The Butterfly and the Bugs

It was a contrast of flying insects yesterday. 

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly
May 20, 2017

Chris and I were working on the pool and there was an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly enjoying some time in the grasses that ring our pool area.

Cicadas on the house
May 20, 2017

The butterfly was just relaxing and every so often would shake its wings, but did not seem to mind my presence in the area. It was a few moments where I could just enjoy watching the butterfly and escape the work. As I was doing some research on the butterfly I was able to determine that this one was a female because of the iridescent blue on the tail.

Alternatively, the cicadas are emerging in full force. Fortunately the day was cool so they were quiet. But they are everywhere and the holes in the soil from where they are emerging are doing a good job aerating my lawn. 

Reports say they are 4 years early. They are smaller than I remember from the last emergence. It is funny to look at the bug and realize that it is 13 years old although only recently in its current form. I don't think of bugs as being old in terms of years. I feel bad for the ones that fly into the pool and drown. But I guess losses are to be expected. They are everywhere and they do not fly with any great precision.

The butterfly and the bugs. Flying insects headed in different directions.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD