i redrew my team of sentai-inspired OCs from ye olde days, and also tried recalling their basic profile from my olde person memory i imagined them in like,, an anime and u can clearly see that influence here
vague stuff i can remember abt each character:
❤️HARU is leader ofc bc he’s the Main Character - congrats to him, his dream to be a magical girl came tru he is now a magical boi - had a crush on Sanae, was turned down by our aro-ace queen, took it like a champ - power: fire
SANAE is a professional childhood friend as in she goes to Haru’s house to eat his food, keeps him on his feet, is his ex-crush-but-now-we’re-closer-friends and is the one who says “excuse me he asked for no pickles” - she’s v chill, only got into sentai shit bc of Haru lmao - power: ice/fire
KEIKO literally always arrives late to the scene bc they have to call her & she’s like “i still got like 15 minutes until my shift ends, can u hold?” lmao - but she’s their tank so when she gets there, whooo BOY - the one time she’s on time is bc monster attacked her workplace - power: earth
RYU is kinda a martial arts champ so he’s like,, PISSED bc he is literally their best combat fighter yet he got the healing powers - it makes him the most terrifying medic - gets bentos & lil presents & cute messages, they are trying to figure out who his secret boyfriend is - power: healing
MOMO bc he was a lil fat pink-cheeked bebe, A PEACH - still looks like a peach when he poofs his cheeks & blushes - gets mistaken for a girl a lot, usually rolls w it like the gremlin he is - rly looks up to big brother ryu & #1 in trying to figure out who the secret bf is - power: nyooooom (and also he’s chibiusa he throws sugar flowers & glitter beams)
KAZU&JIRO are a unit, they are the badass ones who arrive during the back half of the season - transfer students but not in a villain way, just in a “i want a normal life in between album releases” kinda way - established relationship, childhood friends to lovers - they both have natural black hair ahskflasf they dyed them pink/blue bc of a bet and kept the colors bc it’s cool for their celebrity looks - both try to be cool but as RICH RICH kids they are easily trolled (by Momo, it’s the innocent kid energy, they always believe him) - powers: kazu - lightning | jiro - wind/sound
thats it! what is plot, they transform & fight monster weekly? probably??? lmao who is the secret bf, IDK EITHER! :D
…and when he actually courts him some other plot shit happens, they become busy again & the engagement lasts like,, 80 yrs before some auntie reminds them that the point of getting engaged is to get married actually & they’re just like “oh yeah we were gonna do that yeah”
Pairing: Bryce Lahela x Olivia Hadley (F!OC) Other Characters: Anthony (OC child), his mom (OC) Book: Open Heart Word Count: ~1,500 Rating/Warning: General (no warnings that I can think of)
Synopsis: Olivia runs into an unusual patient request, but knows just the surgeon to help. Based on this prompt ask.
His big eyes searched frantically as his pace hastened down the hall. His little footsteps grew louder before finally coming to a stop at the nurses’ station. His little hand clasped the ledge as he jumped to pull himself up. “Hi!” He jumped up again, trying to peer over the counter above him. “Down here. I need some help. It’s an emergency.”
Olivia’s smile grew watching the young boy, no more than six, trying to get the attention of the busy nurses. She knelt beside him. “What’s your name? Maybe I can help.”
“Anthony.”
“Nice to meet you, Anthony. I’m Doctor Olivia. Can you tell me what hurts?”
“It’s not me. It’s Mr. Bear!” His eyes welled as he thrust the worn brown bear toward her.
“Oh, I see.” She frowned, noticing the small tear on the bear’s side.
“He needs a doctor!” He insisted. “Can you help?”
“I think we can do something to help.” She leaned over the nurses’ counter and pulled out a bandaid.“ She placed it over the hole. "Just for now! We don’t want any germs getting in there."
"Okay.” He glanced hesitantly at her fix.
She offered him her hand. “Where’s your mom or dad?”
“With Nana.” He looked back down the hallway from where he came. The rooms all blended together now. His lip quivered with a new problem.
“Is Nana down this hallway?”
He nodded, squeezing her hand a little tighter.
“Don’t worry, we’ll find them,” she offered reassuringly. “Then, we’ll see what we can do for Mr. Bear.”
“Okay,” he agreed.
Their search was short-lived. By the time Liv paged Bryce and told the nurses where she’d be, a panicked woman rushed out of a room down the hall.
“Anthony!” She ran to him, wrapping him in her arms. She brushed his hair back, kissing his forehead. “Where did you go? I was so worried. You can’t just leave like that.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Thank you, Doctor!”
“My pleasure.”
“Doctor Olivia said she can fix Mr. Bear!”
“Oh, Anthony! I told you not to bother the doctors. I’m so sorry, Doctor. Please don’t worry about it.”
“But mommy!”
“I’m sure Dr. Olivia is very busy with her other patients.”
“I can spare 15 minutes. I’ve got a daughter, so I understand how important our teddies are!”
“Are you sure? I hate to trouble you.”
“It’s no trouble. I insist. I already called for a surgical consult."
"You shouldn’t go through all this trouble. I can fix it when we go home."
"It’s fine. I promise. My husband is the chief surgeon, and he’s on break.” Her attention shifted to the little boy. “We want to make sure we give Mr. Bear the best medical care. Every patient is important to us. No matter how small.”
“Thank you.” His mom’s face softened, fatigue setting in. “I appreciate this.”
“Do you mind if I borrow Anthony and Mr. Bear for a few minutes? There is a triage room right down the hall. I think a few stitches, and he’ll be good as new.”
“I really hate to trouble you, but if you insist, yes, of course! Thank you!”
Anthony bounced excitedly. “Did you hear that, Mr. Bear? You’re gonna be all better soon.”
“Where should I return him?”
“Room 815. My mother just had hip surgery; as you can imagine, things have been a little crazy for us.”
“No need to explain. I get it!” Olivia reassured her. “I’ll have them back to you in ten minutes.” She took Anthony’s hand and led him down the hall. “Here we are.”
“You must be Anthony,” Bryce greeted, bending down to his level. “Is this my patient?”
“This is Mr. Bear. He’s my bestest friend, but he got hurt.” The little boy explained with a pout.
“Hmm…” Bryce inspected the wound. “I can fix that.”
“You can?”
“Mmhmm. Do you think I can borrow Mr. Bear for a couple of minutes?”
He nodded, handing the bear to Bryce.
“Do you want to watch or wait out here?"
"Can I stay with him—just in case he gets scared?”
“Of course.” Bryce gestured them further into the room. He had a surgical tray set up along with a suture kit.
Olivia helped Anthony up on the patient table so he could see better as Bryce sat down on the stool in front of his make-shift operating tray.
“This will help him take a little nap so that he won’t feel the stitches,” Bryce explained as he carefully placed a NICU mask over the stuffed bear in place of an oxygen mask and anesthesia. “You doin’ okay over there, Anthony?”
He nodded bravely, though his wide, worried eyes betrayed him.
“You can hold my hand if you get scared,” Olivia offered.
“This should only take a minute or two, and then, Mr. Bear will be as good as new.” Bryce threaded the large needle. He repositioned the bear so that the tear was facing him.
As his needle pierced the bear’s soft fabric, Anthony squeezed hard on Olivia’s hand and turned into her. “I can’t watch!” He whimpered. “I’m not brave without Mr. Bear.”
“Oh, sweetie. You’re being so, so very brave. You found a doctor for your friend. You helped Mr. Bear feel safe by coming in here even though it’s a little scary.”
“Do you really think so?” His voice was soft and unsure.
“Definitely!”
“I think Mr. Bear agrees,” Bryce added, his nimble fingers already on the last few stitches. “One more and that will do it!” He closed the opening off, securing the sutures. “Alright, all done!"
"He’s better now?"
"See for yourself.” Bryce removed the mask and held the bear out to the boy.
“I was so worried.” Anthony quickly pulled Mr. Bear in for a hug, burying his face in his soft fur. “You’re all better now! Thank you!” He squeezed the bear to his chest once more, his smile beaming brightly across his entire face.
“Thank you,” Olivia mouthed to Bryce.
He nodded. “Love you!”
“Love you, too.” Her gaze lingered on him a moment longer. Her face glowed. Not all surgeons would have taken their time to repair a stuffed animal, but he did. No questions asked. Her fingertips settled on her stomach as she watched him begin cleaning up his workspace. She was lucky to have the best husband and the most wonderful, adoring father for their children.
“You ready to head back to your mom?”
“We’re ready,” Anthony nodded his confirmation, keeping Mr. Bear close.
“One last thing—” Bryce scribbled a note on his prescription pad. “Every patient gets a follow-up."
Anthony accepted the note and hugged it to him along with Mr. Bear. He waved back to Bryce as he followed Olivia out and back to his family.
A day or so later…
Anthony kicked his feet out in front of him, waiting in the exam room, Mr. Bear sitting comfortably in his lap.
A soft knock sounded at the door.
"Come in,” his mom offered.
Two familiar faces greeted them.
“How’s our patient today?” Bryce questioned.
“Much better. He’s back to his old self. We even made you this picture.” He held out a drawing of himself and Mr. Bear with Bryce and Olivia, and the words “best doctors” scribbled on the top.
“Wow, this is so beautiful. Did you make it yourself?” Olivia marveled.
“I did, but Mr. Bear helped pick out the colors.”
“It’s so perfect! I love it. Thank you so much!” She accepted the drawing, admiring it more closely. “We actually have something for you and Mr. Bear, too.
"For Mr. Bear!” Bryce unfolded a tiny pair of scrubs he had been holding. “Now, he can be a surgeon too!”
“Really?! I can keep these?”
“Yup. Let’s get him dressed and see how he looks.” Bryce helped Anthony dress his bear.
“You didn’t have to do that.” Anthony’s mom held her hand over her heart in appreciation. “Thank you.”
“It was nothing. Our daughter could staff a stuffed animal hospital with the number of toy scrubs and doctor outfits she has. You’re doing us a favor by taking one of them off our hands. Malia won’t even notice.” Olivia’s attention returned to Bryce and Anthony. “Besides, I imagine it’ll be far more appreciated here.”
“Thank you. Both of you. You’ve truly been a much-needed light in our lives this week. I can’t express how much your time and care have meant to me. Thank you.”
“It’s been our pleasure."
"Now, you try.” Bryce handed his stethoscope to Anthony, letting him check Mr. Bear’s heart. He lightly tapped his fingers nearby, just enough so that the device could pick it up.
“Woah!” Anthony’s eyes widened, and his mouth fell open. “I can hear it!"
"Told you.” Bryce smiled, carefully removing the stethoscope from the boy’s ears. “Now, you and Mr. Bear can take care of each other. If you have any trouble, you know where to find us.” He helped Anthony down from the table.
He ran to his mom, holding up the patient-turned-doctor. “Mommy, look!”
“I see. He looks so handsome!” She brushed his hair back. “What do we say?”
“Thank you!” He turned and hugged Olivia, then Bryce.
“Thank you again!” His mom took his hand and led her son out of the room, smiles filling both of their faces.
“You did good.” Olivia cooed.
“We did good.”
“We did, didn’t we?” She agreed, brushing a quick kiss on his lips. “We make a pretty good team.”
He laced his fingers with hers, his thumb caressing below her wedding ring. “The very best.”
A/N: I didn’t have time to edit. Life’s been so crazy these past couple of days and I don’t feel well but still wanted to post something. So please excuse any typos or errors
Tags in a reblog, let me know if you’d like to be added or removed.
Completely in love with this Cheeb art from the ever talented and wonderful @weetlebeetle!!! I love these two so much and this totally captures them perfectly!
Let’s have one more set of pictures from the Muskoka visit to round things out, shall we? Not to toot my horn but I’m very proud of Picture 1 with opened wings and exposure to the abdomen hidden beneath the shell. Interestingly, there was a short pause after opening the wings before taking flight. Anyways, the beautiful night sky of cottage country (which is dotted with many stars unobscured by light pollution) is the perfect environment for the illumination of insects like this one. Or at least it would be if this specie of Firefly was able to light up its rear as the name might hint. For this specie, only the larvae and pupae can glow, the adults losing this ability upon maturation. It’s not all bad news though since this Beetle spends most of its time as a larva anyways, scourging around the leaf litter and under logs in search of insects and slug to eat. Their diet changes upon reaching adulthood, shifting from carnivorous to hungering for sap and flowers. If you go looking for the larvae, know that they are quite a rare find. Fortunately you’ll know them when you see them as they might glow and they closely resemble Trilobite Beetles. If you can’t find the larvae, adults will be more out in the open. They fly during the daytime and crawl about on trees, leaves and man-made structures.
The adults should be recognizable enough with the colors of their armor, their antenna type and their (relatively) large size compared to other Fireflies. The specimens you see before you are likely those that have emerged after an overwintering stint as adults. It’s the ability to survive the harsh winter that gave this Beetle its name, and with the weather turning warm, it’s time to find a mate. If the temperatures can hold steady, there could be a second generation, but these are another generation from the eggs laid earlier in the year. Nevertheless, the Fireflies that emerged from winter waste no time forming mating pairs. It’s not really possible to discern which Beetle is the female or the male in these pictures (you’d need to flip them over to check the final abdomen segment which would be quite rude). To avoid sitting on them, you can persuade them to climb on a stick and relocate them to a more green environment…as I did. I was called up to the balcony to investigate what looked like a Caterpillar, but was in fact the Beetles you see before you. I can sort of see the resemblance. They can move together (even turning without a break) to escape a perceived threat, though it looks more like one is taking the lead and dragging the other along. While transporting them, the leaders switched occasionally, resulting in a change of direction. Fascinating!
Pictures were taken on May 28, 2022 in Muskoka with a Google Pixel 4. For anyone interested in more information, I enjoyed reading this paper by Rooney and Lewis covering the Winter Firefly.
As promised, another beautiful insect from the Muskoka cottage scene by the lake. This one has wonderful shades of metallic green on its thorax plates which make it a sight to behold if you find one. You may think that those vibrant colors are what give this insect its name, and while there is a bit of truth to that, the real answer is much more interesting, and I truly wish these pictures could showcase what I’m about to describe. Belonging to the family CorduliidaeorEmerald Dragonflies, this new family is a first for the blog, joining the quick Skimmers (Libellulidae) and the large Darners (Aeschnidae) (and the one Clubtail also found in cottage country). The Emerald family received their name from the vibrant green eyes that most species tend to display when they fully mature. You’ll need to look at other pictures for reference, but I promise you, these eyes are saturated with a lush light-green. This specie can have that eye color too, but sadly not this individual, which leads me to deduce that this individual may be an “immature” adult, needing a little more time in the sun.
While other Dragonflies have differing male and female characteristics, both males and females can have green eyes, at least from what I’ve read and seen. This in mind, there’s a much easier way to tell male and female Emeralds apart: look to the tips of their abdomens! No matter what eyes they have, the males will have three prominent claspers and females have an elongated plate and/or diminished claspers on the abdomen tip. The pictures here don’t really show the best view of the abdomen, but I see no claspers. With this information in mind, I’ll know what to look for next time. Continuing on, as the name suggests, the widened tail tip has given this beautiful creature its name, “racket tail”. Keep an eye out for this feature if a green-eyed Dragonfly zooms by you. Also, while the top of the body shows greens of various intensities, the undersides of this Dragonfly are striped with yellow. She is truly stunning and will likely go on to birth several new Dragonflies that will call the lake in front of the cottage home in their young naiad forms. After spending their days hunting prey in the water, they too will emerge will emerald coloration to hunt the many flying insects of the cottage environment. MidgesandMosquitos provide an all you can catch buffet for them, and there are larger insects to try and catch such as the elusive Alderfly.
Pictures were taken on May 28, 2022 in Muskoka with a Google Pixel 4.
I’ve just returned from a cottage trip up in Muskoka with many insect pictures to share. With the weather turning warmer across Ontario, many new insects have begun to emerge. Especially those insects that aren’t too far from the wooded areas or lake Muskoka. It’s still a bit too early for everyone to come outside, but there were May Beetles flying headfirst into the cottage’s walls, having been drawn in by the night lights. Night lights also draw in Crane Fliesand Moths (latter identification is ongoing) which have plenty of places to perch and rest thanks to window screens. In the daytime, other insects can be found rummaging and flying around cottage country including the subject of today’s post. I’m reluctant to post about another Fly so soon after the last one, but it’s another new specie for the blog and may serve as an educational tool for those in cottage country, the woods or marshes. Plus, it’s not every day that I find a Snipe Fly sporting beautifully patterned wings and posing for nice pictures. This specimen is a female which can be discerned by the gap between its compound eyes. Comparing it to the other species of this blog, it has the classic Rhagio Snipe Fly body shape and long legs. When first finding it, I wasn’t sure what this insect was, and I wouldn’t be sure until closely looking at Picture 2 and noticing a long, tapering abdomen with faint yellow stripes.
I was hesitant to approach at first. Why? Cottage country can be notorious for biting Flies, especially in areas by lakes, woods and fields. Specifically Deer Flies and Horseflies, both of which tend to present with patterned wings. Muskoka definitely has Horseflies, but this is too small and spindly to be that, so I pondered whether this was a Deer Fly. Thankfully not, as Deer Flies tend to have bright, metallic eyes with scintillating patterns. Breathe a sigh of relief if you see this Fly near you as this specie is reported not to be frequent biters (if at all) of humans. Other species of the west may bite, but not to the same degree as a Horsefly. The Snipe Fly mouthparts seem to be for jabbing rather than slicing. Getting off that subject, I’ll end this post by mentioning that this insect has a look-a-like that you should be aware of: R. punctipennis: the Lesser Variegated Snipe Fly! To tell these two down-lookers apart, pay close attention to the wings and thorax. The wings are patterned differently and thorax’s parallel bands are different too. The Common Snipe Fly has a little divide in between the middle band (zoom in on Picture 5) and the scutellum appears discolored compared to the scutum (smaller thorax plate compared to larger thorax plate). It’s much less complicated than it sounds, trust me, but the take away here is that this Fly isn’t likely to bother you during a cottage summer day.
Pictures were taken on May 28, 2022 in Muskoka with a Google Pixel 4. Another Muskoka cottage insect will come on Friday. A larger, more metallic insect will be examined. Which one could it be?
The more Flies I find while out looking for insects, the more surprised I am to find new varieties and families within their order, Diptera. Today’s post is a new specie and opens up another new family for this blog to explore: Scathophagidae. More commonly they are called Dung Flies, but researching into this family suggests that this common name is a bit of a stretch as not all Flies within this family have an appreciation for dung. It can be tough to narrow broad spectrum characteristics into a family name. The only name I could think of would be “Hunter Flies” given the diet of the adult, but this might tread on Robber Flies, which, in my opinion are the more vicious predatory Flies. The latter exemplify hunting with that sharp facial spike and their aggression, but this Dung Fly is no slouch to hunting. There’s great footage online with this specie slowly approaching other Flies at rest and then rushing them and trapping them with their enlarged spine covered legs. The only thing I’m confused on is their mouthpart. Looking at macrophotography and videos of the Fly hunting, it looks like it has a sponge mouthpart (labellum) on the end, but the mouthpart as a whole looks like a short and blunt pencil tip. I’m very curious to seeing how exactly it lands the first blow upon capturing a Fly or similar insect.
Regardless of how it manages to nab its way, the where it interests me. When hunting, the hungry Fly waits from around flowers, leaves or dung to attack insects. Blowflies such as the Greenbottle Fly are on the menu given their attraction to both, and I fear that Hoverflies may also be on the menu too! Let’s hope their striped patterns can give this Fly the slip. Whether hunting or waiting for a potential mate, this individual was vigilant over a pile of dog poop and remained on plants nearby. Had I known what this specie was, I would’ve stayed around a bit longer to see if it catch something. The adults won’t eat the dung as a primary food source, but they are drawn to it, and eggs laid inside it (for this specie). Other species within Scathophagidae lay their eggs on other things found in nature such as on plants, in water and some even parasitize other insects. The only thing I can think of that all these sites have in common is a lot of moisture (which is handy to ward off drying out). All this variety of habits and preferences and yet poop is the main focus of this family. With this particular specie being a common find in the wild and well studied in research, it may have influenced the naming of this family.
Pictures were taken on May 19, 2022 with a Google Pixel 4.
Here’s a fun-looking specimen, and a more glamorous find along Toronto’s lake shore. I’m not entirely sure that I’ve chosen the right insect here as Azure/Blue Butterflies look very similar to each other, requiring close inspection to be sure. I’ve chosen the insect as Lucia Azure due to the habitat range and time of emergence. Embarrassingly, I had the insect pegged as the Summer Azure (C. neglecta) initially. Yes, that’s how similar these insects are to one another! Especially looking at the patterns on the underwing. The name should’ve been a giveaway, but it was worth exploring and researching anyway to learn more about this branch of Gossamer Winged Butterflies, which is otherwise a large insect family. Yes, the Summer emerges as an adult in summer, meanwhile this specie emerges during spring after an overwintering. If you find a Blue or an Azure, observe it very carefully and look for any features that may help determine what you’ve found. Even the flowers it feeds from or the plants that it hovers around!
While it looks peaceful and content on the sandy dirt, let me assure you that this insect is quite jittery and takes off at an alarming speed! Trying to follow it around, it darted around the grass and dandelions in the area, eventually settling on the dirt…and then launching away as soon as I’d bend down to take some picture. If approaching a Butterflylike this one, take your time and approach slowly. No sudden movements! If the opportunity should arise, you can even catch it in your hand with an open grip, upon which it will take again! While it’s skittish and eager to escape, it’s actually quite easy to keep an eye on it for tracking purposes due a detail not shown in these images. As the name suggests there’s a blue color that makes this insect very noticeable in flight from the scales on the dorsal side of the wings. But when folded upwards at rest, the patterned wings do a good job of blending into the stone-scattered sandy terrain. While other Butterflies can mimic leaves, this one can hide on the ground at the right angle, but I think it would need to be careful about choosing its moments to fly away.
Pictures were taken May 15, 2022 with a Google Pixel 4.
I’ve developed a large stockpile of Boxelder Bug pictures to upload over the years, but despite how frequently I find them in my area, They’re some of the first insects to be food in the early spring (crawling in the leaf litter) and some of the last insects to grace the autumn (eventually making their way to the leaf littler); 2 generations make them easy to document and photograph. I’ve never sought to record them in motion. With today’s video, that changes. Taking a walk in a wooded area, I noticed that there were Boxelder Bugs galore! Not quite swarming, but there was tremendous activity on the goldenrod plants and in the dried grasses. Perhaps they were looking to secure territory and mating spots? The timeline would fit, and hopefully the nymphs are positioned near a suitable plant to satisfy them, While named after their host plant, it seems that maple tree juices are a source of food for them too! With this video, we can examine and observe how the insect moves on and reacts to the surfaces it struts along. While exploring the hand was a new experience for it, it seemed more than eager to return to the young goldenrods and hide from me. What interested me the most when revisiting the footage at home was how the insect’s antennae orient themselves when the Bug is on the move and at rest. It’s always sensing where to go next and getting a feel for its surroundings.
Video was recorded on May 19, 2022 with a Google Pixel 4. As well, B. trivittata will be known as the Eastern Boxelder Bug rather than just Boxelder Bug. This is to futureproof for later Boxelder Bug posts with new species. Prior posts have been adjusted to the reflect this change.
Afterlast week’s video post showcasing these insects and their dancing formations over flowing water, this week we’ll attempt to get a closer look at them. It’s funny how the insects seem of reasonable size when you actually hold or see one, but when looking at them against the sky, one could be mistaken to thinking that it’s just birds flying in the distance. Each speck represents one Midge flying around so there’s probably 50 or so in picture 2. Those are rather small, and actually very close, but not all Midges are so tiny. Some are larger, and there is a size difference between females and males. Based on what I’ve read females are larger, but the males have plumose antennae. More than a decoration for their appearance, they (similar to Moths) use those feathered antennae to help them find a mate. Looking at the individual I’ve caught in Pictures 1 and 10, you can get a closer look at the features. Take note of the elongated body, shortened wings, feathered antennae and the positioning of the front legs. Though a bit roughed up from the capture, this hardy fellow was able to fly away after a few pictures. These are non-biting Midges, which may imply that there are biting Midges…and yes there are. Those belong to the family Ceratopogonidae and some do bite humans.
As said earlier, they are drawn to bodies of water and moist environments as those places are beneficial places for the placing of eggs. The adult Midges need to get to work quickly as they usually live for a few weeks, if that long. Depending on the specie, they may not even feed when they are adults (some take honeydew or nectar), so the timing is quite urgent. Fortunately, they can mitigate most risks with simultaneous emergence (again, it depends on the specie) and the emerge of massive swarms. While annoying for boaters, bikers and visitors of a waterfront, the sheer numbers of Midges allow more than enough to survive to ready the next generation, even if a few get caught in spider webs or eaten by other predators. They lack defenses aside from their flying prowess, and since they’re often mistaken for Mosquitoes, they can be eaten or swatted at with little thought. While similar in appearance to Mosquitoes and closely related to them, these non-biting Midges don’t have a taste for blood and have a few differences that you can use to tell them apart, all of which can be found in the first paragraph of this post. The front legs should stand out immediately, and as such both insect groups have different postures when landed.
Pictures were taken on May 11 and 15, 2022 with a Google Pixel 4.
Midge Swarm - Family: Chironomidae | Species unknown
Please view this in HD to not obscure the insects behind resolution pixelization. There’s no insect close ups in this video, but instead the dance to see a swarm of insects that recur year after year. Over bodies of water, adult Midges emerge and swarm to find mates. It’s a bit of a common sight in Ontario as the seasons shift into spring. If this is what they’re like here, can you imagine the amount of little Flies that cottage country sees? Goodness me! Potentially numbering in the hundreds over here, they can certainly get in your way as you’re walking around near a body of water. I sometimes see masses of them hovering over the pine bushes in the front yard, especially before or after rain. Seems moisture is the key to their success. Fortunately, while these Midges can make visibility difficult, these are not biting insects and do not need to be avoided in the same way Mosquitoes would be. That’s a good small miracle. To otherwise prepare for these spring swarms, make sure your window screens are in place, wear some goggles or glasses, and bring a net if you want to try capturing and observing a few members of the swarm. The midges in particular are tiny, black, somewhat long-legged and have transparent wings. When swinging my hand through the insect cloud to catch a few, several mating pairs were stunned for a bit, and then flew away. One detail I did catch was that the males have (white, almost see-through) feathered antennae similar to some Moths. This may help identify it better, but without a super close up view, identification will be impossible. For now, let’s just enjoy the sunset swarming.
Video was recorded on May 11, 2022 with a Google Pixel 4. For close-ups of a small insect, please check out this post featuringCarpet Beetles which received an update today with new pictures.
I was looking through the insect orders and families that have been covered here and was surprised to find that I haven’t covered these little guys. As it turns out, I don’t have too many pictures of them either which makes me sad. I’ll have to come back and add more Beetles to this post as I take more pictures! Though fairly small, the checkered pattern on their back makes the adults easy to spot, but you’d need a powerful magnifier to see the fine details such as the position of their eyes and their tiny antennae. I’m not sure how common they are in other parts of Canada or North America, but at home there’s always a few individuals that are found yearly, crawling around just before and after the winter. The ones that emerge in time for spring get to enjoy the outdoors while those that emerge before winter will need to remain indoors if they wish to roam around. They’ve obtained a bit of a status as a pest, as the household environment can provide these Beetles and their future larvae with nourishment (more so the latter, adults (like the individual in Picture 1) prefer to feed on pollen). As that wonderful name “Carpet Beetle” suggests, these Beetles may have a taste for human furnishings, which can make them pests.
Don’t let these images undersell just how small the adults truly are! They are much smaller than any other Beetles shown here, including the Yucca Beetle! Like the Yucca Beetle, a few may be adorable, but an aggregation of them may present issues. To clarify, these Dermestidaefamily Beetles may occasionally eat some furnishings because the hungry larvae need a diet of protein to grow. In nature, their protein sources come from dried fur, fallen hairs, shed skin, dandruff, wool, silk; anything organic in nature really. As such, when the larvae are abundant in a household, they may turn their attention to materials that fit this description such as clothing, loose fabric, and yes, carpets! They’ll need a source of water too. Best thing you can do if you find them is to vacuum them up, but unless there are many little larvae wriggling around, you may not find them. If you suspect you have any, look for millimetric grubs coated in small hairs. They’re quite small, so small in fact that the adults may use bird’s nests as locations to lay eggs. Just like in the Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers film, “The closer we are to danger, the further we are from harm”…”you are very small”. Considering the visual acuity of birds, its a risky proposition, laying eggs next to a predator, but these Beetles seems to make it work.
Update:7 more pictures added on Friday May 13, 2022. Hopefully this better conveys the size of these little beans. While they do seem tick-like, they do not bite. You can even see the little wings poking out.
Pictures were taken on April 22, 2019 with a Samsung Galaxy S4 and May 18, 2021 with a Google Pixel 4. Update pictures were taken on May 12, 2022.
