Tag: Asian multicolored lady beetle

Top 10 Favorite Insect Photographs from 2017

It’s that time to reflect on the past year by choosing some of our favorite insect photographs.

Seems like most of our favorite photos told a story. For example, the bee visiting a flower was in danger. Can you see why?

That brown bit in the upper right side is a jumping spider looking for prey. The bee did manage to get away.

Another fun story was a friend sharing some silkworm larvae.

We watched them grow,

spin cocoons,

and emerge as adult moths. The experience inspired another story in the form of a children’s book. We’ll see what happens to that in 2018.

We loved watching these wood ants tend to their herd of aster hoppers. (See more at Wild About Ants).

Let’s not forget this Asian multicolored lady beetle, which reminds us lady beetles eat pollen as well as aphids.

We followed a grasshopper in a sunflower.

Then we discovered an adult queen butterfly next to a monarch butterfly caterpillar.

We wish to thank all our friends and family who took these journeys with us and helped make the stories happen. You’re the best!

Bug of the Week: On Robin’s Plantain

As I’m running late this week, let’s take a look at a couple of insects that enjoy Robin’s Plantain (Erigeron pulchellus).

How about a tarnished plant bug?

Or an Asian Multicolored Lady Beetle?

Robin’s plantain is a member of the aster family. Sometimes it’s also called fleabane.

Just another one of those often-overlooked wildflowers that are important sources of food for insects.