Oh, these beautiful bugs!

Since I've been spending some time taking a close look at the Japanese beetles, I've been seeing lots of other insect life too. I love taking a close look at the tiny creatures in my garden, because when I do so I'm always amazed.

I'm also frustrated a little bit, as it makes me wonder just how many fascinating and beautiful insects are hiding all around me. I want to find and photograph them all, but I expect it would be a full-time endeavor, so I'll make due with the few that I do find.

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Even though I just posted about Japanese beetles, I have to include them here because they really are pretty insects, if you ignore the damage they're doing. Let's get them out of the way first:

That second one had a different coloration: more bronze than green. I wonder what that means?

Katydid nymph. I see at least one of these on this rose every year.

I don't know what these are yet, but they're all over the cardoon.

A "twice-stabbed" stink bug.

Baby grasshopper! About 1/2" long (1.25 cm)

Hoverfly. 

Fly? Wasp? Bee? I think "fly" but not sure.

Tiny unknown beetle on a sage leaf. Could also be an "ebony bug".

This is the same spiky insect that's all over the cardoon. This one has just
moulted though, and hasn't darkened yet. (Compare to earlier photo.)

So that's a look at some of the insects I've found in the last few days. I'm going to be looking all summer long, as these creatures are as important to my garden as the plants are.

Well, not quite as important as the plants, but without the insects it would be a boring place indeed.

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