Category: Bug of the Week (Page 66 of 219)

Bug of the Week: Assorted Dragonflies and Damselflies

I was walking in our local greenbelt this morning and saw a half dozen or so dragonflies hunting. They were no more than golden flashes of wings back lit in the sunlight.

white-faced-dragonfly-close_0651They reminded me to post these photographs of a white-faced dragonfly I took earlier this summer.

darner-dragonfly_0673This one is harder to see. Its eyes look like they are turquoise.

 

blue-damselfly-C_0674Not hard to see the blue on this damselfly.

gorgeous-damselfly_0618Here’s a tiny damselfly with turquoise on its tail.

All these photographs were taken at one pond within a few minutes on a summer day.

Do you see dragonflies or damselflies where you live? How many of them have blue on them?

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Bug of the Week: Moths for National Moth Week

Let’s take a look at a few moths in celebration of National Moth Week.

hummingbird-hawk-moth-flying(Photo via Visual Hunt)

Although moths are usually creatures of the night, it isn’t unusual to see sphinx or hawk moths (Family Sphingidae) flying around flowers during the day. Some of the larger ones resemble hummingbirds in flight, hence their other common name “hummingbird moth.”

moth-cerura-vinula(Photo via Visual Hunt)

How do you tell if the insect you are seeing is a butterfly or moth? The hairy body and feathery antennae are good clues.

Related:

moth-and-butterfly-books-for-children-list

See our list of children’s books about moths and butterflies at Science Books for Kids.

Do you have any new suggestions for our list? Have you seen any interesting moths for moth week?

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Bug of the Week: Butterflies in the Meadow

Let’s spend some time in this lovely meadow.

summer-field-C_0295Butterflies are flitting from flower to flower. It is enjoyable to watch them at work.

skipper-on-clover_0267

Can you see the long tongue (proboscis) of this skipper moth probing the clover flower?

wood-nymph-brsh-foot_0348Look how orange this wood nymph’s antennae are.

You can’t help but notice the eye spots on the wings. This one has a bit missing from its hind wing that is shaped like a bird beak. Maybe the bird was fooled by the eye spots, which allowed the butterfly to get away.

wood-nymph-tattered-wingsAnother wood nymph, which also survived.

flower-clover-trefoilIt can be a dangerous world for butterflies in the meadow.

 

Don’t forget, National Moth Week starts on Saturday July 23, 2016.

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