mthew

Wasps are carnivorous, at least at their larval stage. Adults take nectar, and tiny-flowered Mountain Mints/Pycnanthemum are gushing founts of nectar. (There were also bees, flies, beetles, true bugs, and butterflies on these patches of M-mint at Bush Terminal and Green-Wood.)

All seen around Lookout Hill in Prospect, a woodsy spot with a few patches of sun, over about two hours. I can only ID one of these to species level; the first pictured above is a Blotching Spider Wasp/Caliadurgus fasciatellus.

Pearl Crescents. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Common Buckeye American Lady American Snouts. Last Saturday, I saw at least 8 in Prospect Park, always around their favored Hackberry trees. Question Mark

One month or so after fledging, the young American Kestrels are out and about, usually found by their plaintive cries. This one was hovering over Lizard Hill. (That’s what I’d call it if I was a Kestrel!) These two were by the Civil War soldiers monument. By the Sophie Calle exhibit, a.k.a. Woodchuck Hill. On…

A couple of bees. Pug Moth caterpillar, bee, plant bug. Foraging bee walks right over immobile lizard. Another bee, of three while I watched, doesn’t stir the lizard. A mess of small rove beetles and a larger (half-inch at best) beetle enjoy some fungus. I think the larger one is Eustrophopsis bicolor. This Two-spotted Diaperis…

Orbweaver with firefly. Crab with fly. Jumping with ant.

Papilio polyxenes female on Butterfly Milkweed. How apropos. Here’s a male… or maybe two of them. ( Lots of flittering about when it comes to these things.) And two of the caterpillars.