-
Tiger Swallowtail Enjoying The Mint
July 22, 2025 This evening an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) was out enjoying the nectar of Apple Mint (Mentha suaveolens). Going from this spike of flowers to that spike, then flying off to check out other species of blooms, but coming back to the mint every time. An Eastern Tiger Swallowtail has a wingspan…
-
Ubiquitous
July 21, 2025 My Dad loved to use eloquent phrasing when he spoke. Seems to me that perhaps his most used word of this sort was “ubiquitous”. That word certainly applies to this non-native invasive pest, the Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula). They are ubiquitous here. Not a fly as its common name implies. These creatures…
-
A Juvenile Male Hummingbird
July 20, 2025 The juvenile Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) are at the feeders now, providing great entertainment with their seemingly goofy actions. This is a juvenile male. See those spots of dark feathering on his gorget? If you look closely, you’ll actually be able to see one teeny-tiny spot of red, as one of those…
-
A Common Spragueia
July 19, 2025 A tiny moth in the Owlet Moth family (Noctuidae). The Common Spragueia (Spragueia leo), sipping some nectar at Apple Mint blossoms (Mentha suaveolens). Tiny? They are generally no bigger than 7/10 inch. Like many moths, they are nocturnal, and attracted to artificial light sources. Some of the host plants that are depended…
-
What Was That?
July 18, 2025 Zigging and zagging. Flying back and forth. A long, icy white body, with four interesting wings. It’s a male Common Whitetail Dragonfly (Plathemis lydia), with a body that is approximately 2 inches in length. The female is slightly smaller with a brown body. And those translucent wings? The females’ wings are similar…
-
Two Sleepy Orange Butterflies
July 17, 2025 Two Sleepy Orange butterflies (Abaeis nicippe) sitting on some rotting wood out along the road. They’re butterflies with a wingspan of 1.5 to 2 inches, though you will seldom see them with their wings open, unless they are flying. And quick fliers they are, staying close to the ground. Their caterpillars prefer…
-
Silvery Checkerspot On Apple Mint
July 16, 2025 Catching a bit of sunlight, a Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis) enjoys the nectar of a flower popular with pollinators, Apple Mint (Mentha suaveolens). Despite my love of winter, I must admit, there are so many reasons to enjoy summer. _______________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email,…
-
Eastern Cicada Killer Wasp
July 15, 2025 The largest wasp species in Virginia, the Eastern Cicada Killer Wasp (Sphecius speciosus). Both males and females live about 2 months as adults. They eat tree sap and flower nectar. Males die, not long after mating. The female continues with her duties, taking care of her young. She does this by hunting…
-
Hummingbird At Scarlet Beebalm
July 14, 2025 Look closely at the upper right corner and you’ll see a Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) enjoying the nectar of a perfect flower for her, Scarlet Beebalm (Monarda didyma). Perfect because of its brilliant red color, funnel-shaped flowers, and abundant nectar production. Those Scarlet Beebalms, amid Orange Coneflowers (Rudbeckia fulgida). _______________________ If you…
-
What A Brightly Colored Bumblebee!
July 13, 2025 A Perplexing Bumblebee (Bombus perplexus). Native to northern North America including across Canada into the northeastern United States as well as Maryland and Virginia. This creature fascinates me because of its wonderful coloring, that rich, warm yellow. That coloring seems it would be perfect as a stuffed Teddy Bear type toy. The…