Wool Carder Bee

Wednesday, August 29th, 2007

Black, yellow, and white bee on a leaf

Wool Carder Bee, Anthidium manicatum
Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 2007-08-25
Thanks to John S. Ascher for the ID.
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Fall Webworm

Tuesday, August 28th, 2007

Caterpillar
Caterpillar of the Fall Webworm Moth, Hyphantria cunea
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge 2007-08-26

Like many moths, this one is easier to find as a caterpillar than an adult. This picture is quite a bit larger than life-size. They’re only about an inch long.

Thanks to Bobby Grizzard for the ID.
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Small Milkweed Bug

Monday, August 27th, 2007

Black and red-orange true bug
Small Milkweed Bug – Lygaeus turcicus
Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 2007-08-25
Thanks to John and Jane Balaban for the ID.
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Large Milkweed Bug

Saturday, August 25th, 2007

Black and orange true bug
Large Milkweed Bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus
Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 2007-08-25
Thanks to John and Jane Balaban for the ID.

Restless Bush Crickets

Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007

Red crickets, male pursuing female
Restless Bush Cricket, Hapithus agitator
Lookout Hill, Prospect Park, 2007-08-19

Thanks to Stephen Schueman for helping out with the ID. He also tells me this is a male pursuing a female.

My First 5

Monday, August 20th, 2007

The ABA ranks species known to occur in North America north of Mexico by order of difficulty, 1-6. Most birds that regularly occur here are 1’s, which covers a lot of ground: everything from House Sparrow to Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow, American Avocet to Willet. Some of the 1’s are actually quite difficult to find. Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow and Yellow-billed Cuckoo both gave me a lot of trouble for a couple of years, and I missed them repeatedly.
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