| Insects and Invertebrates 3 |
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Green Stink Bug (Acrosternum hilare) Like many stink bugs this species feeds on plants using its sucking mouthparts. Mmmm.....delicious. |
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Banasa Stink Bug (Banasa sp.) |
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Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) The large yellow underwing was accidentally introduced into eastern Canada sometime around 1979 from Europe. The caterpillars have the peculiar habit of being active during winter if the weather is mild. Caterpillars feed on a variety of grasses and small shrubs. I found this specimen preparing to overwinter inside a rotting oak tree. |
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Red-Necked False Blister Beetle (Asclera ruficollis) Adults feed on pollen and can be found in early spring feeding on the pollen of spring wildflowers. The larvae are presumed to feed on rotting wood. I found this individual in late November in a rotting log. This species can be distinguished from other simlar looking beetles by the presence of two dimples on the pronotum (red part) and three longitudinal ridges on each elytron (wing cover). |
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Grapevine Looper (Eulithis sp.) If you can't find the caterpillar in this photo just click here. |
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Colorado Potato Beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) With the introduction of the potato (Solanum tuberosum) into North America this species was able to extend its range initially from the Southern United States to almost every other part of the United States and even into Canada. As the common name suggests this species does indeed feed on the foliage of potatos as larvae and as adults and can become a serious pest. Before the introduction of the potato this species fed on other species of plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae) such as the Ground Cherry (Physalis sp.) this individual is feeding on. |
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Leafhopper (Gyponana sp.) |
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Fire-Coloured Beetle (Dendroides canadensis) The strikingly flattened larvae of this species lives under tree bark and preys on other subcortical insects. The larvae are very similar to Red-Flat Bark Beetle (Cucujus clavipes) larvae. For a comparison click the photograph below. |
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Rough Stink Bug (Parabrochymena sp.) This cryptic species is apparently predaceous but may also feed upon some plant juices as well. |
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Assassin Bug (Zelus luridus) This species overwinters as a nymph and can be abundant in the fall. Assassin bugs prey upon other insects which they pierce with their hollow mouthparts. This particular species will fold up its legs and fall to the ground if disturbed which makes them hard to photograph when they are active. |
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Camouflaged Looper (Synchlora sp.) This species adorns its body with pieces of its host plant to camouflage itself. In this case the caterpillar used the yellow petals of Kalm's St. Johnswort (Hypericum kalmianum). |
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Stag Beetle (Ceruchus piceus) Larvae of this species feed on rotting wood. I haven't been able to find larvae of this species but I have found several adults in rotting hardwood. Male stag beetles have larger mandibles than the females and they are often branched resembling stag antlers hence the common name. These photographs show a male of this species with his rather formidable looking mandibles. |
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Fossorial Ground Beetle (Geopinus incrassatus) This unique looking ground beetle was found buried in the sand on a lake Erie beach. |
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Longhorned Beetle (Neandra brunnea) This species of longhorned beetle belongs to the subfamily Parandrinae and does not resemble most other members of the family Cerambycidae. The photograph below shows the form more typical of longhorned beetles in comparison with this species. |
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Parasitic Flat Bark Beetle (Catogenus rufus) This species can be found under tree bark and is known to feed on other subcortical insects. The photo below can be used to help distinguish between this species and the similar Red Flat Bark Beetle (Cucujus clavipes). |
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Shy Cosmet or Cattail Caterpillar (Limnaecia phragmitella) As a larvae this species feeds on the developing flowers and seeds of cattails (Typha sp.). The fluffed out cattail heads that can be found in any wetland area are caused by this caterpillar. If you search carefully within the cattail heads you are likely to find one or more of these tiny caterpillars. |
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Virginian Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica) This specimen was reared out of a cocoon which I found in Guelph. The first two photographs show the adult moth unfolding its wings. The dark patch on the thorax in the top two photographs is part of the pupal case which eventually fell off. The bottom photograph shows what the adult moth looks like with wings fully unfolded. The larvae feed on a wide variey of low growing plants, woody shurbs and trees. |
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Round Sand Beetle (Omophron americanus) If you look around on a beach during a summer night you are likey to see plenty of round sand beetles running around. This individual was found on a tiny (less than 10m) stretch of sandy shoreline in Algonquin park. |
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Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris) This individual was reared from a pupa which was found overwintering in the Guelph Arboretum. As a caterpillar this species feeds on a number of deciduous trees such as alder, willow, walnut, ash, oak etc. |
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Silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) |
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Eastern Subterranean Termite (Reticulitermes flavipes) |
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Wasp Galls (Family - Cynipidae) I found these wasp galls on several rose (Rosa sp.) bushes at Long Point. |