I’m not sure if I’m an insect whisperer or what, but I seem to be able to pick up and examine insects and they don’t seem to mind.
This Chrysopilus thoracicus didn’t seem to mind. He’s a Golden-backed Snipe Fly and I would have stepped on him if I hadn’t been looking down for odes. He was perfectly able to fly and after a few minutes he did just that.
Interestingly, I’ve never been stung by anything that could sting me. I have been stung by things (specifically a bald-faced hornet, a well and truly hated member of the vespid family) but never when I was actually trying to interact with an insect.
Of course, odonates can’t sting, and bees don’t like to, even bumblebees. They’re more interested in eating and staying warm. This bumblebee was cool and needed a little thumb warmth. After a while he warmed up and flew away.
This teneral Boreal Snaketail was still pumping up his wings when I rescued him from the edge of a takeout where he would have been crushed moments later by a troop (herd?) of Boy Scouts. He sat there for a while and after hardening his wings a bit, off he flew.
Respectfully submitted,
Canoelover
Interesting timing: I found a bumble bee floating off south shore the other day. I though he was dead, but I scooped him up and put him on my skirt. After a bit he (?she) walked around a bit and, as I approached the landing, took off. Glad I could be of help.
Yes, you are an insect whisper. Accept it.
I too have picked many types of insects without harm.
As a child I spent my time in the garden next to the fences playing with skaters, worms, snails, spiders.. anything that moved and intrigued me.
Turns out I’ve been picking up wolf spiders my whole life, thinking they were harmless grass spiders.
I would let them run up my arms and over nd around my hands.
I’m a tad wary now, knowing what they are capable of, but I still think they’re beautiful ^.^