Monthly Archives: May 2012

Caught in the Spit

Posted on May 19, 2012 by

This moth seems to have been trapped in the sticky bubbles released by a spittlebug, although it is possible it was killed and eaten by something else.  Spittlebugs drink the sap of plants, and are not considered to be predators. … Continue reading →

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A Common Butterfly Doing Nothing Unusual

Posted on May 17, 2012 by

This is a cabbage white, Pieris rapae, drinking nectar from dame’s rocket, Hesperis matronalis.  Two alien and somewhat invasive species, doing what they do.  

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Welcome Summer

Posted on May 16, 2012 by

The summer azure is starting to make an appearance now.  Two days ago there were none to be found.  Today I found several, obtaining nectar from the yellow sweet clover growing along our gravel road.   The summer azure is … Continue reading →

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A Vision for the Future

Posted on May 15, 2012 by

I have a vision for a butterfly web site that should be developed in the future.  First, I have to point out that there are a lot of great butterfly sites now.  One I really like shows all of the North American … Continue reading →

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Something in the Air

Posted on May 14, 2012 by

Many of us live in cities, surrounded by closely cropped grass, cement, and asphalt.  I am fortunate enough to live a little ways away from the city. If you live in a good habitat for them, there might be small … Continue reading →

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An Undescribed Species in My Back Yard

Posted on May 13, 2012 by

I take a lot of photographs of insects and if I don’t know what they are, I post them to Bugguide.net.  A few years ago, I found a treehopper that is distinctive in its coloration, sort of reminding people of … Continue reading →

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The History of the Butterfly, Part 140: New Image of an Old Painting

Posted on May 11, 2012 by

I ran across this painting the other day and it almost took my breath away.  It may look a little familiar.  I use a black and white reproduction of this painting taken from The Sac and Fox Indians by William … Continue reading →

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What’s Going on Here?

Posted on May 10, 2012 by

A lot of times when blogging one is tempted to offer explanations of things going on in nature.  I am tempted to do that sometimes as well.  However, I find that there are times when I observe something and just … Continue reading →

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Ring Around the Stem

Posted on May 9, 2012 by

I found this caterpillar on a black walnut tree in my back yard. I’m not sure what it is.  I looked around, and was able to find one more, apparently of the same species. Seems like an unusual way to … Continue reading →

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The End of the Butterfly Irruptions?

Posted on May 8, 2012 by

There have been irruptions–rapid increases in the numbers–of several butterfly species this season. Will irruptions of the natural predators of those butterflies cause a decrease in the numbers?  This is one of those natural predators.  This is a tachnid fly–I … Continue reading →

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