An Annoyed Reptile

 Today I wasn't able to get out to look for bugs until very late in the afternoon, by which time the temperature had dropped into the 50s, and the entire backyard was in shade. It did not make for a very successful search for insects, and it led to some very bad pictures. So, I don't have much to share. But here's what I got...

Backyard Bug of the Day:

Leaf hopper, one of those tiny species that are very difficult to photograph, because usually I can't get within three feet of one. Blog policy is that if I get a decent photo it becomes Backyard Bug of the Day, so here we are.

Other Bugs:

Moth on goldenrod

I think this is nymph and imago (adult) of the same species, an assassin bug:

Candy striped leaf hopper

Arachnid Appreciation:

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The orb weaver has spent the last couple of days tucked up in its bower. They nights have been cold, not worth building a web.

Backyard Reptile of the Day:

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Juvenile garter snake. It was very unhappy with us because we accidentally uncovered it from its hiding place in the leaf litter while we were on our woods walk. It struck at us several times...

... and you can see that it has flattened out its head, which gives it the look of a venomous snake.