I attended a Youtube Livestream last night with a super-enthusiastic entomologist, who weekly magnifies and explains one insect for our edification and sketching pleasure. She goes fast and meanders frequently—it’s pretty hectic (but fun). I filled several pages with scribbled notes and sketches which I consolidated into this page after the session.
A large section of our hiking trail was a-buzz with bees, and it was quickly apparent that the action was happening on and close to the ground. Not knowing much about these ‘ground bees’, we gave them wide berth and I did some research when I got home.
What I learned was so fascinating, that V & I went back yesterday to observe them more closely. Each bee, laden with pollen, was crawling into a hole then emerging a few seconds later to collect more. How did she know which hole was hers? How long will she live after her work is done?
Now we know where they are, we’ll try to go back in 10 months to see the next generation come forth and mate. Fun!
I found this big fatty in the bathroom this morning. It’s a White-lined Sphinx Moth, also known as a hummingbird moth, so called because, in poor light, it can be mistaken for a hummingbird as it hovers at tubular flowers, sipping nectar with a long proboscis. Adult moths have a wingspan of up to 90mm/3.5 inches.
Here’s hoping no eggs get laid in the veggie garden. According to this article, “Larvae can occasionally occur in tremendous numbers and can move in hordes in search of food, consuming entire plants and covering roadways in slick masses.” Fun times!
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