Käyttäjän dirtnkids päiväkirja

I thought it to be about time for me to make note of the insect diversity that has resulted from the pocket prairie installation 5/2020. So in the past two months -- that is, early May through early July -- here are the various insects seen on, in, and around the pocket prairie garden. Keep in mind that we also have a creek habitat out back, so many of those creature (dragonflies, robber flies) also come visit the prairie to eat. The most recent photo of P. henei (robber fly) is shown with a bee meal in his grasp.

Circle of life peeps. And with a prairie ecosystems, all the players are HERE. Plant it and they will come!

Visiting this remnant prairie is never disappointing! The hunt for the meadowpink (viewed last time) wound up being a up-to-the-neck swim through tall grasses, rattlesnake master, and generally unmowed goodness. Insect diversity made it difficult to focus on the task at hand: collecting seed for Katy Prairie Conservancy.

It was hot. It was muggy. And the ticks were out (I picked off 5). I couldn't wait to come home and post-process the Canon photos ... several species had me stumped in the field. Thankfully, iNaturalist is always good for helping out this exuberant 'prairie fairy.'

PS - For some reason, the post-processed images didn't make the 'Lawther Deer Park Prairie' place list, even though I use the exact same address for all phone and camera observations (1222 E. Purdue Lane).

After the rains, my friend Mary and I did some social-distance prairie walking. We tromped around an undisclosed location in Brazoria County, south of Brazos Bend State Park. The ticks were out, and so were the wasps, and dragonflies were everywhere. Too bad many insects weren't cooperative for taking photos. Lots of new species today and fun with a friend ta boot!