From the archive, 2015

 Photographed locally, except for stick insect, around July 3, 2015, but have seen none of these so far this year.  This morning I will make one last attempt to find a Red Milkweed Beetle, Tetraopes basalis.  I found the Praying Mantis two years ago while helping my son pull weeds away from the fence along his driveway.  It was friendly - pr at least not unfriendly - as it stayed on my hand for several minutes.

I lived the color of this grasshopper, especially the translucent hind legs.

 Stick insect sent by my brother from north of Dallas.

Taken a few hundred yards from Lee Summit.  None this year.  Weed eaters and/or herbicides most likely culprits.