Dragonfly on Bauhinia x blakeana Tree Branch, MG_5740

One more visitor graced me with his presence and a quick shot  before flying away.

Bumblebee on Swamp Thistle, Shenandoah Nat. Park, Virginia-93E1117

 

Bumblebee on flower, Front Royal, Virginia-93E1193

Caterpillar Tent -Saluda, North Carolina. 93E9427

While traveling last month in the Carolinas and Virginia states, you couldn’t help noticing these brown silky substances attached to the trees and in large numbers.  A caterpillar species builds unsightly silk tents in cherry, apple, and other landscape trees in early spring. The caterpillars feed on leaves of these host trees, and may cause significant defoliation when present in large numbers. Caterpillars wander when they are ready to pupate, crawling on houses and decks.

How do you control those pesky caterpillars and prevent deforestation?  Good question for this sight is endless for miles and miles from the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway to the Skyline Drive in Virginia and crossing the Shenandoah National Park.

I touched one of those silky substances, I didn’t find any caterpillars inside but I was amazed by the toughness of the silk material.

An Unknown Insect-Saluda, North Carolina, 93E0519

I am unable to name this bug.  He flew by me and rested on that pole for a brief moment while I was patiently waiting for one of the many birds visiting the feeder.

 

Bumble Bee on Wild Flower, 93E0055

It’s amazing how simple pictures like these can deliver such beauty to the eyes.

Zebra Longwing Butterfly on leaf in B&W_93E9466

Zebra Longwing Butterfly on ground orchid

This butterfly was “held hostage” so to speak inside my screen room while the door was left ajar and was trying to get his food supplement from the flowers and orchids from my patio. I was able to get him happily out in the wild.

Praying Mantis MG_3501

Bumblebee on Verbena Plant, Costa Rica