A Bug-Day Afternoon

(July 9th) After so many shots of pretty flowers, it was time to shoot something a little different. Today was all about the bugs of all shapes and sizes. I started off working the Red Milkweed Beetles. Their red color is so vibrant. Here I feel like I'm invading a private moment between these two.

The Red Milkweed Beetles are actually quite shy. If they see you approaching they just drop to the ground. So you have to pretty careful sneaking up on them to get close. Here is a face from one that I found to be funny.

Yellow Jackets are a wasp that I'm quite familiar with. I'm pretty sure they've stung me more times than all other bees and wasps. I can't really hold it against them - they were just trying to defend themselves or their nest. Compared to the soft, fuzzy look of honeybees, they seem quite scary.

I also found this fat beetle on a blade of grass. I'm not sure what species it is, but it's somewhere in the Chrysomelid family. Just what you wanted to hear I bet... The curve of the grass and the expression of the beetle drew me to taking this shot.

In Michigan, this bee is one of the most common ones you'll encounter. Most people think they're looking at a bumblebee, but it's a Carpenter Bee. They tunnel through wood for their nests so sometimes they cause problems for houses.