Nadia’s Backyard- Two-Marked Treehoppers: It’s Complex December 21, 2023
- Birds of a Feather? October 3, 2023
- The Promise of Disorder in a Winter Yard February 11, 2022
- Rerun: Men of Rice December 7, 2016
- Where the Words Live November 30, 2016
- Going Native October 16, 2016
- Backyard Gooseberries are Saucy Little Things June 17, 2015
- Spring Rerun: Kimchi from your backyard to you April 27, 2015
- A Seagull Named Emma January 27, 2015
- The Long Travelers: Leaf-cutter Bees, Part II September 29, 2014
Tag Archives: Insects
Late Boneset
We just added a new page under Our Native Plants for the under-appreciated Late Boneset (Eupatorium serotinum). A humble, but worthy addition to anybody’s backyard, which literally buzzes with activity!
Posted in Gardening, Insects, Landscaping, Native Plants
Tagged Butterflies, Gardening, Insects, Landscaping, Native Plants, nature, Plants, Pollinators, Wildflowers
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Through the Keyhole
It takes patience to walk a beagle. It is not an exercise for the terminally rushed, nor is it for those who want to cover a lot of ground and work up a sweat. Beagles have other agendas. It doesn’t … Continue reading
Posted in Insects, Musings, Pets
Tagged Beagles, Butterflies, Communication, Dogs, Insects, Musings, nature, Perception, Pets
4 Comments
A Fair Trade
We may not have any more parsley in our yard, but we should soon have a bumper crop of Black Swallowtails.
Posted in Gardening, Insects, Photography
Tagged Agriculature, Butterflies, Gardening, Insects, Missouri, nature, Plants
4 Comments
A Lotta Damn Gall(s)
(NOTE: Full confession—I goofed! The following article is partially incorrect. The apple-like galls are NOT caused by one of the generations of a cynipid wasp, but rather by Polystepha pilulae, a midge, a mere dipteran, not a noble hymenopteran. … Continue reading
Posted in Insect pests, Insects, Landscaping, Native Plants
Tagged Climbing trees, Insects, Native Plants, Oak galls, Parasitic insects, Pest control, Pests, Pin Oaks, Trees, Wasps
2 Comments
Beans and Butterflies
My Dad stopped and stared at some plants in our yard, then turned to stare at me. “Did you just forget to pull these things?” he asked. “Because if you did, I can do it for you now.” “No”, I … Continue reading
Posted in Edible Native Plants, Farming, Musings, Native Plants
Tagged Agriculature, Butterflies, Farming, Insects, Iowa, Milkweeds, Native Plants, Nostalgia, Summer
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The Golden Invasion
Koganemushi froze, senses alert for danger as it detected motion. It raised its tiny oars in defense, then tucked and rolled, releasing its devastated leaf in a desperate bid to disappear beyond my sight. Too late. Before it could turn … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening, Insects
Tagged Coleoptera, Gardening, Insects, Japenese beetles, Native Plants, Pest control, Pests
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We Hardly Knew Ye……
The Great Southern Brood has flung its fling, sung its songs, flown its flights, sowed its seeds. A few lonely latecomers still flit around, looking a little lost, wondering where the big party is, but the waves of red-eyed revelers … Continue reading
Posted in Insects, Musings
Tagged Cicadas, Insects, Missouri, Musings, nature, Reproduction, thirteen year cicadas
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Troubling a Star
“All things by immortal power Near or far, Hiddenly To each other linked are, That thou canst not stir a flower Without troubling of a star.” — Francis Thompson Having never been a father, I have to take my Father’s … Continue reading
Posted in Insects, Musings
Tagged Butterflies, Father's Day, Insects, Musings, Plants, Reproduction, Zebra Swallowtails
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The Great Southern Brood
The Great Southern Brood is in our backyard, playing out a small part of its epic history here during these hot, oppressive days of late May, early June—-days more reminiscent of July and August than of this supposed pre-summer interlude. … Continue reading
Posted in Insects, Musings
Tagged 13-year cicadas, Brood 19, Cicadas, Great Southern Brood, Insects, Magicicada, Musings
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