Your nice photos drive home how insects are so varied in what they do, and where they fit in the world around us. And they are beautiful, too.

Your post is also a good chance to remind folks to avoid planting seeds, or flower or vegetable starts, that have systemic insecticides in them, like the neonicotinoides. Many places treat their seed with the neonicotinoides, like Imidacloprid, to cut down on insect damage. But it's not just the seed that will have the insecticide in it. Because it's systemic, every part of the plant that grows from the seed will have that insecticide in it. Even the pollen. I think folks can figure out what that means for our wonderful pollinators, like bees and butterflies.

The big box stores know about the problem and are phasing out their use of the insecticides. But they are only partway through that process. Lowe's by 2019 and Home Depot by the end of the 2018 growing season. Walmart and Tru-Value Hardware, too, but I'm not sure of their target date. It's better to plant no flowers than killer flowers! Finding organic sources for seed and plant stock is the only reliable way to plant clean, from a major store, at this time. It may be worth asking someone in your local stores, if you think they really know!

Happy growing and appreciating all the insects! :D