White-jawed Jumping Spider (Hentzia Mitrata), Juvenile Male, Taken March 9, 2025, In Georgia, US

So many gall parasitoids! they were all going to town on those Amphibolips galls, occasionally pushing eachother off them in order to oviposit

Genus Torymus, Genus Sycophila Genus Eurytoma, Genus Torymus Genus Sycophila, Genus Sycophila Genus Eurytoma, Genus Sycophila Family Torymidae, Genus Eurytoma

Nosy Pill Woodlice (Armadillidium nasatum), taken February 26, 2025, in Georgia, US

A nice pill bug family of four, living the life underneath a log I flipped. They didn't do much, but I suppose I too would be stiff with terror if a giant flipped my dark, unmoving house over and exposed me to the elements! I put them back after I was done, and they probably went right back to whatever conversation they were having before I interrupted them, so no harm no foul!

Chaos

Brave Squirrel...

Made awkward eye contact with an Osprey flying overhead today

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus), taken March 2, 2025, in Georgia, US

Super fucking shaky footage of one of the regular RS hawk ripping apart a squirrel nest after being chased there by another RS. So mad I had my camera on the wrong mode because this would have been such a nice video if not for the EARTHQUAKE.

At about 1:15 there's some action when the other hawk returns for another attack! They moved further up into the trees, falling through the branches before briefly scattering when a Red-tailed Hawk swooped in to break up the fight! They're probably fighting for a spot to nest this spring, but this area is already used by a pair of RT hawks, so I'm unsure how that's going to pan out. The RT's don't nest close to my house, but I do still see them soaring over and through the woods daily, so they'd definitely see a RS pair using their territory.

Previously there was a RS pair here, but they were forced to move locations when their nest tree was cut down (very salty at my neighbors for that one). Since then, the RT's have slowly been moving further and further into the area, though it's pretty wooded so it's not the best area for them and is legitimately defensible for a RS pair. I know there's been at least one juvenile RS overwintering here without trouble, possibly two seeing as they're now fighting, so we'll see how it pans out! Hopefully one of the two RS's will be successful!

Red-banded Leafroller Moth (Argyrotaenia velutinana), taken February 27, 2025, in Georgia, US

What an ornate moth! I always find it interesting how intricate the patterns of moths can be despite their small size. This guy was maybe as long as my fingernail, and yet he has the most gorgeous coloration!

Blue-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum ambiguum), male, taken September 5, 2024, in Georgia, US

In terms of dragonfly season here, these guys fly really late, right about at the end. I think this was actually one of the last ones I saw last year—he was definitely the last I photographed. What a fiery way to end the season, though! This guy is gorgeous, and he posed very well for me! Sometimes I swear bugs want me to take their pictures, and who am I to say no to such a handsome guy?

Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum), taken May 27, 2024, in Georgia, US

Behold, the Georgia state bird! Quite pretty, but also will throw all of your woodchips/mulch onto the sidewalk to get to the tasty bugs inside. I suppose they're living up to their name by giving the landscape a thrashing...

Pine Flower Weevil (Cimberis pilosa), taken April 1, 2025, in Georgia, US

Liftoff!! While I was photographing birds, this guy landed on my hand and spent a few minutes with me. I actually took him into my house to grab my macro lens and got it on just in time to catch him leaving! You can see that he's covered in pine pollen, as his name would imply. He's likely off to the next pine tree!