Wonderful photos yet again, Sarah! Appreciate the details about the species. Our old house had the perfect back light and rough wood siding for mothing, still working on a set up in the new house.
I'm impressed at how well just a porch light has been at my house this year. In the past I tried hanging a sheet in different places in the yard and almost nothing would turn up. I might try again this week.
I also want to eventually make one of those traps with a bucket, funnel, light, and egg cartons that you can check in the morning (no more staying up past my bedtime) and free the moths when you are done photographing them.
Wow- the Gold-Marked thread-waisted wasps are beautiful (and what a name)! The Variegated fritillary makes me think of autumn here early. I wonder how many times I've seen wasps without noticing them. Thanks for your post.
I got very into wasps last year, particularly in my garden. I had a lot of migraines and days at home, not going hiking, just wandering around my garden with a camera to distract myself from the pain. Wasps are probably the most diverse and abundant pollinator in my garden. I bought a couple of books and I hope to continue reading them this summer for either a whole wasp post, or, like last summer, featuring different wasps and sprinkling facts throughout the summer and fall.
My favorite are scoliid wasps, though thread-waisted wasps are cool, too!
I remember the piece about galls! It was delightful! I think it was either just before or during the Gall Week community science event, too! In fact, I'll link to it when I write about the next Gall Week, which is usually in September. (I would love to get more people to join these initiatives, since it's a great way to learn and get to know your outdoor space better.)
Looking forward to the bald-faced hornets. It's on my list now. I try to give them a very large and respectful distance in case it's true that they can be aggressive. So far they seem uninterested in bothering me, even when they built a nest on my house!
I've only seen them in places nothing like my garden, such as beaches and sandhills. I recently treated myself to Heather Holm's wasp book and I expect it will get a lot of use this summer.
I never got around to it last year, but I intended to do a post just about wasps — maybe it will be this year.
Our next door neighbour loves moths and has a big illuminated box in the back garden to attract their attention. He worried that the light disturbed us, but I think his passion is heartening. It's a beautiful thing when people notice more than bees and butterflies.
I often wonder what my neighbors think, if they see me out by the porch light in the middle of the night (or even just at 10pm) taking photos of bugs on the side of the house. I haven't gotten a really good light yet, but I hope to someday!
Wonderful photos yet again, Sarah! Appreciate the details about the species. Our old house had the perfect back light and rough wood siding for mothing, still working on a set up in the new house.
Thank you!
I'm impressed at how well just a porch light has been at my house this year. In the past I tried hanging a sheet in different places in the yard and almost nothing would turn up. I might try again this week.
I also want to eventually make one of those traps with a bucket, funnel, light, and egg cartons that you can check in the morning (no more staying up past my bedtime) and free the moths when you are done photographing them.
Wow- the Gold-Marked thread-waisted wasps are beautiful (and what a name)! The Variegated fritillary makes me think of autumn here early. I wonder how many times I've seen wasps without noticing them. Thanks for your post.
I got very into wasps last year, particularly in my garden. I had a lot of migraines and days at home, not going hiking, just wandering around my garden with a camera to distract myself from the pain. Wasps are probably the most diverse and abundant pollinator in my garden. I bought a couple of books and I hope to continue reading them this summer for either a whole wasp post, or, like last summer, featuring different wasps and sprinkling facts throughout the summer and fall.
My favorite are scoliid wasps, though thread-waisted wasps are cool, too!
Just amazing! Now I have to go learn about sand wasps. I have no idea.
They are amazing. Here is a column I wrote. I wrote another later about galls. WHAT A WORLD!https://open.substack.com/pub/writingintowonder/p/behold-the-bald-faced-hornet?r=ot8m8&utm_medium=ios
I remember the piece about galls! It was delightful! I think it was either just before or during the Gall Week community science event, too! In fact, I'll link to it when I write about the next Gall Week, which is usually in September. (I would love to get more people to join these initiatives, since it's a great way to learn and get to know your outdoor space better.)
Looking forward to the bald-faced hornets. It's on my list now. I try to give them a very large and respectful distance in case it's true that they can be aggressive. So far they seem uninterested in bothering me, even when they built a nest on my house!
I've only seen them in places nothing like my garden, such as beaches and sandhills. I recently treated myself to Heather Holm's wasp book and I expect it will get a lot of use this summer.
I never got around to it last year, but I intended to do a post just about wasps — maybe it will be this year.
Our next door neighbour loves moths and has a big illuminated box in the back garden to attract their attention. He worried that the light disturbed us, but I think his passion is heartening. It's a beautiful thing when people notice more than bees and butterflies.
I often wonder what my neighbors think, if they see me out by the porch light in the middle of the night (or even just at 10pm) taking photos of bugs on the side of the house. I haven't gotten a really good light yet, but I hope to someday!
Loved reading about your nightly porch light prowls.
I'm so glad 💚 I'm continuing this at a cottage in a state park this weekend and seeing fewer hoppers, but many new-to-me moths.
Thanks for mothing and leafhopping. Thanks for the amazing photos.
Thank you!