Sunny Midwestern Days Looking at Insects....

On recent collecting trips in Chicago our entomology class has been having a good time of observing insects at the end of their season:

 

The "field" of inquiry...

 

Two mating Chinese mantids, the female to lay her eggs in the next couple of weeks!

 

 

Meanwhile, two Carolina mantids, perhaps about to attack the tiny students in the background.

 

Almost!

 

more than almos

 Milkweed bugs in all stages of development.

 

Tagging a Monarch as part of the Monarch Watch program

 

Hasta luego, va a viajar a Mexico - release! safe travels.

Cicada & grasshopper. An Aesop fable I never read?

 

everything comes from emanation

 

another field of inquiry - Montrose Harbor and the Magic Hedge 

AY

snapshots from Montrose Beach

As I am sure you all know, this weekend for our collecting trip we went to Montrose Beach. The weather was beautiful and the insects were visible. Here are a few pictures I took along the way.



They had cut some down some of the taller grass near the docks, so we ended up spending most of our time in the Bird Sanctuary.


There were many grasshoppers. This guy found his way into my net while I was just making my way through some of the taller grass.

A couple of students [myself included] also caught some praying mantis.




Like Isabella, I have decided to keep my little guy as a pet until he passes a month or so from now. He is living in a retired terrarium with plenty of small branches, leaves and of course food (crickets). So far he hasn't been too active– he mostly hangs from the top of the screen.


DiAnna P.

Collecting in early August....

The weather was simply glorious Sunday - what it should have been like the past few weeks, but alas was towards the very end of insect season... And an interesting season it seems to have been. Certain species of butterflies appear to be doing fine fluttering-by, like this member of the Pieridae that Susie netted  ~

 

And another here....

This small guy had lost some scales over his time out-and-about, but still was in great shape, 

 

Other members of the Lepidoptera seem to be doing less well (or at least are less abundant around here) this year.  For instance, we found hardly any Monarchs in the last few weeks to tag and release compared to years past ~  This one Jack found had only it wings left (in perfect shape, I might add), having been snatched up and eaten by what I suspect was a praying mantis (?) 

 

Speaking of which, here was a pair of them in the same tall grass in mid-mating.   Of course we've been reading about the females purported proclivity for eating males, though there was no such evidence of those kind of shenanigans here....

In fact, on closer inspection of the female, it was clear she had had her own close-calls and run-ins with other wildlife. Given the damage to her abdomen I doubt she was in much shape to mate or lay eggs.. . it looks like she dodged the (incompletely) the curoius peck of a bird's beak a few days back.

 

A number of people caught some interesting wasps (this one stung me, but only just glancing...)

And some cicadas, in the midst of their last "hurrah" were also around, sometimes even outo fth ehight rees(this one flew stright into my neck!) 

 

Some beetles earwigs, and associates were also to be found  as we looked around. Overall, some nice work for a late season trip ~

 

 AY

Mantis Day at the Forest Preserve

This week found us with MUCH better weather at Chevalier Woods, where it was sunny and the mantises in particular were FLYING! I think everyone who came caught at least one...

The glee in the chase was  evident in many eyes, including those of Hernan ~

While the eyes of others, like Jay, seemed to play off the colors, patterns, and shapes of the very insects we were collecting:

 Of course there were a wide range of others insects too, including curious looking moths:

And charismatic beetles that looked surprisingly like "ladybugs" (but aren't!) ~

Some other red & blacks that typically loiter on milkweed plants ~

And some insects pairing up for the act of procreation!

Bees and others could also "bee" found...

As well as a whole mess of dragonflies. Most were flying too high and fast for anyone to catch, though Isabella snagged this one:

 

And Ryan bagged one as well - though sadly (as thestory often goes)  that was the one that got away on (when trying to get it out of the net...)

He stuck around after we left in pursuit, so I'll be curious to hear if he got one in the end ~ ?

AY

Trip To Chevalier Woods (rain be damned)

Well, brave or fool-hardy I am not sure, but a set of us went out this past rainy and cold Sunday to make the most of a chance to collect insects. It started out wet, but cleared up - for some moments even spots of sun!

Julia wasn't shy about taking a hatchet to this rotting to tree to see what we might find

 

While the nets were useful for Emily and Ana to nab fast flyers like hover flies..

 

Some classic Orthopterans could be found hanging around,

 

While praying mantises, though tough as ever to find, also made some appearances!  A not uncommon occurrence out at Chevalier Woods ~

 

Little juveniles of a certain bug in a milkweed pod....

 

As well as some non-arthropod friends too. Snakes, field mice and a few other Friends Of the Forest were about. (This guy gave us permission to take his photo, so no copyright or in..formed consent issues here...)

AY

crikey cricket. marvellous mantid.

 
 A cute little camel cricket (Family: Rhaphidophoridae) found strolling about and spending a summer evening in the Roger Brown house.


These guys love houses with crawl spaces rather than basements, as this lovely modernist piece of architecture does.

 iiii

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A teenager praying mantis was also on the scene a couple of days earlier. Precocious (as those mantises are wont to be) and indulging of a couple quick photos...