Another day of surveys for our "10 Parks Study." We're trying to show folks that biodiversity exists even at these tiny urban parks -- they're crucial refuges for nature and for the naturalists that seek it out. :)
More info: https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/sambiology/52902-south-dallas-county-parks-project-species-surveys-in-10-parks
Finally got a chance to put the moth light up at River Bend Nature Center this year. Caddisflies swarmed out by the hundreds! There was an absurd amount of them covering the wall.
this observation is for the wasp which appeared to be parasitizing the Murgantia histrionica eggs
Eggs being laid by Chinavia hilaris here:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52485444
Eggs on the 24rth:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54289066
Darkened on the 26th:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/56069793
Hatching in July 7th:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/58341045
They have hatched!
Eggs being laid on June 16th:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52485444
Eggs being parasitized:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52723014
Eggs on the 24th:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54289066
Darkened on the 26th:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/56069793
On Northern Red Oak. @ceiseman, this looks like it's right up your alley. Platygastridae is a guess from iNat; I have no idea what the eggs or the adult are. --Lynn Harper/MassWildlife
Emerged from collected stink bug eggs (after the first one emerged a few days ago:https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55767874)
This wasp was collected from a garden soil/ leaf litter sample using a Berlese funnel. Viewed at 40x mag; it was slightly less than 2 mm long. This is the only specimen I found and it was already dead. 10 segments at the end of antennae and veinless, hairy wings. It was covered in dirt particles at first, confirming its soil origin, but not sure what a winged wasp is doing underground. Is it preparing for torpor in the soil?
More animals from this Berlese funnel extraction, including beetles, larvae, mites, springtails, diplura and millipedes:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/berlese-funnel-2020-illinois