American lady, Vanessa virginiensisEastern Tailed Blue Butterfly, Everes comyntasQuestion Mark Butterfly, Polygonia interrogationisEastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly, Papilio glaucus
This apparent wealth of winged delights belies the truth. Butterflies were noticeably absent this year, and our milkweed survived the season untouched by monarchs.
Snowberry Clearwing Moth, Hemaris diffinis on the ice plant in our peony gardenClearwing, proboscis curled, honing in on our kitchen garden red rocket dianthusIdentifying characteristics of Hemaris diffinis include a black band across its eye and black legsWhite Lined Sphinx Moth, Hyles lineataA three-inch Sphinx moth
These large moths are so birdlike in their movements you do double and triple takes before realizing you should run inside for the camera and shoot.
Southern Cloudywing Moth, Thorybes bathyllus, in the Pollinator Garden outside the Jordan Lake US Army Corps of Engineers Visitor Center
The Webby Things
Yellow Garden Spider, Argiope aurantiaA view of the brown spider spinneret, or thread-spinning organ, underneath a garden spider’s abdomen
By early July, several large garden spiders set up shop, turning tomato and okra harvests into a dance resembling the limbo.
New growth spike on a young pinePine candle spider
One fine July morning, we walked through a garden of young pines near the dam. We were taken with their upright buds of new growth (called candles) and upon closer inspection, discovered a miniscule spider clinging to one of the spires.
Busy Bees
Bumblebee on purple passion in our peony gardenBumblebee crawling out of Murasaki Sweet Potato flower
Bees relentlessly worked the garden all day and, as far as we can tell, slept in potato flowers at night. In the morning when the blooms began opening, we would watch the sluggish bees crawl out and fly off.
Close Encounters
A bumblebee flies towards a butterfly on a thistle blossom at Jordan Lake State Recreation AreaAnoles getting it on on a back porch post
Summing Up
Eastern Box Turtle, Terrapene carolina carolina, snacking on grass underneath one of our garden totesMale box turtles have red eyes while the females’ eyes are brown
The turtle is an apt mascot for 2020. We mostly hunkered down, doing our part to limit the spread of the virus, in retreat beneath the dome of our house — solitary, and complete.
4 replies on “Best 2020 Critter Pics – Part Two”
Thanks for sharing!!
Wishing both of you a happy and prosperous New Year free of the pandemic.
Charlie
I could look at animal pictures alllll day. Nice ones, ya’ll!!
Oh, won’t that be nice. Big hugs to you and Jane and the gang.
Thanks, Steph – Happy New Year from Up Over!