Bug connection

Yesterday, I happen to notice this interesting mud 'adobe' on the hinge part our glass door out front. I tapped on it and swore I saw spider legs! I came in and looked it up and it's a wasp nest-an organpipe mud dauber to be exact. Why 'she' picked this location is interesting as we are in and out of this door several times a day. Brian knocked it off and we saw the larva like this shows. The female builds these long 'pipe-like' mud nests and finds and paralyzes a few spiders for food for her offspring. When the larvae comes out, they munch on the spiders! Interesting!
Then today I was picking some basil and this little monarch came crawling up through the basil. I think it just hatched as it wasn't afraid of me and let me hold it several times. I was getting attached to it and worried for it's well being as it's a damp, chilly day. I think it liked the warmth of my hand. I put her on some zinnias in the side yard, hoping she would get a snack, but when I went back out, she was just sitting there. I brought her in the house to show Sean and she started to crawl up my arm. I stepped out on the front step and she started to really vibrate her wings like she was 'warming up' and she was! She took off soon after. I think she's in the evergreen out front. Not sure, but I'm glad to have helped her. It's rather late in the season for butterflies and I don't want to think about how long this little one has. But if she hangs around here, she'll have plenty of food for a while. : )

Some golden mums just starting to bloom