Stick with me as I focus on the macro world a little longer, the Black Leaf Beetle (Diabrotica cristata) is not partial to Compass Plant flowers. It turns out that the prairie’s Big Bluestem grasses are food for larva; while adults prefer forbs (broadleaf herbaceous plant (ie. not a grass) such as the Compass Plant but also Blazing Star and non-native Queen Anne’s Lace.
What at first may creep out visitors, myself included, who take pride in a bug free home, the prairie Insects are very prolific to ensure their continued survival. This in turn helps to ensure the survival of their avian (primary) predators. I admit that I check myself more than twice before entering my home, so that I don’t introduce prolific breeding uninvited guests to my habitat. It is rare that I have to uninvited a tag-a-long, much to my continued surprise. I suppose they are wiser than I imagine in their choice of contact. Pollen however I do have to regularly remove from this asthmatic allergic body.