I love beetles and flies! In my free time, I enjoy photography (mostly bugs) and documenting insect species found on San Juan Island. I have limited availability for local, onsite consultation with home or property owners on San Juan Island to survey for invertebrate species or to make recommendations to support and enhance habitat for invertebrates. Contact me at cynthiabrast@icloud.com
Plant Science from Cell Biology to Ecosystems
Passionately Advocating For the Six (and Eight) Legged Macro Fauna in the San Juan Islands.
Cultivating compassion for all creatures great and small
Bringing glory to Earth's small and neglected creatures.
of the Pacific Northwest: Interactions with the wild things--Live life outdoors!
Adventures of a Recreational Naturalist
Biodiversity, taxonomy, and ecology of beetles living in deadwood
Arthropod Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution
Bugging You From San Juan Island 
So glad to happen upon your site. I’m a huge “bug” nerd/fan and always appreciate new information- I loved the great post about tripes!- Thanks! Looking forward to future posts.
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Just dropped you an email. Leaving a post just to be sure we connect.
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I don’t see an email. ?
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Very interesting blog. Thank you!
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Thanks, Cynthia. One of your photos helped me to id a bug I’d never seen before as a Tiger Fly . Unfortunately I was not able to get a clear enough pic to identify the prey, but I suspect possibly a little syrphid, or something else with yellow/brown markings on the body.
Bancroft, ON, Canada 2022-09-11
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That’s awesome! So glad I could help. I saw two Tiger Flies (Coenosia sp.) this morning before the smoke rolled in so badly out here.
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I love your blog, Cynthia! Keywords: sustaining biodiversity!
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Thank you for your site.
I noticed some tent caterpillars recently with fly eggs on them and had not seen this before.
Trying to find out what they were led me to your explanation. Thank you for the info and with pictures to show.
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Hi!
I am a Master Gardener on Orcas and also on the Educational Program committee of the Orcas garden club. I have heard about you from your followers and our MG coordinator Caitie Blethen. I am wondering if you do pptx presentations about insects and if so would you be interested in giving a presentation about insects to the Orcas garden club on April 17, 2024. Thanks for letting me know. I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards, Kate
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Hello Kate, I would definitely be interested and yes, I am able to do a powerpoint. Let’s connect via email to talk more. cynthiabrast@icloud.com
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Happy to find you and your blog. I web searched to ID a caterpillar I saw yesterday and voila’!,, there is a splendid photo of you showing an Eyed Sphinx Moth caterpillar; such a beauty! We saw it on our evening walk at Grindstone Harbor, Orcas Island.As we watched her-him cross the gravel road, we like you, supposed it to be on the way to find a good lair for metamorphosis. Thanks for loving Nature and for sharing the magic.
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