Sunny Midwestern Days Looking at Insects....

On recent collecting trips in Chicago our entomology class has been having a good time of observing insects at the end of their season:

 

The "field" of inquiry...

 

Two mating Chinese mantids, the female to lay her eggs in the next couple of weeks!

 

 

Meanwhile, two Carolina mantids, perhaps about to attack the tiny students in the background.

 

Almost!

 

more than almos

 Milkweed bugs in all stages of development.

 

Tagging a Monarch as part of the Monarch Watch program

 

Hasta luego, va a viajar a Mexico - release! safe travels.

Cicada & grasshopper. An Aesop fable I never read?

 

everything comes from emanation

 

another field of inquiry - Montrose Harbor and the Magic Hedge 

AY

Dragons and Damsels

Here is a short article and a couple recent New York Times videos on dragonflies and their superb abilities as fliers and predators of the sky.

In the first video the last 5 seconds have amazing slow-mo scenes of a frog trying to eat one one of these Odonates: good luck buddy!

In interviewing Dr. Jessica Ware in the second video you get priceless lines like:

"You'll never see a dragonfly on a a piece of jewelry eating a face off a butterfly, but that's exactly what they do."

Have you noticed autumn is a great season for them? There was quite a swarm flying at window level outside the lab this week (15th floor!)

AY