Category Archives: bugs

European skipper

Posted on July 16, 2011 by Alistair

The European skipper is an invasive species. It was accidentally introduced into Ontario in 1910 and has since spread westward. That being said, one has to admit that invasive isn’t a bad word. This colourful butterfly does not seem to … Continue reading →

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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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