Winter Visitors

For years after we moved into our house we used to get wasps inside in the winter. I have no idea where they came from, but they would be flying around, mostly trying to get out through the windows, not really understanding the concept of glass. On three separate occasions I was awakened in the morning by being stung. One of those times was my fault; I rolled over and my hand landed on a wasp that was on the bed, and it stung me in self defense. On the other two occasions I was stung in my armpit for no provocation whatsoever. How's that for a rude awakening? In the case of the first two of these matitudinal attacks I retaliated and killed the wasps. But by the time of the third one–an unprovoked attack on my armpit–I had changed my attitude about wasps, so I captured the wasp and released it outside. I never liked killing the wasps in my house, but for a couple of years I killed every one. I didn't want them in here, and so they had to die. But I don't feel that way about them anymore. Granted, I might be killing them by releasing them outside, but it is possible that they are able to find a place to shelter before the cold takes them. I assume so, because they usually fly off. But given their propensity for attacks on my armpits while I slumber I don't want them in the house. I figure I do enough to protect habitat for them outside; I don't have to share my own habitat with them, too. However, it has been several years since we have had wasps in the house in the winter–until this winter, when they have recently made an appearance. So, I have been catching and releasing them, and not feeling at all concerned about them freezing to death because it has not been freezing out. I released one today that landed right on a bush in front of the front porch, so I decided to take its picture, and that wasp is now Backyard Bug of the Day:

 I found this later when I did my bug walk. I don't know if it's the same wasp.

Other Bugs:

 We also get lady beetles in the house during the winter. I wonder if this one was inside, and somehow ended up outside today, or if it was outside and woke up to the lovely sunshine.

I found a swarm of tiny things:

 Too small to be winter crane flies, but I couldn't get a good look at them. They look like gnats.

 Now that I know that winter ants exists it's no longer surprising when I see ants on warmish winter days, but this is a different species of ant. Still, it's been mild most of the week, so I wasn't surprised to see this, either.

And, on a tree trunk...

 Winter firefly and snow fleas...

 ... and on the same trunk, a twice-stabbed lady beetle and snow fleas.

 Beetle

Arachnid Appreciation:
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 I didn't get to see the face of this jumping spider, so I don't know if it was the same one with the red face from yesterday.

Spider that has just caught a gnat. Knowing that's what the prey is should give you an idea of how small the spider is.