Sunday, June 29, 2008

Sunday Safari - Including Dragonflies


Blue Damselfly

I'm doing a Sunday Safari again in an effort to find what insects visit my garden. Last week I joined Cheryl at My Wildlife Sanctuary and Sherry at Q's Corner in a safari. We've had some nice rain lately, but today is calm and could do a walk about. Above isn't the promised dragonflies, but a blue damselfly -- there are a number flying around.

Here I think is my first dragonfly picture of the year. I spotted one a week ago, but didn't have a camera. It's not quite the time of year when they're buzzing mosquitoes overhead, but it is welcome to see them starting to arrive.

Dragonfly

I was surprised by this dragonfly as I was picking peas...just resting with wet wings from rains.

Dragonfly

I got this grasshopper nymph before it could hop away...

Grasshopper Nymph

Two unidentified insects. I'm sure with a little research I can id them. The second was resting on the bird net over the strawberries.


Okay, hoverflies...not very exiting but there is an abundance of them. Many in the wildflowers and swarms over the radish flowers and baby's breath.

hoverflies

Lots of "daddy-longlegs" lurking in the foliage. Apparently this is more correctly a harvestman not to be confused with the "daddy-longlegs spider". This harvestman is an arachnid but not a spider and completely harmless to humans...well most insects and spiders are pretty much harmless to humans since they don't seek us out.

Daddy-longlegs

The Disonycha Leaf Beetles are still hiding in the wildflowers. Now I was told they eat "weeds", but they are of course eating the wildflower leaves. I will have to educate them on the definition of a weed in my garden. Actually there are only some holes in lower level leaves that get little sun anyways.

Disonycha Leaf Beetle

Ants tugging on something.

ants

Thanks for visiting!

9 comments:

Lets Plant said...

Great post! You must have a really good camera because your pictures are great too!

Cheryl said...

Great post Chris....I love the wet dragonfly...fabulous.
I also like the hoverflies, I have plenty in my garden. They are great for keeping the aphid numbers down.
A lovely safari....I hope that you will join us again.....Its great to know what is happening in ND

ChrisND said...

Lets Plant: Thanks! It's an Olympus 7.1 Megapixel... works good for close things, especially on Macro mode. I made sure it was durable to take in "the field". I would like a camera for going on trips that has a decent long zoom though.

Cheryl: I didn't know that about hoverfly larvae... even more reason to be happy with them. These safaris are great to see what's going on across the ocean or across the country.

Anonymous said...

Great insects pics as usual Chris. I love the dragonfly shots you got.

ChrisND said...

Thanks, Perennial. I really do like dragonflies. After some observing today, I think they are now on patrol overhead. I have some great shots last of a Green Darner that I have used as background on the computer.

kate smudges said...

Those were great pics. I enjoyed seeing the dragonflies, especially since I have yet to see one here. It's amazing that you have peas already - I'm impressed. It's relaxing and fun to watch the various insects parading through the garden!

ChrisND said...

The dragonflies just started here...so they're coming. I had some "early" pea varieties I tried. The sugar snaps are just starting to pods (the ones that survived the wind that is). Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment, Kate.

Deb said...

Wonderful Sunday Safari photos . Your dragonfly photo is beautiful.

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