What's Bugging You?

Well it's been a few (again) since I've posted.  I have good intentions but then time and distractions get the best of me and before I know it a month has gone by between posts.

 So today it's all about....Bugs

So last year we found loads of these caterpillars in the flower beds.  Some were green and some were black but they were all the same type of a caterpillar.  They turn into White Lined Sphinx Moths (also known as a hummingbird moth).
 

We never did see the moths and this year we haven't seen a single caterpillar.

 

Last year for one of the 52 Frames assignments I photographed a bunch of slugs trying to get one with a good shadow.  So while technically not a "bug" I'm sharing this shot.

 

 

Saw this pretty little butterfly on the rose bushes this summer.  I believe it's a Monarch butterfly but I could be wrong.  I was just excited to get a photograph of one.  Upon close examination you can see she has a slight tear in her lower right wing.

 

One day hubby came in and noticed this very weird looking bug sitting on his notebook.  We took some pictures and then set it free.  

 

 Turns out it was a, Banded Alder Borer Beetle.  The say it's black and white but the white color has a bluish tint to it in my opinion.  You can click on the link to read about them.  Weird and cool looking bug.

 

 We see these around here quite often.  Praying Mantis (Mantid)

This one was green.

 

 This one was brown and landed on Coleen/Jupiter's arm while she was out mowing.

 Praying Mantis Folklore

• The French once thought that a praying mantis would point a lost child home.
• In some parts of Africa, it is considered good luck if one of these curious creatures lands on you.
• The Greek word mantis means “prophet” or “seer.” Because of the way the insects hold up the fronts of their bodies and position their huge forelegs when at rest, it appears as though they are praying for insight.. 

 

 Recently spotted this lovely Katydid in the garden.  On the opposite side of the bloom was a very common insect/bug...

Yep, a fly.  I wonder if it became lunch for the Katydid!

Finally we have another, Cat-Faced Orb Weaver hanging around.  I've posted before about this type of spider.  You can read about it here - We find this type of a spider very fascinating to watch.

This one has spun quite the web and every night she comes out to wait for something to get caught in her web.  She's devoured several elder bugs and some aphids already.

Well if you aren't squeamish about bugs and critters then I hope you've enjoyed your visit here today.  If you are...I apologize for traumatizing you.  - Enjoy the rest of your day and don't let things,

"bug" you!

 

 

Willy-Nilly Friday Five - October 5, 2018

Welcome - Yes,  I'm still alive. - The last couple of weeks though I wondered about that. - Caught a bad cold that turned into that nasty, hacky cough and just didn't feel up to much at all.

Anyway here I am today joining Tom (The Backroads Traveller) for:
WILLY-NILLY FRIDAY FIVE

1.  One evening a about a week ago Coleen came inside and told me to grab my camera quick and come outside.  She spotted this on one of my Azaleas bushes.  We took it off the bush so I could get some photographs.  The darn thing was nearly 3 inches long.  After doing some research we discovered this is the caterpillar of the White-Lined Sphinx Moth  If you click on the link you can see the moth and the caterpillar which comes in two colors.  Green and Black like the one we found.

 

2.  Hubby had a fall about a week and a half ago.  Slipped on some scaffolding and did this to his knee.  -  It's healed up now but it looked pretty gross when it happened.

3.   Two of my entries for the 52 Frames Photography Group I participate in.  The first one was for the theme: Five and the next one was Inspired by a photograph.  - Lately I've been having fun with humorous photography as you can see from these shots.  I hope you find them amusing.

 

 

 

 

4.  I've also spotted some interesting things on cars/vehicles lately.

 

 



 

Took this one because Coleen likes anything that has skulls on it.

 

Spotted this next one in the parking lot at the grocery store.

 



 

5.  Fall is in the air.  Spotted this beautiful bunch of trees while out on a drive yesterday.

 





 

6. Bonus shadow shot.  Some flowers in my moms garden.  I though it looked like there was a little bird sitting on a branch in the pattern of the shadow.

 



That's it for today.  - Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great weekend.

 

 In honor of the arrival of Autumn in the US your musical selection today is:  Leaves that are Green.