I made it on Sunday this week...we were gone to a wedding, but we are back and managed to catch some insects and bugs in the garden.
Last week I commented how some of my old bee friends seemed to have been replaced by new ones...I was happy to find this week all past bees and the new ones all at the same time! So we had the honey bees, mason bees, "leaf cutter", the black with white hair, and the little black with yellow pollen sacks...here are some shots.
This week the real highlight is some new bug (also in the first photo). I don't know what it is...it looks like some relative of a milk weed bug, but we don't have milk weed and this one didn't seem to act like one...
Update: Thanks to Cheryl's lead in the comments I now know this is the adult Squash Vine Borer (Melittia satyriniformis) that happens to be a type of Wasp Moth. My complaint is that it looks so nice to be a "bad guy". We will see how the spaghetti squash, pumpkins, and cucumbers fare with evidence of these around.
It sort of buzzed around and hovered in front of flowers...at first I had though it was a red colored bee, until I got a good look.
See here the white bands and the long fuzzy back legs kicking to keep a hover...
Whatever it is, I so far have seen one...but it has been present throughout the week.
Happy bug bug hunting and thanks for visiting.
8 comments:
Beautiful bee post Chris what a variety you have.......
love the mystery bug, love the way it hovers......we have some day flying moths that hover to take the nectar.....could it be some sort of daytime moth, do you think????
Briefly, I thought your entire blog was about safari-ing in your garden and this just happened to be Sunday's version.
Wouldn't that be brilliant for a blog though!
Lucy
Wow Cheryl...you were right on. It's a type of wasp moth called...Squash Vine Borer! Now I know...and to think this guy looks so nice but might spell trouble for our squash type plants in the garden.
Hi Lucy...that is a good idea for a blog...I bet someone is doing it. I know there are a lot only dedicated to insects or wildlife.
My blog is supposed to be the garden in general, but a big part of my interest is in what lives there.
What interesting insect shots you took this week Chris. The blooms they are visiting are pretty too. I hope your mystery bug that you discovered was a Squash Vine Borer doesn't create problems for your veggies.
Hi Perennial Gardener...yeah so far things look good, so I only need to worry about when this one lays eggs. I had problems with pumpkins last year, from wilt probably due to cucumber beetles so we will see.
Wow, great shots! Hopefully that Squash Vine Borer will not wreck havoc with your squash!
Hi Chey...thanks! I never knew what the adult borer looked like until now. This is the first time I have noticed them though.
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