2024 October 7 morning

   Aziza Cooper writes that, between 2 and 5 pm on October 6, she counted at least 20 Cabbage Whites in the Martindale area.

She photographed the dragonfly and the drone fly shown below.

Autumn Meadowhawk  Sympetrum vicinum  (Odo.: Libellulidae)   Aziza Cooper

European Drone Fly  Eristalis arbustorum   (Dip.: Syrphidae)   Aziza Cooper

  This makes an interesting comparison with the Common Drone Fly E. tenax photographed by Aziza on September 30, shown here on October 4.  E. tenax is called the Common Drone Fly, and E. arbustorum is called the European Drone Fly, although both are common and both are European.

We haven’t yet had any reports his month of the Banded Woolly Bear, although October is the month where they are usually very common.  Panama Flats may be a good place to find one.   By the way, in case you find one and are tempted to try to rear it to adulthood, please be aware that this is one of the most difficult caterpillars to rear successfully.

Ian Cooper obtained the following photographs on October 5 by the Galloping Goose Trail near Harriet Road.

Cross Orb-weaver  Araneus diadematus (Ara.:  Araneidae)   Ian Cooper

Cross Orb-weaver  Araneus diadematus  (Ara.: Araneidae) with prey   Ian Cooper

Goldenrod Crab Spider Misumena vatia (Ara.: Thomisidae) in clover blossom     Ian Cooper

Midge (Dip.: Probably Chironomidae)  Ian Cooper

Thrips (Thysanoptera)  on a Cat’s Ear blossom (Hypochaeris radicata)   Ian Cooper

 Harvestman (Opiliones)   Ian Cooper