Flying Jewels

Monarch Butterfly Sexy-time

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It’s mating time for the Monarch butterflies. In the human world, “hooking up” can mean that you’re intimate with another person anywhere from from kissing all the way to intercourse. But, with Monarch Butterflies, they actually hook up and fly around together! I’m not certain who is running / flying the ship. I suspect it’s the female.

Pennsylvania Leatherwing beetle

I’m not absolutely certain this orange beetle with the black wing spots is the Pennsylvania leatherwing, but it’s quite close in appearance to images of that beetle that I was able to find on insect ID sites.

Yellow Jacket ? Paper Wasp?

An entomologist I am NOT. Who knew how challenging it could be to identify species of insects? Apparently, based on what I’ve read, it is not always easy to differentiate the Yellowjacket from the Eastern Paper wasp. I’m not calling this one. But, it’s a lovely animal, nonetheless.

Art Deco Vibe

I believe I discovered the name of the bug seen on the left of the above image. This insect has such interesting markings that I took longer than I had time to discover its identification. I believe it is an Ailanthus Webworm Moth. But, don’t hold me to that!

The Common Buckeye Butterfly

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The Common Buckeye is very common (I suppose hence the name) butterfly around our property at this time of year. It’s rich, striking colors and markings are a sight to behold.

Chunky Dude Wasp? Eyes on the ass wasp?

I couldn’t find an identification for this black and white wasp species with the two eye spots on its rump. But, perhaps it’s not a wasp and I was looking in the wrong place. Like the Ailanthus Webworm Moth above, it was the first time I have ever seen this chunky wasp.

The Great Black Wasp

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Well, what a great name! It’s so nice when the common name for an animal represents its appearance or behavior. There were many of these black beauties on the milkweed blooms.

Yellow tiger swallowtail

These are large, lovely butterflies that flit about from blossom to blossom and remind me of my childhood when there were so many more butterflies all around.

I go out looking for birds and of course a rare wild mammal is always cool to spot. But, sometimes I’m reminded that these little insects are the true jewels of our meadows.