Today's Tiny Pollinators

The really beautiful white-flowering swamp milkweed around the corner was host to some very tiny pollinators this afternoon. It was hard to tell with the naked eye if they were wee wasps or bees, they were so miniscule. But I'm gonna go with a tiny native bee after looking at the photographs and doing some research on bugguide.net and a few other sources. The face markings resemble the Hylaeus modestus pictured on bugguide.net somewhat, at least to my eye. I wouldn't try for species, but might guess that the bee could be in the Hylaeus genus. The swamp milkweed host, a cultivated form of Asclepias incarnata, I believe, (possibly 'Ice Ballet') is pretty fantastic looking too and really graceful with its narrow leaves and perfectly white flowers. It's a native too.

Got Milkweed?

Asclepias physcocarpa in the Rose Garden annual border, also known as Balloonplant, for obvious reasons once you've seen its seedpods. Another milkweed. People have been asking alot about this pretty tall plant. Native to Africa, it's both decorative and a host to the monarch butterfly. How awesome is that?





















Not to be outdone, our Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) was spotted tonight on a bike ride to Floyd Bennett and it was host to two species. The Large Milkweed Bug and what sure looks like a Monarch caterpillar. Thanks to Caleb Leech and Bugguide.net, I now know exactly what that orange bug (and it's a true bug) I've been wondering about is. Onocopeltus fasciatus. Say that three times fast for kicks. Or just call it the Large Milkweed bug and be happy.





















Maybe if we get lucky, we will catch the Monarch in its chrysalis. Joe and I spotted a few caterpillars on this one Milkweed plant near the bike path and will try to remember to keep our eye on the plant in the next few weeks. This last generation will fly south to Mexico to overwinter.