The English word lavender is generally thought to be derived from Old French lavandre, ultimately from the Latin lavare (to wash), referring to the use of infusions of the plants. Cultivated forms are planted in gardens worldwide.

Lavender and bee by Paul Sager, on Flickr



The Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) is a common species of beetle. The beetles damage plants by skeletonizing the foliage, that is, consuming only the leaf material between the veins, and may also feed on fruit on the plants if present.

Japanese beetle



Fossils of very large dragonfly ancestors are found from 325 million years ago in Upper Carboniferous rocks; these had wingspans up to about 30-inches (750 mm). About 3000 species of Anisoptera are in the world today. Most are tropical, with fewer species in temperate regions. Anisoptera comes from Greek anisos, "unequal" and pteron, "wing", because the hindwing is broader than the forewing.

Chicago area Dragonflies



The milkweed beetle, a herbivore, is given this name because they are generally host specific to milkweed plants. The beetle seems to derive a measure of protection from predators by incorporating toxins from the plant into their bodies, thereby becoming distasteful, similar to the monarch butterfly.

Red milkweed beetle



Dragonflies are predators, both in their aquatic larval stage, when they are known as nymphs or naiads, and as adults. Several years of their lives are spent as nymphs living in fresh water; the adults may be on the wing for just a few days or weeks.

Chicago area Dragonflies



While not very destructive in Japan, where it is controlled by natural predators, the beetle in North America is a noted pest of about 200 species of plants including rose bushes, grapes, hops, canna, crape myrtles, birch trees, linden trees, and others.

Japanese beetle



The Eastern wood pewee is a small tyrant flycatcher from North America. They feed on insects and other arthropods. They migrate between the US and southern Canada and Central America and the Andes region of northern South America. Their breeding habitat is deciduous, mixed woods, or pine plantations in eastern North America.

Eastern Wood-Pewee



As the name suggests, the Japanese beetle is native to Japan. The first written evidence of the insect appearing within the United States was in 1916 in a nursery near Riverton, New Jersey. The beetle larvae are thought to have entered the United States in a shipment of iris bulbs prior to 1912, when inspections of commodities entering the country began.

Japanese beetle



Hollyhocks are annual, biennial, or perennial plants usually taking an erect, unbranched form. Hollyhocks are popular garden ornamental plants. They are easily grown from seed. The flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

Hollyhocks


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