Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus)

The larvae of these small butterflies (wingspan about 25 mm) feed on vetches. This is a male, the dorsal side of the wings is a dull grayish blue in the females.

The Next Generation

These shallow underwater depressions in the sand are sunfish nests. The second photo shows the parent dutifully guarding and aerating the eggs.

Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) stand watch over their young.

Spiderlings (Argiope?) on a shed wall in the garden.

This Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) fledgeling is capable of foraging for itself but is still watched over and fed by its parents. They didn't seem distressed when I approached to take this photo.

Dragonflies of Early Summer

The Chalk-fronted Corporal (Ladona julia) is a common local skimmer, generally seen from June on throughout the balance of the summer. Both males and females have the "corporal stripes" on the thorax, the pruinescence or bloom on the abdomen indicates this is a male. The brown abdomen with the dark stripe down the middle suggest this male is a juvenile; the abdomen will darken as the dragonfly ages.

The Dot-tailed Whiteface (Leucorrhinia intacta) is another ubiquitous skimmer. Below is a picture of the aptly named male ...

a female ...

and a mating pair.

Silk Moth Cocoon

What is it? Polyphemus Moth cocoons are generally not so elongated and hang from the branch of the food plant. Luna Moths incorporate leaves in their cocoons, which are hidden in the litter on the ground rather than attached to the host plant as this one is. The Columbia Silk Moth prefers to feed on American Larch in the east and this pupal covering is a long way from the nearest larch. Based on how the cocoon is attached along the length of this Boxelder twig I'm going to go with a Cecropia Moth or Robin Moth (Hyalophora cecropia). Time will tell ...

Winter Stonefly (Taeniopteryx sp.)

Also called Willowflies, these small insects (about 15 mm long) aren't bothered by cold weather and I have seen them emerge as early as mid-March.

Their larger cousins the Common Stoneflies will be out and about in a few weeks. Stonefly nymphs are found under rocks and debris in fast moving well oxygenated water.

A Face only a Mother could Love ...

The Giant Water Bug (Lethocerus americanus), a.k.a. "Toe Biter" or "Swamp Crab" (not ... these arthropods are insects, in fact, true bugs, order Hemiptera).

Giant Water Bugs live in slow moving water such as ponds and swamps. With the profile and color of their wings resembling the dead leaves often found in their preferred habitat these insects are difficult to spot despite their size (this specimen was about three inches long). They are often found on sidewalks in early spring when they are attracted to street lights as they fly at night in search of new ponds and mates.

A couple of close ups. These aquatic predators are large enough to capture tadpoles, small fish and frogs with their barb-tipped front legs. Like all true bugs they have a proboscis with which they inject an enzyme to liquefy the insides of their prey, and (speaking from experience) can deliver a painful bite if mishandled.

First Butterfly of 2009

Milbert's Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis milberti). This photo was taken on February 11th, 2009, the temperature was 6°C according to the Weather Network.