(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Daily Bucket - The insects of Lamar Park, Oxford, Mississippi [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2023-10-11 It was noon under an overcast Wednesday and I was sitting beneath the scant shelter of a rapidly shedding Weeping Willow when the National Emergency alarms sounded (and was glad I didn’t turn into a zombie). There were plenty of college Co-ed joggers to feast on if I had. I was prepared for either outcome. 6 inches from my right foot was Lake Patsy (at the Oxford city park) and I was glad Hoof & Mouth (specifically Anthrax) was not my reaction to the ridiculous conspiracy theory. One dying reed poked out of the bank and the damselfly in the title photo held on to it. Below is the entire insect. male Orange Bluet — Enallagma signatum It took me a while to identify the species because when I think Bluet, a different color comes to mind. This tiny guy is 1 inch long and has the perfect complexion for October. After a moment, the Bluet disappeared like a ghost or wisp of smoke. I had my equipment set to photograph the resident Belted Kingfisher that hunts the lake. Well, that didn’t happen (he’s a tease). But I found a fledgling Eastern Bluebird that shared my misgivings of the situation. molting, fledgling Eastern Bluebird. Not the happiest camper at the park. I turned my attention on the very active buzzing around a large patch of Ragweed blooms. There were the typical pollinators and some surprises among the bright yellow flowers (despised by allergy sufferers). Below is the Fall festival collection that place offered. I was happy to see so many Honey Bees. Several Bumble Bees (Bombus impatiens) were active. Northern Paper Wasp — Polistes fuscatus, were among the fliers. Red paper Wasp — Polistes carolina After greeting the ones I recognized, I focused on the interesting attendees. Course-backed Paper Wasp — Polistes rubiginosus Common Thread-waisted Wasp — Ammophila procera Another October tinted insect entered my peripheral vision. A large patch of orange landed on the Willow and began crawling around. I only got this quick shot as it hunted caterpillars. I discovered (after I got home) that this big insect controls the damaging species to select hardwoods. Trogus pennator an Ichneumon Wasp that feeds on Swallowtail larva. The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge. We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns. We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below. Each note is a record that we can refer to in the future as we try to understand the phenological patterns that are quietly unwinding around us. To have the Daily Bucket in your Activity Stream, visit Backyard Science’s profile page and click on Follow. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/10/11/2197457/-Daily-Bucket-The-insects-of-Lamar-Park-Oxford-Mississippi?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=trending&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/