Leaf-Footed Bug One of our native leaf-footed bugs, Acanthocephala terminalis is just appearing as adults in my area. Several molts (instars) occur before they reach this adult stage. This one was on my house foundation this afternoon. It is larger and broader then the Western Conifer Seed Bug (see http://naturalistguy.com/2010/11/05/1740/)...
The Beautiful Great Golden Wasp Turns to Check out the Camera! Posted this first on the NG Facebook blog, but wanted to get some video of the beautiful Great Golden Digger Wasp female, Sphex ichneumoneus, at work preparing its burrow for a future orthopteran (katydid, cricket or grasshopper). A solo artist, which again like...
Hummingbird Moth Banking in for a Wild Iris Feed! Hummingbird Moth Hovers in Place on Wild Iris Love it when the Humming bird moths first appear- a member of the Sphingidae, the Sphinx moth group. These are day-time flying hummingbird mimics that astound me every time I see them. I can watch one for a long time. Just brilliant. ...
Phorid Flies on Green Lacewing Tiny Phorid Flies Riding Along with a Green Lacewing Lacewings are a Neuroptera, a group that includes the antlions (doodle bugs). The larvae of lacewings look a lot like antlions, and are prdatory. The adults of the green lacewing here, a Chrysopidae, are predatory as well, and often consume...
Ant Lion, Out of its Element I located some Ant Lion pits today, and dug up an Ant Lion, also called a “Doodle Bug.” The adult ant lion, looks a bit like a damsel fly, but has clubbed antennae. They are also in a different Order, the Neuroptera- Net-Winged insects. I have seen the adult to this specific doodle...
Dung Beetle Dung Beetle I promise I’ll only use the “also known as” thing this one time. Only some of the “also known as” used in advertising, rock band, or book title are funny.  LOL. I found my first DUNG beetle in Connecticut last weekend!! What? No RAH!!!  But that’s right. ...
Moon Moth Larva A lot of time is given to the gorgeous adult moths of the Actias genus, in that the adult Saturnidae moths are usually universally gorgeous.  In the Luna group, many are a lime green, or pastel green, with huge tails on each wing. Some of the Actias sp. can even hybridize with other species. Medium to large...
Gravelly bagworm! Gravelly bagworm! Gravelly bagworm! Parthenogenic Bagworm Just emerged from pupae, Sand case on right It starts to look a bit like a caterpillar upclose Caudal end of larva, is the ovipostor apparently modified as a grasping organ Cocoon 1/4 inch, pupa Just over 1/8 inch, larva about just under 1/8 inch Had...
categories: Moths
Gray Banded Leaf Roller Moth Gray Banded Leaf Roller Moth Another warm season (well some might disagree) in the N.E. of the U.S., and another year I just shake my head at the unreal diversity in shape and color of the common moths of our yards. The less appreciated relatives of the flamboyant butterflies. But the night provides...
Heiroglyphic Sharpshooters Mating, < 1/4 inch in size Dune Sharpshooter, Maybe a Cuerna sp. d Dune Sharpshooter, Maybe a Cuerna sp. Gorgeous subtle Pinks and Powder Blues Highlight this Sharpshooter "Leafhopper." Been really getting into this group of insects, the family Cicindelidae, in the last few days, always...
