It’s the middle of September, but Brooklyn Bridge Park is still hopping. And flitting. And flirting. And… but see below.
Noted yesterday, most often spotted first by my eagle, or should I say bug? -eyed companions:
Gray Hairstreak, Strymon melinus, a small butterfly that looks like it could be going either way.
Baby Gray Catbird, Dumetella carolinensis. 
A wasp-mimicking beetle. At over an inch long, this striking creature is the Locust Borer, Megacyllene robiniae. It’s one of the longhorn beetles; its larva bores into black locusts, while adults like this one eat goldenrod pollen. The beetle was made for this park with its black locust trees and goldenrod galore. Here’s a view of the striped underside:
Meanwhile, the breeding season is most definitely not over:
Bluet damselflies mating. The bright male clasps the female right behind the head. 
The female curves her abdomen around underneath herself to latch onto the second abdominal segment of the male, where he keeps his business (“anterior laminae”) for the ol’ genetic transfer.
Larva of Large Milkweed Bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus. Adult:
Not to be confused with the Small Milkweed Bug. The Large is a real aggregator:
For those of you who love a good swarm.
And what all the fuss is about, milkweed seeds:
Intrigued by what you see? Want to learn more? I will be leading a tour of the park’s “Birds, Bugs, and Bees” on September 29th. It’s free, but you need to do be a park volunteer to take part.
Backyard and Beyond 
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