Insect of the week (July 7, 2025)
Our insect of the week for July 7, 2025 is Helophilus fasciatus (Walker, 1849), the narrow-headed marsh fly [DIPTERA: Syrphidae]. Adults of most members of this family are also called hover flies as they can appear to remain mostly motionless when visiting a flower....
Insect of the week (June 30, 2025)
Our insect of the week for June 30, 2025 is Tabanus atratus Fabricius, 1775 [DIPTERA: Tabanidae], commonly known as the horsefly. It is native to central Illinois and adults are often observed in suburban lawns, grasslands, and forests. Large compound eyes in adults...June field trip
Our June, 2025 field trip took us to Banner Marsh (just off route 24 past Kingston Mines, IL). We collected, photographed, then released a number of insect speciemsn from the water. I brough my aquatic insect net to collect specimens. I also brough a microscope so we...
Insect of the week (June 23, 2025)
Our insect of the week for June 23, 2025 is the bee fly – Exoprosopa butleri Johnson & Johnson, 1959 [DIPTERA: Bombyliidae]. This species is native to central Illinois. Adults are found throughout the summer months. Although aduls feed on nectar and pollen...
Insect of the week (June 16, 2025)
Our insect of the week for June 16, 2025 is the yellowjacket hover fly – Milesia virginiensis (Drury, 1773) [DIPTERA: Syrphidae]. This species is native to central Illinois. Adults are found mid-summer until early autumn. As the name implies, adults are harmless...
Insect of the week (June 9, 2025)
Our insect of the week for June 9, 2025 is the horse bot fly – Gasterophilus intestinalis de Geer, 1776 [DIPTERA: Oestridae]. This species is found worldwide. It may be the stuff of nightmares (at least for horses). The specific name intestinalis gives you a...
Insect of the week (June 2, 2025)
Our insect of the week for June 2, 2025 is the clubbed mydas fly – Mydas clavatus (Drury, 1773) [DIPTERA: Mydidae]. It is native to central Illinois and was one of the first large flies which caught my attention as a young entomologist. Yes, they are large (up...
Insect of the week (May 26, 2025)
Our insect of the week is Promachus hinei Bromley, 1931 [DIPTERA: Asilidae]. It is a member of the same family we examined last week (the genus Laphria). Adult robber flies are often fast and loud. They capture other flying insects. This species often hangs from...
May, 2025 Field Trip
On May 17, 2025, we visited Henry Alan Gleason Nature Preserve (south and west of Manito, IL just off the Goofy Ridge blacktop). This is an area with immense sand dunes (deposited after the last glaciation). Many plants and animals which are more common in the...
Peoria approximella (a moth named in New York for Peoria, IL). Photo of Michigan specimen courtesy Jim Vargo (used with permission).