Category Archives: bugs

Flower chafer

Posted on July 13, 2011 by Alistair

The hairy flower chafer is a beetle (Trichiotinus piger) that also goes by the name, the bee-mimic beetle. Indeed, it hangs out around flowers, is a plausible mimic of a bumble bee, and is a pollinator. In other years, I … Continue reading →

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That’s my flower

Posted on June 24, 2011 by Alistair

When it cleared for a time this afternoon following days of vigourous rains and winds (see Clapotis gaufré), I wandered around the yard to see if there were any pollinators in evidence. Alas no, they all seemed to be in … Continue reading →

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Butterflies for lunch

Posted on June 21, 2011 by Alistair

There are worse ways to spend one’s lunch hour than to wander around looking at butterflies. I saw a number of species midday, but only two were wont to pose long enough for me to take satisfactory portraits. My favourite … Continue reading →

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Bears, bugs, birds

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Alistair

I sometimes whimsically characterize kootenay-lake.ca as a website that treats bears, bugs, birds, and beaches. So, why not use that list as the theme for a posting? Alas, the only beach I show here is underwater, but it will have to … Continue reading →

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An entomological play

Posted on June 11, 2011 by Alistair

Coming through • An entomological play in one act • Set design by Deer Bush (Ceanothus integerrimus) Cast of characters • Lingerer is played by Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus) • Jogger is played by Mining Bee (Andrena sp.)   Jogger: “Coming through; … Continue reading →

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Playing catchup

Posted on June 5, 2011 by Alistair

I wander around taking in my surroundings. Sometimes no theme presents itself for a posting. All I have is a series of unlinked scenes. Such is the case here with these half–dozen images from this last week: Painted Turtles, American … Continue reading →

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Comstock’s Sallow

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Alistair

Comstock’s Sallow (Feralia comstocki) is a moth. I am used to thinking about moths as being nocturnal, but this one was flying around during the day. It alighted on my driveway and started sucking nutrients (salts?) in a manner similar to … Continue reading →

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Four–spotted spotting

Posted on May 15, 2011 by Alistair

Along a path through the wetlands just south of Kootenay Lake were hundreds of Four-spotted Skimmers. These dragonflies are both stunning and new to me. Peter McIver had led the West Kootenay Naturalists to this area around Leach Lake following … Continue reading →

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Pollinia

Posted on May 13, 2011 by Alistair

Until yesterday, pollinia were vaguely remembered structures encountered only in obscure books. Then I saw some. One often sees a solitary bee covered in pollen (first picture). Also, one often sees a female bumble bee carrying a pollen ball on … Continue reading →

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More spring

Posted on May 11, 2011 by Alistair

Bugs and birds abound now that we have had a day or three of sunshine. Here is a collection of a few of them from yesterday and today. Lincoln’s Sparrow is frequent around the Lake in the spring and summer, … Continue reading →

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