My Bugs & Creeping Things

the insect world is very diverse isn't it.
since my youngest has been home I have been out most nights moth hunting. we have id'd over 30 with about an equal number not yet 100% id'd.

the Buckeye's are really pretty.

Thank you. Yes they are fascinating. Their life cycle and function in the world. I believe everything has a purpose, yet some of these seem to defy logic - the fire fly for example. Why doesn't he burn up?

fire flies 'burn up' to attract mates. they have specific flash rates and flight paths depending on which species it is. it ensures they find the right mate in the dark. the bioluminescence generates light but not heat, so he and she cant 'burn'.
Sir David Attenborough did a special called 'Life that glows' and fire flies are shown in that. If you can track it down it is well worth a watch.

Beautiful photos of your bugs. The butterflies are stunning colours. I never knew a lot about the varieties of bugs. Nature is wonderful isn't it.

It sure is Marjorie. Always something new and exciting to see - how an orb spider weaves his wonderful web, the engineering is remarkable and his silk has a tinsel strength stronger than steel.

Thanks Eileen. I shall seek out David Attenborough's documentary. I love all of his shows and his passion is infectious.

Wow! Fantastic photos Bathgate! The stick insect is wonderful to see. Love your collection.

The butterflies are of course wonderful, showy and sure to touch the soul. But other insects are just as fascinating to watch, the diversity, colours and purpose in their lives makes them a life-long obsession if you let it. All those little people beavering away to keep the world free of decay in all it's forms is truly amazing!

particularly liked the firefly!

Beautiful photographs Paul, we have been so lucky this year to see so many creatures returning to the gardens, country lanes and meadows, normally one sees a fly and its a horrible, ugly thing but catch it in sunlight through the lense and the colours are often very eye catching, as with so many insects, still petrified of spiders and moths though so give them a miss, I do love to see cobwebs in the garden and hedgerows, especially in autumn with the morning dew on them..

Its not often we have a blog on insects, and I really enjoyed this! I particularly love the fly with the lit abdomen. A firefly I guess. But they are all beautiful in their own way...well, maybe not that weird brown thing climbing up in photo 18! But I love the Emerald Green bug who's name escapes me. Thanks for sharing. :)

Thanks Karen. You were referring to the Cicada. Pic 18 is his shell, when he lived underground for 17 years. The pic beneath it (pic 19) is what came out of the brown shell. He makes a fabulous buzzing sound in the trees in August.

Thanks Linclass. So many amazing insects. Many of them provide some invaluable service to us. So glad you enjoyed my photos.

Thanks Darren.

Thank You Honeysuckle. So many new butterflies this year I haven't seen before. Could this be a sign? We shall see.

Thank You Kate. I'm so glad you enjoyed my blog. The stick insect? the Praying Mantis? He's fantastic helper in the garden. He eats all the bugs we don't want. Aphids and things like that. Who needs bug spray?

Good stuff!

Great photos Paul, and nice to see pics of some insects we don't have here, especially the firefly - never seen a pic of one before. I think there are some in GB somewhere but not here! Loved the expression on the shield bug's face - very lugubrious!

lol, so many interesting things and life forms around here. The firefly is amazing - how a little bug can produce such a big bright light is hilarious. My favorite is the praying mantis - the way he turns his head to look at you. It's like a creature from an old 'B' movie.

Great pics Paul . We have had a good selection of different sorts of bees this year , but mostly great white or cabbage white butterflies , who have just LOVED my nasturtiums !

Thank you so much. I'm glad you enjoyed it. The cabbage whites are stalwarts of the garden. I've seen several new arrivals this year including the Buckeye which is stunning and the red admiral which flies up here from the Caribbean Islands. Remarkable!

How strange all your pictures are showing yet I have just made a comment to Bornagain that none of hers are.
A very interesting blog and beautiful photos from you , do you think its because we seem to be seeing an increase in the number of people planting wild meadow flowers that the number of butterflies bees and insects seems to have increased or is it that we are taking more interest in such.

Stroller, thank you so much for looking at my blog. Yes, my photos vanished too, but I re-uploaded them. If it happens again, i'll just delete the blog altogether - very weird huh?

Each insect is fascinating in his own way. The cicada for example, which we hear buzzing in the trees right now spends 17 years underground as a beetle - see pic 18, then he molts and emerges from his shell as an adult with wings, see pic 19. We very rarely see them, but their buzzing is a hallmark of Summertime. Some years it's deafening and they make a quivering buzz, which resembles the spaceship from "Lost in Space." They are harmless and don't bother anybody.

Enjoyed this blog Bathgate, great photos. Where I live there has been a dearth of insects especially those we call gardeners friends. Few hoverflies, ladybirds etc. Very few butterflies, I think even bee numbers are down, though at summers height my garden had its fair share. Hardly any wasps. Unfortunately the ants seem to multiply. I have quite a few slugs, I'm rather fond of the big ones:-)

Thanks Bornagain. I'm glad you enjoyed my blog. I think the numbers are down overall. I have a designated area in my garden dedicated to insects and the plants I know they enjoy most -Common Milkweeds, Joy Pye Weeds. Strangely, many of these creatures rely upon weeds and plants we consider to be a nuisance. I don't mind a few dandelions or clover in my lawn, but I get to enjoy all kinds of visitors to my garden.

BA -we've seen no wasps either - according to our next door neighbour they are all on her plum tree...

Lol that's my problem with wasps-I never see them until I'm stung on the foot in the grass. The pain is unreal and it's time epsom salt bath

Glad to hear that Stera:-))))

I've never been stung by wasp or bee ... hope it's not famous last words:-0

A bee sting is a nuisance, but the wasp can land you in the Emergency Room. I hope you never experience it. Be safe

Our local butcher died when a wasp flew into his mouth while he was working, anaphylaxis, terrible for his family:-(

I was once at a picnic and had to call the ambulance for a lady because a wasp flew into her soda can and she drank it and got stung inside her throat. She would have died if she didn't get immediate assistance. When I got stung on my foot, the doctor said to soak in epsom salt bath everyday for a week. It draws out the venom.

Good tip Bg, though I intend to stay sting free if possible:-)

Another tip: never walk barefoot across the lawn no matter how enticing it seems. :)

Lol Bg, I have four dogs, I always look where I walk and never have bare feet:-))

lol. I'm sure you do Bornagain. nuf said! I was always curious about your profile name: Are you Bornagain Christian? Why did you choose that name? Why Bathgate? That's the street I lived on while attending college - Bathgate Ave. in the Bronx, NY.

I'm a born again gardener Bg, I gave up on my garden for a time, my lovely husband had Alzheimer's for over thirteen years and needed a lot of attention. Garden lost its attraction somehow. Then in 2009 the urge to garden came back, so pleased it did. During the winter months old friends on GOY and I used to write blogs to get us through, most full of nonsense. We sailed away on a pirate ship wearing false mustaches, threw malcontents overboard etc or had 'poetry' battles, quite mad:-))) If you're ever bored look at Floribunda's blog Summer What A Wash Out, you'll see what I mean:-)

OH thank you I will take a look.

You may regret it:-))

Amazing pics, Bathgate ... thanks for sharing !

Thank You Terratonie.

Another tip re wasps - look before you strim... I didn't know there was a nest on the bank and was chased into the house by a crowd of them, they are not easy to outpace and one settled on my sandal and waited until I was in the house before it added its sting to the others. Thank goodness I'm not allergic to them but it wasn't a comfortable experience. I was fascinated to notice they go straight for the skin and don't waste stings on shirt sleeves.

That sounds terrifying and I'm glad it wasn't a full on attack. Stealth is their game. My foot swelled up like a football - doctor said to soak in epsom salt bath for 20 minutes, everyday for 1 week.