But They Are Beautiful!

Okay, I must admit, my number one priority in taking photographs is the visual impact.  It can be the creepiest critter around, but if it is gorgeous to look at — with no thought of what it is, it will become a pict for me!  I suppose that in this case, many of you will mumble under your breath, “There goes Brenda again.  Another really creepy bug!”  But look at that wonderful brilliant screaming yellow!  The color of the Corvette Stingray that is my dream car!

Screaming Yellow At 2000 Feet

I’m always on the lookout for the unusual, or the usual that everyone else overlooks.  I think this might fill the bill.  Way up the mountain – adjacent to one of my favorite little slopes, where I found multitudes of Wild Columbine early this summer, where I am finding Cinnabar Chanterelles, where there are Woodland Sunflowers growing in profusion; this is where I found this impressive streak of yellow.

Milkweed And Oleander Lookout!

These tiny things are Oleander Aphids, Aphis nerii.  They also attack Milkweed.  This is what they are on, so far up the mountain.  Wouldn’t you know, they are not native.  Apparently they arrived on this continent, along with their namesake, Oleander.  Both the Oleander and the Oleander Aphid are from the Mediterranean region.  I hope there is something up there that is hungry for Aphids!