Photos / Sounds

What

Spined Oak Borer (Elaphidion mucronatum)

Observer

krechols13

Date

July 2023

Place

Ohio, US (Google, OSM)

Description

Found this guy hanging out on the outside of our kitchen window screen. He was about 1 inch long, excluding the antennae, and got very angry when I picked him up for photos, waving his legs and thrashing his head around trying to bite me. He did manage to pinch me with his jaws, but they weren't strong enough to actually hurt. He could and did fly once I let him go, but calmed down and sat still again after landing on a milkweed leaf.
The ID algorithm has suggested Spined Oak Borer (Elaphidion mucronatum), Carolina Pine Sawyer (Monochamus carolinensis), and Red Oak Borer (Enaphalodes rufulus) as "seen nearby," but I'm not certain which, if any, of those suggestions is correct.
After comparing my photos to images on Bug Guide, I am thinking Elaphidion mucronatum seems more likely than the other two suggested species.

Spined Oak Borer - Photo (c) Timothy Reichard, all rights reserved, uploaded by Timothy Reichard
critter-queen32's ID: Spined Oak Borer (Elaphidion mucronatum)
Added on August 24, 2023
Supporting

Photos / Sounds

What

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

Observer

krechols13

Date

June 24, 2023 11:43 AM EDT

Description

Taking the genus suggestion from the ID algorithm for now. These flowers were a good 3 inches across.

Black-eyed Susans and Coneflowers - Photo no rights reserved, uploaded by Sara L Giles
critter-queen32's ID: Black-eyed Susans and Coneflowers (Genus Rudbeckia)
Added on August 21, 2023
Supporting

Photos / Sounds

What

Carolina Mantis (Stagmomantis carolina)

Observer

krechols13

Date

July 2023

Place

Ohio, US (Google, OSM)

Description

Found on Balloonplant in my mom's pollinator garden. I'm pretty sure this is a Carolina Mantis for a few reasons: 1) Wide, slightly flattened head shape when viewed from the front. 2) My mom finds adult mantids in the garden every fall, and they've always been Stagmomantis carolina.

Carolina Mantis - Photo (c) William Wise, all rights reserved, uploaded by William Wise
critter-queen32's ID: Carolina Mantis (Stagmomantis carolina)
Added on August 21, 2023
Supporting

Photos / Sounds

What

Interrupted Clubmoss (Spinulum annotinum)

Observer

krechols13

Date

June 17, 2023 12:07 PM EDT

Description

Taking the family suggestion from the ID algorithm for now.

Interrupted Clubmoss - Photo (c) David McCorquodale, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by David McCorquodale
critter-queen32's ID: Interrupted Clubmoss (Spinulum annotinum)
Added on August 21, 2023
Improving

Photos / Sounds

What

Carolina Mantis (Stagmomantis carolina)

Observer

krechols13

Date

August 2023

Place

Ohio, US (Google, OSM)

Description

This gal was hanging out on potted milkweed in the pollinator garden, munching on some type of true bug.

Carolina Mantis - Photo (c) William Wise, all rights reserved, uploaded by William Wise
critter-queen32's ID: Carolina Mantis (Stagmomantis carolina)
Added on August 21, 2023
Supporting

Photos / Sounds

What

Carolina Mantis (Stagmomantis carolina)

Observer

krechols13

Date

August 2023

Place

Ohio, US (Google, OSM)

Description

This guy has been hanging out on potted milkweed in the pollinator garden, and he's almost made it to adulthood!

Carolina Mantis - Photo (c) William Wise, all rights reserved, uploaded by William Wise
critter-queen32's ID: Carolina Mantis (Stagmomantis carolina)
Added on August 21, 2023
Supporting

Photos / Sounds

What

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)

Observer

krechols13

Date

August 19, 2023 12:59 PM EDT

Description

I literally can't remember the last time I've seen a cuckoo (as opposed to merely hearing it), so seeing this guy and managing an actual photo was a huge treat!

Yellow-billed Cuckoo - Photo (c) William Wise, all rights reserved, uploaded by William Wise
critter-queen32's ID: Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)
Added on August 21, 2023
Supporting

Photos / Sounds

What

Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)

Observer

krechols13

Date

August 19, 2023 10:44 AM EDT
Field Sparrow - Photo (c) Greg Lasley, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Greg Lasley
critter-queen32's ID: Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)
Added on August 21, 2023
Supporting

Stats

  • 8 IDs made for others