Wardrobe change...

I've been tracking several populations of baby (nymph) Large Milkweed Bugs (Oncopeltus fasciatus) in my swamp and common milkweed for the last few weeks.  They started as tiny red spots on the seed pods, super tiny and all clustered together almost like an egg mass.  With each molt (shedding of their skin) they get larger and their bodies become more evolved.  I like this particular image because on the top of the leaf you have two nymphs who are molting - you can see the one in the lower part of the frame still has the old "skin" trailing from his bottom. And both of them are very pale in color with no signs of black. On the other side of the leaf are a cluster of largish nymphs who've molted and show the beginnings of what will be their wings eventually.   There are also some much smaller nymphs who have no signs of wings yet.  I know, I know - this is very geeky stuff.  But I love it.  

These insects have what is called "sucking mouth parts" which means that they suck things rather than biting or chewing.  They feed on the leaves, seed pods and stems of milkweed, in this particular case Swamp Milkweed.  I have moved some of them off of fresher milkweed (that I am still using to feed monarch caterpillars) onto a couple of older plants that I don't need this season.  Any damage they do is temporary and the plants will pop up fresh and new next spring, no damage done.  

I also found the larval form of two Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetles.  I will put one in Extra just so you can go "euwwww".  They are very grub like in appearance at this stage although they will eventually form a pupa and then come out as a very handsome red and black beetle.  Oddly, it does not seem that I've ever included them in my annual yard bug record so I may have to do something about that.  

Jax is laying next to me as I write this, snoring like an old man.  I think he is still sleeping off the effects of having two fun days at the Green Dog Inn this weekend.

Still have hummers zooming around, at least 3, probably a few more.  And I heard Gray Tree Frogs calling in the woods - guess they are just tuning up a bit in preparation for next spring.  There are squirrels running everywhere with hickory nuts and black walnuts.  I keep finding piles of nut shells all over the place.  

Had a nice long FT chat with my parents this morning.  Dad seems to have recovered well from the toe fracture and mom has gotten relief from the trigger thumb from the second injection.  So all good on the Left Coast.

I think dark with orange today.

xo
Debbi