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.

Reddish-Brown Stag Beetle

Reddish-Brown Stag Beetles (Lucanus capreolus) are found throughout the Eastern portion of the United States and parts of Canada. Like their name suggests they are a dark reddish-brown in color.  They are large, reaching lengths up to 2 inches. The males have large mandibles that are used in sparring with other males for the attention of suitable females. Mating takes place in decaying logs, stumps etc. Once mated the female will lay eggs within decaying wood. The larvae will live in the decay and feed off the juices retained in the wood pulp.  Their growth is slow, after two years as larva they will head to the soil and burrow underground to pupate, and emerge later in the season as adults. These beetles can be found in deciduous woodlands and nearby areas, and often come to lights at night. The adults are attracted to moth bait, aphid honeydew and possibly rotting fruit. Even with their large mandibles they are capable of flight. Last year we had several of these large beetles that kept appearing at a mercury vapor light and sheet that I had set out to attract large silk moths. Some evenings there would be as many 5 or 6 on the sheets. I have yet to see a male.

Bumble Bee

Bumble Bees are one of the most recognized of all insects. Their yellow and black fuzzy bodies hint at a cute cuddly creature. This is all a wicked deception though, just try grabbing one of these little guys and you will get a nasty sting for your trouble. Bumble bees are in the family of insects Apidae, also within this family are the carpenter bees and honey bees. Bumble bees are the largest bees within this family and can be very intimidating. Many people are very afraid of these large stinging insects, often times this fear is based on misinformation. While these bees can and will sting if provoked, they generally do not pose a problem if you follow a few simple rules and keep in mind a few facts about these furry little beasts. Like all bees when you are near the hive they have the potential to be aggressive. They are guarding a hive and a queen, plus all their siblings. If you stay away from the hive and give them adequate space they should pose no problem at all. If you do happen to anger a hive, keep in mind they are not like honey bees, THEY DO NOT lose their stinger after stinging, which gives them the ability to sting numerous times. One sting can alert the hive and before you know it you may have several of these large bees after you, all stinging over and over. This is a lesson they teach well, and I'm certain you won't forget it. While out flying about in your garden collecting nectar and pollen they pose no threat to you. They have nothing to protect but themselves. As long as you don't antagonize them by swatting at them, or by accidently grabbing them, they won't pay any attention to you at all. I pull weeds in my flower gardens surrounded by literally hundreds of these bees and I have not sustained one sting. I give them their space, and in turn they ignore me. It is a symbiotic relationship, I plant the seeds, water the seeds and weed the flowers. They in turn show their appreciation by pollinating the flowers and not stinging me.

When autumn arrives and the coolness of the season sets in these bees will perish. The only ones to survive will be the bred queens. They have the strength and tenacity to hang on through the winter months. They hide in leaf litter, under bark or anywhere else they can find shelter. In the spring with the return of warmer weather these bred queens will become active and start looking for a suitable site to begin building a hive. She will start the construction of the hive herself, creating little cells within the nest to lay her eggs in. She will feed the newly hatched larva and care for them. Once these larva have reached adult size they will take over the care of the queens offspring and the general care of the hive. From this point on the queens sole job will be to lay eggs.

Late in the summer you may notice an increase in the number of bumble bees present in your gardens. Don't be alarmed, these are the males. The queen will lay eggs that are unfertilized, these eggs are destined to be males. They will leave the hive and seek females to mate with. The males are harmless, their sole focus is to look for a likely female that approves of his attention and will accept his advances. Sort of like human males....

After mating, the males perish and the bred queens seek shelter. Soon after; the males die. The queen and her female workers die as well. While I agree these insects are not something you want to have angry at you. Fortunately I have been very lucky and have not been on the receiving end of these beautiful insects. I look forward to their return each year, as a true sign that spring has returned.

Red-Legged Grasshopper

Red-Legged Grasshoppers (Melanoplus femurrubrum) are in the sub-family of grasshoppers known as Spur-throated grasshoppers.These are very common grasshoppers and are found throughout all of the United States and parts of Canada and Mexico. They are probably one of the most widespread of all the grasshoppers. They are found in weedy, grassy areas especially near cultivated land, meadows, roadsides, prairies, open woods and backyards. They feed on a wide variety of grasses and forbes. This will include many forage crops like clover and alfalfa. These are not a large grasshopper, in comparison to the much larger differential grasshopper these are rather small to medium sized grasshoppers. They can vary in color from dull reddish to brown. The hind legs have a reddish tint to them, from whence they get their common name. Females will lay eggs within the ground, and these eggs overwinter. In the spring they hatch and begin feeding on grasses. As they grow to adulthood they will consume large amounts of grasses and can be very injurious to numerous forage crops. In large numbers they can cause significant financial losses to these agricultural industries. On rare occasions they have shown a tendency to large mass flights, but this is rare. They usually tend to be solitary in their lifestyle. I find these little hoppers all over near our garden and the grassy areas near our old pond. They are secretive and somewhat hard to approach. They are very quick to hide or hop away. I've only managed a few decent pictures of them, the one pictured here is the best of them all. With the unusually cold fall temperatures we've been experiencing the grasshopper populations have suffered and their numbers are low. Typically this time of year we have warm fall days that bring these little beasts out in large numbers, not so this year.