For some reason that I will likely never understand, the tarantula hawk wasp is New Mexico’s state insect. It is beautiful and, as far as I can tell, is no threat to humans. (Unless you deliberately bother it — it’s said that its sting is extremely painful.) But its interactions with tarantulas are truly gross.
Fall
Sandhill Crane Family
A group of three cranes in the Rio Grande as it passes through Albuquerque. The middle crane is a juvenile.
Reakirt’s Blue (Butterfly)
It was an exceptionally long fall in the Sandia foothills this year. The chamisa bloomed well into November and butterflies were significantly more abundant than usual. My favorite was this beautiful male Reakirt’s Blue, which showed up just a few weeks ago.