Our first baby Button (Buttonbush)

Our first baby button on one of our Buttonbush plants. The species is of special value to native bees, bumble bees, and honey bees. It attracts bees, butterflies, moths, and birds. 

Read more about this species at https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ceoc2

Bernie and Maeve

Working to grow a native plant sanctuary for pollinators, beneficial insects, birds and other wildlife. 

Touching Life - How I came to pet a Bumblebee

You're just weird exclaimed Maeve. She was not the first person who declared that about me. However as impulsive as I can be I had thought about my actions that drew her response, for some time. The potential for it being a painful experience put me off, yet the temptation, no, the curiosity and desire to get closer to another life form persisted since I first started observing them. When the perfect opportunity stared me in the eye, how could I not reach out? Another life form was if not calling out to me, if not inviting me, then at least placing itself directly in my orbit, my reach. My curiosity and desire overrode my caution.

How can one not pet a Border Collie puppy dog, a purring Norweigan Forest cat, a Shetland pony? I started with cute and safe. I looked upon the Hummingbird Clearwing as it stared at me with an eye nearly the size of a marble as it extended its proboscis into a spotted bee balm flower just about at my eye level. 

This was the closest observation I had ever encountered with this flying crawfish-looking creature. The feathery antennae gave it away to be a moth, the largeness hinted at its name, (Hummingbird Clearwing Moth) while its largesse left me enchanted. I accepted the invitation. With childlike desire to explore further, my index finger reached out over the hovering reddish-brown head, gently touching down upon the Clearwing tracing down in massage mode as the creature amazingly continued feeding seemingly oblivious to my presence, never mind my petting the silken feathering. The moment was brief, the touch, the closeness, the connection - eternal. 

Of this Maeve would likely have oohed and ahhed, for it was only later that my more daring actions led to her exclamation. 

Only on our Rugosa roses do I observe so many bumblebees as I was viewing on the spotted bee balm as they shared a feast along with the Clearwing, various other moths, orange-colored Fritalaries, and sweat bees of various shades of sparkling green. 

Bumblebees are perhaps my favorite species to observe and photograph. They fly about relatively slowly, though they almost never stop 'moving' as they do their bumblebee specialty of vibrating their wing muscles to loosen trapped pollen. The dozen or so species in our area keep the variety interesting yet not overwhelming in identification efforts. Perhaps the easiest of all to identify due to its coloration is the Tri-colored bumblebee. Though not as commonly seen as some of the others, of the dozens dancing around and about the Clearwing, a Tri-colored B.B. caught my attention like an orange in a bowl of apples. 

Did the Tri-colored like the Clearwing become entranced as to not skirt away at my immediate presence? It was as though I too had tasted the sweet nectar for the first time - I was hooked. I was aware Bumblebees may sting to defend themselves or their nest. Yet having observed bumblebees up close a gazillion times and never received such a reproof I ventured forth to repeat my Clearwing experience. Would the bumblebee find me as inconspicious?

Already my face rested barely inches from the busily feeding bee, its proboscis reminding me of the hidden stinger on the other end. A cloud must have unfolded as though a shade lifted allowing color-enhancing light to shine upon this most colorful shimmering creature. The yellow, black, and that glowing orange short bristling of hairs seduced me. I had to touch it. I had to pet this bumblebee. 

The bee shifted as it slowly inched around the flower reaching into each pantry where the pollen and nectar were stored. Would the bee mind the audacity of my intrusion? I would soon find out. Only seconds remained before the bee would fly to the next feeding station. 

Sometimes, while observing insects and wanting to get the best possible focus for a good photo, I take too long and miss the shot as the insect impatiently darts away. I try to remember to shoot first, act (adjust camera settings) after the first shot.

So now, my self-taught 'training' kicked in. Or was it that child-like naivety that we lose as we grow up and experience pain, disappointments, and instructions of warning that inhibit our natural curiosity inclinations? The more I observe insects the more my curiosity peaks, my awareness of abundant diversity expands, the more my child-like intuitive interest in all life forms awakens. 

Once again my index finger, as though it was the nose of a hound dog, shot out over the bumblebee, and yes, finally, my first petting of a bumblebee occurred. I had longed for, waited for the opportunity, waited for the courage, the willingness to risk it - feeling; the just dive in the cold water mantra had taken hold at just the right moment, with just the right bumblebee. 

Maeve, I called out. She was further up the yard sitting in a lounge chair reading a book. Maeve I called again, I just petted a bumblebee. Somewhat aghast she called back, you did what? I finally got up the courage to pet a bumblebee, and I did it. I petted it, and a Clearwing as well. What did it feel like she asked. All I could think of at the moment was to respond, soft, it was soft. 

But it was more than soft, it was exhilarating, like diving hundreds of feet in the ocean and coming eye to eye with a Dumbo Octopus. I, albeit briefly, petted that which lives its life, goes about feeding, getting wet when it rains, cleaning off mites and debris, finding shelter, building a home, mating, raising progeny, avoiding predation, and dying - all without hardly a glancing notice from me and perhaps from most folks as well. 

I wanted to pet another one and another one. I wanted to frolic with them, throw them a ball and see if they would bring it back (a tiny ball of course). I wanted to offer them a sugar cube, a toy flower. I wanted to hug them and speak to them and hear them even if it was all buzz talk. I wanted to feel their tiny vibrations as though listening to their hearts like I did with my kids when they were so very small. 

LIFE. Life is so good. Life in plants, in animals, in insects. Life floating about us. I just read that spiders are also great flyers. They use electrostatic forces, breeze, and long strands of silk from their bodies to help provide lift. Their ballooning effect usually carries them short distances but they have been documented more than three miles above Earth's surface and out at sea. If I ever run out of living species to observe in our backyard, I only need to look up!

Observing other living species is rewarding. Ask me, I petted one. 

Bernie

Discovering life in our backyard - again and again.

Vermont Moth Blitz 2021

     One looks to be wearing a majestic king's robe, another appears dressed for winter in July, yet another is all blue with an orange collar. One looks like it is wearing spikes and is called a Skeltonizer! One is called a Tiger and one is almost as big as a hummingbird. 
AND THEY ARE ALL LIKELY TO BE IN YOUR BACKYARD. 

Kent McFarland of VT EcoStudies invites us to explore our backyards for Moths.

"Join the Vermont Moth Blitz 2021 (July 17th to 25th) even if you are not a moth watcher! Explore Vermont's astounding moth diversity! By participating in our annual Vermont Moth Blitz, you will help the Vermont Moth Atlas develop a better understanding of the moths that call the Green Mountain State home. Join our project at https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/vermont-moth-blitz-2021.

Over 2,200 moth species have been documented in Vermont with new species being found all the time. Who knows, maybe you will find one! We encourage everyone, from experts to amateur enthusiasts, to find, photograph, and share their moth discoveries with the Vermont Moth Blitz during National Moth Week (July 17th-25th). Can we beat last years' tally? 

Check it out at https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/vermont-moth-blitz-2020. The Vermont Moth Atlas is a project of the Vermont Center for Ecostudies' Vermont Atlas of Life."  ~Kent McFarland, Vt Ecostudies

Bryan Pfeiffer reports that there are 800 moth species in Montpelier. How many will we find in Jericho?

The best part is you don’t have to go any further than your own backyard to find them day or night. Posting photos of them on iNaturalist helps scientists, and it can be interesting to find out the identification of each moth after you post the photo.

See some of my favorite moth observations from our backyard at the links below.

                                                          Virgin Tiger Moth

Confused Haploa Moth

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/86911344

Clymene Moth (Reminds me of a Knights of the Round Table shield emblem)

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/53275858

Virginia Ctenuch Moth 

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/84963606

Grapeleaf Skeltonizer Moth (Blue with orange collar - WOW)

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/86221567

Black-and-Yellow Lichen Moth

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54640211

Marbled-Green Leuconycta Moth (Reminds me of my grandmother's carpet).

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/83073068

Eight-Spotted Forester Moth

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/85494257

Ruby Tiger Moth

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54569501

Putnam’s Looper Moth (Looks like it's wearing a king’s robe)

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54566006

Apical Prominent Moth (Looks like it is dressed for winter)

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54565930

LD Moth (Check out its feathered antennae)

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54558718

Squash Vine Borer Moth

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/86089227

Snowberry Clearwing Moth (BIG)

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54549921

Member of the Plume Moths (Scary)

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/85387888

White-Spotted Sable

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/85418039

Bog Lygrophia Moth

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54569653

Reticulated Fruitworm Moth

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54567995 (orange)

Tortricid Leafroller Moth (Now that Marijuana is legal, this guy can roll his leaves without any worries!)

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54555865

See Bryan’ Pfeiffer’s post and some of his great moth photos at 

https://bryanpfeiffer.com/2021/07/15/be-the-flame-and-the-moth/

Bernie

Observing life in nature.

Connecting Vermont's historic habitat and wildlife, with our community.

Observing insects in our backyard

Seven Days published an article titled "The Bees Needs", June 23. The pollinator Issue was brilliant, as was Mike Kiernan's comment, "It's in diversity that we'll find resilience," and Spencer Hardy's: "There's so much basic stuff we don't know about bees."

Pollinators and biodiversity are appearing more and more on folks' radar, perhaps just in time, as we recognize the incredible value we receive from nature and begin to respond in kind. 

It is time we get to know a little about the pollinators and what we can do to provide them more of the habitat they need. 

So, after planting Vermont's historic (native) plants for five years, I am now observing and cataloging insect species in our backyard. I have walked 100 miles in our one-acre backyard, and still, surprises await me every day. In one month alone, I observed 133 species of insects. Posting photos of them on iNaturalist allows me to view them closely and learn their names. Every day some of them wow me. 

The more we know about the life around us, the more we will appreciate the services they provide and the almost incomprehensible beauty of sight and behavior that life exhibits. 

Observing insect life in our backyards gives us the chance to get to know our natural-world neighbors, who do so very much for us. It is like going to the zoo, without the cages, to see a diversity of life in its natural habitat and bring home photos to share with neighbors and friends - and scientists. 

Visit iNaturalist at https://www.inaturalist.org

Mock-orange Scissor Bee - first for VT

With insects in decline, it is awesome to record the first iNaturalist post in Vermont on June 23, of a Mock-orange Scissor Bee (Chelostoma philadelphi).  View the photo at https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/84643237.

I have observed over 400 species in our 1.3-acre backyard. Many have a story to tell and I hope to share some of those stories in the future, like the recent bumblebee that while rested on a rose-leaf, turned itself upside down and rubbed its back and wings on the leaf-like my dog used to do to scratch its back). And the insect copulation going on in our backyard is enough to garner it an X rating! 

Bluets conjoined together in almost a heart shape. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/85024482

The pollinators bring colorful pollen to add to their already colorful bodies. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/85384195 and 
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/78624807

When you take time to look at your flowers, remember to also observe the pollinators like these photos show. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/84481631 
and https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/83063441 
and https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/85490412

The insects lunching on other insects - it definitely is a eat or by eaten insect world out there. Some of the insects are so strange or beautiful looking you have to see them (up close) - to believe it.

About 3000 observations and I am still being entertained and awed by the life on this 1-acre plot.

What life (plants, insects, pollinators, critters) species are you observing in your backyard? Won't you share your observations with us via iNaturalist?

View up to 1,000 species observed in Jericho on my Jericho VT project page at https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/jericho-vt.

Bernie 
Observing life in nature. 
Connecting Vermont's historic habitat and wildlife, with our community.