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Post by k9education on Jun 25, 2018 15:16:56 GMT -8
My best guess, from looking through my insect field guide, is that it's an ebony boghaunter. If not that, it's some sort of dragonfly or damselfly. Is it solid black? Green eyes? Solid black. I'll try to get a better photo next time I see one. We see them pretty often on the back porch and I'm curious as to what they are.
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Post by autumnmist on Jun 26, 2018 12:36:58 GMT -8
I was curious too so I did a bit of research. Google images came up with a lot of similar photos but none that were really that close. foxalo was pretty close, but it's hard to tell if the insect here has two sets or just one wing on each side. With the wings swept back, it's not easy to determine. Another aspect is that the antennae seem to extend from a tiny nose, instead of the larger head. And at the end of the legs on the left hand side are something like two little separate "feet". k9education , can you tell us more more about the wings and the "feet"? Do the insects come in the house or stay on the porch? Is there any moisture or something that might attract them? This is a puzzle. I'll be interesting to find something just like it, but it could be one variety in a species or subspecies. Or, who knows? Maybe it's another invasive species that hitched a ride on imports. Some boghaunter photos are here: bugguide.net/node/view/17792
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Post by autumnmist on Jun 26, 2018 13:56:23 GMT -8
k9education , Something else occurred to me....do all of the insects have wings? I ask b/c a few of the sugar ants are winged; from what I understand, they're ready to colonize and find a new source for their nest(s). These are kind of the "advance scouts." If only some are winged, could you get a photo of the others?
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walkswithblackflies
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Post by walkswithblackflies on Jun 27, 2018 6:58:46 GMT -8
Robber fly. Males have pinchers that they use while mating (like dragonflies). Note the antennae, feet, and lighter-colored middle section of leg. Next time you see one, look for the menacing-looking proboscis. Dragonflies/damselflies have moving mouthparts/jaws. Robber flies are beneficial predators of other insects.
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Post by autumnmist on Jun 27, 2018 7:50:18 GMT -8
walkswithblackflies, I think you're right. The little "feet", antennae, hairy kinked legs...I think k9education has some robber flies on his porch. Perhaps they're there b/c of some other insects that are providing meals for them?
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Post by k9education on Jun 27, 2018 12:21:01 GMT -8
k9education , can you tell us more more about the wings and the "feet"? Do the insects come in the house or stay on the porch? Is there any moisture or something that might attract them? This is a puzzle. I'll be interesting to find something just like it, but it could be one variety in a species or subspecies. Or, who knows? Maybe it's another invasive species that hitched a ride on imports. Some boghaunter photos are here: bugguide.net/node/view/17792 I'll have to take a better look next time I see them. They stay on the porch/back of the house; I've never seen one inside. It has rained a fair bit here, but we also have a small section of marshland at the back of our property that tends to attract some crazy insects (e.g. Dobson Flies). Keep your small dogs on a leash or weighted down with those things. Robber fly. Males have pinchers that they use while mating (like dragonflies). Note the antennae, feet, and lighter-colored middle section of leg. Next time you see one, look for the menacing-looking proboscis. Dragonflies/damselflies have moving mouthparts/jaws. Robber flies are beneficial predators of other insects. It does look a lot like a Robber Fly. Google indicates there are variations of them that have only 6 legs (as mine do) as well.
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walkswithblackflies
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Post by walkswithblackflies on Jun 27, 2018 12:47:35 GMT -8
No problem identifying those!!!
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JiminMD
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Post by JiminMD on Jul 10, 2018 14:26:28 GMT -8
No idea what this big beetle is, but I was able to get most of the spider webs off of it.
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foxalo
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Post by foxalo on Jul 10, 2018 15:17:29 GMT -8
JiminMD I already told you! Eastern Hercules Beetle
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JiminMD
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Post by JiminMD on Jul 10, 2018 15:22:37 GMT -8
JiminMD I already told you! Eastern Hercules Beetle I posted it to FB first. :-)
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