Past Issues

2019

08.05.2019 Salt of the earth, salt of the human: Swallowtails and brush-footed butterflies, Papilionidae and Nymphalidae

07.29.2019 Nettles and poop on the menu for the Eastern Comma butterfly, Polygonia comma

07.22.2019 Swallowtail soiree: Eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly, Papilio glaucus

07.15.2019 BEETLES THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT: ASIATIC GARDEN BEETLES, MALADERA CASTANEA

07.08.2019 THE SILK MOTH SUMMER CONTINUES: PROMETHEA SILK MOTH, CALLOSAMIA PROMETHEA

07.01.2019 Just in time for the 4th of July: Firefly fireworks - Lampyridae

06.24.2019 A season of silk moths continues with Cecropia moth, Hyalophora cecropia

06.17.2019 Blossom busters: Oriental beetle, Anomala orientalis

06.10.2019 Coffee and long-legged flies, Dolichopodidae

06.03.2019 Spitting image: Meadow spittle bug, Philaenus spumarius

05.27.2019 Eater of eaters of thistles and other plants: Spined soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris

05.20.2019 Eaters of thistles: Thistle tortoise beetle, Cassida rubiginosa, and Canada thistle bud weevil, Larinus planus

05.13.2019 Tiny red spots before my eyes: Clover mites, Bryobia praetiosa

05.06.2019 Be on the lookout for Lunas: Luna moths, Actias luna

04.29.2019 Termites take flight: Eastern subterranean termites, Reticulitermes flavipes

04.22.2019 Come one, come all to explore the Insect Petting Zoo – Maryland Day, Saturday April 27, 2019

04.15.2019 Alpha-gal and the Lone Star Tick, Amblyomma americanum

04.08.2019 Busy by day but what do mason bees do at night? Mason bees - Osmia spp.

04.01.2019 Wasp or fly? Stilt-legged flies, mimetic Micropezidae

03.25.2019 Gorgeous Grasshoppers of the Costa Rican Rainforest: Lubber Grasshoppers, Romaleidae, and Airplane Grasshoppers, Eumastacidae

03.18.2019 Lichen what I’m seeing: Tropical Katydids, Longhorned Beetles, and Lanternflies blending with features of bark

03.11.2019 Destination Central Cordillera, Costa Rica: A visit with giant rainforest recyclers, Polydesmid millipedes

03.04.2019 Return to Guatuso, Costa Rica: Trouble for stingless bees - the silver orb weaver, 'Argiope argentata'

02.25.2019 Destination Guatuso, Costa Rica: Stingless bees, Mariolas, in the rainforest (Tribe, Meliponini)

02.18.2019 Return to Volcán del Toro, Costa Rica: Dashing velvet ants, Mutillidae

02.11.2019 Destination Volcán del Toro, Costa Rica: Two-spotted tiger beetle, 'Pseudoxycheila tarsalis'

02.04.2019 Destination Vietnam: Taking it slow with the Vietnamese Walking Stick, 'Medauroidea extradentata'

01.28.2019 Destination Malaysia: Home of the Giant Leaf Insect, 'Phyllium giganteum'

01.21.2019 Oil bees, if you please: Centris nitida

01.14.2019 Destination Sanibel Island, Florida – Taking down air potato: Air Potato Leaf Beetle, 'Lilioceris cheni'

01.07.2019 Destination Sarasota, Florida: To kill a cycad - Cycad scale, ‘Aulacaspis yasumatsui’

2018  

12.31.2018 DESTINATION SARASOTA, FLORIDA: GREEN AND GORGEOUS GREEN ORCHID BEE, 'EUGLOSSA DILEMMA'

12.17.2018 Deck the halls with boughs of holly…and the Native holly leafminer, 'Phytomyza ilicicola', and Holly berry midge, 'Asphondylia ilicicola'

12.10.2018 Destination Sonoran Desert: A time to sting for the Giant Hairy Desert Scorpion, 'Hadrurus arizonensis'

12.03.2018 Destination Mojave Desert: Defying death by playing dead, Blue Death-Feigning Beetle, 'Asbolus verrucosus'

11.26.2018 Destination Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Florida: Mighty defenses of the eastern lubber grasshopper, 'Romalea microptera'

11.19.2018 Destination Hutchison Island, Florida: a visit with the Twostriped walkingstick, 'Anisomorpha buprestoides'

11.12.2018 Destination New South Wales, Australia: a visit with the Macleay’s spectre, 'Extatosoma tiaratum'

11.05.2018 Giant, Bloodthirsty Mosquitoes? Nah, Crane Flies – Tipulidae

10.29.2018 Bugs in orange and black: A spooky Halloween trick or treat for predators - Small and large milkweed bugs, 'Lygaeus kalmii' and 'Oncopeltus fasciatus'

10.22.2018 Friendly velvety home invaders: Soldier beetle larvae, 'Chauliognathus' spp.

10.15.2018 Good morning, Wolfie: Wolf spiderlings, Lycosidae

10.08.2018 Spiders in the mist: Funnel weaving spider, Pennsylvania Grass Spider, ‘Agelenopsis pennsylvanica’

10.01.2018 Pugnacious paper wasps: Polistes metricus or maybe Polistes parametricus

09.24.2018 Girl Scouts and vagabonds: Variegated fritillary, Euptoieta claudia

09.17.2018 Parsley poacher: Black swallowtail caterpillar, Papilio polyxenes

09.10.2018 Humans help wasps, wasps help humans: Four-toothed mason wasp, Monobia quadridens

09.03.2018   Brush-foot butterflies dining on dung: Nymphalidae

08.27.2018   A Good Year for Monarchs? Monarch butterfly, Danaus Plexippus

08.20.2018   Robber flies steal lives: Red-footed cannibal fly, Promachus rufipes

08.13.2018   “Mantises and Martinis”! The Chinese Praying Mantis, Tenodera aridifolia sinensis

08.06.2018   An inside look at baldfaced hornets, Dolichovespula maculata

07.30.2018   Carp diem: Fish and blow flies, Calliphoridae

07.23.2018   Cicadas beware, the ladies are in town: Female cicada killer, Sphecius speciosus

07.16.2018   Lookin’ for trouble: Male cicada killer wasps, Sphecius speciosus

07.09.2018   Tiny recyclers: Booklice and barklice, Psocoptera

07.02.2018   A zealous assassin: Pale Green Assassin Bug, Zelus luridus

06.25.2018   American ladies like licorice: American Lady Butterfly, Vanessa virginiensis

06.18.2018   Vexing rains spawn vexing mosquitoes: inland floodwater mosquito, Aedes vexans

06.11.2018   A bumble bee, or not a bumble bee, that is the question: Miner bees, Anthophora abrupta

06.04.2018   Ground nesting bees beware of the bee fly: Bombyliidae

05.28.2018   Impatient, doomed cicadas of Brood X, Magicada spp.

05.21.2018   Rosie defoliators: Roseslug sawfly, Endelomyia aethiops, and Curled rose sawfly, Allantus cinctus

05.14.2018   Banneker’s boxelder bugs, Boisea trivittatus

05.07.2018   Stinky exodus underway: Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys

04.30.2018   Mason bee-haviors: Osmia spp.

04.23.2018   Come Explore the Insect Petting Zoo at Maryland Day, Saturday, April 28, 2018!

04.16.2018   Destination Potomac, Maryland – Spring arrives and with it, ticks: Lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, and Blacklegged ticks, Ixodes spp.

04.09.2018   Destination Cahal Pech, Belize to visit rainforest recyclers: Nozzle-headed termites, Nasutitermes sp.

04.02.2018   Destination Belmopan, Belize – Look who’s looking at you: Owl butterflies, Caligo sp.

03.26.2018   Destination Monteverde, Costa Rica: Rainy day in the vanishing cloud forest with butterflies, moths, and froghoppers

03.19.2018   Help find the spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula

03.12.2018   Destination Lizard Island, Australia, and a visit with Green Tree Ants, Oecophylla smaragdina

03.05.2018   Bug of the Week Academy Awards 2018

02.26.2018    Destination La Torre, Peru – Search for the mistress of pain: Bullet Ants, Paraponera clavata  

02.19.2018   Destination Reserva Nacional Tambopata, Peru – The art of deception: can gossamer-wing butterflies, Arawacus sp., dodge lethal attacks?

02.12.2018   Destination Reserva Nacional Tambopata, Peru: How pleasing are rainforest fungus beetles, Erotylidae?

02.05.2018   Destination Villarrica, Chile – Not hidin’ from anyone: the elegant phasmatid, Agathemera elegans

01.29.2018   Destinations La Torre, Peru, and Carara, Costa Rica – Hidin’ in the Rainforest, Part II: cryptic walking sticks, Phasmatidae; horse-head grasshoppers, Proscopidiidae; and mantids, Mantidae

01.22.2018   Destination Tambopata National Reserve, Peru: Hidin’ in the rainforest with cryptic katydids, Tettigoniidae

01.15.2018   Destination Tambopata River, Peru: The search for salt by birds and birdwing moths, Urania sp.

01.08.2018   Destination Puerto Maldonado, Peru: Skipper caterpillars, Hesperiidae, play hide and seek with predators in the rainforest

01.01.2018   Destination Coral Gables, Florida: A visit with Coontie and the Atala butterfly, Eumaeus atala

2017

12.25.2017   Cooley spruce gall adelgids, Adelges cooleyi, decorate the Christmas tree

12.18.2017   ‘Twas the week before Christmas: Giant bark aphids, Longistigma caryae, and giant willow aphids, Tuberolachnus salignus

12.11.2017   Edamame surprise: Soldier flies, Stratiomyidae

12.04.2017   Five-legged cricket in the bathtub: Ceuthophilus spp. (American camel crickets) and Diestrammena spp. (Asian camel crickets)

11.27.2017   Waxy ladies on alder: Woolly Alder Aphid, Paraprociphilus tessellatus

11.20.2017   Seeing spots: Spotted Lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula

11.13.2017   Flies that mimic wasps: Masquerading syrphid fly, Helophilus sp.

11.06.2017   Window wasps: Grass-carrying wasps, Isodontia spp.

10.30.2017   Bugs in orange and black: Three assassins - milkweed assassin bug, Zelus longipes; orange assassin bug, Pselliopus barberi; and wheel bug, Arilus cristatus

10.23.2017   What is that giant hornet and why is it eating my tree? European hornet, Vespa crabro

10.16.2017   Beautiful in yellow and black: The locust borer, Megacyllene robiniae

10.09.2017   Look but do not touch: Blister beetles, Epicauta pensylvanica and E. funebris

10.02.2017   Deception and defense on cup-plant: Keel-shaped treehopper, Entylia carinata

09.25.2017   On the outside looking in but not for long: Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys

09.18.2017   Bumble Bees and other Pollinators Beware of Ambush Bugs, Phymata spp.

09.11.2017   Big spider webs, Part 2: Black and yellow garden spider, Argiope aurantia

09.04.2017   Big spider webs, Part 1: Spotted orbweaver, Neoscona crucifera

08.28.2017   Where have all the spiders gone? Black and yellow mud dauber wasps, Sceliphron caementarium

08.21.2017   Harlequin hijinks: Harlequin bug, Murgantia histrionica

08.14.2017   Catching up with the Monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus

08.07.2017   To squash a squash bug: Anasa tristis

07.31.2017   Pumpkin vines on the menu: Squash vine borer, Melittia cucurbitae

07.24.2017   Liquid squirting leafhoppers: Sharpshooters, Cuerna and Oncometopia

07.17.2017   Here’s looking at you, kid! Eyed click beetle, Alaus oculatus

07.10.2017   What is that strange big insect? Dobsonflies, hellgrammites, and fishflies (Corydalidae)

07.03.2017   Mother Nature’s summer light show: Lightning bugs, Lampyridae

06.26.2017   Requiem for early risers: Periodical cicadas, Magicicada spp.

06.19.2017   Sweet and salty: Solitary sweat bee, Augochlora pura

06.12.2017   Recycling ash: Banded Ash Borer, Neoclytus caprea

06.05.2017   It’s a hard-knock life for cicadas: Magicicada spp. and their enemies

05.29.2017   Cicadas: How to tell the guys from the gals, what does an ovipositor do, cicada damage and how to prevent it? Magicicada spp.

05.22.2017   Cranking up the Big Boy Band: Magicicada spp.

05.15.2017   Periodical cicadas up and out of the ground in Maryland, DC, and Virginia - Magicicada spp.

05.08.2017   Welcome Periodical Cicadas of Brood VI and perhaps Broods V and X, Magicicada spp.

05.01.2017   Good bye ash trees of the Potomac: Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis

04.24.2017   Come one, come all to explore the Insect Petting Zoo: Maryland Day, Saturday April 29, 2017!

04.17.2017   Preserve our air from “The Infection of Dungs”: Rainbow dung beetle, Phanaeus vindex

04.02.2017   Spring’s first mosquitoes and what we might expect this year with Zika Virus and the Yellow Fever Mosquito, Aedes aegypti

03.27.2017   Parasitoids at the porch light: Ichneumon wasps, Ophionine

03.20.2017   Tiny winter leapers: Snow fleas and other springtails, Collembola

03.13.2017   Bloodsuckers in the basement: Subterranean mosquito, Culex pipiens form molestus

03.06.2017   Ectoparasites go to school: Bed Bugs in DC, Cimex lectularius

02.27.2017   Stingless bees in the rainforest: Tribe, Meliponini

02.20.2017   Butterflies pumping on the beach: Daggerwings, Marpesia sp.

02.13.2017   At night in the rainforest, part 4: Big fangs in the night! Costa Rican orange mouth tarantula, Psalmopoeus reduncus, and Mexican redrump tarantula, Brachypelma vagans

02.06.2017   At night in the rainforest, part 3: Paper nest builders, Polybia sp.

01.30.2017   At night in the rainforest, part 2: Round-headed katydids, Amblycorypha sp.

01.23.2017   At night in the rainforest: Whip spiders, Amblypygi

01.16.2017   Tiny hibernal hunters: Dusty-wings, Coniopterigidae

01.09.2017   Tiny wolves in sheep’s clothing: Debris carrying lacewing larvae, Chrysopidae

01.02.2017   Pantry raiders: Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella

2016

12.27.2016   Santa Mantie bids you all a wonderful holiday season!

12.19.2016   Red and green: Tailed jay, Graphium agamemnon, and cotton stainers, Dysdercus sp.

12.12.2016   Legends of Christmas Tinsel and Spiders

12.05.2016   Decorations on the Christmas tree: Egg cases of the European mantis, Mantis religiosa, Chinese mantis, Tenodera sinensis, and Carolina mantis, Stagmomantis Carolina

11.28.2016   Beautiful but dangerous: Black Widow Spiders, Latrodectus spp.

11.21.2016   Recycling of the shrew: Broad-headed bug, Megalotomus quinquespinosus

11.14.2016   An autumn sun dance: Mayflies, Ephemeroptera

11.07.2016   Bugs in Orange and Black, Part 2, beautiful but stinky: Gulf fritillary, Agraulis vanillae

10.31.2016   Bugs in Orange and Black, Predator and Prey: Two-spotted stink bug, Perillus bioculatus, and Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata

10.24.2016   A flower fly grows in Brooklyn: Flowers flies, Syrphidae

10.17.2016   When aphids fill the air: Elm cockscomb gall aphid, Colopha ulmicola

10.10.2016   Singing in the meadow: Short-winged meadow katydid, Conocephalus brevipennis

10.03.2016   Fall is the season for cabbage eaters: Imported cabbage worm, Pieris rapae

09.26.2016   Rain tree surprise: Golden rain tree bug, Jadera haematoloma

09.19.2016   Welcome class of 2016: Large carpenter bees, Xylocopa virginica

09.12.2016   Two other orange and black butterflies: Variegated fritillary, Euptoieta claudia, and great spangled fritillary, Speyeria cybele

09.05.2016   Bringing home the bacon: Paper wasps, Polistes exclamens

08.29.2016   Thread-waisted wasps really dig spotted horsemint: Thread-waisted wasp, Eremnophila aureonotata

08.22.2016   Scary Potter: Potter wasps, Eumeninae

08.15.2016   Now you see ‘em, now you don’t: Silver spotted skipper caterpillars, Epargyreus clarus

08.08.2016   Pawpaws and zebras along the Potomac: Zebra swallowtail butterflies, Protographium marcellus

08.01.2016   Save some milkweed for me! Monarchs and the milkweed tussock moth, Euchaetes egle

07.25.2016   Mounds of mountain marvels: Allegheny mound ant, Formica exsectoides

07.18.2016   One gorgeous beetle: Dogbane leaf beetle, Chrysochus auratus

07.11.2016   Carpenter bee holes make a perfect home for giant resin bee, Megachile sculpturalis

07.04.2016   Oxeye surprise: False milkweed bug, Lygaeus turcicus

06.27.2016   Turning the tables on milkweeds: Milkweed longhorned beetle, Tetraopes sp.

06.20.2016   A bee or not a bee? That is the question! Syrphid fly, Volucella bombylans

06.13.2016   Mason bee peril: Parasitic wasps, Leucospis affinis

06.06.2016   Bug of the Week is ‘Slug of the Week’: Leopard slug, Limax maximus

05.30.2016   Cicada surprise! Brood V and straggling periodical cicadas, Magicicada spp.

05.23.2016   Who’s been sucking on my bee balm? Fourlined plant bug, Poecilocapsus lineatus

05.16.2016   An oil-gathering bee, Centris nitida

05.09.2016   Playing mind games with the seedcorn maggot, Delia platura

05.02.2016   Zika and yellow fever mosquitoes, Take 2: Where in the US is the Yellow Fever Mosquito, Aedes aegypti?

04.25.2016   Sorry DC and Baltimore, no periodical cicadas for you this year: Magicicada spp.

04.18.2016   April’s March flies: Bibionidae

04.11.2016   Get ready for the pale marsh mosquito, Ochlorotatus dorsalis

04.04.2016   Time for ticks: Lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, Blacklegged ticks, Ixodes spp., and American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis

03.28.2016   Food for caterpillars, food for birds: Cherry trees and Eastern tent caterpillars, Malacosoma americanum

03.21.2016   Boxelder bugs on the move, Boisea trivittatus

03.14.2016   Mason bees make an early debut, Osmia spp.  

03.07.2016   Lousy times: Human head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis, and human body louse, Pediculus humanus humanus

02.29.2016   Bug of the Week Academy Awards 2016

02.22.2016   Cutting leaves here and there: Leafcutter bees, Megachilidae, and leafcutter ants, Atta spp.

02.15.2016   Ant bodyguards here and there: Odorous house ants, Tapinoma sessile, and carpenter ants, Camponotus

02.08.2016   Bugs in love: Lovebugs, kissing bugs, and other insects engaged in intimate activities

02.01.2016   Zika virus and its vector: Yellow Fever Mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti

01.25.2016   Carbo-loading here and there: Odorous house ants, Tapinoma sessile, and harvester ants, Pogonomyrmex

01.18.2016   Carpenter ants here and there: Camponotus spp.

01.11.2016   Froghoppers and spittlebugs here and there: Cercopidae and Aphrophoridae

01.04.2016  Paper nests here and there: Baldfaced hornets, Dolichovespula maculata, and tropical nest builders, Polybia spp.

2015

12.21.2015   ‘Tis the season to inspect your hemlocks for hemlock wooly adelgid, Adelges tsugae

12.14.2015   Green is good for holly berry midge, Asphondylia ilicicola

12.07.2015   Holly surprise: Native holly leafminer, Phytomyza ilicicola

11.30.2015   Lost episodes: “My, what a long tail you have little wasp. The American pelecinid wasp, Pelecinus polyturator”

11.23.2015   Spiders in corners, part 2: Cellar spider, Pholcus phalangioides

11.16.2015   Spiders in corners, Part 1: Common house spider, Parasteatoda tepidariorum

11.09.2015   Twiggy: The Northern Walkingstick, Diapheromera fermorata

11.02.2015   Aphids serve a tasty autumn treat: White pine aphid, Cinara strobi

10.26.2015   Bugs in Orange and Black, Part II: Halloween Lady Beetle - the Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle, Harmonia axyridis

10.19.2015   Bugs in Orange and Black, Part I: An ermine moth, ailanthus webworm, Atteva aurea

10.12.2015   Beware of zesty drinks: Yellow Jackets, Vespula, bumble bees, Bombus, and honeybees, Apis, can really spice up soft drinks

10.05.2015   Spiders in the mist: Funnel weaving spider, Pennsylvania Grass Spider, Agelenopsis pennsylvanica

09.28.2015   Got stink bugs? Let us know! Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys

09.21.2015   Tough to be a hornworm: Tomato and tobacco hornworms, Manduca quinquemaculata and M. sexta

09.14.2015   To sting a stinger: Saddleback caterpillar, Acharia stimulae, and brachonid wasp, Cotesia

09.07.2015   Io, io, it’s off to work we go: Io Moth, Automeris io

08.31.2015    Dog days and their cicadas, Neotibicen (formerly Tibicen) species  

08.24.2015   Monarchs and Mojitos: Monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus

08.17.2015   The great black wasp turns yellow: Great black wasp, Sphex pensylvanicus

08.10.2015   Bad lady beetles: Mexican bean beetles, Epilachna varivestis

08.03.2015   Cucurbit catastrophe: Squash vine borer, Melittia cucurbitae

07.27.2015   Lawn zoomers: Green June Beetle, Cotinus nitida

07.20.2015   Wolves on a summer’s night: Wolf spiders, Lycosidae

07.13.2015   Summer hummer: Hummingbird moth, Hemaris thysbe

07.06.2015   A fly with a golden touch? Mydas fly, Mydas clavatus

06.29.2015   Blossom buster: Oriental beetle, Anomala orientalis

06.22.2015   Deadly dining: Three-lined potato beetle, Lema daturaphila

06.15.2015   Swallowtail trifecta: Black swallowtail, Papilio polyxenes, Spicebush swallowtail, Papilio troilus, and Giant swallowtail, Papilio cresphontes

06.08.2015   Butterflies behaving badly? Lepidoptera puddling

06.01.2015   Ground beetles up in the air: Calosoma wilcoxi and Calosoma scrutator

05.25.2015   Cankerworm conundrums: Fall cankerworm, Alsophila pometaria

05.18.2015   The next invader: Spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula

05.11.2015   Carpenter bees defending territories: Large carpenter bee, Xylocopa virginica

05.04.2015   Spring beauties: Mining bees, Andrena erigeniae

04.27.2015   B’more Battles the Beetle: Emerald Ash Borer, Agrillus plenipennis

04.20.2015   Come one, come all to explore the Insect Petting Zoo – Maryland Day, Saturday April 25, 2015!

04.13.2015   Mason bees make their belated debut, Osmia spp.

04.06.2015   Stinky exodus underway: Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys

03.30.2015   Spring sunshine heralds the appearance of plasterer bees: Colletes

03.23.2015   Welcome spring and honey bees, how do you fare? Apis mellifera

03.16.2015   Whips in Xibalba: Whip spiders, Amblypygi

03.09.2015   Battling bewildering botlass flies in Belize: Black flies, Simuliidae

03.02.2015   How one hot spider keeps her cool in the tropics: Golden silk spider, Nephila clavipes

02.23.2015   Beautiful but stinky: Gulf fritillary, Agraulis vanillae

02.16.2015   How Belizean butterflies best their enemies: Polydamas Swallowtail, Battus polydamas

02.09.2015   Dating games of peacock butterflies: White peacock butterfly, Anartia jatrophae, and banded peacock butterfly, Anartia fatima

02.02.2015   The bodyguard: Pseudomyrmex ants protecting bullhorn acacias

01.26.2015   Tropical fungus gardeners: Leafcutter ants, Atta spp.

01.19.2015   Belizean Squirt: Nozzle-headed termites, Nasutitermes sp.

01.12.2015   Take 2 on tropical tiger moths: Spotted oleander caterpillar moth, Empyreuma affinis

01.05.2015   Doubling down on defense: The polka-dot wasp moth, Syntomeida epilais

2014

12.22.2014   Surviving winter, Part IV: A Monarch Christmas in Monterey, Danaus plexippus

12.15.2014   Tinsel and the Christmas spider

12.08.2014   Surviving winter, Part III: Egg cases of the Praying mantis, Mantis religiosa, Chinese mantis, Tenodera sinensis, and Carolina mantis, Stagmomantis carolina

12.01.2014   A beautiful spider: Marbled orb weaver, Araneus marmoreus

11.24.2014   Surviving winter, Part 2: Leopard moths, Hypercompe scribonia, banded woolly bears, Pyrrharctia isabella, and yellow bears, Spilosoma virginica

11.17.2014   Pumpkin eaters: Fruit flies, Drosophilidae

11.10.2014   Winter survival, Part 1: European hornet, Vespa crabro

11.03.2014   One last song: The curve-tailed bush katydid, Scudderia curvicauda

10.27.2014   Bugs in orange and black III, Halloween edition: Milkweed longhorned beetles, Tetraopes sp.

10.20.2014   Bugs in Orange and Black II: Large milkweed bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus

10.13.2014   Bugs in Orange and Black I: Milkweed leaf beetle, Labidomera clivicollis

10.06.2014   Be careful around yellow jackets: Eastern yellowjackets, Vespula maculifrons

09.29.2014   Friendly soldiers: Soldier beetles, Chauliognathus spp.

09.22.2014   Stink bugs on the move: Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys

09.15.2014   Be careful around baldfaced hornets, Dolichovespula maculata

09.08.2014   Move over American camel crickets, Asian camel crickets are in town: Ceuthophilus sp. (American camel crickets) and Diestrammena sp. (Asian camel crickets)

09.01.2014   White grubs beware! The blue-winged digger wasp, Scolia dubia, has arrived

08.25.2014   The other milkweed caterpillar: Milkweed tussock moth, Euchaetes egle

08.18.2014   Magical monarchs in peril: the monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus

08.11.2014   Soggy death to friendly soldiers: Soldier beetles, Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus, and their deadly fungus, Entomophthora lampyridarum

08.04.2014   Parsley and dill beware: Black swallowtail, Papilio polyxenes

07.28.2014   Chikungunya virus in the United States and its vectors: Yellow Fever Mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti, and Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus

07.21.2014   Midnight marauders: Asiatic garden beetles, Maladera castanea

07.14.2014   Mason wasps: Monobia and Pseudodynerus

07.07.2014   Misery named the Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica

06.30.2014   Rain on a sunny day: Sharpshooters, Oncometopia sp.

06.23.2014   Termite or Ant?

06.16.2014   Mallow munchers: Mallow sawfly, Atomacera decepta

06.09.2014   A case of mistaken identity: Crane flies, Family Tipulidae 

06.02.2014   Big black ants in the home: Carpenter ants, Camponotus spp.

05.26.2014   There will be blood! Mosquitoes, Culicidae

05.19.2014   Beware of small pits: Antlions, Family Myrmeleontidae

05.12.2014   Bug of the Week celebrates ten years!

05.05.2014   A good deer: food for carrion beetles, Oiceoptoma noveboracense

04.28.2014   Ground nesting bees, beware the bee fly: Bombyliidae

04.21.2014   A trio of trouble just in time for summer: Blacklegged ticks, Ixodes spp.; American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis; and lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum

04.14.2014   Welcome mason bees, Osmia spp.

04.07.2014   As spring arrives, so do Eastern tent caterpillars, Malacosoma americanum

03.31.2014   Debris carrying lacewing larvae, Chrysopidae

03.24.2014   Preserve our air from “The Infection of Dungs”: Rainbow dung beetle, Phanaeus vindex

03.17.2014   Winter stoneflies: Families Taenioptergidae and Capniidae

03.10.2014   If you be my body guard, I will be your pal: Azteca ants and Cecropia

03.03.2014   Polar Vortex: Did it beat-down the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys?

02.24.2014   Tropical treehoppers – Membracidae

02.17.2014   Rainforest Recyclers: Tractor Millipedes, Polydesmida, and Giant African Millipedes, Archispirostreptus sp.

02.10.2014   Jungle raiders: Army ants, Eciton sp.

02.03.2014   Zombie bees, Apis mellifera, and their tormentor the humpbacked fly, Apocephalus borealis

01.27.2014   Rain on a sunny day: Lanternflies, Fulgoridae

01.20.2014   Nocturnal hunters: Mexican redrump tarantula, Brachypelma vagans

01.13.2014   Malachites on the hilltop - Siproeta stelenes

01.06.2014   Blue lightning in the rainforest – Blue Morpho, Morpho menelaus

2013

12.23.2013   Cooley spruce gall adelgids, Adelges cooleyi, decorate the Christmas tree

12.16.2013   Chilly winter days can’t stop the fall cankerworm, Alsophila pometaria

12.09.2013   In a warming world, here comes the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicata

12.02.2013   A drumstick for me: Camel crickets, Ceuthophilus spp.

11.25.2013   Boxelder bungalow: Boxelder bugs, Boisea trivittatus

11.18.2013   The troubadour downstairs – fall field cricket, Gryllus pennsylvanicus

11.11.2013   Window wasps: The grass-carrying wasps, Isodontia spp.

11.04.2013   Ladybug, ladybug, fly away home: The Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle, Harmonia axyridis

10.28.2013   Bugs in Orange and Black: Monarch Butterfly, Milkweed Leaf Beetle, Milkweed Bug, and Milkweed Tiger Moth

10.21.2013   Katydid? The curve-tailed bush katydid - Scudderia curvicauda 

10.14.2013   Death of a stink bug, Part 4: They eat dead things - the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys, becomes a meal for the European paper wasp, Polistes dominulus

 10.07.2013   Death of a stink bug, Part 3: Homegrown hospitality - Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys, meets the black and yellow garden spider, Argiope aurantia

 09.30.2013   Death of a stink bug, Part 2: Bug vs. Bug - Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys, meets the wheelbug, Arilus cristatus

09.20.2013   Death of a stink bug, Part 1: A curious reunion between the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Haylomorpha halys, and the Chinese Praying Mantis, Tenodera sinensis

09.13.2013   The gathering storm: Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys

09.09.2013   Silkmoth Season, Part 2: A royal welcome – Royal Walnut Moth, Citheronia regalis

08.30.2013   Silkmoth Season, Part 1: Imperial Moth, Eacles imperialis

08.26.2013   Outrage for oaks – Orangestriped Oakworm, Anisota senatoria

08.19.2013   World-wide webworm: Fall Webworm, Hyphantria cunea

08.12.2013   Crickets beware – Steel-blue cricket hunter, Chlorion aerarium

08.05.2013   Swallowtail soiree – Eastern tiger swallowtail, Papilio glaucus

07.29.2013   Move over stink bugs, here comes the kudzu bug, Megacopta cribraria

07.22.2013   It's biting time: Mosquitoes, Culicidae

07.15.2013   Bumble Bees - Beware of Ambush Bugs, Phymata  spp.

07.08.2013   Be careful with bumble bees, Bombus  spp.

07.01.2013   Vipers in the spicebush: Spicebush swallowtail, Papilio troilus

06.24.2013   Adieu Brood II: Magicicada  spp.

06.17.2013   STD in cicada land, Magicicada and Massospora cicadina

06.10.2013   Egg-laying in the treetops: Macicicada, Brood II

05.28.2013   The chorus in the treetop - Magicicada spp., Brood II

05.15.2013   Brood II up in Maryland, Magicicada spp.

05.06.2013   Where is Brood II and when will we see it? Magicicada spp.

04.15.2013   Hail Brood II: Magicicada spp.

04.08.2013   Hail Brood II: Magicicada spp.

04.01.2013   Just can’t wait: Eastern tent caterpillars, Malacosoma americanum

03.25.2013   Winter stoneflies: Families Taeniopterigidae and Capniidae

03.18.2013   Chilean Chinchemolles - The elegant phasmatid, Agathemera elegans

03.11.2013   Cathedral Termites, Nasutitermes triodiae

03.04.2013   Green Tree Ants: Oecophylla smaragdina

02.25.2013   Sticks and Jewels: Matchstick grasshoppers, Eumastacidae, and green jewel bugs, Lampromicra senator

02.18.2013   Orchid beetles down under: Dendrobium beetle, Stethopachys formosa

02.11.2013   Bugs in love: Lovebugs and Kissing bugs

02.04.2013   Stingless bees in Belize – Tribe, Meliponini

01.28.2013   Here’s looking at you - Owl butterflies, Caligo sp.

01.21.2013   Passionate about passion fruit – Zebra longwing butterflies, Heliconius charitonius

01.14.2013   Size does matter: Twostriped walkingstick, Anisomorpha buprestoides

01.07.2013   Dashing through the snow: Snow scorpionflies, Boreus sp.

Click on a tag below to see more articles about the following bugs.

2012

12.24.2012 ‘Tis the season for the whitefly: The silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, a.k.a Bemesia argentifolii

12.17.2012   The Holly and the Ivy - A two part series: This week the ivy and the thrips, Thripidae

12.10.2012 The Holly and Ivy - A two part series: This week the holly and the native holly leaf miner, Phytomyza ilicicola

12.03.2012   Pantry surprises - Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella

11.26.2012 Decorations on the Christmas tree: Egg cases of the Praying mantis, Mantis religiosa, Chinese mantis, Tenodera sinensis, and Carolina mantis, Stagmomantis carolina

11.19.2012   A Thanksgiving feast served by green peach aphid, Myzus persicae

11.12.2012   Northern hospitality for the Florida predatory stinkbug, Euthyrhynchus floridanus, and wax scales, Ceroplastes spp.

11.05.2012   Mallow on the menu for the scentless plant bug, Niesthrea lousianica

10.29.2012   Stylish Lepidoptera: Ermine Moth, Atteva aurea; Yellow-Collared Scape Moth, Cisseps fulvicollis; Pearl Crescent, Phyciodes tharos; Variegated Fritillary, Euptoieta claudia

10.15.2012   Dashing caterpillars predicting weather- Woolly bears, Pyrrharctia isabella, yellow bears, Spilosoma virginica, and leopard moths, Hypercompe scribonia

09.24.2012 Hocus-pocus: Silver spotted skipper, Epargyreus clarus

09.17.2012   A gathering storm: Halyomorpha halys

09.10.2012 Mystery of the frass revealed: Camouflaged looper, Synchlora aerata

09.03.2012 The royals are in the house - the Monarch Butterfly, Danaus plexippus

08.27.2012   Stinging caterpillars –White flannel moth, Norape ovina, and Saddleback caterpillar, Acharia stimulea

08.20.2012   Beware of mosquitoes and West Nile Virus

08.13.2012 Big spiders are a little scary: Fishing spiders and Wolf spiders

08.06.2012 Scorched locust - Locust Leafminer, Odontota dorsalis

07.30.2012 Herbs beware! Black swallowtail, Papilio polyxenes

07.23.2012 Damsels not in distress – Damselflies, Zygoptera

07.16.2012   Here’s looking at you, kid: Eyed click beetle, Alaus oculatus

07.09.2012   The killing fields – Dog day cicadas, Tibicen spp., and Cicada killer wasps, Sphecius speciosus

07.02.2012   Summer nights and Lucifer’s lights – Lightning bugs, Lampyridae

06.25.2012  Deadly dining – Three lined potato beetle, Lema trilineata

06.18.2012   Misery named the Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica

06.11.2012   A welcomed vagabond - Variegated fritillary, Euptoieta claudia

06.04.2012   Recyclers in the circle of life - Bess beetles, Odontotaenius disjunctus

05.28.2012   Lace bugs on the attack!

05.21.2012   Maple Eyes – Ocellate maple gall midge, Acericecis ocellaris

05.14.2012   Death by fly: Flower Flies (a.k.a. hover flies), Syrphidae

05.07.2012   A sweeter side of aphids, Aphididae

04.30.2012   Twisting the day away: Boxwood leafminer, Monarthropalpus flavus

04.23.2012   Explore the Insect Petting Zoo – Saturday April 28, 2012

04.16.2012 Tiger, tiger, burning bright! Six-spotted green tiger beetle, Cicindela sexguttata

04.09.2012   Spring beauties: Plasterer bees and yellow-faced bees, Colletidae

04.02.2012   Yet another exotic invader: Euonymus leaf notcher, Pryeria sinica

03.26.2012 Hail mason bees, Osmia spp.- Harbingers of Spring!

03.19.2012   Exodus underway: Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys

03.12.2012   Ants protecting plants: Pseudomyrmex ants and bullhorn Acacias

03.05.2012   Tropical fungus gardeners - Leafcutter ants: Atta and Acromyrmex spp.

02.27.2012   Green Tree Ant Sister Act: Oecophylla smaragdina

02.20.2012   Coontie and the Atala butterfly, Eumaeus atala

02.13.2012   Beetles roasting on an open fire: Roundheaded borers, Cerambycidae, and Darkling beetles (Family Tenebrionidae)

02.06.2012   Bugs in love: lovebugs and kissing bugs

01.30.2012   Snow fleas, Collembola

01.23.2012   Dashing through the snow: Snow scorpionflies, Boreus sp.

01.16.2012   Ever seen a stone fly? - Winter stoneflies, Family Taeniopterygidae

01.09.2012   A moth in winter - the fall cankerworm, Alsophila pometaria  

01.02.2012   Deck the Hollies with trails of leaf miners - Phytomyza ilicicola    

2011

11.07.2011   There's a sucker born every day - Tuliptree scale, Toumeyella liriodendri

08.15.2011   Return of the royals - the monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus.

 08.08.2011   Summer stingers – Eastern yellowjackets, Vespula maculifrons

07.18.2011   Milkweed and dogbane do battle: Milkweed longhorned beetle, Tetraopes sp., and dogbane leaf beetle, Chrysocus auratus 

06.20.2011   Genie out of the bottle - Emerald Ash Borer, Agrillus plenipennis

06.06.2011   St. Mary's survivors – Cicadas of Brood XIX

2010

12.20.2010   The gift of the Manti - European praying mantid, Mantis religiosa

 09.13.2010   Heroes of the true bug clan - Two spotted stink bug, Perillus bioculatus, and spined soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris

08.23.2010   Bed bugs in the news, Cimex lectularius

05.31.2010   Parasitoids to the rescue - Emerald Ash Borer, Agrillus plenipennis, and its assassins Oobius agrili, Tetrastichus planipennisi, and Spathius agrili

05.03.2010   Playground ants: Citronella or Large yellow ants, Acanthomyops interjectus, and field ants, Formica sp.

01.25.2010 Nothing could be fina than a bug from Carolina - Carolina mantid, Stagmomantis

2009

11.23.2009   It's the wheel thing, the wheel bug, Arilus cristatus

09.28.2009   Unwanted picnic guests – Yellow Jackets, Vespula spp.

07.20.2009   Mosquito redux - Culicidae 

07.13.2009   Hercules: Hercules beetle, Dynastes tityus

07.06.2009   Stingers: Baldfaced hornets, Dolichovespula maculata

06.01.2009   Aphids and their bodyguards – Aphididae and Formicidae

03.02.2009   The trees have eyes - Owl butterflies, Caligo sp.

2008

11.10.2008   Home Invaders IV - Attack of the red and black, Boxelder bugs, Boisea trivittatus

06.16.2008   Discriminating detritivores: Pillbugs, Isopoda

05.19.2008   Death by beetle: Multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis

03.03.2008   Who are you? Carolina mantids (Stagmomantis carolina), wax scales (Ceroplastes), and katydids   

02.25.2008 Beetlejuice, beetlejuice, beetlejuice, and multicolored Asian lady beetles, Harmonia axyridis   

02.18.2008   Savvy Zebras - Zebra butterflies, Heliconius charitonius    

2007

12.03.2007   Starry sky beetle - Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis

10.01.2007   Bird-droppings, snake eyes, dead leaves – Swallowtails, Papilio sp.

06.18.2007   Small Dragons – Dragonflies, Anisoptera

05.27.2007   Jersey skeeters – Tipulidae 

04.09.2007 Spring leapers: Jumping spiders, Family Salticidae

2006

11.27.2006   Waxy ladies: Hyperaspis ladybugs

11.05.2006 Back by Popular Demand - Ladybug, ladybug, fly away home: The Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle, Harmonia axyridis

07.03.2006   Hooray for the red, white, and blue! Milkweed longhorned beetle, Tetraopes tetraophthalmus; dogbane tiger moth, Cycnia tenera; and familiar bluet, Enallagma civile

05.15.2006 Field ants to the rescue- Formica sp.

05.08.2006 Murder and mayhem in aphid land: Ladybugs, Coccinellidae; Flower flies, Syrphidae; and parasitic wasps, Chalcidoidea and Brachonidae

04.10.2006   A wolf in sheep's clothing - Debris carrying lacewing larvae, Chrysopidae

02.27.2006   Small Olympians - Snow fleas, Collembola

2005

11.14.2005   A stinker at the window - Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys

11.07.2005   Dashing caterpillars predicting weather: Woolly bears, Pyrrharctia Isabella; yellow bears, Spilosoma virginica; and leopard moths, Hypercompe scribionia

10.31.2005   BUGS IN ORANGE AND BLACK: Orangestriped oakworm, Anisota senatoria; Harlequin bug, Murgantia histrionica; Large milkweed bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus; Milkweed Tussock Moth Larva, Euchaetes egle

09.12.2005   The lion in my garden: Aphid lions, Chrysoperla carnea

09.05.2005   Katydid? The curve-tailed bush katydid, Scudderia curvicauda

08.29.2005   Bed Bug of the Week, Cimex lectularius

08.15.2005 The troubadour downstairs: fall field cricket, Gryllus pennsylvanicus

07.18.2005   Gold in the meadow: the dogbane beetle, Chrysocus auratus

07.11.2005 Roses beware, Japanese beetles are in the air! Popillia japonica

07.04.2005 Summer nights - Lucifer's lights

06.27.2005 The Tiger in my frisbee: The Asian Tiger Mosquito, Aedes albopictus

06.20.2005   Lions in the sand: Antlions, Family Myrmeleontidae

06.13.2005   Who's your maggot? Flower flies, hover flies, drone flies, syrphid flies: Family Syrphidae

06.06.2005   Just in the tick of time: American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, and Black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis

05.23.2005   She's a lady - or is she? The Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle, Harmonia axyridis

05.16.2005   Anne Arundel County - This Bug's for You: The Euonymus Leaf Notcher, Pryeria sinica