Butterfly Tree of migrating Monarchs, Lake Louise State Park, LeRoy, Mn.

Monarch on Rough Blazing Star, Lake Louise St. Park.  The Monarch migration to Mexico has begun.

Green Darner (male) dragonfly.  The migration south of this species started about two weeks ago and we saw several hundreds last evening.  I have read that they migrate as far south as the Gulf Coast.

Green Darner dragonfly. The females and juv. have a greenish to brownish tail, while the males have a blue tail.

Giant Swallowtail butterfly.  Minnesota is considered by most books as the far northern range for this species.  It is often considered a "stray" in Minnesota.  We have been seeing them on a regular basis for the last ten years at our place.  Been trying to photograph this one for weeks-got it a few minutes ago.

Tiger Swallowtail butterfly on Tiger Lily

PURPLE CONEFLOWERS AND BUTTERFLIES

Painted Lady butterfly

Monarch butterfly

Sulphur butterfly

Fritillary butterfly

Tiger Swallowtail-male

Black phase female of the Tiger Swallowtail.

Cicada.  This 2 inch long insect is the buzzing singer we hear in the trees on hot August days. It is prey for the Cicada Killer Wasp which is show in the next two posts.

Cicada Killer Wasp with a Cicada it has captured .  The Cicada Killer has a venomous sting and can catch Cicadas on the fly.  I was within 5 feet of it and seemed to pay no attention to me. They are a solitary was the lives in ground burrows.  My daughter and son-in-law have had them at their place for the last two years.

Cicada Killer Wasp dragging a Cicada under old deck to its burrow .  It will lay 5-8 eggs under the Cicada and this will provide food for the larva.