Who is This Busy Bee in My Backyard?

[Astronuc]

My wife posts on one of the other forums in nature.gardenweb.net

 

[pattylou]

I was banned from Gardenweb. Can you believe it?

You see, they have a policy that you can't ask for free seeds on the seed exchange.

It occurred to me, that gardeners are happy to send free seeds to other gardeners. I have about a cup of arugula seeds at the moment, you want some? Also just harvested 2 pounds of pinto beans. Want some of those?

BUT! If a cheat comes along and says "I have (rare X, Y, and Z) seeds, what wil you trade for them?" I would be likely to trade my rare Passiflora or some such seeds for them, and end up screwed when the other end of the trade fell through.

I posted to this effect, suggesting it would be better to allow people to ask for free seeds. I was banned by Spike for planting the idea of how to cheat, into the community.

Well, LOL, ,guess I showed him since we have Gardenwebbers here. That's how you cheat. See, I don't think the average person would *want* to cheat. Most gardeners are honest.

Anywho, our eight year old today saw a bumblebee on our Black-eyed Susans, and asked about it. Love those Bumblebees. We also saw a monarch laying on the milkweed last week, and have a baby monarch caterpillar even as I type. We have watched the first brood of Gulf Fritillaries eclose, and the second brood are growing nicely. Though their numbers seem to drop ---- I expect they aren't as poisonous to the birds as the books would have you believe.

 

[Moonbear]

Here is a hummingbird moth which visited this morning. One pic as it comes into land, and one with its proboscis extended into the flower while it hovers.

Those are moths! Wow, you sure do have cool bugs where you live.

 

[Astronuc]

I was banned from Gardenweb. Can you believe it?

You see, they have a policy that you can't ask for free seeds on the seed exchange.

BUT! If a cheat comes along and says "I have (rare X, Y, and Z) seeds, what wil you trade for them?" I would be likely to trade my rare Passiflora or some such seeds for them, and end up screwed when the other end of the trade fell through.

I posted to this effect, suggesting it would be better to allow people to ask for free seeds. I was banned by Spike for planting the idea of how to cheat, into the community.

Apparently, there is a new administrator - or at least that what my wife told me. She has found the Gardenweb to be a great source of information. You could perhaps try being a member again.

pattylou, I think GW went overboard in your case. You kind of stated the obvious.

 

[arildno]

http://home.comcast.net/~Integral50/scenery/bee.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~Integral50/scenery/bee2.JPG

[/URL]
Having ungrumped myself, I'd say these are great photos!

Has anyone else noticed that if a wasp errs its way into your house, it has no problems finding its way out, but that a bumble-bee will mill about, unable to find its way out again?

Of course, I happily murder any wasp that I am able to kill, but NEVER a bumble-bee!

To kill a bumble-bee is an act of sacrilege, IMO.

 

[Astronuc]

Of course, I happily murder any wasp that I am able to kill, but NEVER a bumble-bee!

To kill a bumble-bee is an act of sacrilege, IMO.

Most people have this reaction. I will catch wasps and spiders in my hand if necessary, and I will escort them outside. I rarely get stung (one just has to be gentle), and I have never been bitten by spiders. There are some species like the "black widow", which must be handled with care. The same goes for centipedes - some varieties are very poisonous.

I posted a couple of pics of one of my favorite spiders, a http://www.everything-science.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=82&topic=6251.0 species, I believe. I also think this is the one that layed a clutch of eggs which hatched - so I have hundreds of spiderlings.

And I also photographed a http://www.everything-science.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=82&topic=6252.0.

 

[pattylou]

Apparently, there is a new administrator - or at least that what my wife told me. She has found the Gardenweb to be a great source of information. You could perhaps try being a member again.

Hey thanks! I emailed them, asking if this can be rectified. Gardenweb used to be my first stop every morning, I loved the exchanges and the information.

 

[honestrosewater]

Wow, you can see so much more detail on insects when they aren't smooshed on the floor.

(just joking )

Nice pictures. Does that dragonfly have its mouth open?

 

[Astronuc]

Wow, you can see so much more detail on insects when they aren't smooshed on the floor.

(just joking )

Sounds like my son. Insects, particularly spiders, are his mortal enemies.

Nice pictures. Does that dragonfly have its mouth open?

I don't believe so. I'll have to check. If it is, then I lucked out on that one. That would be really cool.

Generally, I think insects keep their mouths closed except when eating or drinking.

We've been enjoying the fireflies in the backyard during the evening. One flew into the house when I opened a door. I found it on a wall later. When I picked it up to take it outside, it lit up several times. That was so cool.

I am easily amused.

BTW, the butterfly bushes with the bright pink/purple flowers are buddleia davidii (one is 'Attraction' and the other is 'Purple Nanho'). Both are have very pungent aroma.

See - http://www.hcs.ohio-state.edu/hcs/TMI/Plantlist/bu_vidii.html - Butterfly Bush, Butterfly-bush, or Summer Lilac

http://www.floridata.com/ref/b/budd_dav.cfm

http://www.rubythroat.org/BushButterflyMain.html

http://www.jacksonsnurseries.co.uk/Shrubs-BuddleiaDavidiiEmpireBlue.htm - Even have them in the UK!

http://www.joycreek.com/281-003D4.htm We almost got one, but being the end of the season, they weren't in good shape, so we passed.

 

[honestrosewater]

I mean this one: http://www.everything-science.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=82&topic=6252.0

I don't know what a dragonfly's mouth looks like, but see the pinkish/orangish area at the front of its head? It's in the first two pictures but not in the third. It looks like a mouth.?

 

[Astronuc]

I mean this one: http://www.everything-science.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=82&topic=6252.0

I don't know what a dragonfly's mouth looks like, but see the pinkish/orangish area at the front of its head? It's in the first two pictures but not in the third. It looks like a mouth.?

If I read the diagram in the following link correctly, the mouth (mandible) is just below the pinkish/orangish feature (forehead), and it might be slightly open. I'll try to zoom in on the higher res pics.

http://powell.colgate.edu/wda/Beginners_Guide.htm

Looks like I have to do a little research on dragonflies.

They show up here periodically, and I had seen some large ones. The one in the picture has a wing span of about 4 inches.

We've also had preying mantisses on occasion (including a very large one), and we have swarms of ladybird bugs. When we replaced the siding on the house several winters ago, we found thousands of ladybird bugs hibernating under the old siding.

 

[honestrosewater]

Don't worry, it's not a big deal. I thought the orangish part was the inside of its mouth but wasn't sure whether the mouth was really that big.
You take some great photos anyway. Do you have any cloud photos? :!)

 

[Astronuc]

Don't worry, it's not a big deal. I thought the orangish part was the inside of its mouth but wasn't sure whether the mouth was really that big.
You take some great photos anyway. Do you have any cloud photos? :!)

Yes, as a matter of fact, particularly at sunset. I love to catch the intense pinks, oranges, and purple hues, constrasted against the blue and grey sky, and white or grey clouds.

I also take lots of photos (particularly cloud formations) when I fly across the country. I need to put my set - a hundred or so pictures - in E-S's photo gallery (I think that access to the gallery requires being a registered member though).

IMO, the best time of year for cloud pictures is the spring, when the lower atmosphere is still cool and the warm moist air produces clouds up high and scattered. Florida is a good place to catch thunderclouds and lightning during the summer time.

I really haven't done much with cumulus clouds lately. The weather has been a bit hazy lately, but since you brought it to my attention, I'll keep an eye out.

I have another trip coming up shortly.

 

[honestrosewater]

Woohoo!
The sea and land breezes here can cause some interesting patterns in the clouds too.