Vermont is well known for its Fall Foliage Color Tour otherwise known as Leaf Peeping. Not so well known are the matching colors of the insects and flowers. An excursion in September through early October for colorful insect watching is known as fall "Inverting".
Where to find the fantastic pockets of color? The magic of it all is that almost any location with flowers blooming (particularly native flowers) and temperatures around sixty degrees Fahrenheit or higher will offer those who look close, a myriad of insects and flowers adorned with the colors of fall foliage and beyond.
iNaturalist can help identify each of the insects and flowers you observe. Click on the insect names (hot-linked) listed below to view the iNaturalist posting. Once at the posting click on the name of the insect on top of the page for more information about the insect.
I hope you enjoy the sampling of my Vermont Fall Inverting photos showing blazing colors that at least equal the Vermont Fall Foliage scenes.
White-banded Sweat Bee (Lasioglossum leucozonium) on an aster. Oct 12, 2023
Common Eastern Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens) on a goldenrod. Oct 2, 2023
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail Papilio canadensis on aster. Sept 21, 2023
A bird or other creature apparently managed a bite out of this butterfly.
Silky Striped Sweat Bee (Agapostemon sericeus) on blue vervain. Sept 1, 2023
Yellow-collared Scape Moth (Cisseps fulvicollis) on aster. Sept 26, 2023
Right: Common Eastern Bumble Bee on goldenrod Oct 12, 2023
Tricolored Bumble Bee (Bombus ternarius) on clover. Sept. 26, 2023
Spiny Shield Bug (Picromerus bidens) Oct 9, 2023
Common Eastern Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens) Oct 9, 2023
Subgenus Agapostemon on chicory. Oct 9, 2023
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) on my finger. Oct 6, 2023
Brown-hooded Owlet (Cucullia convexipennis) Oct 5, 2023
Brown-hooded Owlet (Cucullia convexipennis) Oct 13, 2023
Leafcutter, Mortar, and Resin Bees Genus Megachile on chicory. Oct 2, 2023
Dark Paper Wasp (Polistes fuscatus) on goldenrod. Oct 4, 2023
Common Drone Fly (Eristalis tenax) on chicory. Oct 9, 2023
Leafcutter, Mortar, and Resin Bees Genus Megachile on common jewelweed. Oct 1, 2023
Virginian Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica). Oct 9, 2023
Common Eastern Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens) on aster. Oct 12, 2023
Autumn Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum) Sept 20, 2023
Eastern Calligrapher Toxomerus geminatus on aster. Oct 8, 2023
Hummingbird Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe) On beebalm. Sept 1, 2023
Tricolored Bumble Bee (Bombus ternarius) On aster. Sept 25, 2023
Subgenus (Zadontomerus) on aster. Oct 1, 2023
Common Eastern Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens) on green-eyed coneflower. Sept 26, 2023
or possibly,
Angulate and Roundshouldered Orbweavers (Genus Araneus) I think. Sept 9, 2023
Band-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum semicinctum) Sept 15, 2023
American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) Sept 9, 2023
Hickory Tussock Moth (Lophocampa caryae) Sept 15, 2023
Looks soft and pettable to me.
Maize Calligrapher (Toxomerus politus) Sept 2023
Bald-faced Hornet (Dolichovespula maculata) On goldenrod. Sept 7, 2023
Sort of looks like a monkey face to me.
Of course, I did not say that to the hornet.
White-banded Sweat Bee (Lasioglossum leucozonium) I think. On aster. Oct 15, 2023
Monarch (Danaus plexippus) On aster. Sept 26, 2023
Woolly Alder Aphid (Prociphilus tessellatus) (On alder. Oct 9, 2023) being farmed by New York Carpenter Ants
Inverting (insect watching) is observing,
experiencing the multitude, diversity
and the daily going ons of LIFE.
No bones about it, I am an 'inverter'!
~Bernie
Beautiful photos!
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