Leonard Weber

June 26, 2023

As happens every year near the end of June, Common Milkweed is now beginning to bloom in Eliza Howell Park. This is always a noteworthy development, the point at which my insect watching begins to get more intense.

Almost everyone knows of the relationship between milkweed and Monarch butterflies, but milkweed attracts a variety of other insects as well. As I watched recently, a couple tiny European Skippers were trying to get to the nectar. They fluttered their wings repeatedly, suggesting to me that maybe it was difficult to get in a good position for their little proboscis to reach deep enough into the flower for a hearty drink.

Note the size of a Monarch in relationship to the size of the flower and compare with the European Skipper above.

I’ll definitely be visiting flowering milkweed during upcoming visits for insect observation.

On this rainy day, however, I was satisfied with a quick search of some past photos, reminding myself of some enthralling insects to be encountered at milkweed flowers at this time of the year.

Nessus Sphnix Moth is one of the “hummingbird moths” that are occasionally seen in Eliza Howell Park, a favorite of some park visitors.

Great Golden Digger Wasp is a large non-threatening wasp, easy to admire on blooms all summer.

Different Common Milkweed plants bloom at different times. These are just the first. Soon, however, many of the other insect-attracting wildflowers will begin to dominate my attention, so…

…milkweed is in focus now.