A Little Buggy

Fair warning... if you don't like bugs...stop here. I found a few things in nature.... 

There is a small leaf hopper that lives on my basil plant... I have the most difficult time trying to get a great photo. Partially because the basil lives on the north side of the garden... so it gets very little direct sunlight and I think the leaf hopper also likes the north side.... and indirect sunlight. I love the colors of this little guy. Good thing they don't do a lot of damage to the plants!

Here in forested country... we have cicadas. The weather has changed a little... and the nights have gotten very cool upper 50's lower 60's and not much humidity. So the cicadas have been making lots of noise.... calling for a mate. We have a very large black and green variety here, and they are very shy. I have been trying to capture one 'on film' and this guy flew onto the swing set... for a few minutes. They are huge.... and if one landed on me I think I would lose my mind. Happy they are shy.

One of my favorite garden bugs is the Preying Mantis. Last year I found a bright green one on the roses.... and this summer I found this fellow.... in the front. He has maintained the woody color all summer... and has been very difficult to find... unless he is disturbed.

And lastly with fall looking closer every day... I found this the same day I was taking the pictures of the sunflowers. It is called the Halloween pennant (dragonfly).