Bob Simrak Photography
Sunday, August 02, 2026
Friday, July 31, 2026
Monday, July 27, 2026
Tiger Bee Fly - If you have carpenter bees, this fly is your friend. Parasitoid of Carpenter Bees: Female Tiger Bee Flies lay their eggs near the nest entrances of Eastern Carpenter Bees (Xylocopa virginica). When the larvae hatch, they crawl into the nest and feed on the carpenter bee larvae/pupae. Because of this, you’ll often spot them hovering around wooden structures, decks, or eaves where carpenter bees have drilled their tunnels. (AI Identification - Gemini)
Eastern Black Swallowtail - The dark coloration of the female Eastern Black Swallowtail is a form of Batesian mimicry. It mimics the Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor), a toxic butterfly species that birds avoid eating due to the poisonous acids stored from its host plant. By resembling the Pipevine Swallowtail, the palatable Black Swallowtail gets a measure of natural protection from avian predators. (AI Identification - Gemini)
Saturday, July 25, 2026
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Common Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) is a resilient, North American native wildflower best known for its bright yellow blooms that o...