Insect Watch by Bernie Paquette Folks ask me where do I find beautiful insects like the ones you post on iNaturalist? First, my short answer is “Where you look is what you will see.” Just as in birding, when inverting one can wonder about or simply find a comfortable spot to sit and watch what comes to you. Both work for me.  Helpful are temperatures above fifty degrees Fahrenheit (10 Celsius) and in the sunlit area. Native flowers (as well as some non-natives) in the area are of course a draw for insects as are appropriate nesting areas for each particular species.  For example ..read more

Ask the Inverter,  An open discussion with inverters about invertebrate life.    Clothesline chat with a miner bee (?) Dear Bug Eyed Bernie,  "Am I anthropormorphising? It looks downright intelligent."                                                                     Sally Seeking Knowledge about Life Sally Seeking Knowledge about Life,  There is, of course, a risk of anthropomorphizing as it is ..read more

Here are photos of just a few of the bees that you might see in Vermont in April.  Andrena arabis, m, face. A specialist on early spring blooming brassicas.  Here is the male of the recently posted female Andrena arabis. The male illustrates what happens periodically with some of the males of this largely brown, dark group of mining bees which is that a few of them have a yellow, or in this case and off-white, clypeus. Surely this must be some sort of sexual signal as the females almost never have these markings. - USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab. Andrena, carlini, m, fa ..read more

       Natalie Weill invited Maeve and me to her home on Nashville Road in Jericho, Vermont for a *bug safari (inverting). We spent about one hour observing a sampling of the insects and some of the diverse sets of plants on the property. See a few of what we observed in the photos below.     The property is an example of turning what was a completely mowed area into a wildlife-diverse habitat with (mowed) paths to walk along and enjoy the many life forms that now abound there.  Natalie with a found feather.  Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) C ..read more

Folks at Jeri Hill Senior Housing (located in Jericho, Vermont) invited Maeve and me to walk the grounds around their homes to observe and discuss invertebrates (insects). Below are some of the insects that honored us with their presence. The Maize Calligrapher in particular was a special treat for me as this was only the second one I have ever viewed.  The Bug Safari is open to any family in Jericho and is a limited-time offer. There is no charge (from me or the insects) associated with this offer. We are most grateful for the many services the species of i ..read more

To Eclipse (in Vermont) or not to Eclipse. To Eclipse (in Vermont) or not to Eclipse, that is the question. For years a portion of Vermont’s population has escaped winter by seeking solace and perhaps solstice by traveling to Florida. I say escaped winter, not to say Florida does not recognize the term winter, but hey, what is winter without snow?  Vermont falls below all but two states in yearly absorbable sunlight for generating energy and apparently for holding onto its population count from January through April.  The latter will change on April 8 of this year.  News r ..read more

Who are the insects and many other life forms who live in our towns?  What do they look like? What are their lifecycles, how do they raise their families, what do they eat, where do they sleep?   Join us as we enjoy the many benefits of nature connection, and increase our knowledge about the natural world and biodiversity, particularly 'nearby nature' in your home locality.    Enjoy the benefits of connection with nature.  JURBIC BIODIVERSITY REPORT  iNaturalist Numbers The first three charts show iNaturalist Lifetime numbers through 2024 of the month indicated ..read more

First Mock-orange Scissor Bee   (Chelostoma philadelphi) posted on  iNaturalist for Vermont.  I have discovered a new world that seems unmoving without a close, attentive look.  Yet I have observed over one thousand taxa (many at species level) of invertebrates in our 1.3-acre yard, including 98 bee species, over three years.  'VT Bee Species Accounts' (VBSA) Introduction  The interest in pollinators, especially bees, is growing. Yet that interest seems outpaced by the lack of an aggregate or consolidated source of th ..read more

Abbreviated message:  Please consider sending our legislators a letter of support for VT bill 706, which will prohibit the sale, distribution, or use of any neonicotinoids-treated seed for corn, soy, and other cereal grains unless a pest threat warranting use is established. One of the United Nations goals for sustainable development for biodiversity protection is titled ‘Ecosystem and biodiversity’ which states that up until the year 2030 losses of biodiversity and habitat losses must diminish and the prevention of species extinction must occur.  “Vermont’s goals can be anchored ..read more

 Bee Body Parts Face Top (Dorsal) View Bottom (Ventral) View Side (Lateral View) Leg Wings The above graphics from Discover Life The graphics below from the Paleontological Research Institution ..read more