I was wondering who was making all those half circle patterns in the morning glory leaves. I suspected a leaf cutter bee, but it took awhile for me to actually spot one in action. Today I noticed a bee kept returning to the same vine to collect leaf bits, so I parked myself there for awhile and took some photos.
Anyways, I think it’s a blue-eyed darner dragonfly…
Looper caterpillar in action… but not for long. After spending the day eating my garden, it was in turn eaten by a bird. Hey, it’s the circle of life.
For the past few evenings I’ve noticed this carpenter bee napping in the escallonia bush. She might snooze for a half hour or so, then she’s on her way again.
Robber (or assassin) fly in my garden. I don’t usually see them here, although they are common at the nature center where I go walking regularly.
This was a favorite butterfly when I was a kid. I think, aside from it being especially cute, it was the only butterfly I could consistently catch with just my hands. I was into catching bugs and reptiles back then, but nowadays I just use my camera to capture their little souls. 😉
A Gulf Fritillary who looks like she has traveled a long way to find my passion flower vine (she’s on the oregano plant in this photo).
Even the busiest bees need to take a break now and then.
Yesterday as I was pulling some weeds in the garden, a wasp flew into the dill and attacked this little mantis. I intervened and collected the mantis from where it had fallen. It didn’t seem to be moving around normally after that, so I took it inside for the night. Today the mantis is looking quite battered and one of its arms isn’t working. I gave it a fly, which it appears to be interested in catching, but hasn’t managed to do so yet. So, apparently I’m running a praying mantis rehab center now.
