Another collection in the yard
Nikon D80, 50mm (reversed), f11, 1/80, ISO200
If you were a woodpecker… this is why you do what you do ;)
Hidden under the bark of this red maple (Acer rubrum; yeah, the same one in yesterday's fly butt pic) is a diurnal Winter firefly (Ellychnia corusca). These guys are active in all but the coldest weather; among the first insects to emerge in spring, and last to disappear in the fall… you can find them throughout the summer as well. These things are everywhere. Unlike most of the fireflies, the diurnal fireflies don't light up.
The Winter firefly is widespread throughout Canada and the US, particularly east of the Rockies. Studies have shown them to be fluid feeders, feeding on sap and flower fluids of various maple species, among others. They can be considered pests in syrup making, as they can collect in syrup buckets on tapped trees… they don't really cause damage, but do tend to drown :P
Nikon D80, 50mm (reversed), f11, 1/80, ISO200
Nikon D80, 50mm (reversed), f11, 1/160, ISO200 (Detail of bug)
Some sort of true bug (perhaps a plant bug, Miridae?) on my Mom's rhododendron.
Nikon D80, 50mm (reversed), f11, 1/250, ISO200
While we saw coltsfoot in a prior shot, this is actually dandelion (Taraxacum official), everyone's favourite suburban friend. I really don't understand the desire for lawnly monoculture and our horrible aversion of dandelions. Personally, I find them a delightful addition to a lawn, breaking up the simple green of suburbia with a splash of yellow, turn white. Aside from that, it's a delightfully adaptable, plastic plant… it's freaking' tenacious! It's extremely skilled in the art of survival. While a weed, it does have medicinal and culinary uses… though if you want to eat it, it's best to get it early in its life, as it develops a thick, milky sap that is quite unpleasant (yet another fine survival adaptation).
Nikon D80, 50mm, f7.1, 1/100, ISO200
My mother's cat, Cali; dubbed "Brown Tubby", or "The Brown Sausage"… My mom has a talent for making cats fat.
Nikon D80, 50mm (reversed), f11, 1/250, ISO200
Nikon D80, 50mm (reversed), f11, 1/160, ISO200
Nymphal acridid grasshopper; this is one I didn't quite expect to see today. Luckily it didn't mind me getting within a couple cm to photograph it :P
Nikon D80, 50mm (reversed), f11, 1/125, ISO200
Wild violets on the lawn…