Another cool find in my garden today: the weirdest looking ant I've ever found.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/286181482

A new species for me, and a new species record for my garden, now at 13 Ants, 149 Hymenoptera, and 514 Insect species/taxa.

cc: @futurebird

#iNaturalist #Ants #Formicidae #Hymenoptera #Insects #Bugs #HabitatGardening #Brooklyn #NYC #MasterNaturalist #MacroPhotography #MacroMonday #NaturePhotography

I discovered this spectacular thing in my garden on Tuesday. I didn't post it until now because I wanted to upload a high-quality photo that did it justice.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/284584753

#iNaturalist #MasterNaturalist #Insects #Bugs #Diptera #Syrphidae #HabitatGardening #Brooklyn #NYC

TODAY!
https://ecoevo.social/@xris/114554503282209784
xris - Pleased to share that I'm doing a webinar next Wednesday, May 28th. I'll be talking about my participation in Cornell's Ground-nesting Bees research project with my garden's Rufous-backed Cellophane Bees.

My Little Bees: Participatory Pollinator Research in NYC https://www.eventbrite.com/e/my-little-bees-participatory-pollinator-research-in-nyc-registration-1374824570299

#Bees #Webinar #NYC #Pollinators #HabitatGardening

🦋 I was out in the garden a few days ago and spotted this caterpillar on the characteristic leaf of a Maypop (the Passionflower in southern U.S.). Very complex coloration. When all grown up, it's a Variegated Fritillary butterfly.

❓So now, the habitat gardening questions come to mind: Are there other components that are needed for this butterfly's lifecycle to be supported?

✅ There is plenty of Passionflower vine in the garden, because I have let it grow. The caterpillars also eat Plantain, American Field Pansy and Common Blue Violets, all represented in my garden.

But what about the butterfly phase of the life cycle?

✅ The butterflies feed on Thistles, Coneflowers, Fleabane, Red Clover and Asters, all happen to be in my native plants garden.

Looks like the Variegated Fritillary can already establish a population here. 🕺 (happy dance)

#HabitatGardening #BiodiversityGardening #NativePlants #Gardening @gardening
#Insect #Caterpillar #Garden #Nature

Pleased to share that I'm doing a webinar next Wednesday, May 28th. I'll be talking about my participation in Cornell's Ground-nesting Bees research project with my garden's Rufous-backed Cellophane Bees.

My Little Bees: Participatory Pollinator Research in NYC https://www.eventbrite.com/e/my-little-bees-participatory-pollinator-research-in-nyc-registration-1374824570299

#Bees #Webinar #NYC #Pollinators #HabitatGardening

#WorldBeeDay

🐝 Sharp-tailed Bees don't have pollen collecting hairs. Don't need them because they lay their eggs in other bee's nests. (This is called being "cleptoparasitic".)

🐝 There have to be enough of their specific prey bees to keep their population going. But insect populations have been dropping for decades, so Sharp-tailed Bees can be very hard to find.

Needless to say, I was thrilled to see one in my garden on a cloudy day.

#Insect #NativeBees #HabitatGardening #BiodiversityGardening #Pollinator #Nature #NaturePhotography #Gardening

🦋 Yesterday there was a new species seen in my garden! A Zebra Swallowtail was on the butterfly weed. Striking colors. A little manic and hard to photograph with my phone. Will post a video over on my Peertube account soon.

🌳 This find is of particular interest because the life cycle of the Zebra Swallowtail includes its larvae eating a particular plant: The American Pawpaw.

❓ Where are these Pawpaw trees? If I find them, maybe I can conserve them somehow to maintain this butterfly species. This would be the first insect that I have tried to conserve whose lifecycle extends outside my garden.

😋 Not to mention that I can harvest their tasty fruit.

🥾 Looks like I have a little adventure ahead this summer. Until then, I'll keep moist soil available for males to get nutrients for reproduction.

#HabitatGardening #NativePlants #BiodiversityGardening #Gardening @gardening #Insect #Butterfly #Nature #NaturePhotography

#Brooklyn, #NYC: TODAY, 2-4:30pm, I'll be at the Great Flatbush Plant Swap, an annual event I co-founded waaay back in 2010! We'll be in front of the Flatbush Food Co-Op, 1415 Cortelyou Road.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DJXeTJ6uL2a/

I'll be bringing native plants from my garden. And I'll be on-hand to share my experience with gardening for habitat with native plants, as well as general gardening advice and tips.

#NativePlants #HabitatGardening

#Brooklyn, #NYC: THIS SUNDAY, 2-4:30pm, I'll be at the Great Flatbush Plant Swap, an annual event I co-founded waaay back in 2010! We'll be in front of the Flatbush Food Co-Op, 1415 Cortelyou Road.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DJXeTJ6uL2a/

I'll be bringing native plants from my garden. And I'll be on-hand to share my experience with gardening for habitat with native plants, as well as general gardening advice and tips.

#NativePlants #HabitatGardening