This bolus spider dangles a drop of pheromone-laced goop as she builds her trap. She is also a bit of a bird-dung mimic. The genus is Mastophora.
Beetle with two tiny hitchhikers
The two little blobs on this 4-5mm long beetle are mites, and many beetles seem to carry a few of these little guys. Some species of mites are parasitic, but I've read that some simply use beetles as a means of transport.
Bees have powerful little jaws and this one has clamped them around the stem of an aster bloom as she rested.
Scarites subterraneus, Virginia.
I found this crane fly dipping her rear into damp leaf litter along the side of a stream. I think it's a reasonable assumption that she was laying eggs.
Aspenes lucidula, Virginia. These are yet another fast-moving beetle. Not as fast as some, but difficult subjects nonetheless. I love their iridescent elytra and grooved heads.
Hemiptera. Family: Coreidae. Genus: Piezogaster. This is a nymph. Probably about 5mm from nose to tail and has yet to grow into her antennae.
Freshly molted earwing, Virginia
Earwigs are in the order Dermaptera. This one has just molted and will change to a brown color within a few hours.
Flat bark beetle from early spring
This is a shy and stunningly colored beetle. I'm pretty sure it is properly known as Cucujus clavipes, and is easily identifiable by its flat profile and Ferrari red color. In hundreds of hikes in Virginia, I've found just a few -- although once I found three on one log. They seem to be active early in the year.
Diptera, Virginia. I found this lovely fly in late winter. There were several of them feeding on the sap that was seeping from a tree wound. This one was perched nearby.
Ant (Hymenoptera) Virginia. This is a large (8-9mm) ant of the kind generally referred to as "carpenter" ants. Occasionally, ants will sit still long enough to take a head-on shot. If you are using a computer I suggest you double-click on the photo to see more detail.
Another fast-moving, nocturnal beetle from Virginia.
Another beautiful nocturnal beetle. The Carabidae or "ground beetles" are a huge family with a couple of thousand species in the USA and at least 40,000 known species worldwide.
Cerambycidae, Virginia.
Flat headed poplar borer, Virginia
Flat-headed poplar borer, probably Dicerca tenebrica. I love the molten metal look! This borer is in the 1cm range. I suspect they emerge to reproduce and are not around very long as adults.
The thorn hopper excretes honeydew which is much prized by ants. Ants provide the hoppers with some protection from parasitoids.
Pleasing fungus beetle eating, Virginia
These beetles really do eat fungus and I often see two or three of them on a single fungus or a rotting log. There are 160 genera and 1,800 known species in this family (Erotylidae). This one was in Virginia, but I also find them in tropical locations where they tend to be about the same size and shape, and are typically black with yellowish, orange, or reddish markings.
Carabidae. Chlaenius aestivus suspected. Virginia. These are best found at night and seldom sit still.
Stonefly, (Plecoptera) Virginia. These guys emerge throughout the summer along a forest stream where I frequently hike. They are soft and unable to fly when they first emerge. This one was clinging to a rock as his exoskeleton hardened. I took this photo looking down the rock at him.
Carabidae. Virginia. This species is relatively patient. Even when scavenging they will let you get close enough to grab a macro shot.
Neopyrochroa flabellata suspected. These are not uncommon but are shy and fast like many of their kin. Best found after dark.
Platycotis vittata, Virginia. These guys remind me of those freakish little Boston Terrier dogs.
This longhorn beetle reminds me of one of those cows that rich Texans love so much. Saperda candida.
Caterpillar of Moth in Limacodidae family, Virginia
Slug caterpillar, stinging caterpillar, and cup moth caterpillar are three names used for this caterpillar in the genus Euclea -- she is probably Euclea delphinii.