Timing Is Everything

Tonight there was a big difference in the music of the night during my sky time. I could hear crickets, many crickets, near and afar, of various species. It was delightful. (I could also hear the GMCs chomping away on the leaves of all my trees, but I pretended not to hear that, for my own sanity).

My bug walk was less delightful. I didn't get to go out looking for bugs until around that time that is the border between afternoon and evening, and though there was still sunshine, and it was warm, I didn't find many bugs (which is to say, I didn't find many bugs that weren't GMCs, because I found about a billion of those little creeps).

Backyard Bug of the Day:

 Caterpillar. It was on a tree that was occupied by countless other caterpillars (one you'll see later), but this is the only one that didn't fill me with disgust.

 Click beetle

 Some other kind of beetle

I have to say that I am rather bemused at how long the activities of these bugs on this tree have been going on (all week).

As for that other  caterpillar... (Mom, look away!)
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This is a GMC just after it has molted, entering the next instar phase. It looks like around the middle stage of its development, of 5 instars if it's male, and 6 if it's female. The color is different because it has just shed its skin–its hair and dots are orange, and it has a pale face. Sadly for this caterpillar, it did not survive to develop its normal color.

Arachnid Appreciation:
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