Posts Tagged: garden

Spiked Forelegs of a Praying Mantis: There Is No Escape

A praying mantis, an incredible ambush predator, can lie in wait for hours for its prey.  Often it's so camouflaged that it totally blends in...

This praying mantis, Stagmomantis limbata, has just ambushed a honey bee and is grasping it in its spiked forelegs. There is no Harry Houdini-kind of escape. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This praying mantis, Stagmomantis limbata, has just ambushed a honey bee and is grasping it in its spiked forelegs. There is no Harry Houdini-kind of escape. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Death grip. With its two spiked forelegs, the praying mantis firmly grasps the honey bee. Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Death grip. With its two spiked forelegs, the praying mantis firmly grasps the honey bee. Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The Butterfly Egg: The Promise of a New Generation

Ever seen a Gulf Fritillary laying an egg? The Gulf Frit, or "passion butterfly" (Agraulis vanillae), lays her tiny, yellow eggs, singly, on...

The adult Gulf Fritillary butterfly is a brilliant orange, with silver-spangled underwings. This one is nectaring on a Mexican petunia in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The adult Gulf Fritillary butterfly is a brilliant orange, with silver-spangled underwings. This one is nectaring on a Mexican petunia in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Gulf Fritillary laying an egg on a tendril of a passionflower vine in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Gulf Fritillary laying an egg on a tendril of a passionflower vine in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Monarch vs. Honey Bee: 'Nectar for Me, None for You'

The monarch migration is well underway. The iconic butterflies fluttering into California from the Pacific Northwest engage in "nectar stops" to fuel...

A migrating monarch butterfly finds nectar in a zinnia in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A migrating monarch butterfly finds nectar in a zinnia in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee wants nectar, too. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee wants nectar, too. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The honey bee buzzes the wings of the monarch hoping it will leave. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The honey bee buzzes the wings of the monarch hoping it will leave. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The monarch takes the hint. A bee wants that nectar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The monarch takes the hint. A bee wants that nectar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Praying Mantis: Hey, Take My Picture!

The scenario: a male praying mantis, Stagmomantis limbata, is perched on a pink zinnia in a Vacaville pollinator garden filled with bees and...

A praying mantis pretends to be a bodybuilder like Arnold Schwarzenegger. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A praying mantis pretends to be a bodybuilder like Arnold Schwarzenegger. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

"How's this for an action-figure pose?" the praying mantis asks. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

"How's this for an action-figure pose?" the praying mantis asks. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The praying mantis catches a bee. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The praying mantis catches a bee. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

"Sorry," says the mantis. "I was hungry. I'll see myself out now." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

"Sorry," says the mantis. "I was hungry. I'll see myself out now." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Blanket Flower: the Picture of Autumn

If you've been ignoring your calendar, you may have not realized that autumn began Sept. 23. We know it as the season between summer and winter,...

A Gulf Fritillary, Agraulis vanillae, clings to a blanket flower, Gaillardia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Gulf Fritillary, Agraulis vanillae, clings to a blanket flower, Gaillardia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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