We were really struck by the beauty of the Baltimore Checkerspot Butterflies that we observed in Toronto. This is a species that we had never seen before. Read more
Category: Insects and Spiders
Photography of insects and spiders we have observed during our travels.
Cecropia Moth Caterpillar in Rouge National Urban Park
On a late summer afternoon, Bob made a brief stop at North Reesor Pond in Rouge National Urban Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. His intention was to look for shorebirds, but with none presenting, he began to scour the reeds and bushes for insects. That is when he happened upon this most unusual caterpillar, a Cecropia Moth Larva. Read more
Cecropia Moths Mating In Rouge Park
On an outing to Rouge National Urban Park in Ontario, Canada, we came upon a pair of Cecropia moths mating beside a pond. Read more
Butterflies At Ecocentro Danaus – Costa Rica
Day 2 in Costa Rica had us first completing a very early morning guided bird hike. After breakfast back at Hotel Kokoro, Bob and I headed to Ecocentro Danaus on the edge of La Fortuna. It is a private reserve with a butterfly conservatory where Bob and I hoped to see some of Costa Rica’s tiny winged jewels. Read more
Hiking amid the Plantations near La Bajada, Mexico
Having left Cerro de San Juan Ecological Reserve behind us in Tepic, Bob determined that there were still sufficient daylight hours to make a stop and go hiking near La Bajada. The coffee and banana plantations in that area promised good birding habitat, and it wouldn’t be too far off our route back to San Blas. Read more
A Rauparaha’s Copper Butterfly in New Zealand
It was enjoyable making our way through the sand dunes at Muriwai on the North Island of New Zealand. The observation deck looking over the Gannet colony was our destination, but delights awaited us along the way such as this pretty Rauparaha’s Copper Butterfly. Read more
Butterflies And Moths We Sighted In Tuscany
The morning following our arrival in Tuscany at first looked like it would be dreary and wet. A light sprinkle of rain dampened the patio stones as we ate breakfast, but by the time we finished our fruit and cereal, warm September sunshine cast shadows of the tall trees surrounding our farmhouse, so we set off to explore the vineyard. Butterflies and moths were everywhere in our dooryard, on the wildflowers and clinging to bushes and vines. Read more
Eastern Comma Butterfly At Rosetta McClain Gardens
Late this summer, Bob and I popped down to Rosetta McClain Gardens in Toronto to see if we could discover any birds of note but also to look for Monarch Butterflies given the few that we had seen in our own garden over the summer. What we found was an Eastern Comma Butterfly on one of the Butterfly Bushes. Read more
Snowberry Clearwing Moth enjoys Fragrant Phlox
Our sighting of this stunning Snowberry Clearwing moth in Ontario, Canada had us making a mad dash to the house to grab our cameras to photograph this stunning insect as it flitted from flower to flower. Read more
Dog-day Cicadas Mating In The Heat Of Summer
On a sultry summer day here in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, I went out to the garden to tend to some chores. Imagine my surprise, as I bent to the task of deadheading my Gaillardia, when something clipped the side of my head. Seconds later, I noticed a pair of Dog-Day Cicadas mating where they lay on the pavement of the street. Read more