Insects

The molt skin of an annual cicada on Larch tree.Dauphin County,Pa.11-10-19.

Sandhills Hornets nest [Vespula arenaria].Schuylkill County,Pa.7-26-19

Giant Root Borer [Prionus spp.] Dauphin County,Pa.7-12-19.

May Fly,March Brown.Montour County,Pa.4-17-19

Harris' Diving Beetle [Dytiscus harrisii].Coos county,N.H.,9-2-18.Voracious predators,eating small fish and tadpoles.Adult beetles can live 3 years or more

I caught several 5+ old Marbled larvae and in the net was a beautiful Green Sedge Caddisfly larvae [Phryganeidea],so I put them in the photographic tank together.The one marbled larvae [on left] already had a damaged tail,the Caddis fly larvae immediately attacked the the larvae at the damaged point cutting the tail in half and proceeded in eating the larvae alive.it was a horrible thing to witness.It all happened so quickly,I got the fly larvae away from the salamander larvae and he seemed okay [even missing part of his tail] and placed him back in the pool,it swam away.It's almost like the fly larvae knew exactly where to strike the larvae [at the damaged point].I think it's safe to say that these larvae attack and pray on Marbled larvae.Dauphin County,Pa.4-20-18

Mantid eggs,I believe them to be Chinese Mantid [Tenodera aridifolia].Dauphin County,1-20-18.I like to say they are still there but the tracks in the snow told the whole story,a turkey picked them off!

A beautiful Damselfly nymph,notice the 3 feather-shaped gills at the end of the abdomen.Dauphin County,2-27-18

Potter Wasp [Eumenes fraternus].Female builds spherical chamber of mud on a twig or branch.1 egg is attached to the wall or placed near the opening.Anesthetized caterpillar or sawfly larva is placed inside as foot for wasp larva.each chamber is sealed with mud pellet,and is totally resistant to rain.Young wasp cuts exit hole from inside.Dauphin County,12-21-17

Chinese Mantid [Tenodera aridifolia].Schuylkill County,10-4-17

Tri Colored Bumble [Bombus ternarius].Coos County,N.H.9-9-17

Woodland -Meadow Katydid [Conocephalus nemoralis].Dauphin County,8-21-17-makes a wonderful summer sound for anyone who wants to look it up!

Northern Walking Sticks [Diapheromera femorata.Dauphin County,8-13-17

True Katydid "Northern Katydid" [Pterophylla camellifolia].Dauphin County,8-13-17

Dogbane Leaf Beetle [Chrysochus auratus].Dauphin County,8-6-17

Juvenile Praying Mantis [Mantis religiosa].Dauphin County,7-9-17

A young mated [fertilized] female Bald-faced Hornet [Vespula maculata].She hollowed out a chamber in a rotted log where she will overwinter and start a new colony in the spring.Dauphin County,11-8-16

Drone Fly [Eristalis].Coos County,N.H.,9-5-16

Brown Daddy-long-legs [Phalangium opilio].Coos County,N.H.,9-6-16

Large Milkweed Bug [Oncopeltus fasciatus].Emerged from its exoskeleton,seen in the last picture.Dauphin county,10-4-16

Large Milkweed Bug and Juveniles [Oncopeltus fasciatus].Dauphin county,9-28-16.It is a true Bug.

Harris' Diving Beetle [Dytiscus harrisii].Coos county,N.H.,9-9-16.Voracious predators,eating small fishes and tadpoles.Adult beetles can live 3 years or more.

Wild European Honey Bee [Apis mellifera] hive,in a White Oak Tree [Quercus alba].Gettysburg National Battlefield,Adams county,10-23-11

Golden Northern Bumble Bee [Bombus fevidus],Feeding on Northern hybrid Ladies'-tresses [Spiranthes xborealis],orchid.Coos county,N.H.,9-10-09

Large Milkweed Bug [Oncopeltus fasciatus],mating.Dauphin county,8-20-16

True Katydid"Northern Katydid" [Pterophylla camellifolia].Dauphin county,8-15-14

Eastern Dobsonfly [Corydalus cornutus].Dauphin county,6-25-11.Dobsonfly larvae are known as "Hellgrammites.

Bald-faced Hornet [Vespula maculata].Mahantongo Valley,Schuylkill county,12-6-15

Two-striped Grasshopper [Melanopplus bivittatus],female.Dauphin county,6-16-14

Northern Walkingsticks [Diapheromera femorata],mating.Dauphin county,10-6-08

Red milkweed Beetle [Tetraopes tetraophthalmus].Dauphin county,7-11-11

Northern Walkingstick [Diapheromera femorata].Dauphin county,10-6-11

Oleander"Milkweed"Aphids [Aphis nerii].Dauphin county,7-17-16

Praying Mantis"European Mantid" [Mantis religiosa].Schuylkill county,8-16-13

Brown Daddy-long-legs [Phalangium opilio] & Periodical Cicadas [Magiciada].Schuylkill county,6-15-13

Katydid nymph [Scudderia],on Pad leaved orchid [Platanthera orbiculata].Schuylkill county,6-4-13

Katydid nymph [Scudderia],on Pad leaved orchid [Platanthera orbiculata].Schuylkill county,6-15-13

Robber Fly [Laphria posticata].Dauphin county,8-6-16

Hornet nest.Dauphin county,8-23-12

Bald-Faced Hornet [Vespula maculata]&nest.Dauphin county,9-29-12

Chinese mantid [Tenodera aridifolia],eating a Bee.Schuylkill county,8-17-08

Chinese Mantid [Tenodera aridifolia],eating a bee.Schuylkill county,8-17-08

Chinese Mantid [Tenodera aridifolia] eggs.Schuylkill county,11-19-12

American Hover Fly [Metasyrphus americanus].Dauphin county,7-30-16

Periodical Cicada [Magiciada],nymphal skin.On pad leaved orchid [Platanthera orbiculata].Schuylkill county,6-3-13

Peridoical Cicada [magiciada],larvae,and emerging from nymphal skin.Dauphin county,5-22-13

Carpenter Bee [Xylocopa virginica].Dauphin county,7-22-16

Wild European Honey Bee [Apis mellifera],feeding on Common Milkweed [Asclepias syriaca].Dauphin county,7-17-16

Assassin Stinkbug,caught a European Honey Bee [Apis mellifera].Dauphin County,7-7-16

Dung Beetle [Scarabaeoidea].Dauphin county,7-7-16

Common Water Strider"Skater"[Gerris remigis],and his shadow.Coos county,N.H. 9-4-15

Common water Strider"Skater"[Gerris remigis],and his shadow.Coos county,N.H. 9-4-15

Northern Walking Stick [Diapheromera femorata] out of its nymphal skin [seen hanging from leaf].Dauphin,county,8-7-15

Periodical cicadas [Magiciada],mating and laying eggs.Dauphin county,6-15-13

Periodical Cicadas [Magiciada],emerging from nymphal skin.Dauphin county,6-6-14

Sandhills Hornet [Vespula arenaria] nest.Dauphin county,7-14-13

Broad Necked Root Borer [Prionus laticollis].Dauphin County,7-24-09