Category Archives: Insects

green-faced clubtail (Gomphus viridifrons)

green-faced clubtail

Green-faced clubtail (Gomphus viridifrons) is an early season, medium-sized clubtail. While it is more common in the northeast than in Minnesota, it is uncommon and considered rare over most of its range. It is found from mid-May to mid-July near rapid medium streams and rivers with gravel, silt, sand, and rocks on the bottom. Males are most active in late afternoon, especially under cloud cover.

Green-faced clubtail is distinguished by the face with only light markings, missing middle stripe on the side of the thorax, unusually small abdominal spots, no spots on abdominal segments 8 through 10, and abdominal segment 9 shorter than segment 8.

http://minnesotaseasons.com/Insects/green-faced_clubtail.html

western conifer seed bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis)

western conifer seed bug

Photo by Emily

Western conifer seed bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis) is a common and widespread true bug. The “western” in the common name is misleading. This insect is found from coast to coast in North America, and has been introduced and is spreading in Europe. It can be seen in spring and summer on pine, hemlock, spruce, and fir trees, but is most often encountered in the fall, when it seeks shelter for the winter in human dwellings. Like stink bugs it squirts a foul-smelling chemical from the side of its body when handled.

Western conifer seed bug is distinguished by exposed, striped sides of the abdomen; and fourth leg segments that are lance-shaped, unscalloped, equal in length, less than 70% of the length of the tibia, and the outer dilation is slightly wider than the inner.

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

Hoverfly (Helophilus fasciatus)

hoverfly (Helophilus fasciatus)

There are about 6,000 species in 200 genera of hoverflies. They are often seen hovering at flowers, hence their common name. Few of them merit a unique common name. Our species, Helophilus fasciatus, though fairly common, is not one of these, so we will call it “hoverfly” followed by its scientific name.

This hoverfly is robust and medium-sized, ⅜″ to ⅝″ long. It can be seen from late March to early October. Like many hoverflies, it is somewhat bee-like in appearance.

The genus Helophilus is identified by the striped thorax, on the wing the marginal cell open and the pterostigma lacking a cross vein, and the absence of a spur on the femur of the hind leg. Our species is distinguished by relatively narrow abdominal stripes, the narrowed area at the top of the head of the male, the all black hairs at the top of the face of the female, the space between the eyes narrower than the width of the pair of swellings at the base of the antennae, and the amount of black markings on the legs.

http://minnesotaseasons.com/Insects/hoverfly_(Helophilus_fasciatus).html

Spotted lady beetle (Coleomegilla maculata)

spotted lady beetle

Spotted lady beetle (Coleomegilla maculata) is an elongated, pink, ladybird beetle. It is very common and widespread, probably the most common native lady beetle in eastern North America. It can be found from early spring to fall anywhere their prey are found. Almost 50% of its diet is flower pollen but it also eats aphids, adelgids, mites, insect eggs, and small insect larvae. In the fall adults congregate in large numbers to overwinter in a protected area beneath leaf litter and stones, often near crop borders.

This species is identified by the elongated body; pink background color; 12 black spots, 2 on the pronotum and 10 on the elytra; and head and femurs visible from above. There are three subspecies of spotted lady beetle. Coleomegilla maculata lengi is the most widespread and the only subspecies found in Minnesota.

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

Leaf-footed bug (Acanthocephala terminalis)

leaf-footed bug

Leaf-footed bug (Acanthocephala terminalis) is a widespread and frequently encountered true bug. It is a relatively large bug (order Hemiptera) but a small leaf-footed bug (genus Acanthocephala), the smallest in North America north of Mexico. It is found from early June to late September in open woods, woodland borders and paths, thickets, and roadsides. Its long, specialized mouth is optimized for sucking juices from plant stems and leaf stalks. Like stink bugs it squirts a foul-smelling chemical from the side of its body when handled. The nymphs feed on common ninebark, staghorn sumac, and wild grape. Adults have a more varied diet, possibly including bird droppings.

Leaf-footed bug is distinguished by yellowish-orange antennae tips, femurs, and foot segments; femurs that are parallel-sided or only slightly tapered toward the end; and fourth leg segments that are greatly dilated in the basal half, gradually tapered beyond the middle toward the end, and not at all dilated in the final third.

http://minnesotaseasons.com/Insects/leaf-footed_bug.html

Lilypad clubtail (Arigomphus furcifer)

Lilypad clubtail

Lilypad clubtail (Arigomphus furcifer) is an uncommon, early season, medium-sized, pond clubtail. It is a northeastern species, occurring from Maine and northern Virginia to most of Wisconsin. Its range barely extends across the border to Minnesota. It is found from late May to early August by marshy ponds, lakes, and slow streams with submerged vegetation and brushy shores. It often perches on lilypads, a behavior that gave this dragonfly its common name, but it also perches on other floating vegetation, small trees, and sometimes on the ground.

Lilypad clubtail is identified by its azure blue eyes; narrow abdomen only slightly clubbed; long narrow spots on the top of all abdominal segments except 8 and 9; bright orangish-brown patches on the sides of segments 8 and 9; legs that are all black; and the area at the top of the head straight across or slightly convex.

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

Blue dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis)

blue dasher

Blue dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) is a widespread, fairly common, small to medium-sized skimmer. It is found from early June to early September near lakes, ponds, slow streams, ditches, and possibly bogs. It perches on erect, slender plant stems. When perched the wings are lowered. Males joust over water by flying under an opponent and rising, forcing the opponent away from the water surface.

Blue dasher is identified by the powdery blue pruinescence on the tapered abdomen; blackish-brown and yellow striped thorax with no pruinescence; white face; and green or blue eyes.

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

Northern pearly eye (Lethe anthedon)

northern pearly eye

Northern pearly eye (Lethe anthedon) is a common, medium-sized, brown butterfly. It is found from late-June to late August in grassy edges and openings, dirt roads and trails in mature deciduous woodlands and forests, usually near streams, rivers, or marshes. They often perch upside down on tree trunks. Their wings are usually held together above the body, opening only occasionally and briefly.

The wings are brown or brownish gray with a row of dark eyespots near the margin. The spots on the underside of each wing have a white “pearly” center.

There are two subspecies and both are found in Minnesota. Their ranges overlap on a narrow strip from East Grand Forks in the west to Rush City in the east. The southern subspecies upper wing surface has a more grayish cast. The lower surface of the hindwing is lighter, more grayish, and often has a violet tinge. The pale band surrounding the eyespot group on the lower surface is variable but generally narrower. The northern subspecies upper wing surface has a more brownish cast. The lower surface of the hindwing is darker, more brownish, and never has a violet tinge. The pale band surrounding the eyespot group on the lower surface is variable but generally broader.

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

Powdered dancer (Argia moesta)

powdered dancer

Powdered dancer (Argia moesta) is a common and widespread, medium to large sized damselfly. At 1½″ to 1¾″ it is the largest dancer damselfly and the largest narrow-winged or pond damselfly. It can be found from early June to early September on streams and rivers with emergent rocks and large lakes with rocky shores.

Unlike American bluet damselflies, dancer damselflies are easy to identify in the field by their colors and the pattern of their markings. Powdered dancer is distinguished by the whitish pruinescence on the male, a characteristic unique among Minnesota damselflies. The female is similar to the blue-fronted dancer but is larger and has a paler abdomen tip.

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

Midland clubtail (Gomphus fraternus)

midland clubtail

Midland clubtail (Gomphus fraternus) is an uncommon, early season, medium-sized clubtail. It is found from early June to late July by moderately to fast flowing rivers and large streams, and by large lakes with emergent vegetation. When the adult hunts it perches on the ground or a rock on a bank or shoreline. It is a very strong flier and often patrols open water far from land.

Clubtails (family Gomphidae) are distinguished by expanded abdominal segments 8 and 9 forming a “club”, clear wings with no dark patches, forewing and hindwing triangles similar in size, and eyes that do not meet at the top of the head. Midland clubtail is identified by the moderate-sized club only slightly narrower than the thorax; lack of a black horizontal stripe on the face; and lack of pale dorsal spots on abdominal segments 8 and 9.

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