Dainty

Today's interesting creature is a Gold-marked Thread-waisted Wasp  (Eremnophila aureonotata),a garden favorite.  I've not seen as many of these delicate looking wasps this year as in some years so happy to get this image.  I believe this is a male, although I wouldn't stake my life on it.  Females are a bit larger and usually show more of the orange/gold colors.  I also got a quick glimpse of a Mexican grass-carrying wasp who was carrying a caterpillar of some sort to her nest.  

And speaking of wasps and caterpillars, I saw a paper wasp prowling around in the milkweed patch and then, before I knew it, she came out from under a leaf with a very small monarch caterpillar in her jaws.  I know this is part of the circle of life, and I know that my rather large milkweed plantings provide lots of food and habitat for the monarch cats and the things that prey on them.  But still...kind of sad.  On the plus side, I released 3 healthy monarchs from my nursery today and also wanted two self-raised monarchs emerge from the chrysalids which were attached to the side of the house next to the milkweed.  I call them my "house cats" since and there are 9 more out there. Plus the ones that have wandered off and pupated in secret somewhere in the garden.

Had a very enjoyable lunch today with my friend, Barbara.  Always fun seeing her.  

Our microwave is dying a slow death so Hubs and I ran into town and bought a new one which will be delivered and installed next week.  The mundane aspects of life.

xoxo
Debbi