For the past couple years, as I've paid more attention to the progress of seasonal activity of living things, I've noticed that some of the first insects I see becoming active in the spring are members of the order diptera, the flies. They seem to be some of the first ones to start thriving and show up in surprising diversity from the first bit of warmth. I'll suddenly start noticing anything from flower flies, to tachinids, to muscoids, craneflies and other nematocerans like fungus gnats, midges, mosquitos, and gall midges, as well as various leaf miners and a wealth of others. This is just in my own observation in flats of coastal southern California.
Gavin, Thanks for that observation. It provoked a question - Are the holometabolous orders active earlier in the spring than the hemimetabolous orders?
Bob, I see Mourning Cloak butterflies in urban Prescott, AZ off & on all winter on warm days. They often feed on dried apples still clinging to tops of my 100 yr. old apple tree or it's tree sap. I have read their life span is 9 months, so I never allow grandchildren to capture them.
So interesting! Thank you!
You are welcome. (Good to hear from you.) BE
Great video, these are one of my favorite butterflies
Thank you for a great video Bob. I really enjoy watching Eastern Skunk Cabbage in very early spring.
James thanks for the comment. I bet there are others out there who watch Skunk Cabbage bring the spring!
For the past couple years, as I've paid more attention to the progress of seasonal activity of living things, I've noticed that some of the first insects I see becoming active in the spring are members of the order diptera, the flies. They seem to be some of the first ones to start thriving and show up in surprising diversity from the first bit of warmth. I'll suddenly start noticing anything from flower flies, to tachinids, to muscoids, craneflies and other nematocerans like fungus gnats, midges, mosquitos, and gall midges, as well as various leaf miners and a wealth of others. This is just in my own observation in flats of coastal southern California.
Gavin,
Thanks for that observation. It provoked a question - Are the holometabolous orders active earlier in the spring than the hemimetabolous orders?
Bob, I see Mourning Cloak butterflies in urban Prescott, AZ off & on all winter on warm days. They often feed on dried apples still clinging to tops of my 100 yr. old apple tree or it's tree sap. I have read their life span is 9 months, so I never allow grandchildren to capture them.
I’ve seen a migrating vermilion flycatcher the past two years in spring - what a treat!
Treat? I'll say! What a bird!
Claytonia and Oso bush in the Pacific Northwest
Thanks Laura!
Ravens!
Thank you Claire! Hope you are well. BE
If covid gave us "Notes from the field", it has not been all bad......In this one we see another of the roles oaks play in natures dance.
Thank you Curt!