Bees, Butterfly and Mantis

[Pilotrob56]

Here are some I took over the last couple of days. The white and yellow flowers are everywhere, Over the winter I am going to research what kind of flowers to plant in my garden/yard next spring to attract more insects and have more of a variety of colors in my photos

Eastern Carpenter Bee. These guys have a loud buzzing sound to let you know they are there

Gulf Fritillary butterfly , I wish I could have got a shot of the bottom

I was closing my shed up for the night and saw this mantis waiting on a meal, it is much bigger than the ones I saw a couple of months ago. It wasn`t in the best place for a pic

Looks like there is something on its eye

Carpenter-mimic leaf cutter bee

 

[Sylvan120]

It’s interesting that mantis pics are showing up on this forum. No one posted any earlier in the year but people, including myself, seem to be finding them this time of year. It looks like he has an injury to his eye. It seems hard to find them with a pleasing background though, compared to other insects.

The leaf cutter bee is new to me. The butterfly is nice too.

I just became aware of The Pollinator Partnership at https://www.pollinator.org

they have a wealth of information on establishing a pollinator friendly garden that may be useful for you.

 

[Gary from Seattle]

The Gulf Fritillary is an excellent shot!

 

[Cariboou]

Hi,

Very nice series, I like the butterfly, and I admit I’m envious of your garden, in my place nothing, not even by mistake

 

[jim mij]

I do like that butterfly, very nice, and i like how you crept up on the mantis getting closer and closer...

I recently bought a wildflower meadow kit to replace a patch of grass, but being a lazy gardener i'll now have to wait till next year to sow it. Good luck with yours...

--
Jim

 

[macrouser]

Thanks for the detailed images. I had a really good look.

 

[Pilotrob56]

It’s interesting that mantis pics are showing up on this forum. No one posted any earlier in the year but people, including myself, seem to be finding them this time of year. It looks like he has an injury to his eye. It seems hard to find them with a pleasing background though, compared to other insects.

This is the forth I have seen this year, the first in over a month. I hope to see more

The leaf cutter bee is new to me. The butterfly is nice too.

Thanks. The butterfly left shortly after I took its picture and I have not been able to get another chance to get a pic. Still trying though

I just became aware of The Pollinator Partnership at https://www.pollinator.org

they have a wealth of information on establishing a pollinator friendly garden that may be useful for you.

Thanks for the link I will check it out

 

[Pilotrob56]

The Gulf Fritillary is an excellent shot!

Thanks so much. I tried my best to get a shot of the bottom but to no avail

 

[dartymix1]

Here is a pic of the gulf fritillary with his wings out on an alba bidens.

 

[Pilotrob56]

Hi,

Very nice series, I like the butterfly, and I admit I’m envious of your garden, in my place nothing, not even by mistake

Thank you. You might look into planting more flowers like I am going to do. I am lucky, those white and yellow flowers (have to get back to you on what kind they are) attract all kinds of insects and they grow wild. Just looking to find different colors too. Wish you luck

 

[Pilotrob56]

I do like that butterfly, very nice, and i like how you crept up on the mantis getting closer and closer...

Thanks. I din`t want to disturb it because it was in a good place to catch insects plus it was getting dark so I didn`t have time for it to move to a different place.

I recently bought a wildflower meadow kit to replace a patch of grass, but being a lazy gardener i'll now have to wait till next year to sow it. Good luck with yours...

Lol, I got lazy on my vegetable too. I`ll try a flower garden next year

 

[Pilotrob56]

Thanks for the detailed images. I had a really good look.

Glad you like `em macrouser

 

[Pilotrob56]

Here is a pic of the gulf fritillary with his wings out on an alba bidens.

Thanks for sharing.I didn`t want to post the top till I could get a shot of the bottom but they never returned till today and I still couldn`t get one. Those look like the flowers in my yard too. Awesome picture!

 

[Cariboou]

Thanks, the location is important, for everybody, and how the gardener work... (here anything) then Canada is not Florida...

 

[dartymix1]

Thank. Yes, alba bidens. The pollinators love them, but after they bloom they create mass quantities of stickers that get all over everything and everyone. The giant swallowtails have been all over them this year.

 

[Pilotrob56]

Thank. Yes, alba bidens. The pollinators love them, but after they bloom they create mass quantities of stickers that get all over everything and everyone. The giant swallowtails have been all over them this year.

Another great shot. You are right about the little stickers, more annoying than anything. I am new to insect macro but I have found that getting a good shot of a butterfly is a feat in itself.

 

[ASR45]

Excellent set of images, I do find the mantis creepy looking though.