There’s nothing like a Spring Equinox celebration to bring out the entomologists and insect enthusiasts.
Both the presenters and participants braved the heat, with record-breaking temperatures reaching 105° F plus on Saturday. It felt more like the first day of summer than the first day of spring.
We had smaller crowds, but everyone was having fun. We met some new friends and re-connected with some old ones.
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In the yard we still have a few insects in spite of the above-normal warmth.
Last week the pallid-winged grasshoppers were everywhere, probably part of a migration. This week, however, I found evidence that they aren’t simply migrating. Can you tell why?
Here’s a closer view.
This is a nymph rather than an adult. Because it doesn’t have wings, it is unlikely it flew in from somewhere else. This one is perched on a desert marigold flower, resting in the heat.
The wildflowers are starting to finish up and go to seed, but those few that are still open are quite popular. Here is a plant bug on a golden Dyssodia. The dainty sulfur butterflies love these, but I wasn’t able to catch a photograph because they flit around too much.
Do you have any plants in your area that attract a specific kind of insect?
