#peakpollendiary

[mrhumanhand]

The yellow flowers in my yard have been like an Airbnb for all sorts of bugs. My favourite residents are these two little black bees, who were frequent visitors. Those two chose to sleep together one night. 

It was had been raining (note the droplets on one of their wings), so maybe that was the driest flower.

[mrhumanhand]

Anecdotally, at least, monarch numbers are bouncing back this summer. Here's a monarch caterpillar on milkweed, helping advance that trend.

[mrhumanhand]

From Quentin Tarantino's nature film.

A wasp murders a cicada and drags it off into the weeds.

Also, surf music.

[mrhumanhand]

This honeybee didn't seem to be gathering nectar or pollen. She was just resting in a yellow flower, around 7 pm, Friday night.

 The flower closes its petals slightly at night, which makes it a popular sleeping station. Two little black bees also use the same flower(s).

 I've seen this particular bee a lot, and only her, on her own. I wondered whether she lost her hive somehow. This flower-squatting episode confirms that a bit.

[mrhumanhand]

I tried to name this butterfly that landed on Christina's head.

 At first I mistook it for an eastern comma.

 But apparently it's a question mark (Polygonia interrogationis).

[mrhumanhand]

Stephen Humphrey15 mins · And finally, to round out National Moth week, here is a peek at my new best friend, the beautiful Banded Tussock Moth.

[mrhumanhand]

I'm happy to see so many monarchs this summer. While it's great to see so many surviving, a lot of them also show signs of wear and tear, like this specimen, which looks a little knocked around. Life ain't easy when you're a butterfly.

[mrhumanhand]

Polyphemus Moth at High Park, around 11:30 PM last night.

 A group of naturalists hung bedsheets and shone lights on them. The moth was perched on one of these sheets. I cleaned up the background a bit, but otherwise this is a living moth in its habitat.

 However, the moth's life will be short. Adults of this species don't have mouth parts and don't eat. Their only purpose is mating. They survive less than a week.