Ever since we moved into our new house, I've become more fascinated with all the little insects that live in our yard.

The fireflies pop out around sunset and carry about their flashy business well into the night. We noticed that on our first night in the home, and it was a lovely surprise. Fireflies are so rare in many suburban developments.

Just this evening we saw a beautifully camouflaged dragonfly. It had a dark head and a white body so it looked like a bird dropping, and it's wings were mostly transparent, but for a few brown sections that looked like bits of fallen leaves. Apparently it eats mosquitoes, too.

Every time I go out I see all these variously colored beetles, some iridescent, some red or orange.

Even the paper wasps are pretty cool, with their honeycomb nests. They're good predators for the backyard ecosystem. I've been sad to keep killing them and destroying their nests, but they keep building around our doors, and that simply Won't Do. The nest under the corner eaves by the bedroom window I'll leave undisturbed, though.

We need to get a lawnmower, but I'm almost hesitant to cut down the overgrown grass because I don't doubt it is a great habitat for all the cool bugs.

I never knew backyard bugs would be so beautiful.