the common milkweed

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

An Insect Celebration

You can get a lot done on your 15 minute break if you have your camera with you and grub around amongst the plants. I saw all of these at work yesterday and was amazed at the diversity in just a few square yards.

Katydid Nymph (banded antennae mark as probable Scudderia sp.)

Striped Cucumber Beetle

Unknown Grasshopper

Unknown Caterpillars on Soapberry - probably moth caterpillars

Leaf-footed Bug sp.

Flower Spider sp.

Leafhopper sp.

Another unknown grasshopper

Buprestid Flower Beetle ( Acmaeodera sp.)

Common Milkweed

Why The Common Milkweed? Well many reasons: 1 - It's important! Milkweed is the only larval food for the Monarch Butterfly and food for many other invertebrates. 2 - It's common, yet possesses singular beauty and therefore represents all the beauty in and around us (right under our noses and on "this side of the fence") and the potential for that common beauty to be recognized, expressed and celebrated. 3 - Its persistence in less than ideal growing conditions proves that the beauty contained in the common endures.