Extreme Bugginess

The weather has turned hot and humid, and when that happens things tend to get buggy. Wasps, horseflies, and other bitey types are flourishing. This morning I photographed this assasin bug that was climbing a banana leaf in our yard. They are reputed to have a nasty painful bite, and in appearance this one reminds me of the vicious alien invaders in Starship Troopers. This is the black phase of the eastern lubber grasshopper. Lubber nymphs are black and orange, but most adults are yellow with black markings (a few retain their youthful appearance into adulthood). This morning Troy came over and we went to Orange to see the newly reopened Shangri La Botanical Gardens. I didn't bring binoculars, but still managed to see a few birds, including a Swallow-tailed Kite (bird #214 for the year list), a Red-headed Woodpecker, and nesting Great Egrets and Yellow-crowned Night-Herons. While touring the grounds we made the acquaintance of this Barred Owl that had been brought in for rehabilitation.