6 Legs in Autumn!
Common Checkered Skipper resting on a Swamp Milkweed Seed pod in our garden. The wings contain numerous white or pale spots arranged against a darker gray or black background, creating the checkered pattern.
https://butterflyn.com/common-checkered-skipper/
A migrating Monarch was found on October 30th along the south shore of Lake Huron. Many Monarchs have already reached Mexico. She has a long trip ahead of her and is going to be needing suitable flying weather!
Viceroy, the Monarch mimic with the extra lateral black line crossing the hindwings.
Clouded Sulphur
Common Checkered Skipper found on October 30th. I typically find this species on sunny days in late October.
Common Buckeye seem to prefer sunny areas close to the ground. I often find them on bare ground, soaking up the sun.
Praying Mantis, "praying" for a meal to land nearby.
Wild Indigo Duskywing. They will overwinter at the caterpillar stage.
A tiny Sweat Bee on Wild Chicory
Chickweed Geometer Moth is a day flyer that prefers prairie grassland, fields, meadows, lawns and gardens.
https://minnesotaseasons.com/Insects/chickweed_geometer.html
A North American Spur Grasshopper species, sheltered in the plants.
Common Whitetail, female
Common Looper Moth, a day flying moth.
This member of the Blister Beetle family doesn't have a common name. Scientific name is: Meloe campanicollis. Touching a blister beetle can cause painful blisters on the skin.
On cool fall evenings, insects search for a place to shelter during the overnight hours. Once morning arrives, they will remain in the shelter until the weather warms up enough for them to start moving.
Bumble bee protected by a flower "umbrella"!
Bald Faced Yellowjacket nest. (previously called Bald Faced Hornets).The dark entrance hole is visible on the lower right. These insects make paper from combining saliva with chewed wood and using the resulting paste to make paper walls and cells for raising the brood. Nests are started by overwintering mated queens. Once the queen has raised a few workers, they take over the task of building and feeding while the queen focuses on egg-laying.
https://cals.cornell.edu/integrated-pest-management/outreach-education/whats-bugging-you/bees-and-wasps/identifying-bees-and-wasps/yellowjackets-and-baldfaced-hornets