It is so very nice to see so many butterflies and moths out today. As I started my afternoon walk there were lots of Little Yellows, Orange Sulphurs, Mexican Yellows and Sachems!
This stink bug has been living under a garbage bag of the invasive Musk Thistles for a week now. We were trying to bake the bugs in the bags. So hopefully no live bugs when we put the bags in the vehicle to take to the dump. However this one seems to appreciate it. At least it has stayed put. So it is the Two-spotted Stink Bug (Perillus bioculatus). Yep two spots. LOL
However the underside has more spots. Well, most likely you only see it right side up, right? This critter should be liked by gardeners. In fact it preys on Leaf Beetles (Chrysomelidae) which includes the Colorado Potato Beetles.
So I tried to get a shot of all the Hackberry Emperors that were on the Post Oaks in our woods. Not sure what the attraction was but 8 to 10 butterflies were on the several of the Post Oak. FYI the vine is a Virginia Creeper vine.
Additionally it is interesting to see so many of the Hackberries because I found very few of their cats this season.
Stopping to look at a Showy Grasshopper and a wasp that buzzed to other side of this Post Oak, this beauty caught my eye. It was nestled in the crevice of the bark.
What a beauty the Yellow-striped Armyworm Moth (Spodoptera ornithogalli)! It must have been fresh with such bright crisp colors. And a bonus was the two faces I see in its patterns! Ok the more I stare, the more faces I see. LOL
Always a favorite of mine the Clouded Crimson (Schinia gaurae) on Lizardtail (Gaura mollis)! Look for these cats on species in the Gaura genus. The adult is equally as pretty with cream and orange sherbet colors.
Orange sherbet sounds pretty good today. LOL Our high today was only 104.6F, heat index high 117.3F, and low humidity of 32%. It was hotter at our house yesterday with a temp of 105.6F. Stay cool!
Moths are amazing masters of camouflage! And a Dreamsicle sure sounds good right now!
I did not know about Dreamsicle. Had to look it up, but sounds good.
That palm flowering and fruiting underground is new to me. Cant wait to hear what pollinates it
I hope the pollinator makes the news. 🙂 Nature sure has some interesting ways.
I hope I get some of those clouded schinias now that I have several false gauras in the yard!! Beautiful.
Fingers crossed for you!