Ivory-Marked Beetle

 

(there is a hitchhiker in this photo---can you figure out what it is?)

This longhorned beetle is the Ivory-Marked Beetle (Eburia quadrigeminata), sometimes they are referred to as Four-Marked Ash Borer. They are a fairly small to average sized longhorn, reaching a body length up to 3/4 of an inch, and approximately 1 1/2 inches with antennae. Light brown in color, with six bright white spots on each elytra (wing) that are surrounded by a dark ring. They have a fairly broad range that includes all of  the Eastern and Central United States, as well as parts of Mexico and Arizona.

 

Deciduous woodlands and the nearby area is their favored habitat, but they will often come to lights at night. Females deposit eggs on hardwood trees, usually in the cracks of bark. (Let me clarify here, they will only feed on dead or decaying trees, they will not harm healthy living trees...Thanks Ted for pointing out my oversight).When the larvae hatches it will eat its way into the heartwood of the tree. They feed on the wood pulp. Adults will readily come to fermented molasses bait. In large numbers these beetles could become serious pests to trees, and can cause significant damage. Because of their boring habit, and their capability of reaching the center of even the largest of trees it is not uncommon for these beetles to emerge as much as 10 to 40 years later in wood that was used to make furniture or hardwood flooring.

Northern Corn Rootworm

 

This adorable lime green beetle is the Northern Corn Rootworm (Diabrotica barberi). They are very small, just over 1/4 inch in length. Although very tiny, don't let their size fool you, beetles in the Diabrotica genus  are some of the most destructive insects in the United States. With approximately 30 million acres of corn infested with some type of corn rootworm, and with estimations that this number could be increased by 20% over the next several years it is easy to see why these beetles are of economic concern. These beetles cause an estimated $1 Billion annual loss of revenue to the agricultural market. These beetles are native to the United States, and began appearing in European countries in the 1990's. It seems they were spread to Europe during the Yugoslavian War, probably through military transport. It is still widespread on military bases throughout Europe. They have since spread to Italy, Germany and France. These beetles are forbidden in many laboratories because of the difficulty in controlling them, if any should escape. They are resistant to many pesticides and are hard to eliminate once established.

After mating, the females will lay eggs in the soil near corn plants. This is done late in the summer or early fall. These eggs hatch in the spring and the young larvae will feed on the roots of corn plants. In about 2 to 3 weeks they will pupate and will emerge as adults a few weeks later. The adults prefer to eat on fresh corn silk, but will also feed on tassels, and leaf tissues. The adults are also attracted to flowers like squash, cucumber and wild carrots, or in the case of the one pictured sedum where they feed on pollen. I've also seen them gathering pollen at thistle. These beetles remain active until the first hard freeze kills them. Look for these little lime green beauties now, while the adults are active and seeking mates, or looking for places to lay their eggs.

Alfalfa Butterfly

This yellow beauty is the Alfalfa Butterfly, or sometimes referred to as the Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme). They are very common and are found throughout most of North America. Average in size with around 2-2 1/2 inch wingspan they certainly aren't the largest or most impressive of butterflies. What they lack in size, they more than make up for in color and sheer numbers. They have yellowish-orange wings with a distinctive black band outlining the edges of each wing. On the upper wings there is a black spot in the center of each. On the two lower wings there is an orange spot in the center. Mating take place in early spring. After mating, the female will lay eggs singly on the leaves of the host plant. In the case of these butterflies it will be clover, and alfalfa. The female will stay close to the ground (usually within 6 inches) as she flutters around laying her eggs. It takes between 3 to 10 days for the eggs to hatch, depending upon the weather conditions. In about 2 weeks they will reach 2 inches in length, it is at this point they will form their cocoon, that is suspended from the leaves of the host plant. These butterflies are prolific breeders and can have up to 7 generations per year. The last generation will overwinter in the pupal stage and emerge the following spring.

These butterflies can be found in open fields, meadows, prairies, backyards, gardens, and along roadsides. The adults nectar from various flowers, and will also come to mud puddles for minerals. Often they will converge on nearby puddles in large numbers. These little butterflies are quick to fly and are sometimes difficult to approach. It is very difficult to photograph them with their wings spread, as they tend to rest with their wings closed and rarely spread them open. The first photograph was at Happy Holler Conservation Area, it almost went unnoticed by me as it blends in so well with the yellow flower it was nectaring at. The second photo shows one nectaring at sedum. Love the green eyes!

Black-Legged Meadow Katydid

This pretty katydid is the Black-Legged Meadow Katydid (Orchelimum nigripes). They occur west of the Appalachians and are found throughout the mid-west states. This one was photographed in my backyard last night on some blooming 4 O'clock plants. Their coloring is so dramatic, and those black legs make identifying them easy. They reach lengths up to 1 1/2 inches and are various shades of green, bright yellow, and reddish brown. Look for them in meadows, (hence the name), gardens, prairies and wetland areas. The male will sing from low in the vegetation to attract a nearby female. Once the female is mated she will lay eggs within plant tissue or sometimes in the soil. The young nymphs are born looking very much like their adult counterparts, with exception of no wings and being much smaller in size. The adults and the nymphs both feed on a wide variety of grasses and plants. Just like cicadas and other singing insects the black-legged katydid has its own distinct song, and can be identified by melody alone. It can be a challenge to learn all the different songs from each individual specimen that contributes to the nature chorus, but if you want to impress your friends this is a sure way to do it.

More Tennessee Creatures----Molluscs

Now, I realize this site is devoted to Insects and their closely related kin, I just couldn't resist posting about some other interesting creatures that most of us have come in contact with at one time or another. Snails, and slugs fall into the phylum Mollusca. Whereas insects are in the phylum Arthropoda. They are completely unrelated, and the only similarities you are likely to find is their existence in your garden right along with beetles and butterflies.

Many people are completely disgusted by slugs, which I have always found humorous. I remember when I was a little girl my grandmother and grandfather were overwhelmed with a huge population of large slugs in their yard. My grandma would hand me a box of Morton salt and send me outside to dissolve the slugs. I remember thinking how cool it was to poor salt on the slug and watch it shrivel into a mere shell of its former self. I had no idea as a child why this phenomena occurred, only that it fascinated me. As an adult I know that slugs are mostly water, and the salt dries them up. I guess I've grown soft in my old age because I wouldn't pour salt on one of these little critters now, although one day when I become a grandma I might pass the Morton salt to my grandchild and let them be as fascinated as I once was.

The ones pictured here were all photographed in Tennessee. The first two were near the cabin, residing in a pile of wood. The Third picture is of a large snail (almost ping pong ball sized) found in the forest of the Smoky Mountains, it had been feeding on the Caesar's mushroom pictured in the last photo (if you look closely at the photo you can see on the left hand side the little bites taken out of the mushroom, leaving the white meat exposed). Slug is a non-scientific name given to gastropod molluscs that do not have shells, or have greatly reduced shells, or perhaps a tiny internal shell. All slugs are decedents of snails, and have lost their impressive shells for one reason or another. The lack of shell to retreat into leaves them vulnerable to outside influences. Land slugs are prone to drying out, and therefore must remain in moist locations. During times of extreme dryness they will retreat to hiding places where the moisture levels are higher. Slugs produce slime, this is a form of protection. The slime serves several purposes, it makes them slick and hard to grab, which aids them against possible predators which may find them hard to grab a hold of. Two types of slime are produced, one is a thin mucus, this particular slime is produced in the center of the "foot" and spreads to sides. The second mucus is a thicker variety and is spread out from the head to the tail. The slime trail left behind by the slugs helps other slugs identify members of their own species. Which is helpful when mating season begins. Some species are capable of creating a slime cord from which they suspend themselves in the air during copulation. It also aids the slug in traveling, as the slime contains fibers which help them grip vertical surfaces. Slugs are hermaphrodites, meaning they have both male and female organs. Once a mate has been located they will entwine and fertilize each other. The male sex organs are cork screw shaped and sometimes become lodged within the female sex organ during the exchange of sperm. If this should occur one or the other will chew the entangled organ off. As horrible as this sounds, it does not keep the slug from mating. The female organ will still be fully functional and it will continue to mate as a female. In a few days, they will lay 30 eggs in a damp location under logs or vegetation or in a depression in the soil.
Slugs are of economic importance, as they predominantly feed on decaying vegetation, such as leaves, and fungus (the mushroom). Some species are predatory and feed on small land animals like other slugs or snails or even earthworms. They will even dine on carrion. There is a small population of slugs that are harmful to plants and crops, because they feed on green and growing plants, often becoming a pest in greenhouses.
Snails are closely related to slugs but differ from them by having an interesting coiled shell they carry around with them. Large numbers of snails are associated with water and are found near oceans, lakes, ponds and rivers. A few like the ones pictured above reside in moist environments like forests and woodpiles. The shell is made up of calcium carbonate that is secreted from the snails body. Snails require a diet high in calcium to continue producing the chemical that creates the shell and hardens it. Land Snails, like slugs possess both female and male organs and reproduce similarly to slugs. The difference between the species, is that land snails perform a mating ritual beforehand. This ritual varies by species, and can last up to 12 hours. Snails are prolific breeders and may lay clutches up to 100 eggs. Land snails are usually herbivores, and eat bark, leaves, decaying vegetation, fruit, fungus, etc. Some species are carnivorous and will eat other small soft bodied creatures like caterpillars. These creatures are common and easily found, but are truly fascinating in their simplicity. If you can resist the urge to pour salt on them, take a few minutes and just watch them, graceful in their movements and unassuming in their existence.

6th Tennessee arthropod--Robinson's Cicada

Probably one of the most recognized sounds of summer are the cicadas, droning loudly from the tree tops. These noise makers are the males looking for females. If he sings, loudly and proudly, with any luck he will attract a nearby female who finds his song divine. Once mated, the female will cut slits into trees or twigs and deposit her eggs, often she will lay hundreds of eggs. Once the eggs hatch, the newly born nymphs will drop to the ground and burrow into the soil. They will remain there for as a little as two years to as many as 17 years (for periodical cicadas). They feed on the plant and trees roots. At the final instar they will construct a tunnel to the surface and emerge. They then crawl to a nearby surface and molt for the last time, after shedding this skin they become the adult we are all familiar with. The one pictured here is Robinson's Cicada (Tibicen robinsoniana). This particular species was photographed in Townsend, TN near the cabin where we stayed. They have a patchy, localized distribution. Often found along rivers, they are reported to be hard to find and to collect. I feel fortunate to have found a few, and not knowing for sure what they were, only that they appeared a little different from species I had seen at home in Missouri. I sent an image to Bugguide and Bill Reynolds was able to ID it for me. The one pictured is a male. After looking at their distribution, I discovered that there is a small population of these in Missouri as well, in the southern portion of the state, almost to the Arkansas border. The singing period for Robinson's is shorter than most cicada species, and they will typically stop calling after the first light frost or two in September.
Cicada's in the Genus Tibicen are referred to as the "Dog-Day Cicadas", this comes from their arrival with the hottest days of the summer. As we sit and wilt in the heat, they chant loudly as if they were paying homage to the hot temperatures. They sing to not only find mates, but to confuse predators, after all they have no means of protection, they aren't poisonous, they don't sting, or bite....so they sing in large numbers. As many of you know, hundreds of these all singing at once can be brain numbing in its intensity. This large chorus line makes it difficult for predators to locate any single cicada to dine on. Many myths surround cicadas, and they have been revered throughout history. Individuals in ancient Greece and China believed cicadas were the resurrected souls of departed loved ones. This belief came from the life cycle of the cicada, they live the largest portion of their life underground, emerging in the summer. After they shed their exoskeleton and take flight for the first time they are very clumsy and often bounce off objects, including humans who may be standing nearby. This transformation was viewed as being an ethereal reincarnation of deceased loved ones. They were viewed as being immortal. In Taoism the cicada was seen as a symbol of the soul leaving the body after death.
Cicada's are used in medical treatments for common human complaints such as earaches. In China the shed skins of the cicadas are ground up to form a powdered medicine that is used to treat, fevers, skin rashes, pink eye, cataracts, blurred vision, restless sleep, nightmares and various other ailments. Cicadas have been used for thousands of years in art, and were even depicted on coins before the time of Christ.
Cicadas are often called Locusts, but they are in a completely different family of insects. Locusts are related to grasshoppers and crickets in the family of Orthoptera. Locusts often swarm in large numbers and can cause catastrophic damage to grasses and crops, eating everything in sight. Cicada's on the other hand are in the same family as true bugs, Hemiptera, and subfamily Homoptera. Cicada's go by other localized names like "Dry-Fly" from the shed skin they leave behind, and are also called "Jar-Flies". In many parts of the world they are consumed, and the females are prized for their meatiness. They are skewered and stir fried as a delicacy. YUM---stir fried cicada, when do we eat?
Cicada's face other predators besides humans, this includes birds, and cicada killers, as well as our pets. While not known to be poisonous, they can make our pets vomit or give them diarrhea.
Each individual species has their own song, and they can be identified by their song alone. They make these loud noises with specialized organs called Timbols. They vibrate these organs located on the sides of the abdomen by expanding and relaxing the membrane.
For me as for many of us, the true symbol that summer has arrived is the arrival of the Cicada's Song. There is nothing more enjoyable than sitting outside on a muggy summer evening, sipping on a cool drink taking in the sounds of summer.

5th Tennessee Arthropod---American Dagger Moth

This fuzzy little caterpillar is the larval stage of the American Dagger Moth (Acronicta americana). It was photographed in my front yard in Savannah, MO about 2 weeks ago.

While we were in Tennessee I found the adult near the porch light at our cabin in Townsend, TN. These moths belong to the Noctuidae (Owlet Moths) family and are common throughout the Eastern United States. The adults reach wingspans from 2 1/2 - 3 1/4 inches and are mottled gray in color. They are the largest of all the dagger moths in the United States. The caterpillars will reach lengths up to 2 inches and are covered in dense white or pale yellow hairs. There are black "lashes" located at each end that stand up like Alfalfa's spiked hair. They feed on Birch, Oak, Alder, Ash, Willow, Maple, Elm, Poplar, Walnut and many other deciduous trees. It is not reported if the adult feeds. These moths are beautiful in both stages of life.

4th Tennessee Arthropod--Deep Yellow Euchlaena

This pretty moth is the Deep Yellow Euchlaena (Euchlaena amoenaria). They are a member of the geometer family of moths. They are found throughout Eastern North America. This one was photographed at the porch light of our cabin in Townsend, TN. With a 2 inch wingspan they are fairly large for a geometer moth. It is not known what the adults eat, or even if they do. Very little is reported on the life cycle of these moths, there isn't even a host plant recorded for the caterpillar. It can probably be assumed they feed on any variety of trees like most geometer moths. One identifying characteristic of this species is the light patches near the wing tips. This will help distinguish them from another similar species called the Saw-Wing moth. They both have deeply scalloped wings. The coloring of this species is patches of yellow and reddish-brown. They are quite lovely and would easily be camouflaged against the bark of trees.

3rd Tennessee Arthropod-Luna Moth

Everyone will recognize this gorgeous moth. The Luna Moth (Actias luna) is universal in its appeal, and arguably the most gorgeous moth in North America. They are found throughout the Eastern portion of the United States, south into Mexico and as far north as Canada. Reaching wingspans up to 4 1/2 inches catagorizes them as a large moth. Their bright lime green color and yellow eye spots make it impossible to mistake them for any other species. The one pictured here was found in Cades Cove along the driving trail. I spotted it hanging on a limb near the ground. I frantically told my husband he needed to find a spot to pull over. Once a safe location was found to pull off the one way road, I walked back about 1/4 of a mile to capture these images. It was a newly emerged female. She was still very damp and weak. The overstuffed abdomen (for egg carrying) and the lack of feathery attennae tells me she is a girl.
Late in the evening, usually after midnight the females will emit a strong pheromone (chemical perfume) that attracts any males within the vicinity. The males are capable of smelling her perfume from great distances, they do this with their specially adapted antennae which are extremely feathered. She will continue to scent until a suitable mate has been located. After mating, she will lay her eggs 4 to 6 at a time on the appropriate host plants, in this case it will be hickory, walnuts, sweet gum or persimmon. The eggs hatch in about 10 days, and the hungry caterpillars will begin feeding immediately. They grow rapidly and are fully grown in about 2 to 3 weeks, or at the length of 3 inches. They will crawl to the ground and pupate. They will spend the winter as a pupae and emerge the following spring as an adult. These moths have a very short lifespan and only live about one week as adults. The adults do not feed, as their sole purpose is to reproduce. Look for them near deciduous hardwood forests, and they will sometimes come to lights at night.
I always get excited each time I see one of these gorgeous moths, no matter how many times I see one, it is like seeing one for the first time.

2nd Tennessee Arthropod---European Hornet

This impressive looking wasp is the European Hornet (Vespa crabo). We encountered a few of these near the cabin where we stayed in Townsend, TN. One of the neighbors owned a large yellow lab,she visited us often. She was old and as sweet as can be, she had a taste for these wasps and kept capturing them and eating them, even when it was apparent that the wasps were stinging her mouth. We could not figure out why she would endure such a painful sting to eat these little morsels. The one pictured here was chewing on a cicada near the driveway. These large wasps are native to Europe, and were first introduced to North America in 1840 where they made their appearance in New York State. Their numbers are greatly reduced in their native country, especially in Germany where it is illegal to harm them in any way. In fact if you kill one you could face a possible fine of up to 50,000 EURO which translates into $70,520.36 USD, which would be a hefty fine for killing an insect. Their introduction to the United States has given us our only true hornet. They are quite large and reach lengths up to 1 1/4 inches.
Many myths surround this wasp, one in particular hints at it being very aggressive. Some have said "Three stings will kill a human and seven stings will kill a horse" This is a huge exaggeration. While large and fairly loud as they buzz by you, they are not known to be aggressive, except when defending their hive. In fact if approached away from the hive they have the tendency to back away from you until they can safely fly away. Near the nest is another story, they will defend their hive very aggressively. A sting from one of these large wasps would be a nasty experience, it is reported to be terribly painful. Just like other wasps, they can sting numerous times, and the pheromone(chemical perfume) they exude would send up an alarm call to other members of the hive, and before long several of these wasps would be on the scene with one goal---to get you away from the hive (perhaps this is why their species name is crabo?) If you are feeling adventurous and would like to see a hive in action up close, approach slowly, and DO NOT breathe(The carbon dioxide you breathe out would alert them to your presence) towards the hive, you may be able to get within 20 yards of the hive undetected. Good luck.
In the spring, bred females become active with the return of warm weather. They will begin seeking out suitable sites for nest building, once she locates a likely spot she will start building the trademark papery nest. Usually this will be within hollow trees, but often they will build in human structures such as barns, attics and old houses, sometimes even building in the spaces between walls. It would probably be undesirable to have them in your homes as their hive often leak a residue that can be very stinky. This stench would be unwelcome in your home. The queen will begin depositing eggs within cells in the hive. She will feed these larvae herself and care for the hive. Once 5 to 10 newly emerged workers (females, that are incapable of reproducing) appear they will take over the care of the offspring and the hive. At this point the queens only purpose is to lay eggs. The hive usually reaches its full size by September, with a maximum of 1,000 workers, which would be a large hive. An average hive will have around 500 workers. These wasps are typically found in woodland areas, and with more and more people moving to the outskirts of town, and with the expansion of this wasps range, expect that you may come in contact with them. They are attracted to lights at night, and this may be due to the fact that other insects are also attracted to your porch lights. These wasps attack and kill insects, masticating (chewing) them and taking the nourishing substances back to the hive where they feed to the growing larva. The larva are fed exclusively bits of chewed up insects, and cicadas seem to be a favorite of the workers, perhaps because they are easy to capture and provide lots of food in one package. The adult workers need a lot more energy than what eating insects can provide, so they prefer to dine on sugary substances like sap or nectar. They are even known to feed on apples and peaches, often destroying the fruit. The larvae exude a sugary substance that the adult workers are able to feed on. Perhaps this is a thank you for all the hard work they perform in keeping them fed with bug juice. They are not known to favor human garbage or picnic favorites like pop. One interesting fact of these wasps is their relationship with a certain Rove Beetle (Velleius dilatatus). This beetle lives within the hive, feeding on the detritus (Organic matter, which includes fecal matter and the dead wasps). This beetle cannot survive without the wasp, even if there is limited amounts of detritus within the hive. These beetles locate the hive by smell, and there are usually around 10 beetles within each hive. In the fall the queen will lay eggs that are destined to be males and new queens. Shortly afterwards the queen dies. Once these new adults emerge they will seek mates. After mating, the males die, and the new queens will look for areas to overwinter. Usually in leaf litter or in hollow trees. The following spring the bred queens become active and the cycle will start all over.