Clouded Sulfer Butterfly

I found this yellow beauty taking a sip from our salvia plant. I summoned my brother to get my net for me, and I caught it and moved it to a container on our back porch. Then my mom took these photos while it was in our back porch.

Greenhouse Millipede

I found this millipede curled up under a stone. At first, I thought it was dead, but then I realized it was just defending itself. The scientific name for this guy is Oxidus gracilis.

Aphids

These aphids were on a plant in our yard. In large numbers, they damage plants, but ladybugs prey on them.

Green Lacewing

I found this lacewing on my back porch. A few days later, we saw three of them. There are two other species of lacewings: brown lacewing and giant spotted lacewing.

Mason Wasp

This wasp flew into our porch while we were taking photos of a green lacewing. At first, I thought it was a cicada killer, but further study revealed that it was a mason wasp. Details matter! A few days later, I saw this same wasp carrying a caterpillar. I followed it and it landed on our back porch. It carried the caterpillar into a hole in the wood. I suspect there are baby wasps in the hole.

Flatworm

I found this flatworm coiled up under a stone in my backyard. At first I thought it was a snake, then I realized it was a flatworm. I quickly caught it and my mom took a few pictures. (Photographer's note - "I almost quit. Yuuuccckkkk!!")