Insect of the week (May 5, 2025)
Our insect of the week is Feniseca tarquinius (Fabricius, 1793). [LEPIDOPTERA: Lycaenidae] This is a most interesting butterfly. Commonly called the harvester butterfly, it is the only carnivorous butterfly in North America. Larvae feed on various species of aphids....
Insect of the week (April 28, 2025)
Our insect of the week for April 28, 2025 is the promethea silkworm moth, Callosamia promethea [LEPIDOPTERA: Saturniidae]. It is also known as the spicebush silkmoth because caterpillars prefer to eat the leaves of spicebush. You often see cocoons hanging from host...
Insect of the week (April 21, 2025)
Our insect of the week for April 21, 2025 is the snowberry clearwing moth, Hemaris diffinis [LEPIDOPTERA: Sphingidae]. It is so names because adults lose the majority of scales on their wings shortly after they emerge from the pupal stage due to their very active...
Insect of the week (April 14, 2025)
Our insect of the week for April 14, 2025 is the luna moth, Actias luna [LEPIDOPTERA: Saturniidae]. This is one of the larger moths in North America. Adults have been observed in central Illinois as early as late April (which is why we are discussing them now). As a...
Insect of the week (April 7, 2025)
Our insect of the week for April 7, 2025 is the eight-spotted forester moth, Alypia octomaculata [LEPIDOPTERA: Noctuidae]. It can be found throughout eastern North America. These are often encountered in where open areas meet woodlands. Adults are often active during...
Insect of the week (March 31, 2025)
Our insect of the week (March 31, 2025) is the owlfly, Ululodes macleayanus [NEUROPTERA: Ascalaphidae]. This species was first described in 1823. It is found in North, Central, and South America. Adults are easily recognized by their knobbed antennae and bulging eyes....
Insect of the week (March 24, 2025)
Our insect of the week for March 24, 2025 is the summer fishfly. [FYI – if the common name of an insect does not have a space before the word fly, it is not an actual fly, order Diptera. This example is in the order Megaloptera.] This species has a wide...
Insect of the week (March 17, 2025)
For our insect of the week, March 17, 2025, we focus on woolly aphids. These can be a real scourge to gardeners. They are often “hiding in plain sight.” For example in my candle nut tree (Aleurites moluccanus). In the example here, you see an individual...
Insect of the week (March 10, 2025)
For our insect of the week for March 10, 2025, we turn our attention to one of the more bizarre orders found in central Illinois – the Strepsiptera. These are rarely encountered (fun fact – I only have 2 in my collection – 1 male and 1 female). The...
Peoria approximella (a moth named in New York for Peoria, IL). Photo of Michigan specimen courtesy Jim Vargo (used with permission).