Hobbies And Interests
Instructions
Identify the tobacco sphinx moth--also called the hawk moth or the hummingbird moth--by looking for a moth that distinctly resembles a large, grayish-tan hummingbird, an illusion that is reinforced by the moth's tendency to hover over favorite flowers--such as petunia and evening primrose--and sip the nectar. The tobacco sphinx moth can also be seen flying after dusk, when it is often drawn to porch lights. A wingspan of almost a half a foot is another indication that the insect may be a tobacco sphinx moth.
Distinguish another type of hummingbird moth--the white-lined sphinx--from its close relative, the tobacco sphinx moth, by looking for a distinctive white band on the upper wings. The white-lined sphinx moth also exhibits a pair of rose-pink patches on its back wings, and is brown or tan where the tobacco sphinx is grayish. The white-lined sphinx moth is seen more often during the day than the tobacco sphinx moth.
Note the sound of buzzing on warm summer afternoons, then the sight of the bee itself--the color of dark honey with translucent wings and black rings encircling the lower part of the body--to identify a European honey bee. Honey bees, scientifically known as Apis mellifera, don't present much of a threat when feeding on the nectar of flowers, but they are social bees that will aggressively and collectively defend their hive--delivering a multitude of stings--if you get too close. If you see a straight line of honey bees purposefully entering and exiting through an opening, it is a virtual certainty that you are close to their hive. Move calmly in the opposite direction.
Identify the male carpenter bee by its bluish wings and its black and shiny body, and listen for its loud buzz. Carpenter bees have a disconcerting habit of zooming towards humans and then hovering threateningly at face level, buzzing loudly. Fortunately, it's all for harmless show; not only are carpenter bees non-social--meaning they won't defend their nest--but the male carpenter bees are stingless. The rarely-seen female carpenter bee is capable of stinging, but only if provoked. If the bee seems to living under the eaves of a house, this makes it more probable that it is a carpenter bee.
To recognize a paper wasp, look for a narrow-waisted, long-winged flying insect that is bright red in front and black in back, with a single bright yellow stripe dividing the two areas. Like carpenter bees, paper wasps like to build their many-celled, honeycombed nests under the eaves of houses. Observe paper wasps from a safe distance--like honey bees, these wasps are social and will sting in defense of their nests.
Identify a tiger swallowtail butterfly by looking for a large butterfly with bright yellow wings that feature black tiger stripes and classic "tails" at the backs. Distinguish the pipevine swallowtail by its black and iridescent blue wing color. These butterflies are active from spring through fall in Arizona.
Recognize the green lacewing by looking for a small, bright-green insect with translucent, shimmering wings. If you have just disturbed a patch of tall grass and a cloud of insects fluttered up and away, they are probably green lacewings. Consider the time of year--if it is between April and October, it is more probable that the insects are green lacewings; this is when they are most active. You can also see them at night, fluttering around lights.
Use your ears to identify a desert cicada, and follow its raucous, mechanical-sounding mating song to the branches of a mesquite tree. Look for a chunky, thick-bodied bug with translucent, veined, dark brown wings and a greenish body. Despite its disturbing appearance, the desert cicada doesn't bite or sting. According to the Tree of Life Web Project website, the desert cicada is the only insect in the world known to sweat, which helps it maintain cool body temperatures in the heat.
Identify the gray bird locust by noting its resemblance to a very large, grayish-tan grasshopper, and by listening for its clacking, snapping wings as it flies. Gray bird locusts are attracted to bright lights at night, often congregating in parking lots.