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

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 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