What Am I?

You would not be alone if you looked at this and thought "moth or butterfly".  But if you look at the antennae, you will notice that they are noticeably segmented, almost like beads in a bracelet.  Moth antennae are feathery in appearance while butterflies have a club at the end of theirs.  A closer look at this little creature reveals that the banded outer wings are covering its delicate flight wings.  Its common name is Banded (or Reticulated) net-wing beetle in the genus Calopteron.  First one I've seen this year and worthy of my Main Event today.  

Another fun factoid about this diminutive beetle is that it eats other insects rather than pollen. So its presence on the flower is strictly so that it can seek prey.  

It has been an excellent day in the garden.  I found a very cute Jumping Spider who has created a web home for itself in the rudbeckia by folding over some petals and sealing them with the sticky stuff.  Hopefully I can find him again but in the meantime, check him out in Extra.  Also got a nice look at one of the Furrow Orb Weavers that spin their beautiful webs every night as well as a very tiny Northern Crab Spider hiding under some zinnia petals.  Lots of bees including two species of carpenter bees, and an American Lady butterfly.  

Both hummingbirds are still here and there were also bluebirds in the yard this morning.  Perfect weather for being outside.

Jax and I took a short walk this morning and will try to squeeze another one in later this afternoon - good for both of us.  

RA pain level is low and well controlled by Tylenol.  That's a win.

And dark with peppermint today.  

xo
Debbi