The more you know, the more you see and the more you see, the more you know
11 Comments
The tiny things are really wonderful – looking closely reveals so much. Cool there are so many queens!
Great articles on bumblebees – good to see that the studies are making a difference. Also makes one realize how much there is to learn and to be careful with assumptions.
The black spots on the hind wings on Queens & Monarchs indicates it is a male. I can’t remember what it does but think it gives off a pheromone. But don’t quote me on what it is. Maybe Mary knows. Anyway, on that last photo you can easily see the black spot. The previous photo has 2 males & 1 female. And a blur. Notice on the underside it is a white spot circled by black vein.
Kathy, I had not really ever thought about the black spots. However I did look it up and found this https://monarchbutterflylifecycle.com/blogs/raise/male-or-female-monarch-butterfly-pictures. This article implies that for monarchs that it is uncertain! But in other places it said that it was pheromone spot. For the Queens that is what I found as well. So your re-memory was spot on! Thanks for sharing!
Latest report on the wren in the log.
She had been gone since last weekend and the eggs laid in the nest untouched. So yesterday I poured them out of the log and broke them open. They had no developed embryo, just orange yuck. So apparently she abandoned the nest after several weeks of sitting on them. Guess they have a clock inside that tells them when incubation should be up. I’m just thankful it was not likely a predator that got her. But disappointed to not have reports of growing Bewicks Wren chicks.
The tiny things are really wonderful – looking closely reveals so much. Cool there are so many queens!
Great articles on bumblebees – good to see that the studies are making a difference. Also makes one realize how much there is to learn and to be careful with assumptions.
I didn’t know the bumblebees were used commercially. Love how they have an exit and entry way. And amen about the assumptions.
The black spots on the hind wings on Queens & Monarchs indicates it is a male. I can’t remember what it does but think it gives off a pheromone. But don’t quote me on what it is. Maybe Mary knows. Anyway, on that last photo you can easily see the black spot. The previous photo has 2 males & 1 female. And a blur. Notice on the underside it is a white spot circled by black vein.
Kathy, I had not really ever thought about the black spots. However I did look it up and found this https://monarchbutterflylifecycle.com/blogs/raise/male-or-female-monarch-butterfly-pictures. This article implies that for monarchs that it is uncertain! But in other places it said that it was pheromone spot. For the Queens that is what I found as well. So your re-memory was spot on! Thanks for sharing!
Latest report on the wren in the log.
She had been gone since last weekend and the eggs laid in the nest untouched. So yesterday I poured them out of the log and broke them open. They had no developed embryo, just orange yuck. So apparently she abandoned the nest after several weeks of sitting on them. Guess they have a clock inside that tells them when incubation should be up. I’m just thankful it was not likely a predator that got her. But disappointed to not have reports of growing Bewicks Wren chicks.
Kathy,
Sad to hear and thanks for the update. Are you going to leave the “nest box” on your railing?
Love the tiny red eggs. Ive seen some queens in my yard too.
I love the close-up of the greeneyes flowers – they are so pretty! Lots of queens around my house now too.
👏🏻👏🏻
Beautiful creatures. Cool about the bumblebee study where they fixed the problem.
Very clever bumblebee solution indeed 😊