If you’ve ever wondered what the caterpillar of the Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly looks like here it is.  The beautiful mostly-black butterfly is common in my yard but I don’t recall ever seeing its caterpillar.  The caterpillar uses mimicry of eyes and a mouth to look wicked scary to possible predators.  The last two images show the real head of the caterpillar.  Pretty interesting find in my garden yesterday.

I shot this iridescent insect in my garden recently and really didn’t know what it is until I looked it up online.  My belief is that it’s an Augochlora Sweat Bee and I will gladly defer to any entomologists out there who can either confirm or correct my thought.  If it is indeed a Sweat Bee it gets it’s name, according to what I found, because it likes to lick sweat off of arms or legs.   The web passage goes on to assure me that they are fairly passive and “unlikely” to sting.  This was not tested as, thankfully, the bee made no attempt to ingest my sweat.  I love what can be learned online and that by photographing an insect I have seen often in the garden I learned more about it.

This dragonfly, an Orange Meadowhawk, is seen regularly in my yard.  I like seeing them for not only their beauty but for the fact that they feed on mosquitoes, flies, and ants among other insects.  I thanked this one for stopping long enough for a quick portrait then off it went to find more protein.

There is quite a massing of Large Milkweed Bugs on, appropriately enough, milkweed in my yard now.  Their bright orange and black coloring is quite eye catching.

Early morning in the cool air is a time fo insects to wait for some sunshine and warmth to get the day going. Such was the case with this grasshopper a few mornings ago.

Holding fast to a reed in the marsh, this grasshopper thought he was blending right in.

Dew covered spider webs resemble beautiful jewel necklaces but are a peril to flying insects.