Backyard Arthropods

I still photograph nearly every day; the part I find myself not being able to do is write about those photographs.  That's life.  Weston is now 7; Brody is 5, and Megan and I are expecting another member of the family in mid-October.  The boys are excited about their new sister.  Yes!  That's correct- a girl Arbour.  My grandmother, 94 years old, had two sons.  Those two sons had five sons.  And those five sons to date have had three sons.  This is the first girl!

Here are a few of the backyard arthropods I photographed this evening.

-Tom

Black-throated Blue Warbler in the Bur Oak

This year, I've really been diligent to glass the bur oak each day.  Earlier in the week, I saw a black-throated blue warbler, a first for the yard, during a quick morning scan.  I had to get to the office though, and didn't have time to photograph it.  Fortunately, later in the week, I had the opportunity to watch and photograph this wonderful warbler once again.

-Tom

A Morning Mourning Dove

I spotted this mourning dove through the kitchen window yesterday morning as I was preparing for work. I've been successful recently to tighten up my morning routine. On this morning I had a few extra minutes to run upstairs, grab the step stool, open the small bathroom window, and get a few shots at this inquisitive visitor before it was time to head to the office.

-Tom

Black-throated Green Warbler

The distinctive call of the Black-throated Green Warbler is unmistakable.  There's just no other bird that has the loud, piercing, zoo-zee, zoo-zoo-zee song that immediately grabs my auditory attention. So when I woke up yesterday and heard it, I immediately grabbed my camera.  I was able to make fairly decent image of the bird as it moved toward the lowest branches of our backyard bur oak. The migration is on, and, for the first time, I've made a conscious effort the check the backyard each morning for new arrivals.  The most excitement this week came on Wednesday morning, when we had multiple Cape May Warblers, joined by a Blackburnian Warbler, Yellow Warbler, and a pair of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. So far, it's been a slow, steady migration, but because I've paid it more attention then ever, I'm seeing more backyard birds than ever.

-Tom

Female Dark-eyed Junco

Female Darke-eyed Junco? I've uploaded this image at 2000 pixels wide- click away and you'll see a much larger photograph.

I've set up a station where the sparrows can feed just outside our sliding glass door- it's been fun watching them come right up through the window.

-Tom

Female Common Whitetail - Plathemis lydia

Our yard isn't a mecca for dragonflies.  They seldom visit, but every once in a while, they do make an appearance.  This common whitetail was a surprise as it hovered in and out of the bottlebrush grass.  Since I had been photographing absolutely tiny insects, pointing the lens toward this dragon made me feel I was shooting a giant.

-Tom

Red Aphids- Genus Uroleucon?

This year, I haven't found any of the yellow colored, non-native Oleander aphids, but we do have a fairly nice colony of these red aphids.  Perhaps these belong to the genus Uroleucon?  It seems there isn't much information readily available about aphids. Perhaps aphids are the next big thing.  Do I see a aphidapalooza festival in the future? Probably not, but they are fascinating creatures, though. These individuals are feasting on my double flowered green-headed coneflower, Rudbeckia laciniata 'Hortensia'.  This Victorian era "heirloom perennial" has been passed through our family- our clone originated from relatives in northeast Indiana.  Calling it an heirloom perennial seems to be a bit out of place, however, since I also read that it was affectionately known as "the outhouse plant".

-Tom

Red Milkweed Beetle

This year we are hosting at least one Red Milkweed Beetle (Tetraopes tetrophthalmus, I believe).  Up close, they sort of look like some type of deranged teddy bear.  This individual has been feasting on swamp milkweed, seriously stunting the plant.

-Tom

Common Eastern Firefly - Photinus pyralis

I suspect that the humidity was so high this evening, that this "lightning bug" had to prepare its wings for its nightly flight.  It took several warm up runs leading up to sunset.  Each time I thought it would take off, but no, it was just getting ready.

Also- check the previous post, I've updated it with the help of www.bugguide.net

-Tom

More Insects from the Backyard Native Plant Gardens

Hyphantria cuneata - Fall Webworm Moth - Hodges #8140

Dark-Winged Fungus Gnat (Sciaridae)

Glyphipterigid sedge moth- possibly the genus Diploschizia

All awaiting I.D.'s via www.bugguide.net

-Tom

Leaf Miner Fly

While most gardeners despise a pest that takes advantage of a prize plant, I relish it.  In fact, I plant natives to provide homes for things like this leaf miner fly in the family Agromyzidae.  Thank you to John Carr for helping place this to family.  Isn't is fascinating?  This tiny fly is resting on the tip of a leaf blade of Mondarda fistulosa, wild bergamont.  I've never observed it before, but it is tiny, no more than a few millimeters from head to folded wingtip.

-Tom

Syrphid Fly

Syrphid fly.

-Tom

Some Type of Plant Bug with Red Eyes

This one is pretty cool!

That's it for now.

-Tom

A Yellow "Inch Worm"

10 points to the whomever guesses what plant this little bugger is eating.  He wasn't any thicker than a mechanical pencil lead.

-Tom

Common Green Bottle Fly

It's time to look for bugs in the backyard again.

-Tom

Crab Spider vs. Ogre Fly

This action unfolded earlier this week on the flowering stem of little bluestem, right in our backyard.

-Tom

For the Adults

On June 5, I was on my deck, grilling on my Weber gas grill, and heard some buzzing.  I looked down, and this is what I saw.  Yes, I'm a little tardy with this post.  Does anyone recognize what species these creatures might be (i'm not even sure if they are bees or bee mimics), and what exactly we're seeing here?  I mean, I know what's happening, but I'd like to know the names of the parts and how everything works.... Help!

...edited:  Maybe this photo will help with an ID?  They sure look like flies that look like bees...

-Tom

A Male Northern Cardinal feeding a Female

-Tom

Tufted Titmouse Fledgling

Still a little rough around the edges, with anxious parents looking on, this little one peeped every ten seconds or so, just to let them know where it was.

-Tom

Brody is my Bug Kid

Look what we found yesterday- all by rock flipping and looking closely at our natural garden areas, right here in Worthington Ohio, within the Metro-Columbus area outerbelt.

He has no problem holding things.  Not at all.

-Tom