There’s nothing like starting the day with a moth that you’d never seen. This little 5mm moth is a Diamondback moth. Then we headed off to Farm Truck Rd. in search of a couple of insects that we “always” find there.
This was insect target number one, a Hunch back fly. It was almost too easy as it was feeding in goldenrod next to where we parked our car, not where we usually find them. They were all along a few hundred meters of road. Now to look for an unusual grasshopper.
This Smeared dagger caterpillar caught my attention as I was searching for my target grasshopper.
Bronze cutworm moths were on many of the goldenrod flowers.
Tri-colored bumble bees are common from spring into late fall all over the eastern U.P.
Everybody knows Yellowjackets, but how many know the Blackjacket? It’s not uncommon. Like many insects it was feeding at goldenrod flowers.
This stunning Two-striped grasshopper was a nice find, but not what I was looking for.
Finally, a single Wingless mountain grasshopper! The uncommon target that I was looking for. Now, the lengthy walk back to the car.
Along the way back to the car I found two Brown-hooded owlet caterpillars on goldenrod which seemed to be the plant of choice for most insects today.
This Six-plumed moth was the last new insect of the day. I have only seen one other, perhaps six or seven years ago. This was Susan’s first. What a great way to end my day filled with insects.
More tomorrow…
Michael's Place 