Pollinators, Known and Unknown, in the Late Summer Garden
Summer is winding down, but there are still plenty of pollinators in the garden. Here’s a collection of some I saw recently. Some are old friends, while certain others and I have never been properly introduced to others. Help with ID would be much appreciated.
I’ve been trying to get a decent shot of the Black Swallowtails all summer. This picture was taken on a day that was so muggy the camera lens kept fogging up.
An unknown bee looks like it is trying to stick its head right into the flower of Hoary Vervain (Verbena stricta). That’s not a honeybee, is it? I really don’t know my bees.
Here’s a Bumblebee foraging on the Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium maculatum). I like how its got pollen grains all over its butt.
Though you can’t see the butterfly very well, I like this picture of a flying Clouded Sulphur with flowers of Golden Glow (Rudbeckia laciniata).
Here’s another picture, though the Sulphur is still kind of fuzzy.
I’d really like to know the name of this fellow with the intriguing markings on his wings.
This is a Skipper, I know, but not sure what kind. I found a website that listed common Skippers of Illinois but I still was unsure about the species.
Let’s conclude with two Monarch butterflies getting intimate on top of a Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia).
They were having a little trouble holding their position. You can see a third Monarch behind the leaves to the left. Three is a crowd, they say.
gardeninacity 
Lovely!
Wonderful pictures! And where would we be without all those fluttering, buzzing, and flying lovelies?
Indeed.
It’s an Ailanthus Webworm Moth! https://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.asp?identification=Ailanthus-Webworm-Moth
Thanks for the ID!
Have you ever used BugGuide? It looks a little intimidating at first, but it really is easy to use. You post a photo of your insect, and even experts from all over the country often will pop up in short order to tell you what you have. And you always can browse the galleries of already identified bugs to see if you can find yours. They have a handy guide-by-shape on the home page to head you off in the right direction.
The eye of your bee in the second photo sure looks familiar. There’s a genus that has “those eyes” — of every color.
Is this your fancy orange, black and white bug?
I don’t think mine is quite so colorful.
I’ll check out BugGuide. Sounds very handy.
Super photos, butterflies are so difficult, they won’t keep still!
Very thoughtless of them.
Wow, a butterfly orgy. My tall sedums are starting to bloom and they are covered with all sorts of bees.
Sedums are great for pollinators. Mine have been smothered by Rudbeckias.
Isn’t it fun to have all of these bugs in the garden to entertain and peak your interest. I can’t help with the bees. I too struggle with their ids. I have had more sulphur type butterflies in the garden this year. I wonder if it is because it has been so darned dry here. Hmmmmm???
Maybe it heralds the coming of Satan. Keep an eye out for brimstone.
I’ve had more bees than I need this summer but only a couple of Monarchs so I enjoyed your trio for sure. 🙂
You can never have too many bees.
Well, I’d agree if they’d only stop showing up and stinging me. 🙂
That black swallowtail atop the tithonia is a splendid shot! How is it going with your monarch raising? You haven’t said much…
Well … results have been mixed.
Great photos! It’s marvellous to see all the pollinators out and about. I had monarchs all over my tithonia and zinnias yesterday. Exciting!
It’s a wonderful sight, isn’t it?
Nice set of visitors. I agree on the ID: Ailanthus webworm moth (Atteva aurea).
Good to have a second opinion.
What attractive visitors you have. Love the black swallowtail.xxx
He is a beauty.
Sorry but I’m not good with insects. You’ve got some beautiful visitors though!
Thanks!
Wonderful photos, the black swallowtail is very striking against the orange flower. We would only get that range of pollinators in the botanical gardens in Canberra.. great post.
You don’t see much variety of pollinators in an ordinary home garden?
I don’t think we see many butterflies these days .. I’ll pay attention this summer.
Well, you got all the names of the flowers. I can not help with the butterflies.
The brain can only hold so much, especially mine.
Hello Jason ! .. You have wonderful photos here and I can relate to that problem of the lens fogging up on those humid days .. it always seems to be just when you are focusing in on a really nice picture ? LOL
You have captured beautiful pollinators here .. I have such a hard time trying to catch them because they are so fast, and so touchy when they sens you are taking pictures ? haha
I have already made plans for next year to make sure my swallowtail cats will betaken care of properly after my disaster earlier ! They are such gorgeous creatures .. I can’t seem to ever get a picture of monarchs though, so I envy you with those wonderful shots.
Well done ! and it is so heartening to see these amazing little creatures enjoying themselves in your garden.
I never thought of raising the Swallowtails inside, but that is a thought. I thought of the Monarchs first because their numbers have declined so dramatically.
I actually love the swallowtail photo – the fogginess gives it a dreamy quality – no filter required!
Good to emphasize the positive.
Wow, fabulous shots of the Butterflies, the black swallowtail is gorgeous. and I was so proud of myself getting a picture of a Red Admiral the other day.
We’ve seen a few Red Admirals this year, though not many.
Wonderful photos Jason especially of Monarch butterflies!
Thanks, Nadezda!
Great images. You made it look easy getting all the wildlife to poise for you.
I just ask really nicely.
Wonderful visitors! I see you have an ID on the webworm moth. I can’t quite make out the markings on the skipper, but I’m wondering if it’s a Peck’s skipper or a fiery skipper. I tend to consult wisconsinbutterflies.org, and you probably have quite a few of the same butterflies that we have. I just saw a couple of Peck’s the other day in the garden. Hope you’re not getting too much rain from the hurricane remnants?
I thought maybe fiery skipper, which sounds more exciting.
Such beautiful visitors, especially the Black Swallowtail looks amazing.
We had lots of bumblebees also this summer, but few butterfies.
Happy gardening!
Same to you, Sara!
I was worried about the lack of pollinator diversity to my garden this summer although it’s possible I was just not seeing everyone that was there. But late summer brought a lot of butterflies that had been missing earlier in the season. I ended up with over 20 swallowtail cats on my parsley/fennel and at least 6 monarchs!
Wow, and I’ll bet it will be even more amazing next year.
Gorgeous photos and gorgeous insects. You have such amazing butterflies.
Thank you, Chloris.