Category Archives: Insects

Red-tailed Flesh Fly (Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis)

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red-tailed flesh fly

Photo by Bill Reynolds

There are 3 subfamilies, 108 genera, and about 2,500 species of flesh flies (Sarcophagidae). These flies deposit already hatched larvae on carrion, dung, or animal wounds.

The red-tailed flesh fly (Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis) is often the first or one of the first insects to visit a corpse. This makes them useful in determining the amount of time that has elapsed since a person has died.

This species is identified by three gray stripes on the thorax; gray and black checkerboard pattern on the abdomen; reddish-brown external genitalia at the tip of the abdomen of the male; 4 bristles on the notopleuron (a region on the thorax); a long bristle on the upper side of the antenna that is feathery at the base; well developed lobes at the base of the wing; and an R5 wing cell that is closed or narrowed at the end.

http://minnesotaseasons.com/Insects/red-tailed_flesh_fly.html

Ebony jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata)

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Ebony jewelwing

Ebony jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata) is a large, showy, broad-winged damselfly. It can be found from late May to early September near shallow, small to medium-sized, canopy covered forest streams and adjacent shaded areas. Adults live on average for 16 to 20 days. They are often noticed in large numbers but for only a short period and then sporadically or not at all until the next year.

Jewelwings in Minnesota are identified by the broad, partially or wholly black wings; and on the female the small white patch near the tip of each wing. This species is identified by the brilliant metallic green or blue body; the broader, wholly black wings that are 3 times as long as wide; and the wider white patch near the wing tip of the female.

http://minnesotaseasons.com/Insects/ebony_jewelwing.html

Maculated dung beetle (Aphodius distinctus)

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maculated dung beetle

Photo by Bill Reynolds

Maculated dung beetle (Aphodius distinctus) is a small aphodine dung beetle native to Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. It was introduced into and is now common and widespread in North America. Adults are seen on cattle dung, often in large numbers, from March to May and again from August to October. Some evidence suggests that the larvae may be an agricultural pest, eating the roots of crop plants, but further study is needed to confirm this.

This species is identified by the elongated body; three projections at the tip of the antennae that can be tightly closed; variable yellow markings on the forewings; and keel-shaped ridges on the middle and hind legs.

http://www.minnesotaseasons.com/Insects/maculated_dung_beetle.html

northern paper wasp (Polistes fuscatus)

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northern paper wasp

Photo by Bill Reynolds

Northern paper wasp (Polistes fuscatus) is a common and widespread, medium-sized, predatory, social wasp. It is found in woodlands and savannas and around wood structures built by humans. Adults feed exclusively on plant nectar produced by flowers and glands (nectaries). Larva are fed caterpillars and other insects captured and softened by workers. The liquids of the softened (malaxated) insects are fed to the youngest larvae, the solids to the older larvae.

The uncovered nests are often built by two or more queens. In these nests one queen is always dominant. She will eat the eggs laid by the other queen(s). After the nest is built the non-dominant queens may be driven off or become workers.

This species is identified by extremely short hairs of the head and abdomen; by the antennae that are orangish-yellow below, black above; and by the first abdominal segment that is wider than long, not stalk-like, and is gently rounded in profile.

http://www.minnesotaseasons.com/Insects/northern_paper_wasp.html

Eastern yellowjacket (Vespula maculifrons)

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eastern yellowjacket

Photo by Bill Reynolds

Eastern yellowjacket (Vespula maculifrons) is the most common yellowjacket in eastern North America. It often nests in urban and suburban environments. It aggressively defends its nest. It is able to sting multiple times but the barbed stinger sometimes becomes detached in the victim.

This species of yellowjacket is identified by distinctive black and yellow markings on its head and body. The yellow band behind the compound eye is not notched, narrowed, or broken. There is no yellow “eye loop.” The thorax has no longitudinal stripes. The first abdominal segment has a broad, black, anchor-shaped mark. The workers do not have isolated black spots on the remaining abdominal segments.

http://www.minnesotaseasons.com/Insects/eastern_yellowjacket.html

German yellowjacket (Vespula germanica)

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German yellowjacket

Photo by Bill Reynolds

German yellowjacket (Vespula germanica), a common and widespread social wasp, is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. It was unintentionally introduced into Canada in the 1960s and the eastern United States in the 1970s. It quickly spread and by 1989 it had reached California. It is now found throughout North and South America. It usually nests in the ground but often nests in voids, such as tree stumps, attics, roofs, and hollow walls. It rarely builds a hanging nest like the bald-faced hornet.

This species of yellowjacket is identified by distinctive black and yellow markings on its head and body and by three small black spots on its face.

http://www.minnesotaseasons.com/Insects/German_yellowjacket.html

Camel cricket (Ceuthophilus sp.)

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camel cricket (Ceuthophilus sp.)

Photo by Bill Reynolds

Camel cricket (Ceuthophilus sp.) is a very common genus of native crickets. It can be found under rotten logs, under stones, in mole hills, and other moist dark places, but is most often encountered in basements. Unlike most crickets it has no hearing organs (tympanum).

The family (Rhaphidophoridae) is identified by its distinctive, hump-backed shape, lack of wings and tympanum, and antennae longer than the body. The genus (Ceuthophilus) is identified by four end segments (tarsi) on each leg and the lack of a spine on the front of the tibia of the foreleg.

http://www.minnesotaseasons.com/Insects/camel_cricket_(Ceuthophilus).html

Virginia ctenucha (Ctenucha virginica)

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Virginia ctenucha

Photo by Bill Reynolds

Virginia ctenucha (Ctenucha virginica),  a common and widespread, colorful, medium-sized moth, is the largest wasp moth in North America. It is found from mid-June to late July in moist, open, grassy fields and meadows. Although it is a day-flying moth it is also attracted to lights at night.

This and other Ctenuchid moths have three adaptations that help to protect them from predators: the metallic blue color of the body mimics wasps which may be noxious to predators; caterpillars retain toxic chemicals from the plants they eat; and a specialized region on the thorax produces ultrasonic sounds which jam the sonar of moth-eating bats.

This species is identified by the incomplete yellowish-orange collar and the broad wings with no markings.

http://www.minnesotaseasons.com/Insects/Virginia_ctenucha.html

Common green bottle fly (Lucilia sericata)

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common green bottle fly

Photo by Bill Reynolds

There are many species of green bottle fly. Common green bottle fly (Lucilia sericata) is certainly the most well known and probably the most scientifically studied green bottle fly in the world. As its common name suggests, it is common and widespread, found in all of the temperate and tropical regions of the planet.

This is often one of the first insects to visit a corpse, sometimes within minutes of death. Forensic scientists use the development of the larva of this species to determine the age of a corpse. Medicinally, the larvae are used on humans to painlessly remove dead or decaying tissue from wounds while leaving healthy tissue untouched and secreting a chemical that promotes tissue regeneration.

This species is identified by three grooves across the thorax and three bristles on the upper middle (dorsal) surface of the middle thoracic section.

http://www.minnesotaseasons.com/Insects/common_green_bottle_fly.html

Winter firefly (Ellychnia corrusca)

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winter firefly

Photo by Bill Reynolds

Winter firefly (Ellychnia corrusca) is the most common diurnal firefly, also called lightning bug, in Minnesota. It is medium-sized for a firefly but much larger than other species within its genus. Unlike most fireflies it has no bioluminescent organs and is active during the day. The common name reflects the fact that it overwinters as an adult. On warm, sunny, winter days an individual might be seen on a tree trunk wandering a short distance from its wintering spot.

This species is identified by the size, minute hairs on the forewings, and distinctive “parentheses” marking on the thoracic shield.

http://www.minnesotaseasons.com/Insects/winter_firefly.html