Blue Dasher

Blue Dasher's (Pachydiplax longipennis) are one of the most common dragonflies in the United States. They are beginning to make their way to Canada and Mexico as well. They are a small to average sized dragonfly with a wingspan up to 3 inches, the length of their body is approximately 1 3/4 inches.  Blue Dasher's are all blue with bright aqua-blue eyes. The thorax is black with yellow striping. The females have a characteristic yellow stripe on their abdomen.

 Males are very territorial and will aggressively defend their territory from other males in the area. When a receptive female is located, mating will occur. They form a mating wheel, and while in this position a packet of sperm will be transferred to the female. Shortly thereafter she will begin depositing her eggs in the water on aquatic vegetation, or bottom sediment (picture 2). Once the eggs hatch the young nymphs will live an aquatic life, feeding on other aquatic insects. Once they reach maturity they will crawl out of the water onto a stick, rock or other solid surface to shed their skin for the last time. It takes them up to 2 hours or so to pump their wings full of fluid and gather enough strength to fly for the first time. These dragonflies can be found anywhere water is present, this could be ponds, lakes, streams, and wet boggy areas. These are one of the few dragonflies that are able to tolerate poorer water quality. Like all dragonflies they are meat eaters, and they will feed on flying insects. They capture insect using their powerful basket-like legs, right in mid-air, and carry their prey back to a perch to feed. This species has been observed orienting themselves in relation to the sun, either to cool themselves from the host summer sun, or to warm themselves on cooler days.

Broad-Headed Bug

There are approximately 29 species of Broad-Headed Bugs in the North America. They are true bugs in the order Hemiptera, and family Alydidae. The one pictured here I believe to be Alydus eurinus, which is a common species in the Eastern portion of the United States. 

They have a dark elongated body approximately 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch long, with  segmented antennae. Their heads are very broad, usually as wide as their thorax. It is this bodily feature that earned them their common name.The nymphs look very much likes ants. They can be found in fields, in backyard gardens, near forest edges. The adults feed on plant juices, and sometimes carrion. This one was found clinging to the side of our potting shed warming itself in the sun.

Bean Leaf Beetle

Bean Leaf Beetles (Cerotoma trifurcate) are very tiny beetles that pack a big punch. In large numbers these beetles can cause significant damage to bean crops, this is most especially true of soybeans. The main damage is to the leaves. They will also feed on corn or pumpkins. In the Midwest these beetles are becoming more common. As young grubs they will feed on the roots of their host plants, as adults they favor the leaves. They can vary greatly in color as adults, typically they will be yellowish, like the one pictured here, but they can also be red, or reddish-orange. There are four quadrangular black markings on their elytra (Wings), but this is not always the case, in some specimens these marks may be absent. The only absolute distinguishing characteristic of this beetle is a black triangle located at the top portion of the wing coverings where the wings meet the thorax. This mark is always present and separates them from other leaf beetles. The adults will overwinter in leaf litter or other ground vegetation. This will usually be alongside croplands that previously hand soybeans planted there. In the spring when warm weather returns they will become active and seek mates. After mating, the female will lay her eggs in clusters on top of the soil or near the soybean stems. The eggs will hatch in about 10 days. The grubs will burrow into the soil to feed on the roots of the soybean plant. They will live and feed in the soil for about 2 months, then emerge as adults. They are capable of 2 generations per year in most of their range. These beetles can be found from New Mexico and eastward throughout all the Eastern United States as well as parts of Southern Canada. If you notice these beetles on your plants, measures may need to be taken to apply chemicals to eradicate them. I find a few each year, but never in great enough numbers to justify applying strong chemicals to my plants that may endanger many other beneficial insects.

Convergent Lady Beetle

This tiny little lady beetle is called the Convergent Lady Beetle (Hippodamia convergens). They are native to the United States and are found throughout North America as well as parts of South America.  These beetles reach lengths up to 3/8 of an inch. Their bodies are somewhat elongated and reddish-orange.Typically they will have six black spots on each wing and a 13th spot at the top of the wings near the back of the head. Some specimens are immaculate (spottless), like the one pictured here. These are one of the most commonly purchased species from consumer supply houses by farmers and gardeners. They are used as a biological control against aphids and other harmful insects. In gardens, agricultural areas, meadows, and open fields are home to this ladybug. They will mate in the spring, and shortly thereafter the female will begin laying eggs.

She is capable of laying up to 50 eggs per day. After hatching, the tiny alligator shaped larvae will feed on nearby aphids populations. In about 28 days they will have completed their life cycles. They are capable of producing up to 5 generations per year. In the fall these beetles congregate near homes, and other hidden crevices to wait out the cold winter. They will become active in the spring when warm weather returns.

Flower Fly

 

This pretty little flower fly is the Common Oblique Syrphid (Allograpta obliqua). These are small flies that measure up to 3/8 of an inch. They can be found throughout most of North America. They are very common in flower beds where they will be seen nectaring at flowers. In the spring after mating the female will lay eggs on the leaves of various plants, usually near aphids. The young larvae will feed on the aphids. The adults are also partial to the honeydew that aphids produce from their anal glands. Typically these flies will be seen during the summer and early fall. On warmer days in the late fall they will be found at late blooming flowers, like these wild hollyhocks. Hardier plants like marigolds and mums will also attract them. They are sometimes called Hover Flies, from their ability to hover above flowers, they are also able to fly backwards. Syrphid Flies are considered important cross-pollinators of many plants. They are also predators of harmful aphids which attack various citrus crops,fruit trees, grains, corn, alfalfa, cotton, grapes, lettuce and other vegetables, ornamentals, and many wild host plants of the aphids. These little flies are often mistaken for sweat bees from their yellow and black banded bodies. They are beneficial and completely harmless to humans.

Bald Faced Hornet

It seems that no other insect instills such automatic fear as a hornet. The Baldfaced Hornet (Dolichovespula maculata) is found throughout North America, and Southern Canada. The only exception to this will be the drier areas of the Midwest. These large wasps are not really hornets at all, they are more closely related to Yellow Jackets, and are even sometimes called Baldfaced Yellow Jackets or Aerial Yellow Jackets. Late in the summer the queen will begin laying eggs that are destined to be fertile males (drones) and females. When the larvae of these fertile offspring reach maturity, they will seek mates. Soon after mating, cold weather begins to set in and the hive member will perish, all except the new queens. These new queens will seek sheltered areas to spend the winter, commonly this will be in the soil, under bark, or dense leaf litter. In the spring with the return of warm temperatures these queens awaken and become active. Their only purpose is to locate a suitable site to begin nest building and egg laying. She will fashion a circular shaped nest, that she creates by chewing up bits of wood mixed with starches in her saliva. Within this nest she form cells, and begins depositing eggs within each cell. She will care for these offspring herself, by feeding them chewed up bits of insects. Once these larvae have matured they will be the future workers of the nest and will take over the chore of expanding it and caring for the queens offspring. As the nest expands it will take on its more famous "Football" shape. Some of these nests can get quite large, reaching lengths up to 3 feet!

 (The nest pictured here was found by my son and his boss yesterday. My son called me and asked how the best way was to get it out of the tree, where it was located 40 feet above the ground. I suggested shooting the branch it was on, and catching it before it could be smashed against the ground. I felt pretty certain that the extremely cold nights and cooler days we'd been having for weeks now would guarantee that the members of the hive were either dead or very close to it. He was a bit worried about the small chance that remained that there could still be active hornets in that hive. He found his courage, shot the nest out of the tree, put it in the truck to bring back to his bosses place. After placing it in the truck, near the heater, you can almost guess what happened next.....yes....after warming up,the ones that remained in the hive crawled out! My son drove to his bosses farm, opened the truck door and kicked it out! LOL He then called me and informed me where it was at, and if I wanted it I COULD GO GET IT!  So I retrieved the nest and brought it home. I was shocked to discover just how large this nest was. It was easily 20 inches long and had a diameter close to a basketball in size.  I peeked into the hive and noticed a very rancid smell of dead and decaying bodies. Most of the hive had long since perished. The few hardier ones that remained were moving very slow and were near death themselves. The one pictured here I was able to handle and photograph, but I am certain she isn't long for this world.)

Towards the first part of the summer as the nest is growing and the population of hornets is expanding these wasps can pose a potential threat to humans. Coming too close to the nest will irritate these hornets and you may find yourself under attack by an angry swarm of these over protective wasps. A hive may contain up to 700 individuals. That is a lot of stinging hornets! They are capable of repeated stings as they do not have a barbed stinger that becomes detached like honey bees do. Away from the nest they are no more dangerous than any other stinging insect. They are more focused on gathering food for their siblings, queen and themselves. As long as you do not swat at them or otherwise antagonize them you have nothing to fear. Make one mad however, and there are no guarantees. If one should get angry enough to sting, rest assured you may be faced with many more of her sisters all bent on attacking and coming to her defense. They possess a pheromone (Chemical perfume) that they emit when in danger or feeling threatened, other members of the hive can smell this cocktail of chemicals and will come to aid their sister.
Over all these wasps are more beneficial than harmful and should be left alone if at all possible. They kill and consume thousands of harmful insects that they feed to their siblings or consume themselves. Obviously if one of the queens decides to set up her homestead in our backyard; safety measures will need to be taken to have the nest removed. If you should happen to get stung, the best remedy for relief is baking soda, it will help reduce swelling.

Identifying these large wasps is easy. They  are all black with yellow or white markings on their face, thorax and the last few segments of their abdomen. The males will have an added yellow or white marking on the first abdominal section. Males do not possess stingers, so therefore they cannot sting. Queens are quite large and may measure up to 2 inches, female workers are closer to 1 1/4 inches. They just have a "Bad-Ass I'm in charge" kinda look about them.
In Missouri they will begin dying off around the first of November, maybe sooner if the temperatures are cold enough (like this year). If you wish to hunt for these fabulous nests and collect one....make sure the hive is abandoned or all the members have perished......plan ahead, they often build very high in trees and you need a safe way to remove it.....make sure you have permission to be on the ground where you are hunting for the nests......waiting until late fall when the leaves are off the trees and wasps are gone is the safest course to take.
It always seems like such a waste to me that these wasps work so diligently and hard all season to produce a work of art, to only die and leave the nest behind. Rarely if ever do future generations use previous nests. Time and weather will eventually destroy them, so if you are fortunate enough to find one, and can safely collect it I say do so. They are wonderful conversation pieces and great educational tools. 

 

Rest assured, next spring when those bred queens become active, the cycle will begin again. 

 

I for one feel fortunate that we have these amazing, engineering masters in Missouri.

Tree Hopper

This interesting looking little insect is a Tree Hopper (Entylia carinata). They are very tiny, only  measuring approximately 1/4 of an inch. They can be a variation of many different colors, which apparently caused much confusion among early scientists. These early researchers believed each specimen to be a completely different species. Even if they were found on the same plant, feeding in the same manner. Many years passed, and much additional research has been done and we now know them to be the same species, just with color variants. The nymphs of tree hoppers will often be found with ants, these ants tend to the hopper nymphs, protecting them in exchange for honey dew. This honey dew is an excretion that the nymph produces from anal glands. It has a sugary-sweet taste that ants find irresistible.This relationship works well for each species. The little nymphs are protected from other insects that may wish to dine on them. The ants will chase of or harm any intruding insect. The ants get a sugary treat that gives them much needed nutrition.
Tree hoppers feed on a wide variety of herbaceous plants. Sometimes causing damage, if they are in large enough numbers.

Pink-Spotted Lady Beetles

Pink-Spotted Lady Beetles (Coleomegilla maculata) are native to the United States and are very common in Missouri. They are fairly small, reaching lengths up to 1/4 of an inch. Their reddish or pinkish colored bodies are somewhat elongated with 6 individual spots on their elytra. The area directly behind the head can range in color from yellow to pink and has two black triangular markings.
Sometimes in the fall large aggregations of these beetles can be found under leaf litter or within stone walls and other protected sites. They don't seem to flock to our homes in large numbers like the Multi-Colored Asian Lady Beetles do. These ladybugs are much more agreeable than the non-native Asian variety, they do not bite, or give off a musky odor.
In the spring with the return of warm weather they will leave their places of shelter and begin feeding and seeking mates. After mating, the females will lay small clusters of eggs on the leaves of plants. This will generally be done near a ready food supply, like a colony of aphids. The female is capable of laying up to 1,000 eggs in a one to three month period of time. With up to 5 generations per year, they are quite prolific and their numbers are secure.
Look for them in gardens, near agricultural areas, along roadsides, in meadows, and prairies and open fields, where they will be feeding on aphids and other soft bodied insects.

Giant Swallowtail

Giant Swallowtails (Papilio cresphontes) are the largest butterfly in the United States and Canada. They have wingspans that measure up to 5 1/2 inches. They have one of the widest ranges of any of our swallowtail species. They can be found from Central America to Southern Ontario. Within the United States they will be found all throughout the South, as well as the Northeastern portion of the country. Occasionally they will be found further north into North Dakota, and provinces further north in Canada. They favor areas near streams, open woodlands and fields close by. In the southern most portion of their range they can be found in citrus groves and are commonly called Orange Dogs. The host plant for the caterpillars is plants in the citrus family. Common Pricklyash and Common Hoptree are most commonly used. The adults nectar at a wide variety of herbaceous plants, and shrubs. After mating, the females lay eggs singly on the leaves of the host plant. The caterpillars will pupate and overwinter in this stage, tucked away in a cocoon.

Seven-Spotted Lady Beetle

The Seven-Spotted Lady Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata) is another introduced species of ladybug. This one hails from Europe rather than Asian like the Multi-Colored Asian Lady Beetle. They were brought to this country with the same purpose in mind...to control aphids. Apparently our own lovely native species weren't doing the job well enough to suit enterprising individuals who thought it wise to help them out by bringing much more aggressive species to the rescue.

As many of you know it has become quite difficult to locate a native species these days. The Nine-Spotted Lady Beetle (native) is all but extirpated in much of its range. They just can't compete with these intruding newcomers. Seven-Spotted Lady Beetles are red with 7 black spots on their elytra (wings) just as their common name suggests. The seventh spot overlaps on the midline towards the head. They are small at about 1/4 of an inch. The adults overwinter in leaf litter or other protected sites, usually near where they were reared and fed. In the spring they will become active again and mate. The female will begin egg production shortly there after, and is capable of laying up to 1,000 eggs over a three month period of time. Once the eggs hatch, it will take the newly born larvae up to three weeks to complete its life cycle.

It is estimated that a single lady beetle may consume up to 5,000 aphids in it's lifetime. There is no arguing the effectiveness of these little munchers when it comes to aphid control. That being said,when it comes to introducing foreign species, I just can't help cringe when I think about the over all affect it will have on the native species that most likely will end up struggling to retain a foothold. What often times may seem like a great idea at the moment, turns out to be a disaster later down the road. What makes this even funnier, is New Hampshire, Tennessee, Delaware, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Ohio have all adopted this species as their State insect. For many of us a ladybug, is a ladybug and we pay no attention to species. There are a few of us however, from a purely nostalgic standpoint, that miss the days from our childhood when the ladybugs as we know them to be were in abundance. There is nothing to be done about the populations of nonnative species at this point, so the only logical thing to do....is except what is and be grateful for the service they provide.

V-Marked Lady Beetle

This lovely dark red ladybug is the V-Marked Lady Beetle (Neoharmonia venusta venusta). They are solid red with black markings. At the midline of their wings is a distinctive "V" shaped black marking from where they get their common name. This species has no white on it. They are a bit on the large size for a ladybug, measuring up to 3/8 of an inch. Unlike other species of ladybugs that typically feed on aphids or other soft bodied insects, this species feeds on beetle larvae, especially the larvae of the Cottonwood Leaf Beetle (Sometimes called Willow Leaf Beetle). The one pictured here was photographed at Elrod Mill CA in NWMO. It was the only individual present, but there were a lot of larvae of this species on the various river willow plants. It wasn't long before I spotted a Cottonwood Leaf Beetle. It seems they will choose habitats that are consistent with where their common prey would live. Look for them near rivers, streams and any areas where cottonwood or willow trees are plentiful.

 

V-Marked Lady Beetle Pupa

These little black alligator looking creatures are the larvae to the V-Marked Lady Beetle. They were in large supply near the river.

I am constantly amazed at the many different species of ladybugs that there actually are. I spent the whole summer on the lookout for new, or previously un-spotted species. I was not disappointed, I found many I had never seen before. I will try to post some of them over the next few weeks. Very little information was available about this particular species. I am not sure how far their range goes, although I did find information that claimed they are now quite plentiful in southern Canada, having expanded their range further north. They are without a doubt one of the prettier species of ladybugs I've ever seen. Their food choice can only make them beneficial, as cottonwood leaf beetles can cause damage to trees.

 

Great Spangled Fritillary

This large beautiful butterfly is the Great-Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele). They are found throughout most of North America in open fields, prairies, backyard gardens, and large open areas. Males are tan to orange in color with black scales on the forewing veins. Females are tawny colored and darker than males.

The adults nectar at a wide variety of flowers including verbena, vetch, red clover, milkweed and thistle. The caterpillars are like other fritillary's and feed on violets. This species is the largest fritillary in Missouri as well as all of Eastern North America. In their western most range they are less common and some specialist even refer to them as a separate species called Leto Fritillary.  They have a wingspan of 2 to 4 inches. They're flight is somewhat rapid, as they fly from flower to flower, pausing briefly to nectar.They are quick to fly which can make them difficult to approach.

Males will patrol for females. Once a receptive female has been found, mating will occur. This usually takes place in June or July. Sometime in August or September the females will lay eggs on or near the host plant, violets.. When the eggs hatch the young caterpillars will overwinter under leaf litter and vegetation. In the spring they will become active and seek out the violets to feed on. They somehow manage to find the violets, by some pre-programed instinct. They feed at night, and hide out during the day. This preference for feeding times probably gives them a certain amount of protection from predation. Birds and other insects that might find a fritillary caterpillar tasty to dine on, are all tucked away sleeping while these little munchers are pigging out on their late night meals.
These are impressive, beautiful flying flowers, and I love to see them return each year.

Grass-Carrying Wasp

Grass Carrying Wasps (Isodontia mexicana) are found throughout North America as well as Central America. They are medium sized wasps that reach about 1 1/2 inches in length. Their bodies are black with a very thin waist that connects the thorax to the abdomen. Some specimens may have an orange marking on the tip of the abdomen. The thorax is covered in fine hairs. They are sometimes called Cricket Hunters from their preference of using crickets as a host insect for their larvae. After mating, the female will locate a pre-constructed nest in rotting or decaying wood. Within this nest she will create brood cells. These nests will have several brood cells divided by thin walls. Each chamber is generally lined with bits of grasses. The female will provision each cell with a cricket or sometimes a katydid. She will then lay an egg on each host. When the eggs hatch the larvae will feed on the host as a parasite of sorts. In about 4 to 6 days they will be ready to pupate and in another 5 to 6 weeks the adults will emerge. These are common wasps, and often seen in gardens, grassy areas, meadows, and near woodlands. The adults nectar at a wide variety of flowers. These wasps will sometimes be found nesting in storm windows, they use the tracks as an exisiting site for nest provisioning. These wasps are very similar to Thread-Waisted Wasps.

Widow Skimmer

Widow Skimmers (Libellula luctuosa) are common dragonflies found throughout most of the United States with exception to the Rocky Mountains. They can also be found in Mexico and parts of Canada. They are a medium sized dragonfly reaching lengths up to 1 3/4 inches and wingspans up to 3 inches. Adult males have dark brown to black patches bordered by white on their wings. As they age their bodies become more white; like the one in the first picture. Females and young have the same dark patches on their wings but lack the white border. 

Males will aggressively defend their territories from other males.  They perch and patrol for females, on constant guard for intruding males from other territories. Once mated the female will lay her eggs in the water, either on bottom sediment or on aquatic plants. As nymphs they will spend their lives underwater feeding on other aquatic insects. The following year they will be ready to leave their watery home and fly for the first time. They will crawl out of the water onto a stem or rock or some other solid surface and shed their skin one final time. Once free from this skin the helpless, newly emerged adult will remain in place until it has pumped sufficient fluids into its wings. After the wings completely fill out it will flex them to strengthen them, and take flight for the first time. What a glorious feeling this must be. These beautiful dragonflies can be found in a wide variety of habitats, look for them near ponds, lakes and often times out in fields seeking their insect prey. 

Their common name of "Widow Skimmer" comes from the cloak-like black patches on their wings. The species name of luctuosa translates into sorrowful or mournful. 

Paper Wasp

I've featured paper wasps before, but I had to share these pictures of this unfortunate individual. We've had unseasonably cool weather for weeks now. After a few light frosts I think these little guys are paying the ultimate price. Soon they will all perish with exception to a few hardy bred queens that will overwinter hidden away somewhere.

I found her clinging to an evergreen tree and moved her to this flower for some photographs. I was able to coax her onto my hand, and she stumbled around like she'd been on a drinking binge. I know there are several species of paper wasp, each building unique papery nests. I do not know the identity of this particular species. I love her lovely green eyes, which may be a key characteristic in ID'ing her. If anyone can tell by these photos what species she is please let me know.