365Caws is now in its 14th year of publication, and was originally intended to end after 365 days. It has sometimes been difficult for me to find new material, particularly during the winter months, but now as I enter my own twilight years, I cannot guarantee that I will be able to provide daily posts. It is my hope that along the way I may have inspired someone to a greater curiosity about the natural world. If so, I can rest, content in the knowledge that my work here has been done.
Friday, March 18, 2016
Don't Bug Me, I'm Bee-zy!
Day 157: The Coltsfoot (Petasites palmatus) is coming into bloom, drawing all sorts of winged insects to its flowers. Don't ask me why. I find the scent rather off-putting, but the bugs love it. I counted two butterfly species, at least half a dozen different wasps, assorted flies and midges, a single Cranefly, mosquitoes and this beautiful bumblebee which was dusted all over with grains of pollen. An industrious worker, the bee remained on the umbel while I took pictures and then continued to pose for a woman with a cell phone camera even when she moved up close. Insects weren't the only things out and about. I discovered a tick walking on her dog's nose, and our attention shifted from Bumble as we combined forces to effect removal.
Labels:
Bud Blancher Trail,
bumblebee,
Coltsfoot,
Eatonville,
Pack Forest,
Petasites palmatus,
tick
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