Parasitic Wasp (Family Platygastridae), Taken April 2, 2025, In Georgia, US

Downy Woodpeckers (Dryobates pubescens), males, taken January 10, 2025, in Georgia, US

Year-round regulars at the feeders! They're always so full of personality. I can't wait to see the babies in the spring—they always look perpetually lost lol!

Asian Oak Weevil (Cyrtepistomus castaneus), taken May 25, 2025, in Georgia, US

A little oak weevil resting in the bend of a leaf! I happened to see this guy through a small gap in the leaf and turned it over to find this cute scene! He may be sleeping, as the weather was quite spotty and poor to travel in, but he could also just be chill like that. C. castaneus was introduced to the US from Japan in the early 1900s and has since spread throughout the Eastern US and SE Canada. They are considered invasive in some states due to native foliage damage brought on by infestations. Their patterning is quite variable—this is actually the first gray one I've ever found. Usually they're a matte brown for me, but they can also be nearly white. Many even have yellow or teal sides, which can faintly be seen in this individual, though not as brightly as some.

They stopped after I took this photo, I embarrassed them

🪲ID Guess: I-Mark Leaf Beetle (Calomela crassicornis) 🌿Date: 25/01/2025

Handsome Meadow Katydid (Orchelimum pulchellum), female, taken September 28, 2024, in Georgia, US

Handsome, indeed! I have dozens of pictures of these guys, not just because they exist in excess here, but also because they're just too beautiful for me to pass up photographing! This species is differentiable from all others in the genus at almost every life stage by its bright blue eyes, which nobody else shares. It's quite striking to see a katydid with a rainbow of colors, even after having seen them a hundred times!

I've got you. A very small (chalcidoid) wasp checking out a bunch of aphids...

Busy today, so no nice bugs. However, perhaps you could take a moment to imagine…a very small wasp. Wow. Nice.

Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis), males (1-3) and female (4), taken January 10, 2024, in Georgia, US

Male cardinals stand out so much in the white and gray of the snow! However bright they may be, the female of this batch is definitely my favorite. Her almost imposing image framed by branches is just perfect to me.

Crab Spiders (Genus Mecaphesa), taken April 12, 2025, in Georgia, US

Some crab spiders hiding underneath flowers! This is a known undescribed species, currently labeled "black tibia spot" (for obvious reasons) as far as I know. I see them pretty often hanging out, especially on fleabane flowers like this. Crab spiders are ambush predators, and most in the genus Mecaphesa lie in wait on similarly-colored flowers until a prey item (flies, beetles, and perhaps small bees) lands on it. The spider quickly overtakes its prey and hides underneath the petals of the flower to enjoy. A rather boring life for us, but these guys don't seem to mind!

Made awkward eye contact with an Osprey flying overhead today

Red-headed Ash Borer (Neoclytus acuminatus), taken May 21, 2025, in Georgia, US

Another lifer beetle for me! It shouldn't be surprising, but it feels like everywhere I go I'm finding new longhorn beetles—round-necked ones especially! A lot are just the same colors recycled in different patterns, and I find it a bit funny. This guy was quite pretty and allowed me to take several photos before getting too shifty. I would also be bothered if a giant appeared and started manhandling the leaf I was sitting on, but this individual was brave and waited patiently for me to leave. How generous!

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), male, taken February 10, 2025, in Georgia, US

After weeks of staking my feeders out, ONE brave soul FINALLY inched forward onto the feeder perches. Even if all he did was look around and stare at me judgmentally, he still let me get some nice pictures of him before leaving (without even grabbing a snack..) and I respect him for that. Clearly, blackbirds are braver alone than in groups!