(Mostly) 6-Legged Critters!

 Clearwing Hummingbird Moth on Culver's Root

I have been watching for Common Buckeye over the past several weeks. I finally found one near the front door of our house as we were returning home!

Northern Golden Bumble Bees are specialist feeders because of their long tongues. They are the primary pollinators for deep flowers like Red Clover, Bee Balm and Vetch. Unlike many bumble bees that tunnel deep underground, these bees often build their nests on the soil surface or just beneath it, tucked away in thick clumps of grass or abandoned mouse nests.

https://plantiary.com/insect/bombus-fervidus_1972.html

Red-belted Bumble Bees are small insects with short tongues. They live around wooded areas and can be found in urban parks and gardens. Many thanks to my friend, Annie, for inviting us to her native garden to see this little cutie!

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/144011-Bombus-rufocinctus

Silver-spotted Skippers have been regularly found locally this summer. A pair on Common Teasel in the above photo are sizing each other up for mating potential.

Peck's Skipper resting on Wild Chicory.

Northern Dog-day Cicadas tend to be most vocal during the hot and muggy days of summer which are often called the "Dog days of summer." This is one explanation for the common name.

https://songsofinsects.com/cicadas/dog-day-cicada

It was interesting that an insect as large and heavy as a Cicada could become trapped in spider webbing. The combination of strength, stretch and lightness of spider silk, which is packed into a fibre thinner than a human hair makes spider silk exceptionally strong.

https://biologyinsights.com/how-strong-is-a-spider-web-stronger-than-steel/

The Orchard Orbweaver has long green legs, and an elongated silvery abdomen with dark stripes. If you spot a very colourful spider in the woods it could be this species. The underside, (not visible in the photo) can be shades of red, yellow or green and marked with bright red, orange, or yellow crescent-shaped markings.

https://spideridentifications.com/orchard-orbweaver.html

Pigeon Horntail is actually a gentle giant of the forest. Its presence is usually a sign that nature's recycling process is in full swing as it targets old or stressed hardwood trees.

https://plantiary.com/insect/tremex-columba_7395.html

Primrose Moth: I saw a few of these beautiful moths this season!

Chickweed Geometer Moth: Unlike the majority of moths that hide until dark, the Chickweed Geometer is frequently active during the day. They can often be found low to the ground, fluttering through tall grass between May and October.

https://plantiary.com/insect/haematopis-grataria_2211.html

Red Admiral on Button Bush

Northern Walkingstick

Water Striders on a lily pad.