a little wild   (a small slice of wildlife)

For some reason, all the orb weavers we seem to get are Cyclosa conica, Leucauge venusta, and the occasional Uloborus glomosus.  Very few of the Araneus or Argiope that other people seem to swim in.  Cyclosa conica here:

Elateridae:

The Uloborus glomosus I was talking about:

A little abstract design:

Eratoneura sp.?  Dikrella cf. cruentata?

I really don’t know who this is.  Best guess Dictynidae.  Maybe Emblyna sublata?

This particular pattern of Salticids is found in a lot of different genuses, and drives me crazy trying to identify it.  Maybe Eris?

Leucauge venusta:

Moss backlit by setting sun:

Anyphaena cf. fraterna, maybe A. pectorosa?  Neither has many sightings in New England, and A. pectorosa would be a first.

A gorgeous red color to the buds:

First warm day in a while!

Trashline orb weaver, Cyclosa conica.

Unidentified flying flies.

Leucauge venusta baby.

A change of seasons to spring: maple blossom on leaf litter.

Eustala sp.

Scolytini, “Typical bark beetle”

In the lake, near the outlet, there was a little whirlpool.  I took a small time exposure, facing into the sun a bit, so the reflection of the sun went on a reel.

Not a good photo, but a spring stonefly, Nemouridae?

Even the experts were unclear as to what this fly is.

Muscidae, maybe Muscina, according to the experts.  Why is it not Calliphoridae? “Shallow bend to median (M) vein. It is more acute in nearly all Calliphoridae. Also general gestalt. I can’t really think of a calliphorid that has this exact color pattern.”

Enoclerus nigripes:

Perhaps Linyphiidae, Eregoninae, Erigone?  Verdict is that Eregoninae is correct, but genus requires more details (genitals).

Glischrochilus cf. fasciatus (Nitidulidae — Sap feeding beetles).  This species is also called the Picnic beetle, or more amusingly, the Beer beetle, because they love beer and other fermentation.

Nitidulidae, near Carpophilus.

Andrena.  “Male Andrena sp. (note the “furrows” on the inside margin of the eyes. Would be flat if not convex in Colletes).”

Wood gnat.  Anisopodidae, Sylvicola cf alternatus.  Maybe S. fenestralis instead?

Spherical head, and time of year, apparently suggest Scathophagidae as a possibility.

EDIT: Could be Haliplidae or Hydrophilidae instead of Dystiscidae, I guess.

Dytiscid beetle

Dytiscid beetle larva

Mosquito larva with bonus Collembola in the upper right.

Some interesting patterns in the icicles outside our window: the small things in life matter.

Going through some old photos, thought there was something in this photo that could be cropped and salvaged into a snap worth sharing.