Monthly Archives: June 2013

A Good Year for Odonates

Posted on June 30, 2013 by the roused bear

This has not been a good year for butterflies so far–the numbers are way down from normal years.  There is a different story for the odonates–the dragonflies and damselflies. We have good numbers and variety. Odes can be difficult to … Continue reading →

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A Damselfly

Posted on June 29, 2013 by the roused bear

Today was not a good day for insect photography–much too windy.  A friend and I and my son Max went on an unsuccessful search for rare butterflies.  We spent about six hours on the road, and went to a couple … Continue reading →

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A Bee Fly

Posted on June 28, 2013 by the roused bear

I got a photograph of a small bee fly the other day.  I am not really sure what its name is yet, but I found it quite charming. I used my on-camera flash to photograph this fly, and each time … Continue reading →

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Head On

Posted on June 27, 2013 by the roused bear

The front end of an eastern tailed-blue.  

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Another Cool Bug

Posted on June 26, 2013 by the roused bear

I came across this robber fly while I was road-hunting for butterflies tonight. Probably a female Efferia alibarbis.  

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Today’s Bug

Posted on June 25, 2013 by the roused bear

As I walked along the gravel road by my house today, I came across this tiny moth, a wasp mimic. I’m not sure what it is–possibly Synanthedon pyri.

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New Butterflies

Posted on June 25, 2013 by the roused bear

Sunday  I saw three butterflies that were new for the season.  The first was the summer azure, a small blue butterfly that flies at tree level, rather than the low-flying eastern tailed-blue.  The other two were skippers of a color … Continue reading →

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What I did on my Summer Vacation

Posted on June 23, 2013 by the roused bear

We just got back from a short vacation.  We drove from our place, which is near Des Moines, Iowa to Saint Louis–somewhere around seven hours each way.  As always, I was easily distracted by the wildlife. We drove through Eldon, … Continue reading →

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The American Lady

Posted on June 19, 2013 by the roused bear

Today I got a photo of a magnificent American lady butterfly.  It was flying rapidly, so I didn’t have much time.  The beauty of the butterfly makes up for my inability to carefully compose a shot.  

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Mourning Cloak Butterfly

Posted on June 18, 2013 by the roused bear

I saw this butterfly a number of times before I was able to photograph it.  In fact, while I was chasing it, it landed on me several times.  I did not get a picture, but it flew close enough that … Continue reading →

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