Bugs and Butterflies

[Cedars]

I am almost 100% sure on this ID. Was testing the new camera's bug ability today and I caught an event. Tiger Beetles are bug predators and I caught this one catching an ant. Shots were taken from between 2 and 3 feet away (closest it would allow me). I had found it earlier and took some shots. On my return loop thru the yard I stopped to take some more (different lens). Once he/she caught the ant, it did not sit still much. First pic was a shot of the beetle standing very upright. Picture 2 is micro seconds before it hit the ant. 3 remaining shots are various angles after capture. Check out the jaws on this guy!

[Turtle]

I encountered these bugs in Lechtenberg Park, and as I don't know the ID I'm posting them here. The caterpillar I found on a neckerchief on May 10; it's about 3/4" long. The beetle I found today while trying to photograph the flower it's on. :hihi: Note the antennae far out on the proboscis. :hihi: I got so into the beetle that I forgot to bring home a flower specimen. :hihi: It's a weird flower all right & I have no idea on the ID of it yet either in case any one has a clue. :hihi:

 

Oh yeah...here's those bugs. :)

 

 

[Cedars]

I encountered these bugs in Lechtenberg Park, and as I don't know the ID I'm posting them here. The caterpillar I found on a neckerchief on May 10; it's about 3/4" long. The beetle I found today while trying to photograph the flower it's on. :rolleyes: Note the antennae far out on the proboscis. :cheer: I got so into the beetle that I forgot to bring home a flower specimen. It's a weird flower all right & I have no idea on the ID of it yet either in case any one has a clue. :pirate:

 

The caterpillar is going to be impossible for me to ID. They can be tough under the best circumstances, and this one has a few strikes against it. 1. Its green. 2. Its pretty plain. 3. We dont know the host plant. Likely, it is a moth or possibly a sawfly lavae.

 

For the Beetle, I would direct you to this page:

Superfamily Curculionoidea - Snout and Bark Beetles - BugGuide.Net

 

You saw the bug and the picture doesnt give me much detail. You might be able to rule out many via memory. Sorry I couldnt be more helpful.

[Turtle]

The caterpillar is going to be impossible for me to ID. They can be tough under the best circumstances, and this one has a few strikes against it. 1. Its green. 2. Its pretty plain. 3. We dont know the host plant. Likely, it is a moth or possibly a sawfly lavae.

 

For the Beetle, I would direct you to this page:

Superfamily Curculionoidea - Snout and Bark Beetles - BugGuide.Net

 

You saw the bug and the picture doesnt give me much detail. You might be able to rule out many via memory. Sorry I couldnt be more helpful.

 

Roger. I see that many of the beetle photos at the link are as dark as mine. It was a tiny thing, and flew onto my finger and crawled to the flower as I was examining it. I think for the Lechtenberg list, I'll just call it a Snout Beetle. Not to go too far OT, but do you recognize the flower the beetle is snouting? It appears to have only 2 real petals!? :rolleyes: I'll get some other shots of it before the Snouty arrived and put them in Wildflowers. Thanks! :cheer:

[freeztar]

This insect is prolific on the bush beside my back door right now.

[Turtle]

This insect is prolific on the bush beside my back door right now.

 

Gnarly! :hihi: They look like little Gila Monsters. :doh: Or perhaps just Spider food, like say for this largey I found under a rock in the garden today while photographing wildflowers. :doh: :naughty:

 

[Cedars]

This insect is prolific on the bush beside my back door right now.

 

I am thinking Asian Ladybug larvae. We used to call these types of larvae Leaf dragons as kids. Look under all of the ladybug images to see if there is a better match:

 

Ladybug larva - 1 - Harmonia axyridis - BugGuide.Net

[Cedars]

Gnarly! :moon: They look like little Gila Monsters. :hyper: Or perhaps just Spider food, like say for this largey I found under a rock in the garden today while photographing wildflowers. :note: :eswirl:

 

This is by no way a positive ID. Some spiders I can narrow down pretty fast, others I struggle with. This one falls under the struggle category.

 

I am thinking MAYBE one of this type:

Genus Dysdera - BugGuide.Net

 

A top shot might have helped a bit. I have learned eye patterns can be helpful for ID also.

 

Draft: Spider Eye Arrangements - BugGuide.Net

 

Bugguide has hundreds of pages of spider pics, which makes the search that much tougher.

[Cedars]

Went up to Crex Meadows May 15. Things have been really slow this year due to the cold spring. The first of the butterflies are beginning to emerge and I received confirmation on my ID for this butterfly, the Juvenal's Duskywing Skipper (Erynnis juvenalis). Family -> Skipper (Hesperiidae) Subfamily -> Spreadwing (Pyrginae)

 

This butterfly will appear black in flight. Its flight is low to the ground and very erratic and haphazard to the observer. Also, I was unable to get a closed wing shots, and my inflight pics did not turn out clear enough or open winged. It was still fun trying to get a shot while flying.

 

Note the turned down hook at the end of their antenna. I think All skippers have this look.

[freeztar]

I am thinking Asian Ladybug larvae. We used to call these types of larvae Leaf dragons as kids. Look under all of the ladybug images to see if there is a better match:

 

Ladybug larva - 1 - Harmonia axyridis - BugGuide.Net

 

Thanks Cedars! That's it! :hihi:

[freeztar]

I checked on the bush and there are now lots of ladybugs all over it. :hihi:

 

A few larvae are still around. This guy had the unfortunate luck of becoming lunch for this "tiger-esque" predator.

 

 

I also spotted this iridescent fly and managed to get a decent shot of it. It measured about 1/3 of an inch long (visual estimation).

 

[Cedars]

I checked on the bush and there are now lots of ladybugs all over it. :hihi:

 

A few larvae are still around. This guy had the unfortunate luck of becoming lunch for this "tiger-esque" predator.

 

 

 

Top one is an assassin bug, likely Genus Pselliopus. I didnt go thru the whole listing to try to narrow it.

 

Genus Pselliopus - BugGuide.Net

 

 

I have not had a chance to look thru the flies.

[Cedars]

Named for its behavior of laying eggs in the nests of other bees.

 

Family: Apidae (Cuckoo, Carpenter, Digger, Bumble, and Honey Bees)

Subfamily: Nomadinae (Cuckoo Bees)

Genus: Nomada

 

Species not known

[Moontanman]

How about dragon flies? Is there a online site for identifying dragon flies?

[freeztar]

I found this lovely butterfly on a construction site on Friday. My colleague called it a dovetail, but I'm sure there is a more specific name for it.

[Cedars]

I found this lovely butterfly on a construction site on Friday. My colleague called it a dovetail, but I'm sure there is a more specific name for it.

 

Yes, its a Zebra Swallowtail - Eurytides marcellus: Species Eurytides marcellus - Zebra Swallowtail - BugGuide.Net

[Cedars]

How about dragon flies? Is there a online site for identifying dragon flies?

 

Bugguide.net has a section for dragonflies. If you load the page, on the left side is a picture of different types of bugs. Each of these is clickable and takes you to that guide section.

 

Dragonflies can be hard to ID. I know the end of the tail can be a ID feature as can side views, eye spacing and other views. You may want to review as much as possible before submitting a photo. It kinda helps to try to narrow it down to a genus and ask for help or confirmation on species.