I was in White lake a week ago, chasing some grasshoppers. With the smokey skies in the Interior B.C. that week, we left early in the morning and had a wonderful time searching for a particular species. We did not find what we were looking for but saw some crickets and a lot of European … Continue reading Mating Shenanigans of Jagged Ambush Bugs
In the Laces: Wasps, Beetles, and a Snake Tale
Queen Anne's lace is a weed that pops up in the summer in the Okanagan from June onwards. It's delicate white flowers are quite striking and resemble little umbrellas. The flat-topped shallow flower clusters called umbels (word of the day) makes it easy for pollinators with short tongues, especially wasps, to drink nectar. I have … Continue reading In the Laces: Wasps, Beetles, and a Snake Tale
Insects Do Sleep Too – Nighty Night
Buzzing bees, fluttering butterflies, marching ants - I am always amazed at the active lives insects lead, and sometimes I wish I could borrow some of their energy. They fly or walk in search of food and mates, and some even hunt for their meals. In addition, they must stay alert to escape predators lurking … Continue reading Insects Do Sleep Too – Nighty Night
The Ruthless Robber Flies
I have been finding robber flies in a blooming patch of Sulphur cinquefoil, an invasive weed, during my walks. Aptly named, some robber flies are thieves and steal meals from other predators while others are aggressive hunters and rob their victims of life. Most robber fly species are hard working predators and are known to … Continue reading The Ruthless Robber Flies
Bug Buffet
I watched a flock of robins and other birds having a feast under some infested elm trees this week and was pleasantly surprised at how fast and efficient they were at picking up the bugs and how many they could stuff into their beaks. Some of them looked downright comical 😊. A few adult birds … Continue reading Bug Buffet
Happy Spring!
I have been taking in the sights of all the blooms in the valley - what a display! The cherry blossoms were unbelievable this year, as if the trees were making up for last year's lack of blooms caused by the unexpected cold snap. It is wonderful to see the cherry orchards doing so well … Continue reading Happy Spring!
The Spectacular Dance of the Wrangler Grasshopper
I heard loud noises from the hillsides during a walk in September and just thought someone was mowing their lawn. I figured that could not possibly be bugs making such a racket but was I wrong. I kept hearing the same loud sounds on subsequent walks until I saw a Wrangler grasshopper happily clicking away. … Continue reading The Spectacular Dance of the Wrangler Grasshopper
Breakfast at the Chicories
The common chicory is a weed that is not native to British Columbia and can be a problem in disturbed areas in Interior British Columbia. I have seen them on roadsides, pastures, and abandoned fields. Chicories have beautiful blue flowers. I was lucky to come across a lot of American gold finches having breakfast at … Continue reading Breakfast at the Chicories
Bugs in the Milkweeds
It is always nice to see the swallowtail butterflies feeding and frolicking around milkweeds at bloom. I decided to take a closer look at the milkweeds this year because I had come across a patch with a lot of bees and other bugs. Milkweeds are called milkweeds because of the milky sap they produce. They … Continue reading Bugs in the Milkweeds
The Leafrollers and the Wasp Enemies
I saw a lot of leafrollers on ornamental plants including wild roses, snow berries, chokecherries, Saskatoons, dogwood, Oregon grapes etc. this spring. As their name implies, leafrollers are caterpillars that roll up leaves. The leaves provide a home, food, and some protection from predators and parasitoids. The caterpillars are greenish to yellowish, have dark heads … Continue reading The Leafrollers and the Wasp Enemies
Bugs N Stuff 