New England Asters

It is hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that it is October.  I am thankful for having blooms this time of year that are having so many insect visitors.  I am also glad that I did not thin out all of the volunteers that are around the yard.

I am seeing more sulphurs than usual this year, I'm not sure how many different kinds.  I like this kind with the black on it.

We are still seeing more than one size of bumblebee. This looks to be the smaller kind.

I'm not sure how many kinds of skippers have been visiting, but there have been a good number of them this season, too.

I'm not sure if this is the same sulphur shown earlier.

I always like to get more than one insect in a photo.

These two New England asters are the original ones, whose seeds have ended up in different parts of the yard.  I moved them from where we lived before here.  The stems get diseased late summer most years, even though I cut them back a few times in the spring and early summer.  That does not stop them from having loads of blooms with pollen for the insects.

We are still seeing monarchs each day, but not as many as a few weeks ago.  I counted 7 insects in this photo.  Is that how many you see?

When I saw this at first, the wings were out, like a butterfly, but like this, it looks like a skipper.  Do you know what it is?

Here is another skipper, a sweat bee, and I'm not sure if that is a bee or hoverfly on the right.

I am pleased to be seeing a painted lady or more most days.

I've been seeing a buck eye or two off and on for awhile.  This poor one's "eyes" did not fool some bird or other.

I like the little green sweat bees.

Here's another view of a painted lady.

I decided to add a few more photos, these taken today.  I've learned this is a tachnid fly.

I am not sure what kind of wasp this is.  I've also had yellow jacket hover flies this year.  I didn't even know there was such a thing, but I'm thinking this actually is a wasp.

This clump, in the area where the tree used to be, mixed with some rigid goldenrod, is one I did not plant.  I like where it chose to grow.

This is a different kind of sulphur than the one I showed previously.

I thought this was an interesting looking critter.  I was glad it came to a spot where I could take a photo of the rest of it.

I am not sure what it is, though.  If you know, please tell me.  It's about half an inch wide if my memory is correct.

I have not yet visited those who left comments on my Wildflower Wednesday post.  I am spending too much time on Facebook!  I need to make an adjustment so I can get more blogs visited.  Have a great fall, all!