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Category Archives: insects
A Pleasant Morning
I went to an Iowa Prairie Network event today, at the Lomp Lengeling Farms near Collins, Iowa. Parts of the farm, including a small but diverse prairie remnant and some degraded savanna are being managed in order to aid the … Continue reading
Posted in butterflies, eastern tailed-blue, insects, Uncategorized
Tagged blister beetle, macro photography, prairies, syrphid fly
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When Butterfly Photography is Easy
Butterfly photography is often a challenge. It can be difficult to get close enough to an individual to get a good shot. If you scare it away, it will be a while before you get close to another one. Not … Continue reading
Posted in butterflies, insects, photography, Uncategorized
Tagged butterfly migration, macro photography, painted lady
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Recent Activity.
As summer slips past some critters are at the peak of their activity. I have been doing a lot of travelling, but have still been able to get a few photos in here and there. I saw this eastern tailed-blue … Continue reading
The Dance of Life
Butterflies have a little dance they do prior to mating (or sometimes prior to not mating). It often includes shimmering, shaking, and flying around in circling chases. I saw two silver-spotted skippers in the dance this morning. They started in … Continue reading
Posted in butterflies, dragonflies, insects, Junonia coenia
Tagged dance of life, macro photography, summer
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Today’s Critters
Today was a beautiful day and I was able to spend a little time wandering around with my camera. There were lots of cool insects out. This viceroy was taking nectar from rattlesnake master. An eastern tiger swallowtail was working … Continue reading
Posted in butterflies, insects
Tagged ambush bug, butterflies, Dragonflies, macro photography
2 Comments
Reverse Zombies
Zombies in our movies and TV shows are unthinking creatures, predators on people. They stumble around with no real focus and can suffer horrific damage. If left to their own devices they will convert the whole world into more zombies. … Continue reading
Posted in insects, invertebrates, oleander aphids, Uncategorized
Tagged aphids, macro photography, zombies
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On Ripley Esker
One of my job duties requires me to go to Camp Ripley in Minnesota about every year. We do an internal audit of our Environmental Management System, and since you cannot audit yourself (or the work you have done), we … Continue reading
Posted in Biological diversity, butterflies, dragonflies, insects
Tagged macro photography, Minnesota, nature, prairies, Ripley esker
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Get ’em off, Get ’em off!
Dragonflies and damselflies can often be seen carrying a load of the parasitic larvae of water mites. This damselfly (probably a familiar bluet) had an unusually large load. It is thought that they do not kill the damsels, but that … Continue reading
Posted in Biological diversity, damselflies, insects, Uncategorized
Tagged macro photography
2 Comments
Might be Mites
This red admiral seems to be infested with something. My best guess is mites. I think there is one on the right leg in front, and two on the back left leg. They could be parasitic or predatory, but they … Continue reading
Wandering Around
We finally had some warm and dry weather so I wondered around the property. This winter and early spring I spent some time photographing a moss on an old elm stump at the edge of our yard. I went over … Continue reading
Posted in Biological diversity, damselflies, insects
Tagged fragile forktail, Ischnura posita, moss, Poison ivy
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