The "Mozzie" larva is what I believe to be a Dytiscidae beetle larva. Is that what this is?
Mozzie is an unknown to me.

Cactus fly out, none here in Maryland. How about Syrphidae? Body seems to fit these flies.
If a Soldier fly, Stratiomys sp. look to be a fit.

Maryland is rich with many small streams that fit the bill for aquatics.
Isolation has kept polution to a minimum in upper waters. Gravel bed underlying costal plain means gravel bottom and plenty of oxygen.
I monitored many for water quality in 80's for Smithsonian. I collected insects for me.
A stream survey for aquatics would make a good summer project.
A partial list might include:
Dragon and damsel flies. Mayflies, Fish flies, Dobson flies, Caddis flies, Stoneflies, midges and other. Beetles include Carabididae and Omophronidae, Ditiscidae, Hydrophilidae, Haliplidae, Gyrinidae, Dryopidae, and Elmidae.
True bugs are many, and snail's, clams, isopods, other arthropods such as Fishing spiders. AND mosquitoes, and biting flies.
And a final note. Caddisfly larva may include bits of gold, real or fools, in the case. I saw one from the upper Potomac River that had a number of flecks in it.
Bill

When I ID'ed these I got Lyctus striatus. Lyctidae.
Hairy, whereas Cucujidae not so much.
First of five abdominal segments much longer than rest.
And antenna details not seen here agreed.
I used Dillon and Dillon and a binocular microscope.
For sure very hard to seperate these families.
My caveat. Have been wrong before.
Bill

No help on #1 either. But, is that a mite on second abdominal segment?
I think a point has come that for some, photo MICRO is next.
I found 2x adaptors for the M42 system, so that means 20x with the 10x lens. If that works, if I can get enough light, if the condo doesn't shake, and 101 other if's, what next?
Bill

Antenna and body point to Soldier fly, Stratiomyidae.
Or maybe a Strepsíptera wanna be?😉
Bill

I looked back. An ocean away and yet familiar "friends in a drop of water."
Did you ever set up an aquarium?. I have had one for many years. I cycle native fauna thru, so always changing.
FYI of those here, get a 2.5 gal and a sponge filter and air pump. Fill to about three inches from top and keep screened. That set up needs a PINCH OF YARD SOIL. This provides the bacteria to kick start the biologic action of the sponge filter. Let sit a week before stocking. Experiment, you will find a Ballance. Collect plants and animals.
Creatures will feed at the filter (clean by squeezing under cold water, keeps cultures alive), be eaten by another , they in turn eaten. An eco system will develop.
I did this and a lot of insect zookeeping. I was the neighborhood 'oddball' with two young sons and the wierd pets, including a crow. Guess where the kids all hung out. Free babysitting.
Thanks for looking and listening, Brenda.
Bill

That was yesterday collecting at a freshwater stream.
Stone flies emerging, and some midges. The rest I got by dragging a net in the gravel.
Canon T2I with a 40mm lens and 39 mm tubes.
There were a lot of aquatic amphiopods, too. They die easily as water warms. They also dye the alcohol I put them in a steamed shrimp looking pink.
Grass collected went into an aquarium I keep set up. Never know what it can hide. We'll see.
Good night, all.
Bill

Case bearing Cadisfly. Those are sand grains cemented together

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This is a Mayfly nymph. Note three cerci. If these were Stoneflies, there would only be two cerci.

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Out of water

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Three Dytiscidae larva

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At one to one.

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I finally realized that there is no need to stack if your subject is small enough. To that end I have found some beetles about one half this one's size. Problem is they are lost again. I sent Gary some specimens. I offer this service to anyone here. Random arthropods, beetles, etc. Just ask private, no need to bore others.
Gary got some Psocidae, Psocus leidyi. Some Lyctidae, Lyctus sp., the one in this post. And three stages of mealworm beetles, Tenebrio molitor.

Gary, you have made good use of these. Collecting yesterday was at a small stream running full and turbid. I got a good bit. So I will start my own post. Goodnight, all.

[quote=Rich475]An owl dangling precariously from a branch has scooped the overall prize of this year's Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards.

Out of the 3,500 entries, Tibor Kercz won the overall prize with his

series of images showing an owl losing its footing and trying to claw

its way back on to a branch. Other entrants included a yawning dormouse, a photobombing sea turtle and a rather shocked seal. Take a look at all the winning photos from the competition.


Like to see the look on the face of the next person retrieving the ball after a putt.
Bill

Forget the above. It is one of the Psocidae. The beetles are even smaller.
This specimen is Psocus .leidyi. They were feeding in clusters on a living oak. Feeding on lichen patches growing on the bark.
Bill

Thank you. It is a Psocid. I sent this to Gary and forgot what I sent.
Bill

I can ID this, I believe. Porrhothele antipodiana. The Tunnel Web Spider. Not deadly as is it's relative the Funnel Web Spider.
Tunnel Web 50mm span with 30mm body length.
Bill

I know this may be disagreed with. The two scaup are hard to seperate. The greater has a somewhat blacker head. But the head shape is the field mark. The greater head is rounder. The lesser is domed on pate.
And greater has a bluer bill. Bluebills being another name.
Therefore, I believe it is an adult male greater scaup.
Scaup duck was an old Scottish name meaning mussel duck, for the favorite food.
Bill

Anyone wanting to know their birds, you cannot go wrong with the National Geographic Guide to birds of N.A. 2nd Ed. Check eBay, only a few dollars used.
Bill