Hi Susan, Really hard to tell without a picture, but taking a guess, i believe you might be referring to the "Giant Cranefly" or one of their many North American species. They are often called Mosquito Hawks here in Canada. However, the adults fly's don't actually feed on anything. Thier sole adult purpose is to mate, lay eggs, drink beer and die. Okay, I may have added to beer part in relation to myself. It is the larvae that can do some damage, but typically minor, as they feed on roots and crowns of turfgrass, vegetables and small trees. Here is a link to a picture and brief description. Let me know if this is the insect. http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://l.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/ligans/animals/lg/is0067_1lg.jpg&imgrefurl=http://kids.yahoo.com/animals/insects/3865--Giant%2BCrane%2BFly&h=120&w=180&sz=10&hl=en&start=4&tbnid=kB6FfkqkGyFF5M:&tbnh=67&tbnw=101&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgiant%2Bcranefly%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den

What a day not to have my camera in the garden. I heard a buzzing sound which usually means there is a leaf-footed sting bug flying around my trees. I quickly turned to try to find the him, but instead saw a hoop (more of a "D" turned on its side) hovering in the air. As it turned out it was two dragonflies mating. One was below the other and turned around in an act which resembles a number between 68 and 70. The one on bottom's back was arched severely. I wanted to get closer to have a better look, but whenever I took a step towards them, they backed off. I couldn't get past them to get my camera out of the house, and eventually they flew off. Its just as well, I probably would have gotten banned from GW for insect porn. It was a cool sight none-the-less. ~james

Lovely, I envy you. I'm spectacularly unsuccessful with nobiles. They either don't bloom or make a lackluster flower or two. I know what you are supposed to do and give them the dry, cold rest but can't get them to bloom. I have given up on them. One of the reason I have almost entirely healthy, vigorous plants in my collection is that I banish the ones that don't like me. After 2 or 3 tries I'm tired at looking at non-blooming stems or leaves and off they go to the numerous auctions we have in our area where the societies bug you for plants. If they want to live with me, they need to put out. Hmm, I have heard that before. Nick

Those are the pupae of a moth....can't really tell you for sure which one you might have because there are so many that are similar to each other. Many of the hornworm caterpillars (Sphinx Moths) have a similiar pupal stage. Pupa do not eat. They are too busy changing into a moth (in this case). Most of the Sphinx moths are very pretty. The caterpillers are, too. You'll find them munching away on plants in your garden or yard. Many are host specific.