Insect: Snakeflies ( Entomology )

Snakeflies

Known to almost no one except professional entomologists and insect enthusiasts, snakeflies (order Raphidioptera) constitute a small group of predatory insects.

The United States population is limited to areas west of the Rocky Mountains, and consists of approximately twenty species that fit into two families.

Raphidiidae, the largest family consists of two genera and 18 species. Square-headed snakeflies (family) Inocelliidae consists of one genus (Negha) and three species.

The top picture shows a female, with ovipositor, in the Agulla genus of the Raphidiidae family. The thin body and extended neck and head explain the common name snakefly.

Insect: Earwigs (Entomology)

Earwigs

The story that Earwigs (order: Dermaptera) crawl into the ears of sleeping humans in order to snack on their brains remains a science fiction best seller.

A science fact best seller starts by recognizing that earwigs pose both garden and residential infestation problems across much of the United States.

Most species average less than one inch in length and have prominent pincers on the bottom of the abdomen. They are nocturnal insects that prefer to hide in moist crevices during daylight hours.

As omnivores, large garden infestations can hurt plant production. The most popular, and least invasive control method involves rolling up slightly damp newspapers and placing them on the ground overnight. Collect and dispose of the newspaper in the morning.

Keeping a residence free of clutter and moisture from faulty plumbing are good preventative measures. Large home invasions mostly bring inconveniences. They can be dealt with some commercial non-toxic baits and traps.

Giant Earwings, the largest earwig species, can reach lengths exceeding three inches.

Insect: Two-striped Walkingsticks (Entomology)

Two-striped Walkingsticks

Five different walkingstick families make up the order Order Phasmida in the United States.

Most of the dozen or so species have long, thin, brown or green bodies that help them blend into their environment.

The Two-striped Walkingstick (Anisomorpha buprestoides), a native Southeast resident shown in the top picture, bucks that general trend. It sports a colorful orange or yellow body.

Caution is advised in their presence. As a defence mechanism that spray a caustic chemical that is known to cause sever pain if it hits the eyes.

The picture also shows the size disparity between genders, with females substantially larger than males.

Giant Walking Sticks (Megaphasma denticrus) are the longest insects native to the United States, with females reaching seven inches in length.

Insect: Stonefly (Entomology)

Stonefly

Stoneflies (Order Plecoptera) might be considered one of the trout fisherman's VBF, very best friends.

Nine stonefly families, consisting of over six hundred species have been documented in the United States.

All share some common traits. They are aquatic insects that go through a life-cycle consisting of a water phase (egg to nymph) and a land phase (flying adult). The cycle is called incomplete metamorphosis because they skip the pupa stage.

Nymphs, like the one in the top picture have two tail-like cerci on the end of the abdomen. They can be confused with Mayfly nymphs, which have three long tails.

They are very sensitive to water quality, and in areas where they are found in large numbers, the nymphs are an important food source for native trout.

The bottom picture shows a giant stonefly, family Pteronarcyidae. The dark veins on the wings give it a physical similarity with alderflies.

  

Insect:Praying Mantid ( Entomology )

Mantids: Praying Mantid

Mantids are a very interesting insects in the Dictyoptera order, the same order as cockroaches. 

Member of the Mantideae family go by the common name, praying mantis, based on their habit of holding their front legs upward, as they sit and wait for prey.

About fifteen mantids species are found in the United States. Most look similar to the species pictured above, long, thin green or brown bodies, with long legs and small heads.

The red edging on the wings and thorax, and the brown tips on the legs suggest the species is a European mantis.

The dark eyes are an artifact of low light conditions.

Humans consider Praying Mantis beneficial insects. In gardens they eat the insects that eat the garden plants.