This fly was utterly amazing. Just look at the plumage. I think he was showing off; he was sitting in the middle of the leaf, strutting around, waving his hands. Relatively not deterred by the camera.
It’s Physiphora alceae, apparently an import from Africa. It’s in Ulidiidae, and this certainly does not look like a typical Ulidiid!
Closeup of the eyes:
These flies were everywhere (saw at least ten of them). Their behavior was also very un-fly-like, perhaps for mating? All of them were sitting on rocks close to the ground, in the open, and did not move at all when confronted with the camera.
If I were forced to guess, I’d say Anthomyiidae, but with very little confidence. We need central places where we can look at wing venations and find out family it is!
This one looked the same, also close to the ground, but on leaf debris rather than a rock. Perhaps ovipositing.
I don’t know if this one is the same species or not:
Hymenoptera
Halictids always put on a show. These all seem to be Augochlora pura, but there were some Agopostemon too.
Pompilidae, Anoplius. Tough to go any further.
A small wasp, perhaps 2-3 mm long. I think this is Braconidae. You can see the wing venation in the first photo and it seems to be a reasonable but not perfect match for Braconidae. The (RS + M)a vein is present, so there’s no “horsehead” pattern. The 2nd recurrent vein is absent. On the other hand, I don’t really see a r-m vein; and the number of antennomeres seems to be about 15, which may or may not be too low for Braconidae.
I would like to point out that the second photo was taken at full magnification (with the Raynox DCR-250 on the 100mm macro lens, at closest focus), and that damn wasp would not stop moving. I’m sharing it as a minor miracle that it’s even close to in focus.
EDIT: Braconidae seems correct, perhaps Microgastrinae to narrow it down further.
Seriously, an insane place to go a-bugging. The first 100 yards of the trail off Bean Station Road had to have been the most insect diversity-rich stretch I’ve ever come across.
Orthoptera
Katydid. Amblycorypha oblongifolia, presumably. (Not from that trail, obviously, but the house at Keuka Lake).
Hymenoptera
Perhaps mason wasp.
Ceratina, I think (aka carpenter bee), but I don’t know how to rule out Osmia (or other mason bees).
BugGuide says for Ceratina (https://bugguide.net/node/view/15027): “The clublike abdomen narrows to an abrupt point(3)”, which I’m not really seeing here.
Facebook: “Given the time of year, Ceratina seems more likely. Also, Osmia doesn’t collect pollen on its legs.”
The number of antennal segments seems to point to Ichneumonoidae (Ichneumonidae or Braconidae), but I can’t find a fit for the yellow dot (scutellum?). FB: Ichneumonini, and yellow scutellums are common!
Tenthredinid sawfly.
Pemphrodonidae, perhaps Stigmus.
Again with the Ceratina/Osmia.
Bee, Hylaeus.
So many mites? Ancistrocerus, I think.
Halictidae, maybe Augochlora pura?
Ichneumonidae, Pimplinae. “Probably Scambus.”
Gasteruptiidae! What a gorgeous specimen. Most of the wasps similar to this seem to be classified as Gasteruption. G. assectator.
Perhaps Ichneumonidae, sub-family Cryptinae? Cryptus cf albitarsus seems very similar.
BugGuide (https://bugguide.net/node/view/349546): “Males are most readily diagnosed and are noted for their prominent white hind tarsi and red abdomens. Females have entirely black bodies and legs apart from a red abdomen and typically with wings subhyaline to weakly infuscate. Though there are several species with similarly colored females, this is the most prevalent across its range.”
The white hind tarsi and red abdomens certainly fit.
There seemed to be a lot of Lymantria dispar (aka spongy moth) signs, which is definitely not a happy fact.
I initially thought these were sawfly larvae, but they seem to have not more than four prolegs, plus the anal clasper. So I’m not sure.
Hemiptera
Spittlebug (Cercopodidae), seems to me to be genus Aphrophora. Maybe four-spotted spittlebug, Aphrophora quadrinotata, but doesn’t seem a perfect fit.
Maybe Plant bug (Miridae), maybe even Lygus lineolaris.
Such a gorgeous creature, I’m very annoyed I couldn’t get a shot in better focus. Also, annoyingly for such a distinctive bug, I’m not at all sure which kind of hopper it is.
FB: “Clastoptera proteus”
Graphocephala leafhopper
Another spittlebug, but looks like a different one from the four-spotted. Maybe Aphorophora alni, European alder spittlebug?
Not sure. FB: “Phytocoris tibialis”
Coleoptera
This looks Trirhabda (and I won’t try to specify the species), in Galerucinae (“Skeletonizing Leaf Beetles”), in Chrysomelidae. FB: the species is T. canadensis.
Carabidae. Some similar beetles were classified as Amphasia sericea, but who knows.
Diptera
What’s going on here, in the second photo? Anyway, best guess is Sciomyzidae, please do not rely on my imaginary expertise in identifying Diptera. Compare with Tetanocera, for example. I /think/ that the antennae are robust enough for Sciomyzidae.
Toxomerus politus
Dolichopodidae?
FB: Bombyllidae (to my surprise!) –> Phthiriinae
I dunno.
Tephritidae (fruit flies), Eutreta cf noveboracensis. So beautiful!
Another view, gorgeous eyes.
FB: Machimus cf sadyates
Tachinid flies are supposed to have an enlarged post-scutellum, I’m not sure if this qualifies. Clausicella, in particular, seems a good fit (https://bugguide.net/node/view/1136491). BugGuide says:
“Leskiini with long proboscis, head nearly rectangular with long antennae originating at top of eye (similar to Atherigona), second aristomere longer than wide, third thick through most of its length. Only two humeral bristles. The common species have black abdomen with whitish bands, usually narrow, and vein M meeting R4+5 at wing margin. Superficially similar to Siphonini.”
Someone is welcome to translate that into English, but I shared this photo specifically because it does have wing venation. If you ask for any other angles/focus, I’d be happy to share!
FB: Laphria, canis complex
Odonata
There are many orders I am poor at. One of the is Odonates. This one seems to be shrugging their second legs at me, telling me to up my game already.
A bluet? Azure bluet suggested, Enallagma aspersum
Spiders
Identified for me as a juvenile Tigrosa helluo.
No bugs!
Desaturated the color on this one but not all the way to black and white, how did I do?
Maple looper moth, Parallelia bistrialisRosy Maple Moth!Dagger? Sallow? Can’t find a fit.Biden’s Grass-Veneer (Crambus bidens)?Tussock moth, but can’t decide which onePug, perhaps?What is this? Tussock moth, presumably, but can’t find a fitHalysidota
Trichoptera
Caddisfly, gorgeous. Mystacedes sepulchralis, black dancer caddisfly? Not a good fit.
Hemiptera
Plant bug, such as the alfalfa plant bug, Adelphocoris lineolatusDamsel bug, Nabis sp.
Diptera
Snipe fly
Ephemeroptera
I think this is Ephemeroptera! I’m going to be very embarrassed if it turns out to be a midge. The lack of cerci confuses me.
I promised I would be expanding my range. This is a Trustees of the Reservations area on the Charles River in Needham, and my first trip here.
First, some non bug photos. It was a bright sunny day, so many attempts at shooting towards the sun to show off the backlighting, made a little harder by the fact that the sun was still high in the sky.
Time exposure:
Diptera
Syrphid fly. Epistrophe, or perhaps Eupeodes cf americanus. Or Syrphus cf torvus. Syrphus cf ribesii? Parasyrphus, but I don’t think so. EDIT: Sphaerophoria suggested
Dolichopodidae, something like Condylostylus. I think it was a male displaying its wings to attract a female.
Hymenoptera
Looks to me like Ceratina. EDIT: also perhaps Osmia
Pteromalinae
Hemiptera
Leafhopper nymph?
Spittlebug nest? Spittlebugs are froghopper nymphs.
Odonata
Perhaps orange bluet
Coleoptera
Lucidota atra in Lampyridae?
Some gorgeous kind of weevil? Maybe Myrmex? However, the antenna doesn’t seem to match too many weevils. Trichapion? None of these match the color, either. Odontopus cf calceatus? Tanysphyrus cf lemnae? Cylindria cf prolixa?
EDIT: Eugnamptus angustatus in Attelabidae, leaf-rolling weevils.
A golden tortoise beetle!!!! Cassidinae. Deloyala guttata looks quite similar. Plagiometriona or Cassida are less likely.
Who is this? Carabidae, but I don’t know too much else.
fuzzy but head view. kind of looks like a tiger beetle from this angle
Lepidoptera (?)
Is this a monkey slug moth caterpillar? (Limacodidae)
Spiders
Castianeira. C. longipalpa and C. variata are the ones we have here: this looks closer to C. longipalpa, but I don’t know how to be certain.
Parasteatoda tepidarorium?
I know, not a spider, it’s in Opiliones. But what a face!
Noanet Woodlands is a Trustees of the Reservations site in Dover. This was my first time there.
Nearly all of my trips are to a few locations that are literally five minutes drive from my house. I love exploring those locations in depth, but am hoping to expand my range.
“This is 5451 – Parapediasia teterrellus. The white head is the give-away, with the dark sprinkling on the wing.”
(ORIGINAL COMMENT: Best guess: Mottled Grass-Veneer, Neodactria luteolellus, 5379)
“It doesn’t have the distinct darker triangle over the back which nigranum has and the color is too greenish. Possibly O. olivaceana, but these species are so variable and it would really need dissection to identify it for certain. Also, there are several undescribed species in the genus.”
Odonata
Seen but not photographed: a gorgeous Ebony Jewelwing.
Female calico pennant:
Unfortunately, no idea what this damselfly is, either.
Hymenoptera
Braconidae –> Agathidinae
Other suggestion: Braconidae –> Doryctinae –> perhaps Doryctes
Maybe yellow-faced bee, Hylaeus modestus/affinis?
Perhaps Ceratina?
Ceratina? The body looks too smooth.
Pimplinae in Ichneumonidae, perhaps Pimpla
Braconidae
Ichneumonidae, probably Odontocolon
Coleoptera
Synolabus bipustulatus, Oak leafrolling weevil, Attalebidae
Podabrus cf brevicollis in Cantharidae? There are too many similar looking species, so tough to be certain.
Sumitrosis inaequalis
Spiders
Thanatus, in Philodromidae:
Bowl and doily weaver web (Frontinella pyramitela)
Leucauge venusta. As always look at the bristles on the fourth leg.
Came home to a nice Easter Parson Spider, Herpyllus ecclesiasticus, in Gnaphosidae.
What is this?
Found sticking out of the ground. There was an ant nest outlet not that far away.
a little wild 