Five more: Here are more pictures from last summer. First up is a pair of blue-fronted dancer damselflies ( Argia apicalis ).

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Five more

Jun 28, 2020 07:14:37 #

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

Here are more pictures from last summer.
First up is a pair of blue-fronted dancer damselflies (Argia apicalis).

Blue-fronted dancers by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

Broad-headed bugs are seed feeders. Their nymphs are really good ant mimics. This nymph is Alydus eurinus. One thing about ant mimics is they act like ants, which means they scurry around pretty fast. Not easy to photograph.

Broad headed bug nymph by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

Broad-headed bug nymph by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

One of our largest wasps is the cicada killer (Sphecius speciosus - kind of a weird name). They provision their burrow with paralyzed cicadas, and they must be big enough to carry these large insects. This female was busy making her burrow.

Cicada killer by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

Cicada killer by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

Next up is one of our nursery web spiders. This species is Pisaurina mira.

Nursery web spider by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

Finally, a large colony of sawfly larvae on willow. I don’t have a species ID, but it should be genus Nematus.

Sawfly larvae by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

Jun 28, 2020 07:47:12 #

tinusbum Loc: east texas

this year i've only seen a couple Broad-headed bug nymphs,nice shots

Jun 28, 2020 07:49:29 #

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I generally prefer arachnids to insects and your spider is a beauty! The sawfly larvae look like they're having a great time dancing to the music

(I guess the tree or plant isn't having a great time, though...)

Jun 28, 2020 07:54:02 #

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Those mimics sure have me fooled for ants.

Wonderful images and details of each insect!

Jun 28, 2020 08:04:32 #

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Mark, these are really really good.
--Bob

Jun 28, 2020 09:37:52 #

Quixdraw Loc: x

Fine set!

Jun 28, 2020 09:49:09 #

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

Mark Sturtevant wrote:

Here are more pictures from last summer. br First... (show quote)

I had to look twice at the BHB. The antenna and beak are a giveaway, but still an amazing mimic.
To know Latin as it is used in science is a big help.
A college text will give you basics, a Cassel's New Latin Dictionary for reference, and a few hours of study will be a start.
The Cicada Killer is well named, both in English and Latin.
This strikingly attractive wasp is Specius, from root specere, to see. So the appearance of.
Speciosus, beautiful, splendid, handsome.
So a wasp with a splendid, handsome appearance.
Nicely shot, Mark.
Bill

Jun 28, 2020 10:59:40 #

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

An excellent set.

Jun 28, 2020 12:06:59 #

napabob Loc: Napa CA

very nice documentations of critters that share our planet,

the sawfly larva appear to be members of the clean leaf club.........

Jun 29, 2020 06:07:26 #

EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England

Excellent photography as usual. I love the gentle colours of the first and the focus on the Sawfly larvae is so good and I expect they were all moving at the time.

Jun 29, 2020 07:31:42 #