Looking a bit like a caped and masked superhero this Pigeon Tremex (horn tailed Wasp) was found resting on an Autumn afternoon. Although they look like they could do some damage these wasps are reported to be not naturally aggressive and only sting when provoked just like any good superhero.
For a detailed description I found the link below to do a great job describing them:
http://bugeric.blogspot.com/2012/09/wasp-wednesday-pigeon-tremex-horntail.html
A bit of blue still lingering as snows have come and gone this fall. The beauty of the summer flowers dressed in fall colors never ceases to delight the eyes. Photographed near Crested Butte, CO several weeks ago.
Tow different alpine moths each wearing fur coats forage up high in the mountains of central Colorado.
Photographed in early September.
Just an hour after posting this I came across a news story describing the decline of insects by 75% in Germany. I am sure this is happening globally to varying decrees. This sixth extinction caused by our human species will have consequences and is affecting life big and small. A link to the study is provided below:
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0185809
Fuzzy Purple Asters up high near tree line. It seems that when you ascend up towards the tundra the Asters become more fuzzy. A fur coat to protect against the chilly nights?
The butterflies like them as much as I do.
Photographed in August near tree-line in Central Colorado.
October is the time when Milk Weed releases it’s seeds and boy how I love looking at these. So many variations on a theme each unique in some wonderful way.
This little dragonfly seemed as small and ethereal as the air in which they flew. I am not sure the exact species of Dragonfly but this one was one of the smallest I have seen this year. Perhaps a juvenile?
They were hovering about then occasionally landing on the fall grasses out in a field where we take a walk. This one had what looked to be eggs attached to their body. Do Dragonflies or Damselflies do that?
Barely as long as a few grains on the grass.
Heading out for a morning walk we were greeted by this little guy soaking up the morning sun on a milkweed plant. Good Morning Grasshopper.
This guy was found crawling about on a group prickly pear cactus where we take a daily walk. It always leaves me in amazement that so many animals have evolved to look so much like their environment.
And what a lovely environment it is.
A few weeks ago one of the plants in our garden seemed to become infested with aphids of all sizes and shapes seemingly overnight. Also hidden within the plant and well camouflaged was a wonderful Aphid eating spider.
Once their prey was sighted the spider quickly moved in and made quick work of an medium sized green Aphid.
Given the number of Aphids present this guy will have quite a feast.
We also noticed numerous lady bugs and damselflies feasting away on the smaller aphids as well. Natural pest control at work.
It’s always nice to have these bess buzzing about and who doesn’t like saying Bombus Ternarius.
From Wikipedia “Bombus ternarius, commonly known as the orange-belted bumblebee or tricoloured bumblebee,[2] is a yellow, orange and black bumblebee. It is a ground-nesting social insect whose colony cycle lasts only one season, common throughout the northeastern United States and parts of Canada.[3] The orange-belted bumblebee forages on Rubus, goldenrods, Vaccinium, and milkweeds found throughout the colony’s range. Like many other members of the genus, Bombus ternarius exhibits complex social structure with a reproductive queen caste and a multitude of sister workers with labor such as foraging, nursing, and nest maintenance divided among the subordinates.”
To read more:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombus_ternarius
Just for fun ….Bombus!
nature has no boss 
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