a little wild   (a small slice of wildlife)

Hot weather leading to unstable atmosphere leading to spectacular clouds!

It is so bizarre: pretty much every single time I pass this dead tree trunk I find Atanycolus wasps (Braconidae).

Dolichurus, with a roach?  Maybe D. bicolor.  If it is indeed Dolichurus — it’s the second report in BugGuide in the US, first report in iNaturalist anywhere in the world.  [EDIT: confirmed in BugGuide as Dolichurus.]

This was suggested as Podium luctuosum on the solitary wasps Facebook group.  That would make it the first Massachusetts record for this species, second in New England [EDIT: that’s only on BugGuide; there are a few iNaturalist reports.  Still a fairly rare find.]

Ichneumonidae:

There was a bunch of wasps flocking.  I think they were yellowjackets, Vespula flavopilosa; and I think there was a prey in the middle of flock, maybe a grasshopper.

Nematocera?  Fungus gnat?

A Flatid planthopper, Anormenis chloris:

This spider was in a Linyphiid nest.  I think it’s a kleptoparasite spider in Theridiidae, perhaps Neospintharus.

Tachinidae or Sarcophagidae:

Another:

I don’t know what this film is.  I know there are some bees that actually make their own natural cellophane (Colletes), but I don’t know if this is what’s happening here.

There was a robber fly that was ovipositing, I think.  She was incredibly patient about me barging in and taking photos.

Here’s a photo without a flash:

A lovely meadowhawk, not sure which kind:

Handsome Trig.  Again, a reminder, that’s really its name.  Also known as Phyllopalpus pulchellus, or red headed bush cricket.

This cricket is Melanoplus, perhaps fasciatus:

Gorgeous sweat bee, Halictidae.

Philodromidae, perhaps Philodromus: