a little wild   (a small slice of wildlife)

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