Before finishing up on the Sidewalk Trail, it’s back to ‘summer insects’ in Millcreek Twp (“Since 1800”), this time featuring 400mm f/4.5 close-ups at Asbury Woods. The purple thistle = Creeping Thistle (Cirsium arvense).


The small, orange/brown butterflies in the following shots are probably in the family Hesperiidae (skippers), e.g., Peck’s Skipper (Polites peckius) or Hobomok Skipper (Lon hobomok):

Following is Pennsylvania Leatherwing (Chauliognathus pensylvanicus) a.k.a. Goldenrod Soldier Beetle (left) & Sphaerophoria scripta or some other species of hoverfly on right:






















Every photographers dream: beautiful closeups! Fantastic!
Not sure it’s every photographer’s dream to stand chest high in prickly thistles while bees fly around, in the hot sun, but thanks!