This turned out to be a beetle larva in the ground beetles, Carabidae, perhaps genus Scarites (“big headed ground beetles”). But my initial thoughts were that it was a pupa of the dobsonfly, fishfly, alderfly, snakefly cohort. Fascinating creature, always moving, and an unexpected blessing to see on our driveway!
https://www.inaturalist.org/calendar/gaurav1729/2026/8/15
I think this is the great black wasp, Sphex ichneumoneous
Halictinae, perhaps Lasioglossum
I think a Hylaeus masked bee
And another one. This one was crawling into one nock in the rock after another, clearly looking for something. I believe she was looking for a nesting hole. Here’s what Wikipedia says:
Hylaeus nests in premade holes and prefers to nest in wood, but will nest in dead stems, rocks, and earthworm burrows.
When a suitable premade hole is found, it is then divided by transverse partitions of clear cellophane-like material. The inner most cell is the one farthest from the nest entrance, and is characterised by a round distal end in order to fit the hole. Cell volumes are more or less constant. Lateral burrows are not constructed in this genus, but cells are placed end to end in the main nest.[24]
Hylaeus lines their nest with a waterproof and contaminant proof clear cellophane substance that does not melt or dissolve with strong chemicals. They also secrete a substance that protects the nest from fungi and bacteria. This substance is secreted from the mandibles.[25]
A Crabronid:
A skipper butterfly, probably silver-spotted skipper, ,Epargyreus clarus
Some kind of Miridae?
A Tachinid, I think
Agelenopsis
Observations with better identifications here: https://www.inaturalist.org/calendar/gaurav1729/2026/8/11
Not sure, some kind of leaf roller?
According to iNat, Halysidota cf tesserallis
Tachinidae?
Cecidomyiidae, gall and forest midges
Is this Ichneumonid in Pimplinae?
Tenthrenidae, a sawfly:
Ancistrocerus potter wasp
Perhaps Cryptinae?
Maybe this is similar
Myrmica, furrowed ant
I don’t know this one, need to investigate
Acanthocephala cf terminalis in Coreidae, leaf footed bugs
Lygaeus seed bug
iNaturalist says:
Order Hemiptera
Suborder Auchenorrhyncha
Infraorder Cicadomorpha
Superfamily Membracoidea
Family Cicadellidae
Subfamily Cicadellinae
Tribe Cicadellini
Genus Draeculacephala
Aphorophora, I think, in Family Aphrophoridae, True Spittlebugs
Crab spider with orchid spider prey, I think
Mangora
Some kind of fungus, let’s stick with Agaricomycetes
Philanthus, probably P. gibbosus
Modest masked bee, Hylaeus modestus
Megachile leafcutter bee
And another
Which Ichneumonid?
A Pompilidae wasp, Priocnemis perhaps?
Lovely Sphecid wasp, Podium luctuosum?
Eristalis cf transversa
Ulidiidae I think
Gorgeous Lepidophora lutea in Bombyliidae
Order Diptera
Suborder Brachycera
Infraorder Orthorrhapha
Superfamily Asiloidea
Family Bombyliidae
Subfamily Bombyliinae
Tribe Eclimini
Genus Lepidophora
Lepidophora lutea
Acanthocephalis
Webworm moth caterpillar, Hyphantria
bluet
Agelenopsis
There were tons of these Cesonia ground spiders (Gnaphosidae) around for some reason
Castianeira in Corinnidae
Phidippus, probably P. audax
Life’s not always easy for a toad, but a garter snake has to eat and reproduce too.
a little wild 