Comics by Bernie and Nature!
Laugh and Learn
De-bugging insects
Vermont single-panel comics. Captions by Bernie, images by nature. Sponsored by the Insect Alliance, Solidarity for All Life, and our highly valued Local Pollinators. These comics introduced the term "Inverting" which means invertebrate watching as birding is to bird watching.
Inverting is being outside, observing, experiencing
the multitude, the diversity, the daily going ons of LIFE.
No bones about it, I am an 'inverter'!
Let's recognize our bond with all living species.Bug-inspired comic #161 Dec 21, 2024From all of your friends in nature 
We wish you a happy holiday.BEE WARMHibernate Hug your loved ones.
Bug-inspired comic #160 Dec 14, 2024Cowlick
I landed on the fence linedarn cow came over and licked my hairnow I am having a whorl of a timetrying to wrangle it into submission.
Bug-inspired comic #159 Dec 7, 2024They see me rollin' a ball 'Blitzed' they said of me
They hatin'Tryna catch me ridin' dirtyI tunneled down they hopin' they gon' catch me deep and dirtyI ain't doin' no one no harmJusta rollin' and singing my song.Come sit on down with me and Mary Janeroll some shit in a flower petal- take a hitdon't mind the skunky smellSoon you'll feel right swell.
As part of nature's cleanup crew, “Scooped Scarab”onthophagus hecate, a dung beetle, contributes to a healthier and more sustainable environment. Dung beetle species that "tunnel" lay their eggs in the brood balls they have constructed in tunnels below the pat. Dung beetles are a beneficial part of the agricultural integrated pest management toolkit, helping to control unwanted pests, such as horn and face flies. These industrious insects play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance by efficiently recycling dung, improving soil quality, and reducing the prevalence of harmful pests. - Cornell
Bug-inspired comic #158 Nov 30, 2024Black Friday
FIRE ANT SALE - Black Friday Only. EVEN NEW YORK CARPENTER ANTS CAN'T RESIST.
Bug-inspired comic #157 Nov 23, 2024Pure Green or Leathery
Look, I know you are into "pure green", completely dedicated to environmentally friendly practices, signifying a strong commitment to sustainability and minimizing one's ecological footprint. I however recognize the dire straits we are in, biodiversity is in deep trouble. We insects need to be leathery - tough but pliable - to survive the onslaught of climate change, pesticides, deforestation, habitat damage and loss, and introduced (invasive) species.
A recent report indicated that Vermont could lose more than 350 species by 2100 due to habitat loss and climate change.
For more related information read "It’s time to get serious about nature", Jon Leibowitz: The US may be lagging on biodiversity protections, but Vermont doesn’t have to, and the UN report about Making Place with Nature also more at the UN Sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 16)
Pure Green Sweat Bee (Augochlora pura), Leathery Sweat Bee (Lasioglossum coriaceum)
Bug-inspired comic #156 Nov 16, 2024Ain't no sunshine when I'm gone.
Go out in NatureGet some Sun- FunShine Care bee (actually a fly-bee mimic)Read about this hoverfly here.
Bug-inspired comic #155 Nov 9, 2024House Cleaning Service
I can clean the cobwebs from your ceiling for $9.99 as long as you do not have any bats in the house.View more Genus Crambus moths here.
Bug-inspired comic #154 Nov 2, 2024TRICK or TREAT at the Ballot Box
TRICK or TREAT is on Nov 5 this year.The hive is a-buzz and easily agitated.Vote with care, not scare.Vote for the good of the hive!
Bug-inspired comic #153 Oct 26, 2024In this new climate, raking the leaves takes two!
(See the tadpole on the left helping the Eastern Newt on the right)
I just like to watch the leaves fall and land around me. Real Vermonters cherish their leaves in every season.
Bug-inspired comic #152 Oct 19, 2024Flies congregate in the best restaurants
Flies first hover then congregate in the best restaurants.You won't find them in your soup.But they do like dessert - Nectar and Pollen
Hoverflies feed on nectar and pollen from flowers, and some species eat aphids and other pests. - University of Wisconsin-Madison. Hoverflies are prolific pollinators. They are known to visit at least 72% of global food crops and over 70% of animal-pollinated wildflowers. Hoverflies are the second most important pollinators in the world, after bees. - Natural History Museum. See more Hoverflies at Observations here.
Bug-inspired comic #151 Oct 12, 2024Peak Pink Foliage in Vermont
The Vermont fall leaves dazzle folks with color. But are you all (pink) color blind? Signed, dazzling colored caterpillar.
We wish you a happy holiday.
I landed on the fence line
They hatin'
Tryna catch me ridin' dirtyAs part of nature's cleanup crew, “Scooped Scarab”onthophagus hecate, a dung beetle, contributes to a healthier and more sustainable environment. Dung beetle species that "tunnel" lay their eggs in the brood balls they have constructed in tunnels below the pat. Dung beetles are a beneficial part of the agricultural integrated pest management toolkit, helping to control unwanted pests, such as horn and face flies. These industrious insects play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance by efficiently recycling dung, improving soil quality, and reducing the prevalence of harmful pests. - Cornell
Look, I know you are into "pure green", completely dedicated to environmentally friendly practices, signifying a strong commitment to sustainability and minimizing one's ecological footprint. I however recognize the dire straits we are in, biodiversity is in deep trouble. We insects need to be leathery - tough but pliable - to survive the onslaught of climate change, pesticides, deforestation, habitat damage and loss, and introduced (invasive) species.
A recent report indicated that Vermont could lose more than 350 species by 2100 due to habitat loss and climate change.
For more related information read "It’s time to get serious about nature", Jon Leibowitz: The US may be lagging on biodiversity protections, but Vermont doesn’t have to, and the UN report about Making Place with Nature also more at the UN Sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 16)
Pure Green Sweat Bee (Augochlora pura), Leathery Sweat Bee (Lasioglossum coriaceum)
Go out in Nature
Get some Sun
- FunShine Care bee
I can clean the cobwebs from your ceiling for $9.99
as long as you do not have any bats in the house.
View more Genus Crambus moths here.
(See the tadpole on the left helping the Eastern Newt on the right)
I just like to watch the leaves fall and land around me.
Flies first hover then congregate in the best restaurants.
You won't find them in your soup.
But they do like dessert - Nectar and Pollen
Hoverflies feed on nectar and pollen from flowers, and some species eat aphids and other pests. - University of Wisconsin-Madison. Hoverflies are prolific pollinators. They are known to visit at least 72% of global food crops and over 70% of animal-pollinated wildflowers. Hoverflies are the second most important pollinators in the world, after bees. - Natural History Museum.
See more Hoverflies at Observations here.
View more Hooded Owlets here.
Bug-inspired comic #150 Oct 5, 2024A Rip in Time
A long way to go and a short timeto get there.I am coming aparttorn of wearof this, I must bearhold on by a threadto get to my resting bed.View more Tiger Swallowtails and Allies here.
Bug-inspired comic #149 Sept 28, 2024EYE EXAM
A wary spider goes to see an optometrist. "Hey doc, I thought you told me to never put anything bigger than my elbow into my eye?" exclaims the patient. The optometrist replies "I can see more patients (up to 8 at a time) if I use my feet to poke, (oops, I mean examine) your eyes".
Optical jokes just get cornea and cornea!View more "eye exam" photos here.
Bug-inspired comic #148 Sept 21, 2024Freckles
A girl without frecklesis like a night without stars.
Summer without Monarchsislike all the starsare falling.View more Monarch photos here.
Bug-inspired comic #147 Sept 14, 2024"Wow, those Mosquito Dunksare deadly even without coffee".
Photo: Eastern Treehole Mosquito Aedes triseriatus
EEEV (Eastern Equine Encephalitis) is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. The primary EEEV vector is a swamp mosquito called the black-tailed mosquito (Culiseta melanura). It transmits the virus to birds or becomes infected by feeding infected birds in their swampland habitat. One of the most likely EEE vectors to people is the “cattail mosquito” (Coquilleta perturbans) which breeds in cattail marshes, but disease transmission can come from several other floodwater mosquito species that most commonly occur in coastal or swampy areas. (Reference: Virginia Dept of Health). Read more at the VT Dept of Health website.
Here's how to effectively kill mosquitos without harming pets, people, or other insects.Mosquito dunks are an inexpensive product, a natural bacterium (Bacillus thuringiensis) that kills aquatic mosquitos without killing other insects. Kills larvae that would otherwise then become adult mosquitos. Non-toxic to pets and humans. The product is available at local hardware stores.
References:National Library of Medicine https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3035146/Doug Tallamy (video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqcDZDNtP-0
Bug-inspired comic #146 Sept 7, 2024EarthBound
We come from the earth; we return to the earth, and in between we garden.
See what is under the covers - from green to blue - a closer look is often rewarded -View the underside at Splendid Earth-boring Beetle Geotrupes splendidus. 
Bug-inspired comic #145 Aug 31, 2024A penny for your thoughts
Well, the American penny is worth little. It is 97.5 percent zinc and only 2.5 percent copper. However, the American Copper butterfly is worth a visual pot of gold. 
*The penny was once composed mainly of copper, but since 1982 the United States Mint has made pennies from copper-plated zinc. View more photos of the American Copper (Lycaena hypophiaeas) here.
Photo: Eastern Treehole Mosquito Aedes triseriatus
EEEV (Eastern Equine Encephalitis) is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. The primary EEEV vector is a swamp mosquito called the black-tailed mosquito (Culiseta melanura). It transmits the virus to birds or becomes infected by feeding infected birds in their swampland habitat. One of the most likely EEE vectors to people is the “cattail mosquito” (Coquilleta perturbans) which breeds in cattail marshes, but disease transmission can come from several other floodwater mosquito species that most commonly occur in coastal or swampy areas. (Reference: Virginia Dept of Health). Read more at the VT Dept of Health website.
Here's how to effectively kill mosquitos without harming pets, people, or other insects.
Mosquito dunks are an inexpensive product, a natural bacterium (Bacillus thuringiensis) that kills aquatic mosquitos without killing other insects. Kills larvae that would otherwise then become adult mosquitos. Non-toxic to pets and humans. The product is available at local hardware stores.
References:
National Library of Medicine https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3035146/
Doug Tallamy (video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqcDZDNtP-0
Well, the American penny is worth little. It is 97.5 percent zinc and only 2.5 percent copper. However, the American Copper butterfly is worth a visual pot of gold.
*The penny was once composed mainly of copper, but since 1982 the United States Mint has made pennies from copper-plated zinc. View more photos of the American Copper (Lycaena hypophiaeas) here.
Bug-inspired comic #144, Aug 24, 2024One potato, two potato, three potato four.
Five potato, six potato, seven potato more. One potato, two potato, three potato, four.I like mashed potato, can I have some more?Read about the Colorado Potato Beetle Leptinotarsa decemlineata here. View more photos of the Colorado Potato Beetle here.
Bug-inspired comic #143, Aug 17, 2024Eat a tomato at night
and you'll keep the unhappy gardener at bay improving your plight.
View more Carolina Sphinx or Tobacco Horn Worm (Manduca sexta) here. Also, view the beautiful moth it becomes.Read about them here. (Many interesting aspects to their various instar or life stages).
Bug-inspired comic #142, Aug 10, 2024Green with Envy
A California frog, green with envy flew to Vermont.
Ladies and gentlemen, Vermont River High Airline welcomes you to Plainfield, VT. The local flood stage is at 99.9 feet.
Upon exiting the frog wisely avoided all roads.
The California frog is now hanging on as best it can on the floodplains - Stuck in Vermont.
View more Green Frogs here. Read about them here. Bug-inspired comic #141, Aug 3, 2024Dogbane Leaf Beatle Days of Summer
It's so hot the Statue of Liberty was asked to lower her arms. Well, dogbane it,I am keeping my appendages upand my underparts aired out.
and you'll keep the unhappy gardener at bay
improving your plight.
A California frog, green with envy flew to Vermont.
Ladies and gentlemen, Vermont River High Airline welcomes you to Plainfield, VT. The local flood stage is at 99.9 feet.
Upon exiting the frog wisely avoided all roads.
The California frog is now hanging on as best it can on the floodplains - Stuck in Vermont.
View more Dogbane Leaf Beetles here. Read about Dogbane Leaf Beetles here.
View more Dogbane Leaf Beetles here.
Bug-inspired comic #140, July 27, 2024Clearwing Sunscreen for the best protection under the sun
It's not workingI am melting!
View more Clearwings and Bee Hawkmoths here. Read about Hummingbird Clearwings here.
View more Clearwings and Bee Hawkmoths here. Bug-inspired comic #139, July 20, 2024
Look up - what do you see?
Blue dashers
looking at me
nothing but blue dashers
that's what I see :)
(Quote by Susan Growmore)
View more Blue Dashers (Pachydiplax longipennis) on iNaturalist here.
Read about them on iNaturalist here.
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