Since the last thread was getting so long I thought I would start us a new thread.

*Reminder to click on the "watch" button.*

We came from here: The thread "Beefriends(tm) and other Garden Guests - threeeeeeeee!!" in Gardening for Butterflies, Birds and Bees forum

Bumble at Dusk

Beautiful photo Christine!

Great shot. And THANK YOU for starting a new thread. Fantastic.

(I've not taken many photos this spring. I regret that. Maybe this will be a good push for me ;)

Great opening shot Christine!

I got a little behind on my bug posting. I'll try to catch up. I think I last mentioned a soldier bug nymph feeding on one of my Zebra Longwing cats. To be fair, I believe the caterpillar - plus a few others I found - died of a virus. The nymph was just taking advantage. I had the same thing happen to a Monarch cat last year and Janet helped me out on the Insect ID forum.



This is not a repeat photo! Despite me posting an earlier photo of soldier bugs (or stink bugs) mating on Peppergrass, I found two more at it on the very same plant the next day! The first pair I saw were slightly different colors. I remember one was green and one was gray-brown. But here, they're both the same color. I have seen a lot of aphids on the Peppergrass this year. I wonder if that's attracting the soldier bugs?



I haven't exactly made peace with the dragonflies, yet. But I can't do much about them. They are a part of the circle of life and all that jazz.



The blue one again...this one was clearly eating something, but even my camera wasn't good enough to see what. I zoomed in on the computer and of course, I saw it with my own eyes. I don't think it was a caterpillar. Looked more like an ant. Something black and red, you know?



Did it stick it on the plant? I have no idea what's going on now.



And this one was on the bench by the door.

Thank you Robin, Asa and Dirt.

Interesting stuff, Melanie! I can't really tell for sure but it looks like the dragonfly ate its prey head-first. Not sure what it is or was. Maybe some kind of small fly. They will eat anything they can catch and they are very good hunters. On a positive note, butterflies aren't at the top of their favorite food list.

I think I mentioned to y'all about the aphids on my tomato plants. But, also the wonderful ladybugs. Well, yesterday I noticed these ants were all over a ladybug pupa. I'm wondering if they are destroying it? So that makes me think the ants are farming the aphids and the pupa is a threat to their food. Fascinating.



Not sure what's on the back of this ladybug.


Found some eggs too, I think they're ladybug eggs. I'm pretty sure they aren't aphid eggs since aphids are born alive! Crazy and interesting all at the same time!

Melanie that next to last photo of the dragonfly is mesmerizing!

Christine, wow, nice photos & interesting thoughts. I sure would love to know the answers! I wish I could see what's on that ladybug.

Some ants and a small winged creature on a lily.

I love your freckled lily, J.

Ann, I wish I could have gotten a closer look at what's on the ladybug. I'll keep an eye out.

The Lily is Salmon Classic, always one of the first to bloom in spring.

Your lily is beautiful!

Ornithogalum w/ winged creature



Leafhopper on Asphodel

That's a mighty colorful leafhopper J.

Fabulous 'winged creature' shot!

Lizard love.

Oh my....That shot belongs in National Geographic, Ann.

I feel like I should be saying something educational, like how you can see the native anoles range in color from green to brown, but you can tell the difference from the Cuban anoles by their slimmer profile and different head shape. But the kid in me just wants to point and laugh.

That is a really great shot, Ann! I don't think I've ever witnessed lizards like that before.

I saw a couple at MOSI two years ago. The folder it's in is dated May 11, 2014. I wonder if this is a standard breeding time for them? Oh, but mine are the non-native Cuban anoles.

Oh my. If this keeps up, we'll have to slap an "R" rating on this forum! Love your lizards, Melanie
But since we're on the Spring Is In The Air thread.....