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MObugs: November 2013
http://mobugs.blogspot.com/2013_11_01_archive.html
Monday, November 25, 2013. When is a spider not a spider? When it is a Harvestman (a.k.a Daddy Longlegs). These spider-like arthropods are in the order Opiliones. These arachnids are common to abundant in North America as well as worldwide with over 6500 species identified. Most of us grew up playing with daddy longlegs, after all they were everywhere and easily captured and never tried to bite. Their long legs would tickle your bare skin as they climbed up your arm or leg which. Other myths associated w...
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MObugs: December 2013
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Thursday, December 26, 2013. The Elderberry Borer or Cloaked Knotty-Horned Beetle as it is sometimes referred to ( Desmocerus palliatus). Was the word of the day. It was all too easy to accidentally cut a larvae or pupae in half. This was enough to bring you to tears, to have worked so hard to find one, only to realize you destroyed it before you could get it out of its pupal chamber. Often we would work for as much as an hour before finding a single specimen. Tuesday, December 3, 2013. Time is of the es...
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MObugs: World Snake Day
http://mobugs.blogspot.com/2015/07/world-snake-day_16.html
Thursday, July 16, 2015. To celebrate World Snake Day I thought I would share with you one of my personal favorites, the black rat snake ( Pantherophis obsoletus. Their diet is highly variable, and includes rats, mice, voles, bunnies, birds, and bird eggs, including chicken eggs, which has earned them another common name of Black Chicken Snake. She disappeared into a crack in the wall inside and wasn't seen again. My husband just looked at me and rolled his eyes and said "Well, that was helpful! Black sn...
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MObugs: May 2015
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Wednesday, May 27, 2015. Which are very closely related to garter snakes. This species was a lifer for both of us and we were happy to have the opportunity to photograph such a neat snake. I document all the species I find on this farm and I was happy to record this one as a first for this farm. One of the things I love about being outside and exploring our farms or any natural area is the new discoveries to be made. Monday, May 18, 2015. Wednesday, May 6, 2015. Once mated, bred females look for sheltere...
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MObugs: Spotted Orb Weaver
http://mobugs.blogspot.com/2015/08/spotted-orb-weaver.html
Sunday, August 2, 2015. I posted her image to bugguide and had an answer within hours as to what she is. Spotted Orb Weaver's or Red-Femured Orb Weaver's ( Neoscona domiciliorum. Look for them in woodlands where hard wood trees are prevalent. They often build. Literally translates into "of dwellings" and probably refers to their habit of building on human dwellings. Out on the prairie. August 3, 2015 at 7:19 AM. Like to toss a few items into their web. A pretty area, but long populated. Here are some of ...
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MObugs: July 2015
http://mobugs.blogspot.com/2015_07_01_archive.html
Tuesday, July 21, 2015. Peacock flies are a type of fruit fly in the family Tephritidae. There are approximately 500 genera, that include over 5,000 described species Worldwide within this family. The one pictured here is Paracantha cultaris. And can be found throughout Western North America. This particular species lays its eggs within sunflower stems where the maggots hatch and feed within the head of the sunflower. Adults are typically found around sunflowers or other related plants. Are small to medi...
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MObugs: June 2015
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Saturday, June 27, 2015. Bess Beetles ( Odontotaenius disjunctus. These beetles are fond of old rotting stumps, and logs where they feed on the decaying wood. The boring or tunneling action they perform will create chambers where they will mate, lay eggs and rear young. Both adults and larva are capable of making squeaky noises through stridulation, by rubbing their abdomen against their wings. This is a form of communication between adults. If handled they may stridulate loudly. Monday, June 22, 2015.
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MObugs: January 2014
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Wednesday, January 8, 2014. Eastern Pondhawk Dragonflies ( Erythemis simplicicollis). Immature males will be powdery blue (pictured at right) and as they age they will be mostly green. Females are also green with black spots on their abdomen. Tuesday, January 7, 2014. This small black beetle is the Scooped Scarab Beetle ( Onthophagus hecate),. They are a dung beetle in the family. Because these beetles feed on dung, limiting or omitting the use of. They are found throughout most of the United States with...
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MObugs: March 2015
http://mobugs.blogspot.com/2015_03_01_archive.html
Monday, March 23, 2015. This seems to be the week for longhorn borers as our woodpile came to life on Saturday with dozens of these long-legged, longhorn beauties. I had never seen this particular species before and after inquiring on facebook, one of my friends knew right away that is was a Banded Ash Borer ( Neoclytus caprea. There are few insects active this time of year, so when warm days bring out pretty beetles like this, it is hard to not get somewhat excited. Tuesday, March 10, 2015. Black locust...
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