Category Archives: Insects

Beautyberry 2025-06-15

Beautyberry fruits are setting: the flower petals are falling off and revealing the berries.

Not only are the flowers and berries pleasing violet colors, the leaves repel insects and ticks, and you can make jelly and wine from beautyberries.

[Beautyberry fruit setting, 2025:06:15 10:36:03]
Beautyberry fruit setting, 2025:06:15 10:36:03

Once the berries get some color, you’ll see why it’s called beautyberry. They’re a pleasing violet color. The flowers are an even lighter violet. Also, the whole plant smells good. Continue reading →

Skeeter hawk and blackberries 2024-06-05

We were picking blackberries when this skeeter hawk landed on me.

[Dragonfly and blackberries]
Dragonfly and blackberries

The dragonfly just sat there for many minutes while I picked with my right hand.

Eventually it flew away.

The blackberries are very ripe and tasty.

-jsq

Praying Mantis 2021-08-07

On the truck:

[Mantis]
Mantis

It’s some kind of Mantodea. Probably a native-to-Georgia Carolina Mantis, Stagmomantis carolina. Probably not the larger bird-eating species. These ones eat insects.

Here’s Gretchen observing it. Continue reading →

Video: Wasps 2020-04-12

Something to avoid on the water.

[Wasp nest]
Wasp nest

As good a video as I could get, since I didn’t want to get any closer: https://youtu.be/ezt2ksMwz8I.

Stay tuned for great blue herons and a red-bellied woodpecker.

-jsq

Doug Tallamy at Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council & Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council A Joint Annual Symposium

Sent today by Karan Rawlins. -jsq

Please share this with everyone you know!
SAVE the DATE!
Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council
& Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council
A Joint Annual Symposium

November 12-14, 2014
Georgia Center, Athens

Keynote Speakers:
Douglas Tallamy: Bringing Nature Home, How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants
Charles Bargeron: Using Technology to Fight Invasive Species: Past, Present and Future
Nancy Lowenstein: Creating National Guidelines for Listing Invasive Plants

Includes:
Conference
Lunch & Refreshments
GA-EPPC Membership
CEUs
Vendors
Door Prizes
Field Trips
Learn more about Exotic Pest Plant Councils in the Southeast at www.SE-EPPC.org.

Please read Douglas Tallamy’s book, Bringing Nature Home, before the Conference in November. If you are interested in native plants, ecosystems, songbirds and other wildlife, this book will provide much useful and interesting information.

Video of Prof. Doug Tallamy on Sustainable Landscaping, by U. Delaware:

-jsq