midwest2-bug-edition

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Update on mama robin! 3 very healthy happy bouncing baby birds. I only have a photo of one now, freshly hatched. It's been such a magnificent experience watching this nest go from an empty husk to housing some of the most delicate life I've seen.

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Oh what a brilliant insect! So pretty!!!

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Found this in my backyard 🥺🥺

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Hey! Check out my Quizlet!

This is a WIP Quizlet flashcard set I am currently working on, it has a list of dragonflies common to Stark County Ohio! Included on every flashcard is the family of each dragonfly and some identifying characteristics!

Mind you I am not a professional entomologist, some of the information included could be incorrect. At the current moment it is also not complete! I still have more to add but was just to excited to share. Dragonflies are one of my favorites.

If you would like to explore on your own, here is a list of all the species sighted!

Stay tuned, when I am finished with this one I will start on a damselfly one! This is all for personal use and fun, I just wanted to share for any other odonata lovers in my beautiful state!

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Opiliones be upon ye

These captivating critters may look like otherworldly spiders, but they are in reality closer to crabs! The crustacean-like creatures differ from spiders in many ways. For instance rather than having a cephalothorax and abdomen, they have a fused cephalothorax and abdomen, meaning they are one segment. This also seperates them from class insecta, as insects have a head, abdomen, and thorax. These curious little "bugs" have 2 eyes! The vast majority of them are harmless as well!

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Some of my favorite arachnids I have found!

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Hey! Wanna attract pollinators?

Do you live in Ohio (particularly northeast Ohio)? Here's a list of wildflowers you can plant that bring in pollinators, some color combination ideas for those flowers, a small list of reasons why you should plant wildflowers for pollinators, other ways you can increase local pollinattors, and some resources you can utilize.

Disclaimer: Please only use this guide if you live in Ohio! Some of the plant species listed are invasive in some states, but are fine in Ohio. Please also consider, many plants on this list are toxic to animals! Please be mindful of the wildlife around you that also needs supporting. Keep your wildflowers and pollinator areas to select parts of your yard or property and do not spread these seeds in the wild. Ex. Milkweed is toxic to most animals and will kill them.

Here is a list of plants that pollinators love by color:

Butterfly Milkweed  

Lanceleaf Tickseed 

Cup Plant 

Showy Goldenrod 

New England Aster 

Purple Prairie Clover 

Field Thistle

Purple Coneflower 

Here are some color combos for garden inspo:

Photos of the plants included (and the sources for said photos, none of which were snapped by me, in order at the bottom of the post)

Orange and yellow (all full sun) - Butterfly milkweed, Cup Plant, Showy Goldenrod 

Yellow and purple (all full sun) - Cup Plant, Lanceleaf Tickseed, New England Aster 

Yellow and pink (all full sun) - Cup Plant, Showy Goldenrod, Purple Coneflower

Purple and pink  (all full sun)  - Purple Coneflower, Purple Prarie Clover, New England Aster

Orange and pink  (all full sun)  - Butterfly Milkweed, Purple Coneflower, Field Thistle

Why you should plant wildflowers:

(Reasons included but not limited to)

Wild flowers can provide necessary elements to wildlife that keep your local ecosystem functioning. These are things that directly effect everyone.

Wildflowers typically require far less maintenance than non-native, as they are more suited to the areas weather, living conditions, etc.

Wildflower populations are low and need help!

Wildflowers can improve air and soil quality.

Why you should target pollinators:

(Reasons included but not limited to)

Pollinator populations are declining and this can help them survive.

Without pollinators many of our crops would not live.

Our air is cleaner with pollinators.

Other ways you can help:

Buy local honey!

If you do not focus on insects, focus on birds! Put out hummingbird feeders.

Avoid pesticide.

Gardening Resources:

Why you should plant wildflowers and help pollinators:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/wildflowers/pollinators/importance#:~:text=It%20is%20an%20essential%20ecological,80%25%20require%20pollination%20by%20animals.

Things you can do to help pollinators:

The folks behind the photos:

Butterfly milkweed photo: Adrienne Legault 

Cup plant photo: Stephanie Brundage

Showy goldenrod photo: Kerry Woods

Lanceleaf Tickseed photo: Richard Spellenberg

New England Aster photo: Drew Avery

Purple Coneflower photo: Jeff Franklin

Field Thistle photo: George Mayfield

Purple Prairie Clover photo: Joshue Mayer

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Geese at Silver Park

The Canada Goose annoys lots of Ohio residents. They are protected under federal law and it is only legal to kill them with a permit. Many find their populations obnoxious and disruptive, but there are some who find them to be a staple. Some who find them beautiful.

https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/land-water/issues-for-landowners/nuisance-geese

https://www.cityofalliance.com/facilities/Facility/Details/3

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This beautiful mama American Robin has decided that the safest place for her to nest is on my shed. I accidentally scared her away earlier and (I'm pretty sure this was her, could've been a different robin) she was watching me from a distance while I sat in my backyard.

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I ❤️ crane flies

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To be a boxelder bug 🪳

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Fascinating fasciation! Fasciation is a natural occurance in vascular plants that causes disordered growth. This phenomenon gives the plant a stretched appearance. While relatively rare, I have seen loads of dandelions with this and decided to share.

Dandelions have radial symmetry, so if you find an ovular dandelion it may be fasciated!

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Check out these delightful dipterans! Though they may seem scary, these 2 winged, 6 legged, "bug-eyed" insects are all harmless! House flies, crane flies, and midges are all non-biting insects! Safe to hold, give it a try.

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Hi, welcome to my photography page. I am an amateur wildlife, landscape, and pet photographer based in NE Ohio. While this state and area are known for being boring, I don't believe they are.

My main goal is to share with people the beauty that is all around us and capture the little details that tend to be ignored. Sometimes, we get so "in our heads" about everything and fail to notice the natural world that surrounds us. There are so many more bugs, flowers, mushrooms, every bit of everything that exists everywhere than folks realize. I want people to know that there's no natural place on this earth that is boring. No flower or animal that isn't unique. You'd be shocked at what's all around if you took the time to see, and thats what this blog is for.

This page is particularly focused on "bugs", flowers, mushrooms, and other beautiful things. It is my second account on here. My first account focuses more on landscape.

For more aesthetic photos, find me on Pinterest:

Midphotos5652

For specific ID of wildlife, find me on Inaturalist:

midwestphotos

For my landscape photos:

@midwestpphotography