Sunday, October 30, 2011

Cat-Faced Spider - Araneus gemmoides

I love that name "Cat-faced Spider."  I found this one up in the Fylton Forest on one of the rose bushes beside the path. It can hide really well as you can see from the first photo. I was hoping to get a better look so I went back and checked every few hours and on one occasion I was lucky enough to find it finishing a meal.












Friday, October 28, 2011

Metallic Wood-boring Beetle - Buprestis lyrata

Brenda spotted this beetle right by one of the tall trees across from the barn. Very colorful head on this one.








Saturday, October 22, 2011

Ants (Formicidae) - Lasius umbratus

I was wandering around the Fylton Forest one afternoon when I decided to gently lift one of the logs that is used as a stool. I was happy to find these ants farming aphids and some with larva. I've often wonderd how they work together. Then I found this quote by Dr. James C. Trager on Bugguide.net













Friday, October 21, 2011

Western Yellowstriped Armyworm Moth - Spodoptera praefica

Moths are so underrated, they are excellent pollinators and also quite beautiful.  I found this one by the veranda on the south side of the house.









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Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Treble-bar Moth - Aplocera plagiata

Every morning I went out to check if there were still some moths around the porch light and I was never disappointed.  In fact, most mornings there were quite a few of these around. They are an introduced species used to control St John's wort.






Thursday, October 13, 2011

Western Boxelder Bug - Boisea rubrolineata

What a lucky find. I managed to get shots of three different stages of its development.








Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Friday, October 7, 2011

Douglas-fir Spittlebug - Aphrophora permutata

I saw quite a few of these spittlebugs flying around up near the Joan Heriot Centre. In fact, one landed on Sharon's cap while we were talking one afternoon.










Thursday, October 6, 2011

Marsh Crane Fly - Tipula oleracea

I love crane flies! They kind of fly gracefully. I often smile when one of my co-workers describes one to me saying "I saw the biggest mosquito ever." I found this crane fly by one of the flower pots on the east side of the house.







Saturday, October 1, 2011