[ID: A digital painting of a common eastern firefly with its wings outstretched, done in bright reds, yellows, and oranges. The firefly is set against a deep navy background, with a swirling yellow light around the firefly’s abdomen. Yellow light catches on the wings and body.]
The year 2021 was a great year for finding and observing Caddisflies in their natural environment: on the vegetation by nearby streams. Since they’ve pupated, grown their tent-shaped wings and left the flowing water, they aren’t likely to return for a swim anytime soon, and yet they always seem to want to stay nearby. The only time they may actively revisit the water (up close) is to lay eggs. I’m not quite sure what this specie does since there’s not very much information to draw from, but the consensus seems to be that most species don’t lay eggs directly in water. Instead, they are laid in large number on nearby aquatic plants, sometimes coated in a viscous clump of gel. I’ll be looking around the water’s edge this summer for specks or jelly if I find any adults in the area. While I’ve implied that most lay eggs of vegetation, there are reports of some brave Caddisflies diving in to place their eggs! It would save a bit of time and may even be safer for the young larvae, as the ones on the leaves have a bit of exposure to predators and risk of desiccation until they drop into the stream to begin their lives. Gotta gather those stones!
While I’m not sure at all on the egg-laying habits (or dietary habits for that matter) for this specie, I can certainly be sure on the identity of this particular Trichopteran. The Black Dancer Caddisfly has elongated mouthparts (which resemble thick antennae or claws)and a thin, long, whip-like antennae with a ringed pattern along the first few segments. No camera flash was using to grab these pictures, so those red eyes aren’t a consequence of camera light. The eyes can be another trick to help identify these elusive creatures. I’ve read that only the males have bright red eyes, but I couldn’t say for certain. I’d need to do more research, and they only other way to tell for sure would be to examine a specimen with a dissection microscope (which I don’t have). If you do come across an insect that looks like this, monitor it closely, and if you do, document what plants or flowers it prefers to visit. Flowers in particular would be helpful to learn if it actually has a liquid diet or doesn’t feed. With luck, it would be some nearby flowers close to the stream. Depending on the flowers they prefer, those palps might be useful grasp on other structures while feeding or to pull flowers closer to its mouth since Trichopterans lack a proboscis. More info would go a long way here. If a revision to the Audubon Insect Guide comes out, this specie would be a great inclusion for the field guide. Especially since there aren’t many Trichopterans in the guide as is. They’ve been compiled together with similar looking insects (though different orders) such as Lacewings, Alderflies and Stoneflies. The Black Alderfly does have a resemblance to it, but you can tell by looking at wings just how different they are.
Pictures were taken June 16, 2021 with a Google Pixel 4.
When I first uploaded this drab looking specie of Fly to the blog last year, I had only found one on the leaves. With a name like “Cluster Fly”, you would expect many individuals grouping closely together and hanging around to enjoy the warmth of a new spring. While I can honestly say that the Flies I found weren’t exactly super close to each other, the warm afternoon weather caused many individuals to come outside and swarm around. It was hard to get a moment’s peace outside with Fly after Fly landing on me or nearby and needing to be shooed away. It wasn’t quite a cloud, but there could’ve been at least 20 Flies nearby, and maybe more if some flew away and others took their place! If this is what they’re like outside, just imagine what happens when they hide away in confined spaces during the winter such as inside houses! Have no worries because as pesky as Cluster Flies sound, they only enter houses to escape the cold. When winter arrives, they enter diapause and await the end of winter to become active again: with their metabolism slowed down, they won’t breed. Even if they wanted to breed indoors, Clusters Flies seem to rely on parasitizing earthworms with their eggs. Maybe if have any potted indoor plants you might want to check the soil if you’ve seen adult Flies near them.
A bigger problem that’s been reported with Cluster Flies is if they were to die indoors they may draw other predators indoors in search of an easy meal. Before searching your homes (inside and out) for a potential cluster invasion, remember that there are always signs you can watch for and ultimately they aren’t as big a pest as other types of Flies. They don’t tend to spread filth (beyond any germs in soil) and they feed on pollen from flowers rather than rotting material or garbage. I’d still recommend you wash your hands after handling them, and speaking of handling them, this is the first time I’ve ever stuck a finger out to a Fly and it actively climbed aboard. These insects aren’t skittish and react much slower compared to BlowfliesorHoverflies. While this makes me appreciative for the closer look at them, I do fear for their safety if they are sluggish aren’t predators. Perhaps the summer broods have more speed to spare, but if there is evidence to support that, I have yet to see it. If I find any answers, I’ll create a follow-up post, but these Flies tend to be overshadowed during the summer by the other flower-loving Fly species.
Pictures were taken on April 11, 2022 with a Google Pixel 4.
A green area filled with green grass, green leaves, and a certain green insect skitting around in this green world. With a bright green body, this specimen could have a much easier time hiding in your garden or the meadows that it calls home. You’d probably be better off searching for it in the meadow as there’s plenty of tall grasses for it to stick its rostrum into and enjoy. Yes, the Two-Spotted Grass Bug does in fact feed on grasses, but not the blades of grass that are seemingly more appetizing. Leaving the blades for the Grasshoppers to munch, this verdant Plant Bug uses its mouthparts to take nutrients from the clustering flowers of grass. As well, it isn’t too picky about the grass flowers it chooses to feed on whether a nymph or a full grown adult (like this specimen). The major difference is how to get to and from the food it needs since the nymphs lack wings. While known for feeding on grasses, they don’t seem to be generalists as they’ve been found feed on tree flowers too. With zebra grass growing in our neighborhood, I wonder if they have taken to that?
While named after the spots on their thorax plate, you could be forgiven for missing them by looking at the stripes that run down their wings. They certainly are lovely, but you have to look for those spot markings too. With look-a-like insect such as the Alfalfa Plant Bugand Ilnacora malina,it’s helpful to be sure which insects are flying around the meadow. With respect to the latter which is a dark green with a darker head, the Two-Spotted Grass Bug tends to be a paler green color with green on the top of its head. Although sometimes you may find a yellow-colored Grass Bug! What’s this! It seems that male S. binotatus tend to fall more on the yellow side while females tend to have that pale green color! Also, while I’m not totally sure, it seems that males have more their spots become gradually more prominent as they age, practically connecting with the markings on their back into one long line. I’ll need to find and review more specimens to be sure, and find more in person too! As with every insect I photograph, if I can find more, you’ll find them here, and I do sincerely hope that you enjoy them!
Pictures were taken on June 16, 2021 with a Google Pixel 4.
Well, I hinted at this in a very important earlier post that honors someone who will always be with us, and here it finally is! Insects are very resourceful when it comes to entering adulthood, even if it means using manmade structures to get the job done. It may be topical to share this on Earth Day (with an insect that spend most of its life in the earth) and take a small, unconventional glance on how insects and humans interact and share the planet. I agree that other avenues such as climate change, habitat destruction, biodiversity changes and examining more significant insects (Beetles,Butterflies&Honeybees) are far more relevant, but I’d like to share the short encounter with a Cicada molting using a car tire. It’s an unexpected example of the natural world using human creations. I’ve seen Cicadas using wooden benches and concrete barriers too, but at least those are similar to trees and stones. Tires are something completely foreign, but it does offer a good grip for the nymph’s old shell to grab and hold on as it molts. This nymph must have been extremely determined to climb up the curved slope of the tire’s bottom and climb against gravity! Amazing as this new molting post is, I don’t think Cicadas would make it a yearlong habit when aforementioned natural structures are available.
Talking about nature, insects are some of the best environmental caretakers we have, and it would benefit us to learn a little more about them and realize how different insects contribute to the ecosystem and food webs. Not to mention, appreciating the contributions of every insect order, rather than just writing them all off as pests. Insects help us in more ways than we can imagine, but the wrong insect in the wrong place (e.g. an invasive specie) can be just as detrimental so we must be respectful and careful with our interaction with them. Their lives deserve all the beauty and triumph that our lives do, and that might mean a little help for them. Even caring for trees and wildflowers, cleaning up where we can and being careful with biological debris such as leaf litter and fallen logs. Nothing too intrusive unless something needs a major correction. Just a subtle, guiding hand. With this Cicada friend, I just found the adult insect stretching its wings and hardening its body, missing the molt process. It was relatively fresh as while the wings were almost ready, the body’ still needed more time to darken. I didn’t know how long the Cicada friend would hang around for, but I didn’t want to leave it alone, so I picked it up and placed it on a nearby tree. Perhaps it’s for naught, but at least that Cicada won’t have all that effort ruined by being run over. After it began to move around and climb upwards, I continued with my walk. Hopefully that Cicada enjoyed a wonderful summer!
Pictures were taken on August 18, 2021 with a Google Pixel 4.
So I’m working at my desk, doing research for an online course and I hear a noise. It sounds like a low buzzing, and it also sounds much larger than an Asian Ladybug, a more common visitor in my warm when spring’s warmth arrives. I turn around, that there’s a large flying body zooming around the lights and flying around the room with great haste! I thought it might be a Western Conifer Seed Bug since they’ve appeared in my room before, but it was flying too quickly to be sure. Couldn’t tell until it finally settled down, but there’s something about insects and light, and it keep circling the lamps. By this point, I had closed the door to prevent escape into the house. After a few minutes of flying around and tension growing, it crashed behind a set of drawers. Searching for it, I found the visitor on my tennis racquet, upon which I got a good look at it. A Stink Bug has awoken up for the spring! When I went to get my phone, the little Bugger took flight and began to buzz around the room again! Argh!! At least we know what it is now.
While it has a compact, shield-shaped body, it can be startling to see the full length of the wings for that split second before flight. When at rest, Stink Bug wings are folded against the abdomen, the forewings conceal the hindwings until it’s time to fly. It just wouldn’t be possible to maneuver that wide body without powerful wings, so when it’s time to go, the wings unfold out and get flapping. Getting back to the story, it resumed flying around the room aimlessly, eventually crash landing on top of the drawers this time. No slowing down, just crashing to an abrupt stop! Thank goodness an insect’s armored body allows for that, even if it may be too much for some other body parts to handle. Poor thing was missing a leg and an antenna. It could be tough to fly without all your instruments working. I picked it up in a glass and put it out the window (and without any spraying of stink) so that it wouldn’t be a bother indoors. Just a little story for today. Try not to be too nervous about the insects that decide to spend the winter in a warm house. They don’t mean to be bothersome, but they just can’t stand the cold. Quite relatable!
Pictures were taken on April 12, 2022 with a Google Pixel 4.
Here we have the first video of the year, and wouldn’t you know it the Pavement Ants have gotten to work and are setting up their new colonies and territorial ranges for the year. Once again, a turf war (that extends fairly far out) is fought on the patio in hopes of maintaining a good spot for the colony to proliferate and enjoy the warm weather. The patio provides ample protection and environment thanks to the stones, lack of plants (except for mosses and small grasses) and the insects that traverse it, so no wonder it’s sought after! After the fighting ends and the territories are established, it returns to business as usual for the Ant colonies: foraging, exploring, defending, and ventilating the nest in the summer. The numbers of workers will soon shoot up again thanks to the diligent queen of the nest (and in some cases, 2 queens working together). The unusual thing to note is that despite the fighting and the massive Ant casualties as a result, in a matter of hours all traces of the battle will be gone! The next time I showcase a video of a colony conflict, I’ll make it a time lapse for as long as possible to see what happens when the dust settles and retreat is called.
Video was recorded on April 13, 2022 with a Google Pixel 4.
found the cutest little teal frame so had to order tiny prints of my #cicada #drawing from @catprint_llc This is now available at @buildingcharacter717 . . . #teal #tealframe #miniframe #miniprint #miniart #wallart #homedecor #tinyart #insect #bug #bugart #buildingcharacter717 #buildingcharacterstore #catprint #catprint_llc #art (at BUiLDiNG CHARACTER) https://www.instagram.com/p/CeePlXwOhGe/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
For a book I’m doing about my daughters and few other things related to growing up in Brazil. I’m doing it in my spare time but would love to have the resources to fully dedicate myself to it. Oh well. I hope you guys enjoy it
Ce matin, j'ai éteint mon radio-réveil sans me rendre compte que je l'avais fait. C'est aux bruits de petit déjeuner que je me suis rendue compte que je m'étais rendormie. J'ai choisi les habits des petits pour la journée, je les ai préparés. Je me suis dit que j'allais corriger mes trois derniers paquets de copies puisque j'en récupère trois nouveaux demain et que je n'ai pas cours le jeudi matin. J'ai relevé mes mails, traîné un peu sur internet, passé l'aspirateur, fait un peu de ménage, traîné sur internet, découvert l'article de journal sur la visite des CM1-CM2 avec plaisir, envoyé deux trois mails… Et puis j'en ai reçu un qui me disait que mon professeur d'EPS du collège, à peine plus âgé que mes parents, s'était éteint dans son sommeil la nuit précédente. Je l'aimais bien, sauf, sans doute, quand il me forçait à courir ou à jouer au rugby… Il s'appelait Monsieur Eyraud. Je n'ai pas corrigé une seule copie. Je suis partie au collège en oubliant qu'aujourd'hui était un jour de grève et presqu'en retard après avoir avalé, pour tout repas, un bol de céréales. J'ai révisé le contrôle de demain avec mes 5eme en espérant qu'ils le réussiront et puis à la fin, ils ont réussi à me faire parler de papillons et de chenilles, de nature et d'abeilles… L'heure qui a suivi, j'ai souri en regardant les pièces de théâtre de mes 6eme, j'ai été fière de certains, déçue par d'autres. A la fin de l'heure, une des élèves qui avait refusé de passer et venait donc de récupérer un zéro, m'a tendu une lettre… Une lettre de ses parents, à qui elle avait manifestement menti puisque je me faisais engueuler d'avoir donné un travail en groupe aussi complexe à peine deux jours au préalable, rendant ainsi le travail avec la copine impossible, etc. Sauf qu'il ne s'agissait pas d'un travail à la maison du tout, que j'avais fait copier dans les cahiers toute la trame de la pièce que nous avions travaillée ensemble et que les enfants avaient eu en classe, mardi, une heure complète de travail en groupe pour monter leur pièce et que le travail devait être fait pendant cette heure-là (amplement suffisante). J'ai donc crié sur la gamine et sa copine qui s'étaient gardées de tout expliquer aux parents, je suis passée voir le chef pour qu'il prenne connaissance du deuxième paragraphe de la lettre, fort sympathique, le concernant… Je n'ai pas eu de récré, j'ai pris ma seconde classe de 6eme qui a travaillé sur le thème des super héros à partir de la chanson “I want to be a superhero” de Tim McMorris. Pour la première fois de ma vie, j'ai pleuré en classe parce que cette chanson m'a soudainement fait penser à des tas de choses et une en particulier. Du coup, certaines de mes élèves se sont mises à pleurer et j'ai donc expliqué pourquoi cette chanson, aujourd'hui, me touchait plus qu'elle ne le devrait. On a continué le cours, ils ont été brillants en compréhension orale même mon Jeed a été sage. Quand j'ai rangé mes affaires, j'avais un petit mot dans ma trousse qui disait que ça allait aller et que de la faiblesse venait la force. J'ai des élèves formidables. Mais un jour, ils m’oublieront. J'ai pris ma voiture pour aller chercher les petits à l'école. Sur la route, j'ai doublé un camion qui empiétait sur ma voie, j'ai cru que j'allais devoir me déporter pour l'éviter et m'emplafonner la voiture qui arrivait en face. 100 mètres plus loin, devant moi, il y avait une voiture blanche avec une femme au volant qui faisait des embardées toutes les deux secondes. Je n'ai pas osé la doubler. J'ai eu de la chance, je suis arrivée à l'heure quand même à l'école. La maîtresse de Mael m'a dit qu'il avait pleuré aujourd'hui car il n'avait pas eu le temps de finir sa géométrie, qu'il comprenait bien mais qu'en ce qui concernait le rythme, ce n'était pas toujours évident depuis fin février/son saut de classe. On est allés acheter les journaux : il faut bien garder des souvenirs… On en a profité pour prendre du pain frais et des gâteaux pour le goûter. On est rentrés, on a fait quatre heure, j'ai permis de jouer dans le jardin 5 minutes. Je suis rentrée 2 minutes, les garçons se hurlaient dessus et se bagarraient déjà… Chacun dans sa chambre, aux devoirs. Ewann a oublié son cahier de dictée et lit déjà son Harry Potter, sur son pouf avec sa porte de chambre grande ouverte (il fait un temps superbe)… Mael apprend ses mots et discute avec Ewann depuis sa porte, ouverte également (ils sont toujours plus copains après s'être collé une bonne raclée). Je vais retourner lui faire écrire ses mots et vérifier les autres devoirs. J'ai écrit ces quelques lignes pour accompagner cette photo… Il y a quelques jours, j'ai posté la photo d'une éphémère, au stade d'imago. Sur le brin d'herbe d'à côté se trouvait sa mue de subimago. Nous y sommes retournés hier, il ne restait rien. J'ai eu la chance de croiser son chemin le premier et dernier jour de sa courte vie et d'entrevoir ce qu'elle avait laissé dernière elle… J'ai eu la chance de croiser son chemin.
A little in depth for the different props designed for J’attends la nuit (I wait for the night). The fly has different level of details depending on how close we were going to see it in the film. I also had to design an iPhone screen to fit the overall graphic style. I could have gone for a complete imaginative phone interface, but since I wanted the film to be grounded in the actual world, I choose to go with an iPhone.
![Ladybug [ID: A monochromatic drawing of a ladybug with wings outstretched, done in pinks and reds.]](https://64.media.tumblr.com/f3f25942e541c4f954bc47a18cf4975a/30ad0c15a60aad50-0e/s1280x1920/88705f5828c913a7039124b7520812d0041d3a55.png "Ladybug [ID: A monochromatic drawing of a ladybug with wings outstretched, done in pinks and reds.]")
