The Bugs in the Backyard: Project

My bug walk was fragmented today because we were working on a project in the backyard and I could only look for bugs during the times when I wasn't able to work on my part. While I was working I kept an eye out for bugs, and of course I saw a lot of butterflies. I was happy to see them, but I wish I had been able to get pictures. Not that it was due to my work that I didn't get pictures. If a good photo opportunity had presented itself I would have dropped everything and grabbed my camera, which I had brought outside with me just in case. I hardly ever go outside without my camera this time of year. But the butterflies were as stubborn as usual, and refused to pose.

There were more bees around today, which I was glad about, but still, there should have been more.

Backyard Bug of the Day:

These were on grape leaves, but I don't think they are grape leaf roller caterpillars, unless they end up looking very different in later instars. These were tiny, hard to even see, and too small to tell if they are caterpillars or some other kind of larva.

Other Bugs:

I saw a few sweat bees today.

Eggs

Remember I posted pictures of female scorpionflies a couple of days ago, and I think I mentioned that it is the male that looks more like a scorpion? And also that it is hard to get pictures of scorpionflies?

Well, here is a bad picture of the salient portion of a male scorpionfly, and you may draw your own conclusions on whether or not it was difficult to get a picture of it.

And for a bit of irony, I only saw the front end of this one, and don't know if it was male or female.

More on the ever unfolding saga of the Ants, the Aphids, and the Aphid Eaters:

The number of aphids on this portion of the tree has diminished profoundly, while there are now three, albeit small, syrphid fly larvae. I don't know if the syrphid fly larvae have actually eaten so many aphids, or if the ants have moved them to safety.