Utah Insects, White pelican, and hawks 9.20.12

     Insects are getting ready for winter and trying to find warm places to spend the winter.  (Too bad they don't migrate like the birds!)  Colorful Box elder bugs that feed extensively on Box elder (Acer negundo) seeds were sunning themselves on the southwestern side of the house today.  Much like ladybugs, they try to find cracks in the siding or window casings; when possible, they will come into the house in great numbers.  The predacious Ground beetle is a good one to keep around as it feeds on other insects.  This one was walking down the hall toward my room last night.  On a recent walk, the bright red Velvet ant was engrossed in feeding on something at the edge of the road.  Not an ant at all, it is a wasp that resembles an ant.  This female has no wings; only females sting.  Reputedly, they are sometimes called "cow killers" because 'the sting hurts bad enough to kill a cow.' 
       The White pelican has been seen nearly daily at the local reservoir.  Canada geese are there sometimes.  Today the pelican was alone, but a high-flying skein of honkers suddenly broke ranks and about 15 abandoned their companions to join the pelican. 

       Around noon, a kettle of hawks was gathering over a nearby hillside.  At first sighting, there were 9 flying in a tight circle; as I watched, more and more hawks came flying in low over my head and joined the round dance.  At last count, there were more than 25.