March 11, 2024

Plecoptera of Vermont

Hi everyone! I have put together this list of known Plecoptera in Vermont. The original list was put together from the species listed in The list of valid plecoptera names available at https://web.archive.org/web/20130929005426/http://plsa.inhs.uiuc.edu/plecoptera/validnames.aspx. and Myers et al 2023. To that, I added species that were identified on Inaturalist and bugguide and also GBIF data and the list now contains 89 species. That is 10 more species than the number reported in Myers et al 2023 although I probably have made some mistakes and there might be some synonyms in this list.

Acroneuria abnormis
Acroneuria carolinensis
Acroneuria lycorias
Agnetina capitata
Allocapnia granulata
Allocapnia maria
Allocapnia minima
Allocapnia nivicola
Allocapnia pechumani
Allocapnia pygmaea
Allocapnia recta
Allocapnia vivipara
Alloperla atlantica
Alloperla chloris
Alloperla concolor
Alloperla idei
Alloperla leonarda
Alloperla petasata
Alloperla petesata
Alloperla voinae
Amphinemura linda
Amphinemura nigritta
Amphinemura wui
Bolotoperla rossi
Capnura manitoba
Cultus decisus
Cultus verticalis
Hansonoperla appalachia
Haploperla brevis
Helopicus subvarians
Helopicus subvarians
Isogenoides doratus
Isogenoides fontalis
Isogenoides hansoni
Isoperla francesca
Isoperla holochlora
Isoperla kirchneri
Isoperla montana
Isoperla orata
Isoperla pseudosimilis
Isoperla signata
Isoperla similis
Isoperla slossanae
Isoperla transmarina
Leuctra duplicata
Leuctra ferruginea
Leuctra laura
Leuctra maria
Leuctra sibleyi
Leuctra tenella
Leuctra tenuis
Leuctra variabilis
Malirekus iroquois
Nemoura arctica
Oemopteryx contorta
Oemopteryx glacialis
Ostrocerca albidipennis
Ostrocerca complexa
Paracapnia angulata
Paracapnia opis
Paragnetina immarginata
Paragnetina media
Paraleuctra sara
Paranemoura perfecta
Perlesta nelsoni
Perlinella drymo
Prostoia completa
Prostoia completa
Prostoia similis
Pteronarcys biloba
Pteronarcys comstocki
Pteronarcys dorsata
Pteronarcys proteus
Rasvena terna
Shipsa rotunda
Soyedina vallicularia
Soyedina washingtoni
Strophopteryx fasciata
Suwallia marginata
Sweltsa lateralis
Sweltsa naica
Sweltsa onkos
Taenionema atlanticum
Taeniopteryx burksi
Taeniopteryx maura
Taeniopteryx nivalis
Taeniopteryx parvula
Tallaperla maria
Utaperla gaspesiana

L. W. Myers, R. E. DeWalt, S. A. Grubbs, and M. Graziosi. 2023 A Preliminary List of Vermont Stoneflies (Plecoptera) and a call for Volunteers to Collect Specimens in Vermont and other Northeastern States

B.P. Stark, R.W. Baumann, and R.E. DeWalt. 2009 Valid Stonefly Names for North America

I originally made this post to ask for specimens but the people who are working with stoneflies in the area have already done that. I was unaware of this when I started working on this list and I only saw that there had been a checklist of stoneflies made for Vermont (Myers et al 2023) after I completed the first draft of this list. That being said, if you are interested in collecting plecoptera then I am sure the people who are studying stoneflies in the are would be interested in specimens.

Posted on March 11, 2024 05:54 PM by origamilevi origamilevi | 9 comments | Leave a comment

May 30, 2023

Serica of vermont

Introduction

Serica is a genus of June beetles found throughout the world. This is a photographic guide to species found in Vermont.


Species list

There are more species but these are the ones I have collected.

  • Serica atracapilla
  • Serica sericea
  • Serica tristis


Identification


Serica atracapilla male.



Serica sericea male.



Serica tristis male.

Posted on May 30, 2023 03:13 PM by origamilevi origamilevi | 0 comments | Leave a comment

May 3, 2023

Introduced Sericini June beetle species in vermont


Introduction

There are two species of invasive June beetles in the tribe Sericini in Vermont; Nipponoserica peregrina, and Maladera formosae. They can be distinguished from each other and native species using external morphology but this guide also includes identification using the genitalia. Both species are common in Vermont.


Species list

  • Nipponoserica peregrina
  • Maladera formosae


Identification


Nipponoserica peregrina male.



Maladera formosae male.


Identification through external morphology


Maladera formosae

Maladera formosae can be separated from Nipponoserica peregrina by It's rounder and darker brown appearance. The genitalia are very distinct between these two species. It is also resembles the native genus Serica but can be separated through dissection or by a few small features described here at bugguide.net.

Nipponoserica peregrina

See details above.


Posted on May 3, 2023 05:03 AM by origamilevi origamilevi | 0 comments | Leave a comment

May 1, 2023

Phyllophaga species of vermont

UNDER CONSTRUCTION


Introduction

Phyllophaga Is a genus of beetle commonly known as may beetles. Many of the beetles in this genus need to be dissected to identify to species. Both male and female specimens are useful for identification. This post will eventually be a guide to the Phyllophaga species found in Vermont. As I find more species I will add more images and species to this list.



Species list
  • Phyllophaga anxia
  • Phyllophaga fusca
  • Phyllophaga hirticula


Identification


Phyllophaga anxia male. Identified by Brad Barnd



Phyllophaga anxia female.



Phyllophaga fusca male.



Phyllophaga hirticula male. Identification confirmed by Brad Barnd


Credits

Brad Barnd- identification help
August Zoerheide- specimen contributions
Elenore Mullins- specimen contributions
Simone Pyle- specimen contributions
Dr. MJ Paulsen- confirmations on iNaturalist
Thank you!


Sources

Luginbill, Philip, and Henry R. Painter. May Beetles of the United States and Canada https://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/43418/pdf United States. Government Printing Office, 1953.


Genus Phyllophaga - May Beetles - BugGuide.Net. Welcome to BugGuide.Net! - BugGuide.Net, https://bugguide.net/node/view/3477.

Posted on May 1, 2023 02:16 AM by origamilevi origamilevi | 0 comments | Leave a comment

May 31, 2022

Notable observations

These are my favorite and most interesting observations so far! Last updated: 7/17/22.


1) Rhopalomyia bulbula: A rare gall. First on inaturalist.

2) Ophiomyia tiliae: A gall. First on inaturalist.

3) Marmara on trembling aspen: A stem miner. Possibly an undescribed species.

4) Marmara on basswood: A stem miner. Possibly an undescribed species.

5) Marmara on elm: A stem miner. Possibly an undescribed species. Also this observation.

6) Marmara on hophornbeam: A stem miner. Possibly an undescribed species. Also this and this observation

7) Marmara on hemlock: A stem miner. Possibly an undescribed species. Also this observation.

8) Marmara on dogwood: A stem miner. Possibly an undescribed species. Also this observation.

9) Marmara on maple: A stem miner. Possibly an undescribed species.

10) Euura salix-woolly-gall: An undescribed species of euura gall. This is it's gallformers page.

11) b-alleghaniensis-upper-leaf-erineum: An undescribed species of gall mite. This is it's gallformers page.

12) p-balsamifera-leaf-gall: A possibly undescribed gall on balsam popular. This is it's gallformers page.

13) Complex Enchenopa binotata: A possibly undescribed treehopper on butternut. This is it's bugguide page.


Will be updated when I find other interesting species.

Posted on May 31, 2022 07:22 PM by origamilevi origamilevi | 0 comments | Leave a comment

January 10, 2022

Types of Manduca sphinx moths in the USA

Introduction
Manduca is a genus of moths in the Family Sphingidae, the sphinx moths and hawk moths. Many caterpillars in this family are commonly known as “hornworms,” because they have a horn at the end of their abdomen. There are 8 species of Manduca in the United States, and two others that are rare strays. This guide will focus on the 8 species that are more commonly found. This guide will help you identify the moths and caterpillars that can be found in the USA.



Manduca sexta
Manduca sexta has six orange spots on each side of its abdomen. It has a wingspan of 3.75 to 4.75 inches. It lives throughout most of the USA. In Louisiana and Florida there are several broods per year but in the rest of its range it flies from May to October. The caterpillar is green with seven diagonal white lines down its body. The caterpillar has a red or yellow horn on the end of its abdomen (the horn is yellower when it's young and red when it's an adult). You commonly find them on tomato plants but they can be found on many plants in the Solanaceae family as well as some other plants. It is also known as the tobacco hornworm, the six spotted hawk moth or the Carolina sphinx.


Manduca sexta adult. Photo by Levi smith @origamilevi


A not fully matured Manduca sexta caterpillar parasitized by Cotesia congregata. photo by sarah smith @sarahbartos22



Manduca quinquemaculatus
Manduca quinquemaculatus has five orange spots on each side of its abdomen. It is similar to M. sexta but is slightly larger with a wingspan of up to 5.1 inches. It lives throughout most of the USA. There are multiple broods per year in Florida and Louisiana and one to two broods throughout the rest of its range. Its caterpillar is commonly mistaken for M. sexta. The caterpillar is green or black with eight v-shaped markings over each spherical and a blackish horn on the rear of the caterpillar. These caterpillars can be found on many plants in the Solanaceae family. They are also known as tomato hornworm or five spotted sphinx.


manduca quinquemaculatus adult. photo by J. Bailey @silversea_starsong


manduca quinquemaculatus caterpillar. photo by J. Bailey @silversea_starsong



Manduca rustica
Manduca rustica has three sets of yellow spots on its abdomen. It lives in New England, southern USA, southwestern USA and California. It is easily recognized by the white markings on its wings. It has a wingspan of 3.10 to 5 inches. The only similar moth ever recorded in the USA is M. albiplaga which is larger. There are several broods from May to October in Louisiana and two broods from July to November in the rest of the range. The caterpillars are green with seven diagonal white lines with a blueish border down each side of the body and a rough yellow horn on the rear of the caterpillar. The caterpillar feeds on many types of plants including fringe tree, ash and jasmine. It is also known as the rustic sphinx.


manduca rustica adult. photo by J. Bailey @silversea_starsong


manduca rustica caterpillar. photo by Tom Kennedy @tomkennedy



Manduca brontes
Manduca brontes can be found in Florida. The caterpillar is green with yellow and blue diagonal lines down the sides of its body and a yellowish horn on the end of the caterpillar. The caterpillar feeds on Tecoma stans (Yellow Elder), Fraxinus americana (White Ash), Fraxinus excelsior (European Ash) and Fraxinus platycarpa. It is also known as the brontes sphinx or the Cuban sphinx.



Manduca muscosa
Manduca mucosa's range is in New Mexico and Arizona. Its wingspan is 4 to 5 inches. It is active for one flight from mid-July to early August in southern Arizona. The caterpillar is green, yellowish green or whitish green with seven yellow lines down each side of its body and a green horn on the end of the caterpillar. It also has two large bumps near its head. The caterpillar might feed on plants from Solanaceae, Verbenaceae, and Bignoniaceae. It is also called the muscosa sphinx.


Manduca muscosa adult. Photo by @jimeckert49


Manduca muscosa caterpillar. Photo by Ricardo Arredondo T. @elrayman210



Manduca florestan
Manduca florestan lives in New Mexico and Arizona. Its wingspan is 3.75 to 4.125 inches. There is one brood a year from late June to early August. The caterpillar is a pale blue or green with a horn on the end of its abdomen. the caterpillar feeds on trumpet bush and fiddlewood. It is also known as the florestan sphinx.


manduca florestan adult. photo by J. Bailey @silversea_starsong



Manduca jasminearum
Manduca jasminearum’s range is from Connecticut south to northern Florida and west to Missouri and Mississippi. Its wingspan is 3.30 to 4.125 inches. There are two broods from May to September. The caterpillar feeds on ashes, lilacs and elms. It is also known as the ash sphinx.


manduca jasminearum adult. photo by César Andrés Castillo @cesarcastillo



Manduca occulta
Manduca occulta is similar to M. sexta. The differences are M. occulta is smaller and has browner forewings. Its range is in southern Arizona and in southern Florida (rarely). In Florida it has been recorded flying in September. Its wingspan is 4.10 to 4.75 inches. The caterpillar is green with light blue around the spiracles. It feeds on plants in the solanum and cestrum genera. It is also known as the occult sphinx.


manduca jasminearum adult. photo by Marco Zozaya @marcozozaya



Distinguishing adult M. occulta from M. sexta
M. occulta and M. sexta can look very similar as adults. There are two features that can help you distinguish between these species. First, on M. occulta, the forewings are usually browner, while on M. sexta, they are more grey. Second, the forewing fringe (bottom border of the forewings) on M. occulta has equal portions of grey and white checkering, while on M. sexta, the forewing fringe has smaller portions of white and larger portions of grey in its checkering.



Conclusion
I think that sphinx moths are underappreciated, because people think that all sphinx moth caterpillars are garden pests. In fact, there are hundreds of species of sphinx moths that cause no harm to garden crops and even benefit plants through pollination. There is also misidentification of sphinx moths, and where I live in Vermont, what most people call the “tomato hornworm” is actually M. sexta, the tobacco hornworm, and there are other sphinx moths not in genus Manduca that are mistaken for pests and killed because of it. A local farm in my area posted a picture of a "tomato hornworm" moth that they killed, and warned people on social media to look out for these moths in their gardens. The moth they posted was actually the Pink-spotted Hawkmoth (Agrius cingulata), which is very rare (almost non-existent) in Vermont. I hope you take the time to identify these moths and think twice before accusing them of being pests. If you have any suggestions, contact me.



similar sources
SPHINGIDAE OF THE UNITED STATES

butterflies and moths of north America


Posted on January 10, 2022 10:11 PM by origamilevi origamilevi | 0 comments | Leave a comment

Archives