Beautiful bugs and flying saucers in the back yard ....

16 years ago

It's a rainy day, I've finished my few chores, the mulch guy is off playing his trumpet at a retirement home and dancing with the little ole' ladies, (they love him -- he's a good hugger and knows how to dance with them ignoring their walkers and wheel chairs) so I thought I'd scan through my photos and find some of my favorite bug pictures to show you.

Now don't say "ug" when I say "bug" or worse yet "eeeewww." Bugs are some of the cutest things you ever saw.

Think "toy" and think how not all toys are soft and cuddly, but they are cleverly designed, cute and fun when you know how to play with them. Well, I play with them, bugs that is, by observing them and taking portraits of them at work and play. Sometimes they play with me by showing up in a picture when I didn't even know they were there.

I think maybe I garden as much for the insects as I do for the flowers and they reward me by sharing the utterly creative artistic designs of their body forms and colors and sometimes give me a peek into how they make their livings.

We'll start with something everybody loves -- butterflies! But will someone please tell me why the silver polka dotted Gulf Frit thinks a white fur vest goes with the rest of her outfit? She looks a little shocked and like she is wondering herself!

This tiny moth, not even the size of a fingernail, rates a gold trimmed gossamer cape thrown over her shoulders, antenna thrown back like a flowing diadem ...

These colorful civilized cats (seeming to say "You go first. No, you go first!") are about as close to soft and cuddly you get in the insect world ...

You've got to admit this sleek bug is just plain handsome while out strolling in the rain dressed in his sharp black and red tux ...

The playboy jewel tone bee seems very proud of his colors and patiently poses on a leaf before buzzing off ...

While little this bee, emerald green, though small lives up to the family name of 'Busy' ...

Wasp or bee? He acts like a bee being very busy polinating, but shaped like a wasp. They've appear in fairly large numbers on the bronze fennel, the only thing I've seen them on. Pretty guy ...

Now if you didn't look closely and notice this is a grasshopper you'd think for sure the Fire Bush bloom had sported to a more interesting flower color ...

Ants are in every other flower I poke my camera into. This striped one is on garlic chives. And they are all different kinds of ants! Who knows what long symbiotic relationships plants and ants enjoy? There are many studies about that very thing going on. Some plants have little pores on their stems that produce a sweet substance to reward the ants for keeping them free of pests. Smart plant!

Our cute little light hearted colorful bee again. Here he peers down the daylily canyon. He's probably eyeing an ant down there ...

The comic relief in the garden are these smart aleck sly eyed little spiders. This one says "Buzz off. This is my territory!" ...

This one has backed off and is hiding after all of his many eyes sees more than he can chew ...

Hey! Who needs to go to Roswell? Flying saucers in minature right are landing in our own backyards ....

But have no fear. Sleek wide-eyed soldier bugs are here -- their handsome uniforms are complete with ample shoulder pads ...

Who says bugs aren't fun?

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Comments (15)

mikeandbarb
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
WOW You need to put your pictures in a book. Your great at getting so many great pictures.
remuda1
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Really nice shots, Rose. Just beautiful!

Kristi
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skippy05 - I grow as many as I 'can' at my residence in Netcong with the limited space here that gets enough sun,although I do grow additional plants with local friends and with those whom I network with across the country... I do start some of the MG's that I grow inside,but I usually wait until the outdoor weather is very close to being frost free,since there's only a couple of windows in this house that get full sun... Many people enjoy success starting MG's earlier indoors by using supplemental electric lighting... The somewhat diluted coloration of the "Flying Saucers" pictured above that starts looking like "Blue Star" can also sometimes look the same way the entire season,but if you look at the area between the primary folds where the darker blue pigment forming the star pattern is,you will notice the prescence of the darker streaks...this type of darker streaking in the area between the primary folds is common in "Flying Saucers",but is very rarely(if ever) seen in unadulterated "Blue Star"... I'm suggesting taking note of the streaking/spotting feature in between the 'star' pattern because pure "Blue Star" cultivars will not exhibit this type of streaking...and the presence or abscence of the streaking inbetween the primary folds can be used as an indicator to distinguish a pure "Blue Star" from a "Flying Saucers" that is not displaying alot of the blue pigment in between the primary folds... Thanks for the well intentioned compliment of 'expert',but I have an aversion to being called an 'expert'...I enjoy sharing from my experience and if anyone likes the content of my postings,I would like to suggest that a simple appreciative 'Thank You' to be well in order and most graciously liberal... Enjoy(!)... TTY,... Ron
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denisew
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
We keep telling you that you need to put a book together to show off all your wonderful photography talents! You know that a lot of us here would definitely buy it and tell all our friends about it.
averagejoetx
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Absolutely, Roselee! I would just have to have an autographed copy, though...lol

Any idea what that saucer shaped arachnid is? He looks positively extraterrestrial!
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
Original Author
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
You give the photos high compliments. Just thank the bugs for being so interesting! I'm just happy y'all enjoy the pictures and I have a place to post them so just consider them a free eBook, ;-) and I'll give you my autograph at the next plant swap in the form of a writing spider. LOL! That's actually what the spiders are called that have that squiggly design in the center of the web.

The 'flying saucer' spider is a type of spiny spider. In their shapes and color they are like the little jewels of the garden. They make you want to set them in a ring. Watch for them. They are beautiful.

From the link: "Perhaps the colors and patterns of their dorsal surface mimic the color of food -- such as flowers -- for visually oriented prey. It is also possible that the dorsal surface of the spiny spider is highly reflective in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum."

Here is a link that might be useful: Spiny spiders
muckpuk
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I stumbled on your pictures just by accident. I'm new into the bugfanclub. I havent been fond of bugs very much untill I found my red house centipede which i think is beautifull. Than I started to look at all the other postings and found yours. Thank you very very much. I'm a diver and while diving look for the nudibranchs and other small things. This is sort of the equivalent. Wow arent they gorgeuos!!
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
Original Author
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Muckpuk -- welcome to the bug-fan-club :-) I've always been fascinated by life in all its variations. When I was a little bitty kid I spent many happy hours playing in my grandmother's garden watching the bugs.

I used to snorkle and scuba dive too. The beauty and diversity of underwater life is beyond imagination. I remember the first nudibrach I saw. It was just a plain brown one in Pt. Aransas but the undulating way in which it swam was grace personified. Isn't it wonderful when you go into that water world and hear only the faint clicking noises. Never did quite figure out what caused that ... little crabs I guess.

Here is a link that might be useful: Nudibrachs
toadlilly
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Wow-you have quite a knack for close up and contrast! Wonderful rainy day/stuck inside tour! CJ
necia
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Roselee, these are gorgeous pictures. I am going to send this link to a young photographer (13y.o.). She loves to take nature pictures and I'm sure that your pictures will inspire her.

May I ask what kind of camera you use?

Thanks for posting your beautiful pics!
Necia
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
Original Author
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi Necia! The camera I use is a Canon PowerShot A710 IS. Nature photography is so much fun. Tell her you have to keep taking a lot of pictures to get some good ones. Best wishes to the young photographer.
Min3 South S.F. Bay CA
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
WOW Just found your gorgeous insect photos - you have an amazing 'eye' for finding just the right shot. I hope you are still taking photos and will show us more.
Thanks for sharing, Min
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi Min and thanks! How in the world did you find this post from last year? Are you still in N. California? I was just thinking today where I'd choose to live for better gardening conditions. Other than some exotic place like New Zealand I think my choice would be some place in California. But it ain't gonna' happen so guess I'll just be content to 'make it bloom where I'm planted' so to speak.

Anyway thanks for looking and commenting.
Min3 South S.F. Bay CA
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi Roselee, Yes I'm still here and N. Ca. is a perfect place to garden - all except for depending on water in our long dry summer months. Like many others in CA, I am changing my garden over to more native plants now, which is yet another gardening experience for me. (see MY Page). I'd be interested in hearing about your gardening in Texas -you can email me at fc4king@yahoo.com

I found your beautiful photos because we have had some really hot days lately so I was inside, just rambling around new and old posts on Garden Web - I hope you will take more of them for us.

fyi - there's a another wonderful 'bug person' I'm sure you will enjoy at http://bugyou.blogspot.com/ Min
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi Min! Great to touch base here with a Californian! I've been out of town for awhile (hubby did a great job of watering while I was gone and is glad to hand that 'full time job' back to me he says :-) but am leaving again for a few more days, so will be happy to 'talk' later.
Min3 South S.F. Bay CA
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
July! and the fires havn't gotten us here, but close. I was stuck inside sucking on my inhaler for 7 days, and you know how hard that is for a gardener. First thing I did when our air was somewhat clear again yesterday, was quickly wash the dirt and ash off my garden leaves so they could breathe too.

I think of the sad mid-west gardeners trying to bring their gardens back from FLOODS and wish them the best. Min

Beautiful bugs and flying saucers in the back yard ....

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