Bug Squad

Beauty at its best. If see the perennial shrub, Anisodontea sp. Strybing Beauty,' a member of the family Malvaceae (mallows), chances are you'll see bees pollinating the rosy pink blossoms. It's an early bloomer, a mid-bloomer and late bloomer. Yes, it blooms year-around. It's a year-around bloomer.

If you grow citrus, you've probably been introduced to the introduced European earwig, Forficula auricularia, the most common of the earwig species infesting the fruit here in California.

One point about insect wedding photography is that you don't need an invitation to attend. You just have to keep your distance and not disturb the bridal couple. No sudden movements. No stressful impatience. And no camera flash, please.

Where are the monarch butterflies?

Find the praying mantis. That's not too difficult, considering this Stagmomantis limbata is gravid (pregnant) and about ready to deposit her ootheca (egg case or "ooth") on a nearby twig or branch.