insects – Page 7 – hashiworks

megalostomis pyropyga

Published on August 27, 2022November 19, 2022 by Hashi1 Comment

This beetle’s name literally means big mouth fire buttocks. Quite an impressive moniker for a critter that’s only 1cm long. Small but mighty, indeed.

arhopalus asperatus

Published on August 22, 2022November 19, 2022 by HashiLeave a comment

New-to-me beetle in the kitchen last night.

narrowleaf milkweed

Published on August 12, 2022 by HashiLeave a comment

The native milkweed hosts lots of critters, some beneficial to it, some harmful. The most famous is the monarch butterfly (both larval and adult stages) but it’s a bit late in the year for them now.

belostomatidae

Published on August 6, 2022November 19, 2022 by HashiLeave a comment

Americans have a tendency to call all insects “bugs”. I first thought the terms were interchangeable, but I’ve learned that while all bugs are insects, not all insects are bugs.

The key difference between true bugs and other insects is their mouth parts. True bugs have rigid piercing/sucking mouthparts that look like a long beak and act like a straw. Most suck plant juices, but some feed on animals. Water bugs are venomous; they liquify then drink their prey. Yum!

Thanks to Trisha Nichols for another fun and informative lesson.

hyalophera cecropia

Published on July 30, 2022 by HashiLeave a comment

Another one for National Moth Week. The cecropia moth is North America’s largest native moth, and can be found all across the continent. Females have been documented with a wingspan of five to seven inches (125 – 175 mm) or more. Like other members of the giant silk moth family, the cecropia moth lacks functional mouth parts and a digestive system. Due to this, they survive approximately two weeks. So if you get to see one, rejoice!

erinnyis ello

Published on July 29, 2022November 19, 2022 by HashiLeave a comment

It’s National Moth Week! I haven’t yet seen any awesome moths lately, so here’s one from last August … but I did see a tarantula hawk today, so that was pretty cool!

hollyleaf redberry

Published on June 29, 2022 by HashiLeave a comment

Well how about that. It turns out that honeybees eat fruit. Amazing what you can learn when you pay attention!

chlorion aerarium

Published on June 25, 2022November 18, 2022 by HashiLeave a comment

Tarantula hawks do it to tarantulas, mud daubers do it to other spiders. Steel-blue cricket hunters do it to crickets. Way to pack lunch for your kids.