Category: Insects

More insects

On By CarynIn Insects

This has been an interesting week for insect spotting.

Photo description: Texas Ironclad beetle (Zopherus nodulosus ssp. haldemani)

This is the eighth Texas Ironclad Beetle I have found on our property and the first in four years. This is by far the best picture. This one was definitely alive (it is hard to tell with Ironclads sometimes), and I left it to cruise along outside the chicken coop.

Photo description: Twice-Struck Lady Beetle (Axion plagiatum)

I have seen pictures of a black lady beetle with two red dots, but have never seen one in person until this week. Very neat find.

Photo description: Rabid Wolf Spider (Rabidosa rabida)

This wolf spider was easily 3 inches from front toe to back toe and I found it in the garage after I disturbed its hiding place by picking up a bag and then it ran down my leg. (Yes I screamed, but I didn’t panic.) I tried to get a photo with a reference, but the spider said no.

Bee butt

On By CarynIn Garden, Insects

I witnessed the pollinators doing their good work on my cucumber plants: Honey bees!

Photo description: Western Honey Bee visiting a cucumber bloom

I looked up how far honey bees will fly to forage, and the general consensus seems to be upwards of four miles, with some going farther. That is a rather large circle around our area, so I don’t know if they are wild or a neighbor is keeping bees. We live in an area where either is possible.

The eyes of Texas

On By CarynIn Insects
Photo description: Texas eyed click beetle on Post Oak bark (ID by iNaturalist)

I saw a new beetle! I first thought it was an iron-clad beetle, it was black and white mottled and about the right size, but it moved way too fast. It took several attempts to photograph it. iNaturalist says it is a Texas eyed click beetle. I can certainly see the reason for the name with those two large black sots on its thorax.

Not in the mail box

On By CarynIn Insects

I have a red paper wasp that is trying really hard to establish a nest in our mailbox.

Photo description: paper wasp nest knocked down from the back of a white mailbox

The wasp flies out when I open the box, and I remove the nest when I get the mail. I’m hoping eventually she’ll look for a different spot.

Happy Halloween

On By CarynIn Insects, Wildlife

Here is a collection of spiders from around the house in celebration of Halloween.

Photo description: Garden Spider closeup. This girl is set up at the back of the house by the catio.
Photo description: the chunkiest high-eyelash jumping spider I have ever seen, hanging out on a metal gate.
Photo description: a different high-eyelash jumping spider hanging out on a different gate with a pretty abdomen pattern
Photo description: Orb Weaver Spider silhouette against a clear blue sky. She set up in the meadow and I was able to get under her high web for the photo.
Photo description: Scarlet Jumping Spider. This one is new to me, and he was hanging out on the metal gate. I love the way they look at me, calculating risk. I took many, many photos of him, trying to get the focus right. I didn’t quite get it sharp, but he was quite small.