[Ed. note: This column was originally published in 2019. But we still see insect life in abundance. Have you seen any of the species mentioned here?]

Late August and early September give us a variety of insect life, more than the usual pesky biting type. Insects that are seasonal for this time of year are likely to be mature, as it is late in their growth cycle. They will be easier to find. 

Other insects are preparing to overwinter in leaf litter, in a crevice or in another shelter. These are likely to be in their larval stage. A lot of these are small and barely visible, but others have a very conspicuous appearance.

Some insects, such as the monarch butterfly, start their southward migration at this time. Some of them fly a hundred feet or more off the ground, but many stay close to land; they will stop at areas with flowering plants to feed on nectar to sustain their long trip to Mexico.

Then there are the monarch chrysalises that can be found in gardens and yards. These butterflies will soon emerge and join their brethren for the trip south.

Dragonflies are still flying about, consuming mosquitoes and other flying pests, and some species are breeding. The amberwings and many other species have a long summer flight, but new species are making their appearance now. The autumn meadowhawk, a strikingly dark red dragonfly, makes its debut now and will appear well into autumn, hence its name.

Like other plants and animals, different insects will be found in different habitats. The true katydids (yes, that’s their name) start sounding in early August in many deciduous forests. Other katydids, such as the field katydid, prefer meadows and have a less conspicuous call than the nighttime calls of the true katydid.

The images for this week’s column were all found in the span of 90 minutes in a deciduous forest habitat that bordered a grassy meadow.