Author Archives: makielb

Before you start looking at insects you had better become familiar with some getting to know them on a first name basis. Today started out as our typical mornings do – with moths. We never tire or Luna moths. We had our first Azelea sphinx moths of the year. Rosy maple moths are always anContinue reading “Insects and orchids”

The blue flag are now in bloom between the cabin and the point. But when walking to the point it’s hard to miss all of the shrubs and small trees with leaves chewed on by some insect. The culprit is a small green weevil, Polydrusus formosus. Not only did we find many individuals, but alsoContinue reading “Botany, bugs and wood”

It’s time to get the garden ready for the heat that’s coming. Weeding, watering getting the water-bath filled for birds. Also picking some dill and basil for meals. This part of the garden is in shade for part of the day and is still doing quite well. Peppers, tomatoes and eggplants are all in flower.Continue reading “Back in the garden”

We stopped by our friend Edie’s garden today. She has spectacular flower and vegetable beds. Lots of nice tomato plants, eggplants, peas, garlic and lettuce. The two raised beds in front of me were filled with lettuce and arugula that needed picking. We got to take enough with us for several salads. I think theContinue reading “Another garden in Ann Arbor”

We spent the day on the Curley Lewis Scenic Byway, where we have made a slow-paced drive from M-123 to Brimley (about 30 miles) since 2011. It usually takes us about 5-6 hours to make the trip stopping at every spot we can. Typically we find 16-19 species of breeding warblers. This is Naomikong Creek,Continue reading “A day looking for warblers”

This is the new bridge that crosses the Tahquamenon River to the island at the Lower Falls. Now we can visit all five of the falls, rather than just two and seeing a distant third. Prior to the bridge unless you took a canoe or kayak across the river to the island there were threeContinue reading “The new bridge at Tahquamenon Falls”

A male Ruby-throated Hummingbird, keeping a close eye on our feeder at Whitefish Point. A real warrior. The Aztec god Huitzilopochtli. The name translates as “Hummingbird of the south.” This god of war, battles, gold and the sun was the brother of Quetzalcotl, the chief god of the Aztecs. Hummingbirds were considered the reincarnation ofContinue reading “Hummingbirds, moths and more”

An Arctic skipper and a Dreamy duskywing, two of todays insect finds. We went to Natalie Lake, near Newberry in Luce County searching for some special birds that nest there. We found them – Golden-winged Warbler, Mourning Warbler and Black Tern. But we are always expecting to find a diversity in insects. Two damselflies. TheContinue reading “Insects at Natalie Lake”

Yeah, this is me. Trying to remember things without the information right in front of me has it’s limits – sigh. The right individual is a Gold-backed snipe fly. The one on the left is a robber fly that is a mimic of other flies. Fringed polygala is carpeting forest floors in the eastern UpperContinue reading “Insects and orchids”

Ebony jewelwing, one of the largest damselflies. Craneflies are a primitive member of Diptera, which contains all of the flies. I think that there are about 1000 species in Michigan and the Great Lakes states. Just because it’s time to see more insects doesn’t mean that I stop looking at other things. This is aContinue reading “It’s now insect season!”