A row of Dusky Birch Sawfly (Nematus latitarsus) on a Gray Birch leaf.

Spend some time looking for the "creepy crawlies" to get a full appreciation of the incredible beauty and diversity of the insect world. I started in 2022, especially taking note of the moths that would flutter up to my porch light in the evening. It is incredible: it's a different cast of characters every evening. Don't worry: I turn my porchlight off after half an hour, so the critters can all be on their way. The macro lens has been a great way to explore the details of the insect world in a little more depths. Chasing after bees certainly has added a new dimension to my hikes. A small selection here which I hope creates a glimmer of the same appreciation in the viewer.

A gorgeous Denticulate Longhorn Bee (Melissodes denticulatus) visiting NY Ironweed at Wapping Park, Connecticut. One of hundreds of native bee species in CT. 

A Red-lined Moth (Heliolonche pictipennis) on a Desert Dandelion at Joshua Tree National Park, California.

Katydids, like this Greater Anglewing (Microcentrum rhombifolium), like to visit the foliage in my backyard in South Windsor, Connecticut.

Everyone wants to look like a bee, such as this Greater Bee Fly (Bombylius major) on the forest floor in Shenipsit State Forest, Connecticut.

A Large Pine Weevil (Hylobius abietis) treks across the vast sand plains in het Roekelse Bos, Netherlands.

This Puerto Rican Calisto (Calisto nubila) pretends to be a fallen leaf to confuse predators in the El Toro Wilderness, Puerto Rico.