The Reds are Coming Scores of these guys were all over a single tree in Golden Colorado, October 4, 2008. They are Golden Rain Tree bugs (Jadera haematoloma). The bugs aggregate to feed on seeds that have dropped to the ground from trees overhead, especially from goldenrain trees. The smaller redder guys are youth. They can sometimes be a bother in some parts of the country where they invade homes. Jadera bugs are often confused with the Boxelder Bug (Boisea trivittatus). 
Bug
Love, oh my! A sighting on Creedmore Lakes Road, Colorado. August 31, 2008. It is a pair of Colorado Soldier Beetles (Chauliognathus basalis), family Cantharidae. Adults take pollen and nectar. Adults also perhaps predatory. Larvae prey on other insect larvae, especially coleoptera, lepidoptera. Sometimes members of this genus are suggested for biological control of pest species. 
Magnificent! This is a White-lined Sphinx moth (Hyles lineata) that we saw in the Red Feather Lakes Colorado area on August 31, 2008. 
~Dragonfly~ Do they pollinate? We usually see them perched on dry sticks...but bet they do. Seen at the Big Dry Creek open space in Adams County Colorado - July 22, 2008. 
~TheBusy
Bee~ Do they pollinate? AND HOW!! We were glad this fellow was nicely distracted, no stings were forthcoming. He was doing his thing at the Adams County Regional Park natural area. August 19, 2008. 
Lupine Joy. Outside of Laramie Wyoming. July 26, 2008. 
Dragonfly Ultra Seen in Colorado, the Adams County Regional Park natural area, August 19, 2008. 
Hairy
Scary Another busy pollinator outside of Laramie Wyoming on July 26, 2008. 
~Seed-Eater~ Photo by Hollister Dixon on our visit to Pikes Peak Colorado in July of 2008. 
Cool Color! This guy was waiting for us on a wall at home, on our return from a dual sport motorcycle ride to Laramie Wyoming. July 2008. 
~High Altitude Dude~ Mt Evans Colorado, July 25, 2008 was the location of this cool dude. Is it a dragonfly? Or? Has anyone seen one? There were many of these cruisers covering the wildflowers at the peak of Mt Evans. 
~Bugs in your Blanket~ The flower is an Indian Blanket. This is one well chamouflaged bug! Photographed near Brighton Colorado while out looking for wildflowers with Mark on July 3, 2008. 
~Stick on
a stick~ Another sighting on our outing near Brighton Colorado on July 3, 2008. 
~Rock Buddy~ This highly textured creature found a real treasure of beauty to mature in. The lush Pacific Northwest in the Alpine Lakes region was it's home. We saw it on a hike to Lake Serene on October 1, 2006. A beautiful creature in a wonderful setting. While probably not a pollinator, but a wildflower eater, still an important part is played by these creatures. 
~A Berry Bug~
Observing this beauty cruising from one berry bush to another had us captivated by this lovely dragonfly. The location was on a hike on Dog Mountain in Washington state on July 3, 2005. 
~Winged Wonder~ April 26, 2006 was the date this COOL guy was sighted. Isn't the wing pattern gorgeous?! We could picture this guy crawling all over the plants in the area of the Three Corners region in Washington State where we were riding on a forest road up in the mountians. But he was hanging out on the wood handrails fo a bridge as we crossed. A fun stop to take his photograph! 
~Small
Flier~ These small flying creatures are often wonderful pollinators. They flit from on flower to the next, carrying their load of pollen like tiny mailmen delivering their wanted packages. This fellow was hanging out with the forest fungus when we sighted him on June 15, 2006. 
~NERVOUS!!~ Our White-lined Sphinx moth again, Hyles lineata. It was getting nervous with us paying close attention, extending and shivering it's wings. The deep rose color of the body was a lovely surprise when it first spread it's wings. 
~Camouflage~
Sighted on Creedmore Lakes Road, Colorado. August 31, 2008. 
~Golden Needle Nose~ If you move on two more slides you will see a white-haired version of this insect AND a better view of the reason for this guy's nickname! Seen between Longmont and Lyons Colorado on September 7, 2008. The roadside was filled with fuited milkweed, Indian Blanket, and Prairie Coneflower....and bugs!! 
~Bug-eyes~ The flower is a faded Blue Flax and the insect truly miniscule. Another sighting
between Longmont and Lyons Colorado on September 7, 2008. The roadside was filled with fuited milkweed, Indian Blanket, and Prairie Coneflower....and bugs!! 
~Needle Nose~ With a noodle like this we would hire this guy to be OUR pollinator! Seen between Longmont and Lyons Colorado on September 7, 2008. The bloom was an Indian Blanket. 
~Shimmer-Wing~ Another incredibly TINY pollinator on an Indian Blaket. Again, seen between Longmont and Lyons Colorado on September 7, 2008.
The Indian Blankets were probably the most heavily populated bloom on this roadside, making a pretty show indeed. 
~A New Bee~ This black and white guy has a refreshingly different look from the usual bee we see. It was hanging out on a gorgeous Aster in the Adams County Regional Park nature area - September 11, 2008. 
~Red Boy~ One of the more shy insects, this lady-bug-look-alike constantly moved away from the lens of our camera. What does one use for a bug sedative?! Seen between Longmont and Lyons Colorado
on September 7, 2008 - indeed site for productive bug hunting. 
~Nobby Nose~ Another extremely tiny specimen....carrying a BIG stick!! Yet another sighting between Longmont and Lyons Colorado on September 7, 2008. An Arnica species of some kind. 
~Preying Mantis~ A full body shot of the European Mantis (Mantis religiosa). The sighting was between Longmont and Lyons Colorado on September 7, 2008. The identification was by Frank B. Peairs, Professor of Entomology Department of
Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management at Colorado State University. 
~Hornet Honey?!~ There were lots of open sunflowers for this guy to spend his time on, but he liked this bud. And we liked HIM!! His location was Adams County Regional Park nature area - September 11, 2008. 
~Ninja~ These mat black bugs LOVE the sunflowers at the Adams County Regional Park nature area. They were everywhere there today, September 11, 2008. 
~My
Fair Lady..Bug~ Who knows if this was really a lady, but she sure looks sweet. What a beautiful 'do', my dear. Like the hornet a few slides back, she preferred the bud of a sunflower today, again, at the Adams County Regional Park nature area. September 11, 2008. 
~Golden Girl~ What a load of....pollen!! A number of these bees were busy spreading it on the sunflowers at the Adams County Regional Park nature area, today, September 11, 2008. Much smaller than many bees we see out there. We are thinking that at least some of the yellow was a camouflage. These appear to be Bombus nevadensis nevadensis, according to the UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY website. 
~Alien!~
This dramatic preying mantis was off a roadside between Longmont and Lyons Colorado on September 7, 2008. Our thanks to Frank B. Peairs, Professor of Entomology Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management at Colorado State University, for his expert identification of this specimen; European mantis (Mantis religiosa).
Point mouse over thumbnail for a larger image. Click to hold large image in place.
This is not meant to be a technical offering,
but rather, enjoy the images for their interest and beauty. Included are comments,
and names of specimens when we know them.
©Photography by Mark L. and Darice S. Dixon. Slideshow design by Stu
Nicholls. See the original here.
If you know the identity of a creature here we would love to note your contribution!