Bear here...
Time to talk about the new insect hobby. Small World Life (SWoL) updates and ideas.
I got out last week and saw some flying insects last week. My first cool flyer Is a Northern paper wasp, they are native to the Northern US and Canada. I thought all paper wasps were only black and yellow like the European paper wasp that "jumped the pond" in the 70's. I found out there were several different species with several different color schemes. I have seen some and I am hoping to get some decent pictures of different paper wasps this summer. The first two shots are the Northern, the third shot is a European from last year. Can you see the differences?
Time to talk about the new insect hobby. Small World Life (SWoL) updates and ideas.
I got out last week and saw some flying insects last week. My first cool flyer Is a Northern paper wasp, they are native to the Northern US and Canada. I thought all paper wasps were only black and yellow like the European paper wasp that "jumped the pond" in the 70's. I found out there were several different species with several different color schemes. I have seen some and I am hoping to get some decent pictures of different paper wasps this summer. The first two shots are the Northern, the third shot is a European from last year. Can you see the differences?
Next up is a twofer of wild honey bees. They were brought over in the 1600's
Last but not least are flower flies. I used to know them as sweat bees, now that I know they are flies I call them humpties because of the way they bend when they land on you. There are thousands of species. The next pick is one I saw last week, The photo after that is one I took last year. Same family, but different species.
That's it for the flyers, for now. So...
NO MOW MAY.... The reason not to mow is "weeds feeds bees". Bees need to feed on flowers after a long hibernation, creeping Charlie, dandelions and other spring "weed's" flowers provide that food. You can always mow it down in June when the pollinators have more food. If you want to rake, wait until the temps have been above 55 degrees for at least two days, that gives them time to move about. (for more info on what you can do for pollinators, here is a link to our Save Our Bees page.) Also, here is a pic of me mowing after May, nice and quietlike...
NO MOW MAY.... The reason not to mow is "weeds feeds bees". Bees need to feed on flowers after a long hibernation, creeping Charlie, dandelions and other spring "weed's" flowers provide that food. You can always mow it down in June when the pollinators have more food. If you want to rake, wait until the temps have been above 55 degrees for at least two days, that gives them time to move about. (for more info on what you can do for pollinators, here is a link to our Save Our Bees page.) Also, here is a pic of me mowing after May, nice and quietlike...
Type at ya later,
Bear
Bear
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