I'm this big!

Completely adorable!
I love inchworms and those who have an inflated self-esteem are over the top!
Check out this big guy! Streeeeeeetch....

He can lean precariously over the side too! Just imagine the strength required to hang onto that leaf.
I am super impressed. What a little big man! (or woman)

Lotsa Little Legs in my Apple

Last week we went apple picking in a nearby orchard. Whenever I go to these local orchards I feel as if I am ripping off the owners. Not only do we get boat loads of apples for practically nothing, not to mention the nine apples that were eaten while the three of us picked, we also get an eensy bit of protein tossed in for free.

Here's hoping Poopsie #1 checked this one for squiggles before using her mouth as an extra hand.

Rose Colored Glasses Make Everyone Pretty

There she is, Miss Mothera...

photo by CTMom

Easily the prettiest bug to visit these parts in a while, meet the rosy maple moth (dryocampa rubicunda). I'm just going to say this specimen is a female because I'm tired of the males in the animal kingdom getting all the good looks. Plus, I read that the females have bushier antennae than the males and these antennae look rather bushy to me. So there!  I am now finished with my diva rant on behalf of plain-lookin' females everywhere.

Hubba Hubba

Hunks! I know how to find them. I am referring; of course, to this tomato hornworm and not the guy behind it because he’s my brother and calling him a hunk would be gross. But really, everywhere I go I find the biggest, juiciest and most bizarre bugs. Spotting them is kinda like my secret super power. I realized over this past summer that I could be content if my only job was to travel the world and take pictures of insects. If that were my actual job, I would certainly post more blog entries. I think I have a year or more worth of bug pics to share.


When I first saw the tomato hornworm munching on my parent’s garden I thought it would most definitely metamorphosis into the most incredible moth. Unfortunately, no. The moth is quite plain and the grub is loathed by tomato growers everywhere. I’ll always have a place in my heart for you, you giant squishy!

Not Bug Related but hey it's for Free Twilight Books

Happy Twilight movie realease day! To celebrate visit this contest and win free books!!!

Sponsored by Bitten By Books

Boogie Bees

I haven't blogged in forEVER. Sorry
I just popped in (I initially wrote "pooped in") to post this fabulous and ridiculous video. It's great, until the end. : <

Flutter for the shutter

Just some new pics from my new camera! Now, if only my subjects would hold still.. I need to figure out how to adjust the shutter speed so I don't get blurry movement images.
Moth (yes, that lamp post is a popular hangout for neighborhood moths)


Black Swallowtail on the bush



Black Swallowtail's undercarriage.

Spiders

They are everywhere...
In my basement, in my car, in my mailbox, in my coffee cup (seriously)...
This one (and the mini lady) are cute... esp when he/she does the balling up thing at the end.


This one... not so much.


You can read about it here.

The vid was made by a YouTube friend, Boobtubious. Check out his other stuff.. it's pretty entertaining.

Bug Fail

Ok, I saw this first on FailBlog.. which is a site TOTALLY worth several hours of procrastination. Since it was bug related, I thought I would share it here too.

OMG! Hilarious!

New Species?

I'm afraid you'll have to click the images to get a better view of these cool buggies.

Chimera #1
The wings of a butterfly
The body of a bee
The probuscus of a hummingbird
(very friendly)

Here is a picture of him/her staring at me.


OK, After some research I have concluded it is a Clearwing Sphinx.


Chimera #2
Mothlike fur
Batlike face and grasping thingies


Update 09-07 - I have concluded that this is a Noctuidae or Owlet Moth, possibly a Wood-Nymph(Eudryas grata)


And here is a pretty green moth