Category Archives: Insects

Shadow darner (Aeshna umbrosa)

shadow darner

Shadow darner (Aeshna umbrosa) is a large, common and widespread, mosaic darner. It occurs throughout North America except in the arid southwest and, for some reason, Newfoundland. It is found from late June to late October in shaded areas alongside slow streams, ponds, and swamps. Only the autumn meadowhawk flies later in the year. Adults hunt mostly in the shade and mostly at dusk.

Mosaic darners are similar in size and appearance so a close examination or good photos are required for identification. This species is identified by the absence of a black horizontal stripe across the face; yellow thoracic stripes; relatively straight first thoracic stripe with an extension at the top; pale blue abdominal spots that are smaller than other other mosaic darners; wedge-type claspers on the male; and preference for flying at dusk and in the shade.

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

Silvery checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis)

silvery checkerspot

Silvery checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis) is a common, sometimes locally abundant, medium-sized, brushfoot butterfly. It is found from early June to late July in moist woodland openings and edges, meadows, and marshes. It flies slowly and usually no more than one foot off the ground.

The caterpillar is all black with black, branched spines and a dusting of white specks. When it is disturbed it will often curl up and fall to the ground.

Adults are similar in appearance to Harris’ checkerspot, Gorgone checkerspot, and pearl crescent. Silvery checkerspot is distinguished by forewing upperside black apical area with fewer and smaller pale orange and white spots; hindwing upperside black border with no or only faint chevrons, submarginal spots completely surrounded by orange, and at least one submarginal spot on each hindwing with a white center; and hindwing underside pale, with no reddish-orange, and with the submarginal band of white spots interrupted with a dark patch and large silvery crescent.

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

Northern amber bumble bee (Bombus borealis)

northern amber bumble bee

Photo by Bill Reynolds

Northern amber bumble bee (Bombus borealis) is a large, frequently found, colonial, ground-nesting bumble bee. It is found in woodlands from May to September. The abundance of this species has decreased 7.11% across North America when comparing historical records (1802 to 2001) to current records (2002 to 2012). This is not considered a serious decline and supports the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) ranking of Least Concern. In Minnesota, the story is a little different. The extent of occurrence (EOO) of this species in Minnesota has contracted significantly. The historical EOO shows the range to include all but the far southwestern corner of the state. The current EOO shows no occurrences south of a line from the North Metro area in the east to Breckenridge on the western border.

This species is identified by conspicuous yellow hairs on the top of the head and on the face; a black stripe on the thorax between the bases of the wings; brownish-gray hairs on the sides of the thorax; four yellow and two black abdominal segments on the female; and the top of the lateral simple eyes in line with the top of the compound eyes.

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

Half-black bumble bee (Bombus vagans)

half-black bumble bee

Photo by Bill Reynolds

Half-black bumble bee (Bombus vagans) is a common, small, colonial, ground-nesting bumble bee. It is found in shady forests wooded areas, urban parks, wetlands, and gardens from June to August and possibly later. The nests are annual—only mated queens overwinter, emerging from hibernation in May. They build nests mostly underground but sometimes on the surface of the ground or in hollow trees.

As the common name suggests, this bumble bee is half black. The head, thorax, and first two abdominal segments are yellow. The rest of the abdomen is black. Other identifying features of this species are a small, round, black spot on the thorax; the top of the lateral simple eyes in line with the top of the compound eyes; and the area on the face corresponding to the cheek longer than wide.

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

Migratory grasshopper (Melanoplus sanguinipes)

migratory grasshopper

Photo by Bill Reynolds

Migratory grasshopper (Melanoplus sanguinipes) is a common, medium-sized, spur-throated, short-horned grasshopper. It may be the most common species of grasshopper in North American grasslands. It is a serious agricultural pest, causing more crop damage than any other species of grasshopper in North America. As its common name implies, the migratory grasshopper congregates into swarms and migrates in search of food. When they do they may devastate all leafy vegetation wherever they land. Swarms have been detected at all elevations up to 13,000 feet and have been recorded traveling as much as 575 miles.

The family short-horned grasshoppers have antennae no more than half the length of the body, upper thoracic plate (pronotum) not extending over the abdomen, well developed wings, and a three segmented foot. The subfamily spur-throated grasshoppers have a tiny bump on their “throat”; a flat, rounded pronotum; a vertical face; a clear hindwings. This species is identified by hind wings that are longer than the body; front wings that are about as long as the body and are mostly transparent but have dark spots; a pale yellow stripe behind the eye; a banded hind femur; and features at the tip of the abdomen visible only in an extreme close-up photo.

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

Bronzed tiger beetle (Cicindela repanda)

bronzed tiger beetle

Photo by Kirk Nelson

Bronzed tiger beetle (Cicindela repanda) is one of the most common species of tiger beetle in North America. It is found in open, sunny areas with little vegetation next to a stream or river. It is active during the day but is a fast runner, difficult to catch or photograph. The larva can be seen on the ground, anchored to the mouth of its tunnel, waiting for any insect unlucky enough to pass by.

This species is identified most easily by the pale markings on its wing coverings (elytra). The crescent-shaped mark in the forward area (closest to the head) on one elytra points to the one opposite, and is connected to, or only narrowly separated from, the mark on the margin of the middle area. Also, the vaguely S-shaped mark in the middle area is complete, not broken.

http://minnesotaseasons.com/Insects/Large/bronzed_tiger_beetle_01.jpg

Willow pinecone gall midge (Rabdophaga strobiloides)

willow pinecone gall midge

An abnormal growth (gall) on the stems, leaves, or buds of a plant can be formed by many insects, mites, and fungi. Willows are hosts to many parasitic insects, several of which form galls. Only willow pinecone gall midge (Rabdophaga strobiloides) forms a pinecone-shaped gall at the tip of a willow stem.

The adult midge is a small fly about 3 ⁄16″ long. It is most often identified by the large distinctive gall that houses the growing larva. The gall appears at the end of a willow stem. It consists of numerous, stunted, overlapping, loosely appressed, scale-like leaves. In the summer it is green, more or less globular, and densely covered with long, white, matted and tangled, woolly hairs. In the fall the cone turns brown and the shape resembles a pine cone.

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

Hitched arches (Melanchra adjuncta)

hitched arches

Photo by Bill Reynolds

Hitched arches (Melanchra adjuncta) is a stout, medium-sized, night-flying, owlet moth. It is common in moist woods along river and stream banks, in woodland edges and openings, and in old fields. It is also often found in large gardens.

When at rest the forewings are held roof-like over the body. The forewings are dark gray mottled with black, greenish-brown and white. They have a white patch near the base (closest to the head), a small round white spot, a large white kidney-shaped spot, and a gray fringe. The hindwings are light grayish-brown but are not usually visible.

The caterpillar is light green or light brown with dark semicircular patches on the back (dorsum) and a conspicuous hump near the end of the abdomen.

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

Little glassywing (Pompeius verna)

little glassywing

Photo by John Shier

Little glassywing (Pompeius verna) is a medium-sized grass skipper with a wingspan of 11 ⁄16″ to 1½″. It is common in much of the eastern half of the United States but uncommon in the Upper Midwest, including Minnesota. The caterpillar of this species feeds exclusively on the leaves of purpletop tridens. It creates a shelter by rolling up one leaf of the grass or tying adjacent leaves together with silk. It remains in the shelter during the daytime, coming out only at night to feed, overwinters in it, and pupates in it the following spring.

Little glassywing is similar in appearance to Dun skipper (Euphyes vestris) and northern broken-dash (Wallengrenia egeremet). These three species are called “the three witches” because their dark wings make it difficult to tell “which one is which.” Little glassywing is distinguished by the large, rectangular or square, semi-transparent (“glassy”) spot on the forewing; a row of very pale spots on the underside of the hindwing; and a white band just below the swollen tip of the antenna.

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

Hackberry emperor (Asterocampa celtis)

hackberry emperor

Hackberry emperor (Asterocampa celtis) is a medium-sized brushfooted butterfly, with a wingspan of 2″ to 2⅞″. It is common in the southern half of Minnesota where it’s host species, northern hackberry, is also found. Though common it is sometimes overlooked due to its tendency to fly around the tops of trees. Adults can sometimes be found perched head down a tree trunk or the side of a building. Males are attracted to bright colors and can be lured with red and white paper.

Hackberry emperor is similar in appearance to its close relative, tawny emperor (Asterocampa clyton), also found in Minnesota. Hackberry emperor can be distinguished by its darker coloration, white spots near the tip of the forewing, a single black eyespot on the forewing, and single black bar and two separated black spots in the large central area of the forewing.

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