Northwest Trail
Perhaps the latest start to the bugwatching season I’ve had for a long time! The weather was cold-ish (14 C/57 F approximately) so not a lot of insects, but the ones I could see were fairly low-energy, allowing me to take some very close up photos.
For some reason, there were dozens of march flies (Bibionidae). I’ve never seen that many in one walk.
Diptera
As promised, tons of Bibionids. The large eyes belong to the males. But which ones?
https://bugguide.net/node/view/3834 says:
Genera can be distinguished by wing veins:
Rs forked, R2+3 at sharp angle, R4+5 nearly straight (Southeast): Plecia
Rs forked, R2+3 at sharp angle, R4+5 distinctly curved (North): Hesperinus brevifrons
Rs forked, R2+3 parallel to wing: Penthetria heteroptera
Rs unforked, partially merged with M: Bibioides
Rs unforked, basal section of Rs much shorter than R-M crossvein: Dilophus
Rs unforked, R-M crossvein shorter than or similar in length to basal section of Rs: Bibio
The last two also have strong protibial spurs.
Key to CA spp. (adults) in(4)
This photo of the veins of Bibio is from the link, apparently in public domain:
Also, this link has wing venation for Penthetria: https://bugguide.net/node/view/1899560/bgimage.
And honestly, I don’t know which one is a good fit with the images below. My best guess is Bibio ‘Boston’ species, nr. lanigerus, compare with https://bugguide.net/node/view/182418.
First, here are some views with the wing patterns.
This one is a female.
Tachinidae, I think. I believe that’s the diagnostic large post-scutellum at the end of the thorax.
Hemiptera
Leafhopper, I think Erythridula. Tom Murray in Insects of New England calls this Arboridia plena, but I think that’s a deprecated name.
Coleoptera
I think this is Pedilus lugubris, in Pyrochroidae (“Fire-colored beetles”). EDIT: Actually, I guess Silis in sub-family Silinae, family Cantharidae is just as likely.
Hymenoptera
Ichneumonidae –> Ophioninae –> Ophion sp. perhaps
I’ve seen this before, and I don’t have an explanation: the head of an ant, partially buried in the soil. Caused by some sort of parasite?
Spiders
As always, Leucauge venusta all over the place. They’re the first spiders I see in spring (along with Cyclosa conica) and the last ones I see in fall.
Landscape
a little wild 