Observaciones de mthanhly

Graphocephala coccinea (candy-striped leafhopper) are commonly found in Central and North America. These leafhoppers can be distinguished by:

• the vibrant blue and red colour on their dorsal side
• their leaps are able to jump over great distances, which is great when evading predators

Colias philodice (clouded sulphur) are dispersed throughout North America. They look quite similar to the cabbage white butterflies, with the exception of few characteristics:

• the fore- and hind-wings are yellow
• black border around the fore- and hind-wings
• ventral side = thin pink outline around the fore- and hind-wing

Neotibicen canicularis (Northern Dog-Day Cicada) are famous for their loud, high-pitch whines. They are most active during the summer, especially when the weather is hot outside. Aside from their whines, other characteristics to distinguish them are:

• adults have a dark brown or black body
• thorax is marked with two connecting "V" shapes in gold
• dark green band that spans across its head to wings

- have a very short lifespan and typically dies after laying their eggs

I found this little guy on the ground, already dead

Chrysochus auratus (dogbane leaf beetle) are found in North America and commonly found thriving on as their name suggests, dogbane plants. They can easily be identified by:

• their metallic elytra of copper, gold or emerald green
• green legs have metallic gleam
• metallic green underside

*These look very similar to the invasive Japanese beetles in North America. They can be distinguished by their ventral underside

Lymantria dispar dispar (gypsy moth) are native to Europe and Asia. They have extended their population to Africa and North America. In recent years, they have been problematic to lawns and forests as their numbers keep increasing. Some of their characteristics:

• females are white in colour with dark markings and incapable of flying
• males are brown and capable of flying

Hemaris Diffinis (snowberry clearwing) looks very similar to a bumblebee. These moths developed mimicry mechanisms to scare away potential predators. They could easily be identified by:

• thorax is golden in colour
• abdomen is black and yellow in colour (similar to a bee)
• Fore- and hind-wings are clear with a reddish-brown border at the borders
• black legs

Pachydiplax longipennis (blue dasher dragonfly) can easily be identified by:

• white face
• black tip on the abdomen
• males that reach maturity, their body would change into a bluish-white colour
• amber patch located on the hind-wings

Rhagonycha fulva (red soldier beetle) are native to Europe and Asia. They were introduced to North America and are now found world-wide. Some characteristics include:

• rectangular and narrow body
• long antennae
• the wing covering is orangey-red with black band at the tip

Popillia japonica (Japanese Scarab Beetle) is a pest in North America. These beetles are native to Japan, where the population are controlled by natural predators. They are known to ruin lawns, golf courses, various plants and flowers. Their characteristics:

• have a green metallic body and brown shiny elytra
• hardened exoskeleton and chewing parts
• white stripe undersides

Harmonia Axyridis (Asian ladybug) originated from eastern Asia but was introduced to North America and Europe to control the growing population of aphids. These ladybugs come in various colours and can commonly be mistaken for other types. Some of the unique characteristics include:

• an "M" shaped on their head in black

Libellula luctuosa (widow skimmer) are found in marsh, ponds or lagoons. They reside near water as it plays an important role in the first couple stages of their life cycle. Once an adult, their characteristics include:

• Large area of brown on all four wings
• All wings have a whitish area, usually close to the brown area
• thick brown body that becomes white in colour as they age

The Pieris rapae (cabbage white) are common butterflies found in North America and Europe. The cabbage white have distinct characteristics which are unique to their species:

• all fore- and hind-wings are white in colour
• the edge of the fore-wing is a dusty greyish-black colour
• the fore-wings have a small black dot located in the middle

- the hind-wings have a small black dot at the upper middle

*The cabbage white in the photo is missing its head - it fell off after being in the freezer

The 14-spotted lady bug comes in a wide array of colours. The characteristics that help distinguish them from other lady bugs include:

• 4-8 black or yellow spots that are sort of fused together
• the pronotum could be white or light yellow in colour
• the antenna and legs range from yellow to brown in colour

The Bristly Cutworm Moth is commonly found during the summertime. Some key characteristics:

• dark purplish-brown forewings
• pale yellowish-white hindwings
• forewings and hindwings have fringes at the end
• green with white-lining reniform spots located on the forewings
• both wings are short and stubby
• from head to abdominal, they are fairly hairy

The Virginia Ctenucha moth has various distinguishing characteristics:
∙ forewing and hindwings are grayish-dark brown in colour
∙ orange head and collar sides
∙ abdomen and thorax is a metallic shade of blue

The Essex Skipper or Thymelicus lineola is a European introduced butterfly that is very similar to the smaller skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris). One of the distinct features that help distinguish between the two is the underside colour of their antennae. The Essex Skipper would have a black underside.