Backyard Orchard News
The Hitchhiker
Oleander aphids, those cartoonish-looking yellow insects with black legs and cornicles, are...
A lady beetle picks up a hitchhiker, an oleander aphid. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
One on the back and one in the mouth. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The oleander aphid maintains its hold on the back of its predator, a lady beetle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The lady beetle prepares for take-off, with the oleander aphid still clinging to its back. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Butterfly Ballet
If you plant it, they will come. Western tiger swallowtails (Papilio rutulus) can't get enough of...
A Western tiger swallowtail nectarine on a butterfly bush. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Mirror image! A Western tiger swallowtail spots a member of its species. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Well, hello there! A Western tiger swallowtail checks out another one. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
It's up, up and away. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Got to Kill to Live
Some folks dislike photos of praying mantids snagging, killing and eating their prey. Well,...
A camouflaged praying mantis dining on a bee. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Can you find the ootheca or egg case of the praying mantis in this birdhouse photo? (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Ever Seen a Honey Bee Cleaning Her Tongue?
We humans brush our teeth, and we sometimes brush our tongues. But have you ever seen a honey bee...
A honey bee cleaning her tongue. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
It Suits Them to a 'T'
It suits them to a "T." And the "T" is for Tithonia. Many species of butterflies frequent...
Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) on Tithonia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon) on Tithonia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Monarch (Danaus plexippus) on Tithonia. (PHoto by Kathy Keatley Garvey
A skipper (family Hesperiidae) on Tithonia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)