At the Rabbitbrush

I was down in Osoyoos for a hike on a beautiful fall day in September. The morning started off a bit cold, so we left Kelowna later than planned, but it warmed up quickly by the time we arrived. We heard unusual bird calls when we got there and a quick recorded sound check on … Continue reading At the Rabbitbrush

Mating Shenanigans of Jagged Ambush Bugs

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

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

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