Category Archives: bugs

  Now that September is here, daytime temperatures are somewhat more temperate and the mourning cloak butterfly is back in abundance.  The mourning cloak likes to avoid temperature extremes, otherwise it closes down. Over winter, it hibernates (becomes dormant to … Continue reading →

  When we think of local migrants, we usually think of birds. Indeed, many of the birds we watch most assiduously, migrate in and out our region. But…, migrating insects? Most local insects spend their whole lives within kilometres of … Continue reading →

  Here are two more pictures of mating insects — well, it is that time of year. These are robber flies.  A Robber fly, also known as an assassin fly, is large and a powerful flyer. Its name reflects the … Continue reading →

  The sex was good, but quickly things went downhill. Tule bluets are damselflies, the smallish cousins of dragonflies. While we have a number of species of damselflies, the tule bluet is the one I see most frequently along the … Continue reading →

  When encountered in the alpine, Bombus melanopygus was sipping nectar from an Alpine Milk-vetch(?). Farther down the mountain it was seen on the ground, apparently sipping minerals from rocks. This was unusual. The first observation of melanopygus was mundane: … Continue reading →

  Babies are cute. We seem to be hard wired to protect those adorable infants with their rounded, over-sized heads, large eyes, and chubby cheeks, whether they be human or animal. We just adore them.  Well, maybe not all of … Continue reading →

  This is the time of year for visits from swallowtail butterflies — so I watch for them. We have a number of different swallowtail species, and I thought that, on subsequent days, I had spotted two different ones. However, … Continue reading →