Today's photos

[ta_laitha]

So I am trying to get back into taking photos a couple times a week. Here are the ones from this morning. There are some awesome ones today.

Comments

ID guide recommendations

[fuzzycoffeebean]

Hi, I don't think we've ever met, but we have a number of mutual friends (and have wandered into your journal). I'm an entomologist, formerly of the Carnegie Museum, but now work at the British Museum of Natural History as a curator and scientific preparator. Here are a few books I recommend to have in your library:

For caterpillars: Caterpillars of Eastern North America

For insects, honestly, the Peterson field guides are the way to go, they are edited by people in the tops of their field (Borror, White, Opler, respectively...) and include excellent photos and keys, as well as being bibles of all sorts of valuable information on natural history and collection: Insects; Beetles; Butterflies, etc.

Enjoy!

Re: ID guide recommendations

[ta_laitha]

Hey! Wandering in is the best way. Funny, I volunteer at the Carnegie. :)

Thanks for all the suggestions. I will definitely have to get them. I really like labeling my photographs properly and without much knowledge of insects (and mushrooms among other things) I am trying to train myself as much as possible. Thanks.

Re: ID guide recommendations

[lexpendragon]

I can vouch for both of you folks, incidentally.

But regardless, I wanted to comment and say that the silver bug looks amazing, and the picture looks good enough that I'd have thought it was a CGI'd animal, like a Cyber-fly or something...

Re: ID guide recommendations

[ta_laitha]

Thanks. Yes it is awesome. It does look like some mechanized creation instead of a real insect. I wish I knew what it is. LOL. I will have to get that guide. HEHEHE.

[fuzzycoffeebean]

P.S. I love bee flies, yes that's a real group, they fly in a very distinctive way and look like they were put together out of spare parts. When you encounter one flying, they are helicopter-like, they hover and move in very purposeful directions (whereas bees have much more fluid movements). They look like a bit of pussy willow fluff with long dangling legs and a very long extended proboscis that looks like a pointy pointy beak and enormous eyes, almost like they belong in a a cartoon. I love sitting in my garden and watching them.

I would dare say they are my favorite type of fly, they honestly make me smile every time I see one :)

[ta_laitha]

I love them too. From what I can tell based on color alone there are several different kinds that frequent our flowers. I watch most of the insects that come to our yard. I'm more of a spider and wasp person myself but they all interesting to me.

[fuzzycoffeebean]

I'm a moth person by training (studied Pericopidae - butterfly mimics, and interested in the Ctenuchidae - wasp mimics, two closely related groups). But am also a beetle person via work on various biotic inventories, environmental assessments and taxonomic checklists I've coordinated or been a part of. I am partial to Carabidae and Circulionidae.

You probably understand how interest in one group just spurs curiosity and appreciation for all. For me, my "hobby" interests lie in wildflowers, trees and ferns and birds :)

[ta_laitha]

Most of the training I have had has centered around birds and reptiles. I can't wait until I have a list like that to talk about. I'd love to work on that kind of thing.

I do understand. My "hobbies" are wildflowers, pollinators in general and spiders. Spiders are interesting for me because I think they are gorgeous but I am terrified to have one touch me. HEHEHEH.