April 1 , 2005 - more bugs

There's lots of good bug viewing to be had these days – this Cardinal Meadowhawk is pretty dramatic.


Here's our old friend the bee-fly, this time wetting its whistle at some damp sand.

Bam – lots of color in this critter.

A bumblebee hovers at a lupine.

And here's a black leaf-cutter bee – there are lots of bee species active just now.

This little jumping spider put me in mind of the Ezra Pound line "The ant's a centaur in his dragon world." This spider is about a centimeter long, but he looks pretty ferocious up close – and it's always a treat to see a spider this small jump straight up an inch or more to grab an overhanging leaf – note the spring-shaped back legs.

Another spider, but with a very different body plan.

Here's a yellowjacket dining at the flower of a Himalayan Blackberry.

Big finish – a Lorquin's Admiral perched on its host plant, a willow.