First butterfly of the year! A mourning cloak butterfly (Nymphalis antiopa) in the backyard this afternoon. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #photography #wildlifephotography

The mourning cloak butterfly (Nymphalis antiopa) came back for an encore this afternoon. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #photography #wildlifephotography

Over a hundred Dunning's mining bees (Andrena dunningi) are back in the front yard again this year! WARNING: Graphic Content #bees #pollinators #insects #Illinois #nature #photography #Spring

This female Dunning's miner bee (Andrena dunningi), which crawled onto my finger, is gathering pollen for her brood of eggs. #bees #pollinators #insects #Illinois #nature #photography #Spring

Scenes from the backyard this weekend. #dragonflies #bees #flowers #spring #Illinois #nature #photography

Would you bee my friend? I know many people don't like carpenter bees because the females burrow into wood, but I think they're one of the cutest bees. And the males can't sting. #bees #pollinators #insects #Illinois #nature #photography #Spring

A female common baskettail dragonfly (Epitheca cynosura) in the yard today. #dragonfly #dragonflies #Odonata #Illinois #nature #macro #photography #wildlifephotography #photographylovers

First monarch butterfly of the year! This female was laying eggs on our milkweed today. #butterfly #butterflies #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #macro #photography #SaveTheMonarch #photographylovers #wildlifephotography

A female common whitetail skimmer dragonfly (Plathemis lydia) in the backyard today. #dragonflies #Odonata #Illinois #nature #photography #wildlifephotography

One of my favorites! An Eastern Yellow-backed Laphria (Laphria thoracica) in the backyard today. #insects #robberfly #Illinois #nature #photography #wildlifephotography

An Eastern Yellow-backed Laphria (Laphria thoracica) in the backyard again today. #insects #robberfly #Illinois #nature #photography #wildlifephotography

I'm in awe of it's beauty every time! A red-spotted purple butterfly (Limenitis arthemis) in our violet patch this morning. #butterflies #Lepidoptera #nativeplants #Illinois #nature #photography #wildlifephotography

After a slow start, we're now seeing more dragonflies in the yard. #dragonfly #Odonata #Illinois #nature #photography #wildlifephotography