a little wild   (a small slice of wildlife)

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.

Ancistrocerus, I think.

Lepidoptera

Moths, man, moths. So tough to ID. I looked through Tom Murray’s August moth page (https://pbase.com/tmurray74/moths_august_2015), but nothing ran in and hit me in the face.

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?

Spiders

Agelenopsis

Pelegrina? Very very difficult to have any confidence in this.

Mecaphesa

Lepidoptera

Hemiptera

Winged aphid

Diptera

Could be Syrphus?

My first time here.

Coleoptera

Lepidoptera

Trichoptera

Caddisfly, gorgeous. Mystacedes sepulchralis, black dancer caddisfly? Not a good fit.

Hemiptera

Diptera

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.

Corydalidae

Summer fishfly, Chauliodes pecticornis

Hymenoptera

Ophioninae, perhaps Ophion?

Neuroptera are always a treat to find. Had two of them come by the house recently.

First, a fishfly, Chauliodes pecticornis. Male, going by the antenna.

Second, an antlion, Myremeleon.

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

Really don’t have a good idea.

Gold-backed snipe fly? Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous. Chrysopilus thoracicus.

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.

And this is the tortoise beetle larva:

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

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!

Vertebrate riff-raff

Tree swallow

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 wasp is Ophioninae in Ichneumonidae:

Leucauge venusta

First, the Canoe River power lines

Diptera

Toxomerus marginatus

Syritta pipiens in Syrphidae.

Lepidoptera

Polites mystic, Long Dash

“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.

Coleoptera

Elateridae were all over. I do not dare try to refine this any further. But just FYI, the sharp flanges at the ends of the thorax are called hypomerons.

Also, saw at last 15-20 Cicindella sexguttata, six-spotted tiger beetles.

Hymenoptera

Cynapoid, perhaps Figitidae.

‘cynipoids all have sort of a triangle “dagger” shaped cell toward the edge of the forewing. Also the shape of the abdomen, antennal segments, etc. are clues.’

There were a bunch of these caterpillars, and there were a bunch of ants attacking them. The caterpillars were writhing furiously (and perhaps successfully).

Lasioglossum suggested. Someone else suggested Sphecodes?

Osmia?

Ceropales maculata in Pompilidae. From BugGuide, as ID for Pompilidae:

Family characteristics(6)(7):

Typically dark colored with smoky or yellowish wings; a few are brightly colored.

Slender with long and spiny legs, hind femora typically extending beyond tip of abdomen.

Tibiae of rear legs have two prominent spines at apex (distal end, next to tarsi)

Wings not folded flat on top of abdomen.

Mesopleuron with a transverse suture

Like the Vespidae, the Pompilidae have the pronotum extending back to the tegulae, the pronotum thus appearing triangular when viewed from the side and horseshoe-shaped when viewed from above.

Ichneumonini. Like Ichneumon or Cratichneumon.

Nomada

Ichneumonidae, such as Pimpla or similar.

Sphecodes? In flight!

Lepidoptera

Bagworm nest

Hemiptera

Very colorful, Zelus luridus?

Stictocephala treehopper

Brown marmorated stink bug

Diptera

Bibionidae (male)?

These flies abound. And I’ve never been able to get an ID for them.

Tachinidae? Compsilura concinnata looks very similar to this.

Bibionidae?

Spiders

Gnaphosidae. Something like Zelotes, but it’s not easy to go to genus.

Lycosidae. Gladicosa? Just possibly Pardosa.

Cute little Salticid. Looks like a young Phidippus Whitmani.

Attulus cf. floricola? Also, is Attulus a synonym for Sitticus? If it’s changed, which one is more recent? (ANSWER: Yes, Attulus is more recent.)

I think this is a Neriene radiata egg sac (perhaps some other Linyphiid). And here’s the spider whose web it was in.

THIS WAS EXCITING! Titanoeca in Titanoecidae, first sighting of this family in Massachusetts according to BugGuide. And my first sighting of this family, too.

And another Salticid, perhaps the same species as previous.

Leucauge venusta.

Philodromidae:

Looks like Bassaniana versicolor

Another tough Salticid. Turned out to be Zygoballus.

And another one. Also turned out to be Zygoballus, probably female.

Peekaboo!

Another Bassaniana versicolor.

No exoskeletons

Lady slipper orchid