It had been another great outing, but it was time to head back to the car. This did not mean that we would not stop along the way. 😉
The ravine had opened up to a patch of American Beautyberries. Not many berries remained on the plants.
An Orange Sulphur was resting among the grass!
Holding my phone upside down was the best way to get the close up. 🙂 Another chilled critter!
As we heading up the slope, a few Eryngos were still blooming. And Eryngos are also insect magnets!
This bee was fully chill.
Taking advantage of its stupor, I took multiple angles for the shots.
Are those not the neatest antennae?
A real handsome guy! This is a male Melissodes! The males in this genus have the long antennae. Most in the tribe of Longhorn Bees (Eucerini) are hairy.
More Dodder (Cuscuta)! This time it was on Skullcap. Some Dodders are host specific.
I do not take the time to figure out to species, but I can still enjoy and admire its tiny flowers!
Can you see why this might have the common name of Snake Herb (Dyschoriste linearis)?
This makes the second Sleepy Orange that was emerging from the chrysalis! It really was a butterfly day!
A Dainty Sulphur on Gumweed (Grindelia ciliata)!
Final subject! This is a female Longhorn Bee (Eucerini) in the genus of Melissodes. Notice the short antennae compared to the above male.
Ok this be the last photo. Same bee as above.
Not sure when our next warm day will be. The wonderful grasslands!
Snake herb looks like a pretty flower to me. Great pics as always. Especially the bees and sleepy orange just emerging.
Thanks!
I didn’t know that about snakeherb!!
And FYI, I used the new bee book. 🙂
That is a great patch of beautyberry!!!
The wonderful close ups of the bees makes them look like they have fur coats on for winter.
I guess the fur coat is because they are a fall bee?? 😉