NENA Butterfly Garden

Tagged: NENA Butterfly Garden

Week 36, September 8-14, 2024 – more Insects

September 14th, 2024

“When Does a Moth Look Like a Beetle?”

September 11th, 2024

Tagged 2024, 24.08.18, A7r3, ailanthus webworm, animal, Aug24, August, beetle, Elgin IL, flight, flower, insect, Laona 100mm f2.8 2x macro, macro, NENA Butterfly Garden, orange, Sony, Week 36 2024, wings

second grade lies

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When you’re growing up, you learn “facts” that stick with you and you later learn are more “general rules”. Two that come to mind are “humans have five senses” and “moths have antenna that are fuzzy or comb-like”. Well, this is a Ailanthus Webworm Moth, and not only does it not have fuzzy antenna, but Wikipedia says that until it’s in flight, it resembles a beetle. Second grade science class was just full of lies!
(The senses of motion and balance are great examples of “other” senses.)

“Flexible Flyer”

September 10th, 2024

Tagged 2024, 24.08.18, A7r3, animal, Aug24, August, bee, Elgin IL, flight, flower, honey bee, honeybee, insect, Laona 100mm f2.8 2x macro, macro, NENA Butterfly Garden, orange, Sony, Week 36 2024, wings

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“Chromatic Collaboration”

September 9th, 2024

Tagged 2024, 24.08.18, 28-200 f2.8-5.6, A7r3, animal, Aug24, August, beetle, Elgin IL, flight, flower, insect, macro, NENA Butterfly Garden, orange, Sony, sunflower, Week 36 2024

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“Face First in the Flower”

September 8th, 2024

Tagged 2024, 24.08.18, 28-200 f2.8-5.6, A7r3, animal, Aug24, August, beetle, Elgin IL, flight, flower, insect, macro, NENA Butterfly Garden, orange, Sony, Week 36 2024, wings

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Week 35, September 1-7, 2024 – Autumn Insects

September 7th, 2024

“The Wandering Moth”

September 4th, 2024

Tagged 2024, 24.08.18, A7r3, ailanthus webworm, animal, Aug24, August, Elgin IL, flight, flower, insect, Laona 100mm f2.8 2x macro, macro, moth, NENA Butterfly Garden, orange, Sony, Week 35 2024, wings

ailanthus webworm

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Back in 2010, I photographed this type of insect with my iPhone. We were on a trip to see a friend on the south side of Chicago, and I remember the photograph because it was one of the first “good enough quality” photos with an iPhone that I’d taken.

Two weeks ago, when I took the above photograph of the same type of insect, I thought to myself “that’s odd that I haven’t see an insect like that in a very long time.” I photograph insects every year, and I wondered why I hadn’t seen such a unique insect in over ten years. According to Wikipedia, they only travel this far north some summers and are more of a southern insect.

“Just Another Stick”

September 3rd, 2024

Tagged 2024, 24.08.18, 28-200 f2.8-5.6, A7r3, animal, Aug24, August, damsel fly, damselfly, Elgin IL, flight, grass, hair, insect, macro, NENA Butterfly Garden, Sony, Week 35 2024, wings

damselfly movements

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The NENA Butterfly Garden doesn’t just have butterflies, but like the variety of plants and flowers, there is a variety of insects as well. I always love finding these damsel flies and watching their movements.