading A Visit to the Cacti

The Bees in the Willows

I love pussy willows. Seeing them always lifts up my spirits because I know spring is around the corner. I do not know much about willows but my google reading tells me that there are different species of willows and most of them are either male or female (you don't get male and female parts … Continue reading The Bees in the Willows

At the Goldenrods

I meant to finish this post last fall but did not get to it. I had a lot of fun summer days at the goldenrods - there were bees and flies buzzing around, lots of wasps, butterflies, and I even saw a lone grasshopper at the goldenrods. The bees and some of the wasps and … Continue reading At the Goldenrods

Western Conifer Seed Bugs

I had two house guests this week - Western conifer seed bugs. I let them stay the night but got rid of them the next day. I have been receiving a lot of reports of Western conifer seed bugs this year and their numbers are very high which can be overwhelming for homeowners. People often … Continue reading Western Conifer Seed Bugs

The Cicadas Have Joined The Choir

I can still hear the crickets on my walks but there is more music from the bug choirs. The male cicadas have now joined in with their loud shrill choruses. Cicadas are a large and noisy bunch, and a bit on the strange side, nothing wrong with that :). The immature stages (nymphs) live in … Continue reading The Cicadas Have Joined The Choir

The Ants, The Aphids And The Peonies

Ants are an interesting group but some species can be very destructive and nobody wants ants in their pants, the ant dance is no fun. Growing up in a tropical country, we always had to make sure our sugar was placed in a well-sealed container to prevent ants getting in - they have sweet tooths … Continue reading The Ants, The Aphids And The Peonies

The Hitchhikers

Most insects have wings and can travel long distances within a short time. Some critters travel by hitching rides on winged insects. Imagine a flight on an insect; it must be fun, turbulence may be a problem though :). One of my summer students saw a very odd-looking fly, it was flying awkwardly and landed … Continue reading The Hitchhikers

The Spring Field Crickets are Chirping

I have been on the lookout for the singing male spring field crickets for a while. Crickets are a noisy bunch but difficult to find. I was lucky to spot one sitting high up on a rocky crevice this week. I actually did a double take because I thought I was seeing things :). To … Continue reading The Spring Field Crickets are Chirping