The colors in the collection are incredible. When I'm out looking for leps, I see some beautiful coleoptera that I never "noticed" before. When your eyes are open, the world is an absolutely wondrous place. That includes here in our own backyard. I can understand why people collect, much more stunning than jewelry or some examples of "art".

And, now I have another place I'd like to see. ; )

This is the first time you've written about a place I already know about, Larry. Madera Canyon is known all over for the great variety of hummingbirds that congregate there - it's a hummer-lover's paradise. I didn't know it had so many beautiful beetles, but I guess it figures. It's long been a place I'd love to visit - the hummingbirds come in a wide variety of stunning iridescent colors.
And you're right, Sandy, if you open your eyes to what's around you, you'll be pleasantly surprised. We have a lot of interesting beetles here in some beautiful colors. I haven't photographed most of them, because I didn't know if people would be interested in them or not. We have some beautiful green ones, blue ones, big black ones, etc., but I suppose my favorite are these rainbow beetles - I think they like to push dung around, which there's plenty of here, what with all the cows, horses, dogs, etc. -
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While looking for the picture of the rainbow beetle, I found this picture I made of a pretty blue bug - 'anybody know if this is a beetle or maybe just a pretty stink bug?
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Sherry

I love all the pictures! Who needs cable? Real life is so much more fascinating. I had company coming for dinner last night and my son called me outside to see the biggest cat he had ever seen. I was in the middle of making gravy, my guests were literally driving up the drive, but I ran out with camera in hand. It was dark, so the picture is not as good as it could have been. If I hadn't had company coming, I would have rushed in and asked you all what it was and what I could do with him. However, common sense prevailed...I did not want lumpy gravy...I have a reputation to uphold. LOL

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He called me out two weeks ago for this leopard moth.

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Sandy,
I agree. Typically most folks can't see the forest for the trees. A favorite pastime has always been to take a break from whatever I am doing in the outdoors, sit quietly and just watch nature unfold around me. It's amazing how much you see and hear that you've missed while engaged doing other things, and the longer you sit the more you'll discover. In part why I always get a chuckle when somebody says how desolate and lifeless a desert is. Might appear that way doing 75 down the highway, but in reality it is the most diverse habitats on earth if you'd take the time to sit and watch and let it unfold for you.

Sherry,
I've written about Madera Canyon and other S-SE AZ top locations many times on this forum, including about the hummingbirds, so I guess you just missed them. No doubt Madera is a hummingbird heaven with 14-15 species visiting from as far away as South America (same as Ramsey Canyon farther SE, but Madera gets dozens more species of birds than Ramsey does. Box, Sycamore, Pena Blanca, Sawmill, and Garden Canyons, and Patagonia-Sonoita Creek are just a few of the other places in the area well worth a visit.

Your pretty blue "bug" is not of the order Coleoptera, but rather a Hemiptera, or the so called true bugs, and in the superfamily Pentatomoidea (and probably the Pentatomidae or maybe Acanthosomatidae family). But with the 100's of genera and 1000's of species in those families, I wouldn't even try to determine the one in your picture without all my "bug" books (buried in storage someplace).

Larry

You're right, Larry, if you posted about Madera Canyon in the past, I missed it.
Sherry

Bev;
I couldn't tell. Were you aware that the giant caterpillar was the giant moth caterpillar?
-Elisabeth

Elisabeth, I had no idea what the cat was. By "giant moth" do you mean the Giant Leopard Moth (Hypercompe scribonia)? How funny that my son found the cat and the moth. I do have some of the host plants, lilac, basil, dandelions and sunflowers. I saw the cat on the siding again last night, but had no idea what it needed to pupate so I left it alone. I've just read up on it, so if I see it again, I will put it in the hamper on the porch. I would assume at this point, it would overwinter. Thanks for the help!

Bev,
This late in the season Hypercompe scribonia larva normallty is about ready to eating and find a place to overwinter. They will however come back out on warm days and munch a little if a host is available until winter sets in hard.
Larry