Category Archives: Insects

Two-Marked Treehoppers: It’s Complex

Posted on December 21, 2023 by Randy Tindall

There is a curious thing going on in our backyard. Well, okay, there are many curious things in that yard, truth be told, but this one came to my attention relatively recently. It didn’t jump out and grab hold of … Continue reading →

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The Promise of Disorder in a Winter Yard

Posted on February 11, 2022 by Randy Tindall

Here at the front end of February, our yards, back and front, are looking a mite shopworn and forlorn, dressed in sodden grays and browns, rather than the riot of colors they show in spring, summer, and into even late … Continue reading →

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A Seagull Named Emma

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Randy Tindall

We have never had a seagull in our backyard, at least to my knowledge. So let me be clear up front that if you are expecting a heartwarming tale of an errant seabird squawking its way into Nadia’s heart or … Continue reading →

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The Long Travelers: Leaf-cutter Bees, Part II

Posted on September 29, 2014 by Randy Tindall

Life travels, and a lot of it has made the journey to our backyard.  That includes Nadia and me–a few hundred miles from my point of origin for me and considerably more for Nadia.  Some of this life travels north … Continue reading →

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Cutting-up in Columbia: Leaf-cutter Bees in the Yard

Posted on September 23, 2014 by Randy Tindall

One of the joys of yard-watching in our urban wilderness is that you never know what you might find and where curiosity might take you.  One fine summer day as I patrolled our domain, camera in hand, I came across … Continue reading →

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More Caterpillar Creepies

Posted on June 7, 2014 by Randy Tindall

Our backyard has many amazing things, but this one had me puzzled for quite awhile.  However, I think I may have found the answer to what exactly this is: Until I sat down and really looked at this carefully, I … Continue reading →

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Death on a Milkweed

Posted on June 3, 2014 by Randy Tindall

Walking out of our yard today to walk Bonita the Beagle, I glanced quickly over a few young milkweeds growing on our curb next to the street.  Something under one of the leaves caught my eye.  This, to be exact: … Continue reading →

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The Ballad of Quercus flatus: A Tale of Spring

Posted on April 21, 2014 by Randy Tindall

The sap is rising in our backyard.  Spring has finally sprung (we think), after a couple of false alarms, and signs of life abound.  Our redbud is budding red, our wahoo is leafing out and preparing to flower (Wahooooooo!!), our … Continue reading →

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A Miracle of Monarchs

Posted on September 19, 2013 by Randy Tindall

We have seen very few Monarch butterflies in our backyard for the last two years, but that doesn’t mean they are not there.  Caterpillars are showing up on our milkweeds, so it seems that they must be making whoopee somewhere, … Continue reading →

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A Swallowtail Odyssey: Life among the Spicebushes

Posted on June 23, 2013 by Randy Tindall

It’s Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) time in our backyard, which is good for us curious yard-watchers, but a bit hard on our spicebushes (Lindera benzoin).  We’re watching the little ones grow up and they do it fast!  Now, I am … Continue reading →

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