Wiggles and other bugs.

Having way too much fun with the macro setting on the point and shoot, I went for a little hike.

Bull ants. Lots of times local kids will call these ‘fire ants’, but they’re not.

From Bugs 2013
From Bugs 2013

Evil looking hanging thief. This one gave me trouble in identifying. Typically they are stuck more near the shores of the Great Salt Lake here. One of the advantages of having woods, desert, plain, and marsh habitats all in this ~1.5 mile trail, I guess.

From Bugs 2013

Back home, Wiggles had molted one last time and become the more active 5th instar.

From Bugs 2013

All the fun with the little point and shoot had me watching the local classifieds for a new lens for Bertha. Finding one on Friday for a reasonable price, it’s not the best on the market, but good enough for me to see if I want to shell out for that nice one.

Heading to the garden, I stumbled on a big turf war raging.

Bumble bees were swarming, looking for a place to plunk down. This beauty resting on one of the pumpkin blossoms. (the markings weren’t on the predominant utah list of bumblebees for a more specific identification, will trace it down later)

From Bugs 2013

But, my squash bees were none too happy someone was in their turf.

From Bugs 2013

Then, Wiggles finally got around to making his cocoon.

From Bugs 2013

I had tried to get the new time-lapse function to work on the new point and shoot, but the battery ran out while we were gone, so I missed the beginning of the process in the video.

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Categorized as Bugs

Tali and Wiggles.

One of Tali’s favorite things has become our daily routine of feeding the caterpillars a new leaf and taking their pics.

From Bugs 2013

In fact, she’s even taking over the picture taking:

From Bugs 2013
From Bugs 2013

Sure, her technique needs a little work, but this macro stuff isn’t the easiest thing to learn with.

Wiggles has graduated from a dime size 3rd instar to a quarter size 4th instar. The eating machine that most people think of when you picture a caterpillar. One more caterpillar stage to go…

From Bugs 2013

Chompy meanwhile has taught us a valuable lesson. Caterpillars can jump. Curl up, and jump about 6″ per bound.

From Bugs 2013
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3rd instar

The boss said I needed something for size references…

Wiggles, 3rd instar

From Bugs 2013

Chompy emerging as 2nd instar.

From Bugs 2013

Talia wanted to take a picture, so her first pic:

From Bugs 2013
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Categorized as Bugs, Talia