Hot Sheets Habitat

My garden is registered as both a National Wildlife Federation Backyard Wildlife Habitat and Xerces Society Pollinator Habitat. The insects have certainly gotten the message. During 2021, I've been able to document 14 different species of insects mating in my garden.

1. Acanthoscelidius acephalus, minute seed weevil
2. Epitrix fuscula
3. Harmonia axyridis, multi-colored lady beetle (introduced)
4. Eumerus
5. Orthonevra nitida, wavy mucksucker
6. Syritta pipiens, compost fly (introduced)
7. Toxomerus geminatus, Eastern calligrapher fly
8. Toxomerus marginatus, margined calligrapher fly
9. Xenox tigrinus, tiger bee fly
10. Jalysus, stilt bug
11. Lygaeus kalmii ssp. angustomarginatus, Eastern small milkweed bug
12. Hylaeus modestus, modest masked bee
13. Xylocopa virginica, large Eastern carpenter bee
14. Danaus plexxipus, monarch butterfly

Coleoptera, beetles

Acanthoscelidius acephalus, minute seed weevil

Epitrix fuscula

Harmonia axyridis, multi-colored lady beetle

Diptera, flies

Eumerus

Orthonevra nitida, wavy mucksucker

Syritta pipiens

Toxomerus geminatus, Eastern calligrapher fly

Toxomerus marginatus, margined calligrapher fly

Xenox tigrinus, tiger bee fly

Hemiptera, bugs

Jaylsus, stilt bug

Lygaeus kalmii ssp. angustomarginatus, Eastern small milkweed bug

Hymenoptera, Epifamily Anthophila, bees

Hylaeus modestus, modest masked bee

Xylocopa virginica, large Eastern carpenter bee

Lepidoptera, butterflies

Danaus plexippus, monarch butterfly

My garden is also registered as a butterfly and monarch habitat, and monarch waystation. It proved its worth this year. I observed multiple couplings, in addition to the usual egg-laying.

Related Content

Flickr photo album

iNaturalist: Insects mating in my garden during 2021

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