Sawflies!

So first I spotted this cool black-and-red insect on a sorrelvine in the Meadow. Then I saw another one. And another one. Pretty soon, I realized what was happening! Some gal was ready to mate, and so were several males. Later, I learned that these insects are sawflies, specifically Ceratulus spectabilis. When I found yellowish larva on the same vine, at first I thought butterfly. Not! It's the larval stage of the same sawfly species! Aren't nature's puzzles so cool in how they fit together?

 

Two new additions

Welcome to our Wildscape, little Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii). She was gifted to us (along with many others, which went to the Blanco County Master Gardeners for their spring plant sale) by my friend Carol. She said squirrels in her yard planted them. Anyway, James planted the sapling in our back yard. Yay!

Awhile ago, I planted this wavyleaf twinevine (Funastrum crispum), a milkweed that James dug up from our rural property. Sure hoping it makes it!

 

Meadow mowed July 13

Bexar Audubon Society of South Central Texas

Last week, James and I drove into San Antonio so I could give my "Spiders of Central Texas" presentation to members of the Bexar Audubon Society of South Central Texas. It was a fun evening, and we met some nice folks. The program was also live streamed. It's archived here.

Patsy Inglet gave me a wonderful introduction.

I've always wanted to capture the moment that audience members see a pivotal moment in one of Otto Jurgen's "peacock spider" videos. So I did!