Photos / Sounds
What
Juvenal's Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis)Observer
d2bDescription
Unusual spot pair on ventral hindwing.
Photos / Sounds
What
Psilonyx annulatusObserver
d2bDescription
Netted in mid-air, while hovering. It occasionally interrupted its hovering to dart 2-3 inches into low (1 ft) vegetation in edge of woods. Partially shaded spot.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
d2bDescription
Collected while hovering: slowly drifting flight near ceiling of porch. Occasionally lunged 4-6 inches upward to ceiling, but did not see it actually taking prey. Legs hanging in flight like a wasp. Did not land during ~3 minutes of observation.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
d2bDescription
Collected hovering about 3 ft above ground, within 1 ft of a stone wall, in the shade of a porch. Long legs dangled together resembling a wasp. Hovering was a little jerky, not smooth.
Photos / Sounds
What
Laphria winnemanaObserver
d2bDescription
Tergite 9:
- has two dorsolateral depressions at apex
- is indented medially at apex
- is wider than it is long
What
Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta)Observer
d2bDescription
This is the second one I've seen in two days (yesterday's one was in a different county). Probably C. neglecta. The spring brood of the Summer Azure typically begins flying before the lone brood of the Spring Azure begins. But this is extraordinarily early for either species.
What
Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta)Observer
d2bDescription
Probably C. neglecta. The spring brood of the Summer Azure typically begins flying before the lone brood of the Spring Azure begins. But this is extraordinarily early for either species.
What
Fragile Forktail (Ischnura posita)Observer
d2bDescription
Which forktail? Male Fragiles were present.
What
Fragile Forktail (Ischnura posita)Observer
d2bDescription
Which forktail? Male Fragiles were present.
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus EfferiaObserver
d2bDescription
- striking two-tone mohawk
- exceedingly long ovipositor
- copper-colored postocular hairs
Appears to be same species as this individual:
https://bugguide.net/node/view/658913
Photos / Sounds
What
Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus)Observer
d2bDescription
Unusual coloration; all red replaced with black.
Photos / Sounds
What
Laphria aktisObserver
d2bDescription
Photographed in a sunny clearing in the woods, on poison ivy leaves 1-2 feet above the ground. This Laphria was so preoccupied with eating that it allowed some close-up photos. Whenever it got annoyed with me, it typically flew 2-8 feet to a similar low sunny perch.
I stopped to review the terminalia photos to see if they would be adequate for species-level ID and decided to take some more. I relocated the "same" robber with the same prey within about 30 feet of the initial encounter and took the last two photos seven minutes later. However, the terminalia look different in the last two photos.
Question #1: Do I have one fly here or two? Am I misinterpreting the apparent difference in the hypandrium shape? (i.e. some other part of the terminalia sticking up, or something?)
Question #2: Are the first three terminalia shots adequate to make a species-level ID as L. aktis?
All of the terminalia photos are lightened, enlarged, and cropped from the originals.
What
Curved-Ribbon (Dinumma deponens)Observer
d2bDescription
Startled into flight during daylight.
Photos / Sounds
What
Apachekolos tenuipesObserver
d2bDescription
Perched in brush ~1 meter above water surface over a pond. Prey appears to be a spider.
Photos / Sounds
What
Appalachian Tiger Beetle (Cicindela ancocisconensis)Observer
d2bDescription
Or C. repanda?
Photos / Sounds
What
Appalachian Tiger Beetle (Cicindela ancocisconensis)Observer
d2bDescription
Or C. repanda?