Viceroys, another one of summer’s delights.
Category Archives: Insects
BEE AND WILD ROSE SEASON
There is a patch of wild roses that attract bees of all kinds every summer. This one was doing a little happy dance .😊
PRETTY IN PINK
I watched the cabbage white move between the flowers taking samples as it went.
Uninvited
Japanese Beetles are a form of scarab beetle. Despite their attractive appearance, they are an invasive species in North America and parts of Europe and very destructive to many crops and flowers. They do make interesting photography subjects though.
HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT
I didn’t see the Daddy Long Legs, in the bottom of the frame, when I took the photo . The beetle obviously did. I hope it managed to make its getaway.😏
COMMON BLUET
It’ll be a while before we see any damselflies but in the meantime I thought I’d revisit a bit of summer.
HOVERFLY ON FLEABANE
On a day like today, snowing and cold, I thought I’d revisit summer for a while.
BIG PICTURE
Sometimes the little things are the big picture.
NORTHERN GATOR
Well not exactly but the larva of a ladybug does bear a slight resemblance to a tiny alligator and they are voracious eaters.
HANG ON
It’s cold and grey outside, so I thought a bit of summer was in order. I took the milkweed beetle in July; it’s going to be a long winter. 😏
HALLOWEEN COLOURS
The only thing nicer than one butterfly is seeing two on the same plant. I believe these are fritillaries… This was taken in early September.
FLY BY
I’m not a fan of most flies but this one has attractive colouring and great eyes!
A GOOD RUN
We began to see cabbage white butterflies in April and we continue to see them. I think we’ve now seen several generations of this butterfly and they are by far the most numerous around here this year.
Balancing Act
Japanese beetles are a form of scarab beetle and were introduced to North America in the early 1900’s. They have beautiful colouring but are highly destructive to plants and crops. This one was balancing on some Queen Anne’s Lace.
MID AIR – 2
I caught the bee as it darted between the flowers. Always nice when this happens!
MID AIR
I took a number of shots of the monarch but only realized I caught it in mid air when I got home 😊
SOFT LANDING
As I walked along the path the grasshoppers scattered. Luckily I saw this one land.
TIPPYTOES
I haven’t seen many Asian Lady Beetles (pictured) or Ladybugs lately. Last year I saw some around this time so I’m still hopeful I will!
CABBAGE WHITE
I followed this cabbage white as it moved from flower to flower. This one looked a little bleary eyed from all that nectar 😏
ANOTHER BUSY BEE
I think I’m seeing more bees now than I was earlier in the summer as the season nears its end.
AT THE LAKE
I’ve seen very few dragonflies this summer, I was happy to see this one.
SITTING PRETTY
Bees and flowers, summertime favourites.
MONARCH BUTTERFLY
We’ve seen several monarchs this summer but until now they’ve been very flighty. I finally got a few minutes to photograph this one.
MORE MILKWEED BEETLES (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
I don’t know who was having more fun, me or these characters.
METALLIC BEE
Metallic or Sweat Bees have to be among the most colourful of bees. They can be attracted to the salt in human sweat though this one was more interested in pollen 😏
MILKWEED BEETLE (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
The other day we came across quite a few milkweed beetles and I took a lot of photos; more to follow. They certainly have impressive antennae!
ROYAL FAVOURITE
Another bee this week (and several ants); all enjoying the Queen Anne’s Lace.
BALANCING ACT
I’m happy to be seeing a lot of bees this summer going about their business.
MORE BEETLE TALES
This beetle has only faint spots on its dome, I had wondered if it was an immature ladybug or an asian beetle. It has been identified (see comments below) as the later. It was searching for aphids just like its spotted cousins.
BEETLE TALES
We noticed a lot of aphids on the flower stems and so did the larva of this ladybug. It seems that aphids are their meal of choice.
SOFT LANDING
Into a bed of roses.
LADYBUG
There’s something very nice about seeing the first ladybug of the season.
DINING ON DAISIES
I watched as the insect (wasp?) flew between the flowers, its face covered in pollen.
BEES ABOUND
Up until now I have seen very few bees. Then I remembered a patch of wild roses where I had seen a good number of bees last summer. We took a walk there and were not disappointed.
MIGHTY ANT
Ants and peonies seem to go together. Ants protect the flowers from nuisance pests and the flowers provide the ants with nectar. A win win. I enjoy these flowers too as well as the sport of catching an ant as it speeds around the peony buds!
LONG-LEGS
While out doing some shopping, I saw my first bee of the year. I didn’t have my camera with me but never without an insect shot, here’s a long -legged fly for your viewing pleasure. Taken at the end of last season.
HOVER FLY ON FLEABANE
The hover fly really tucked into the daisy and fed like this for a considerable time. It did not really live up to its name here.
BEE CURIOUS
Although the bee was busy feeding it did cooperate with this photographer. 😊
STRANGER THINGS
One day last summer while I was photographing some metallic bees I saw this unusual insect and changed my focus. I think it might be a type of fly. Can anyone shed some light?
Copper Beauty
I believe this is a beetle, and one I have never seen before. Its colour was eye-catching against the green of the leaf.
BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY 