Insect of the week (Mach 3, 2025)
We have our first “puzzler” of the year this week. One often encounters insects (or evidence of insects) in unexpected places. Ruth and I recently visited Black Band Distillery in Peoria, IL. While waiting for our meal to arrive, I noted the tabletop and...
Insect of the week (February 24, 2025)
Our insect of the week for February 24, 2025 is Chalcoela iphitalis (Walker, 1859) [LEPIDOPTERA: Crambidae]. Commonly called the sooty-winged chalcoela is found throughout North America. Adults are typically encountered from May to August. This species was described...
Insect of the week (February 17, 2025)
Our insect of the week for February 17, 2025 is Sphyracephala brevicornis [DIPTERA: Diopsidae]. Yes, the name is a mouthful (and we are turning our attention to fliles this week). This species was described by the American entomologist, Thomas Say in 1817 (another...
Insect of the week – February 10, 2025
Our insect of the week for February 10, 2025 is Tetracha virginica [COLEOPTERA: Cicindelidae]. This is part 9 in our series featuring local tiger beetles (and the last species we will feature in this series). This species was described by Linnaeus in 1767. Let us know...
Insect of the week – February 3, 2025
Our insect of the week for February 3, 2025 is Ellipsoptera lepida [COLEOPTERA: Cicindelidae]. This is part 8 in our series featuring local tiger beetles. This species was described by the French soldier and entomologist, Pierre François Marie Auguste Dejean, in 1831....
Insect of the week – January 27, 2025
Our insect of the week for January 27, 2025 is Cicindela sexguttata [COLEOPTERA: Cicindelidae]. This is part 7 in our series featuring local tiger beetles. This species was described by the Danish zoologist, Johann Fabricius, in 1775. You may well encounter adults of...
Insect of the week – January 20, 2025
Our insect of the week for January 20, 2025 is Cicindela scutellaris [COLEOPTERA: Cicindelidae]. This is part 6 in our series featuring local tiger beetles. This species was described by the American entomologist, Thomas Say, in 1823. Seven subspecies of this beetle...
Insect of the week (January 13, 2025)
Our insect of the week for this week (January 13, 2025) is the fifth part of a 9 part series. Tiger beetle # 5 is Cicindela repanda [COLEOPTERA: Cicindelidae]. This species was described by the French entomologist, Pierre François Marie Auguste Dejean in 1825. Fun...
Insect of the week (January 6, 2025)
Our insect of the week for this week (January 6, 2025) is the fourth part of a 9 part series. Tiger beetle # 4 is Cicindela punctulata [COLEOPTERA: Cicindelidae]. This species was described by the French entomologist, Guillaume-Antoine Olivier in 1790. The common name...
Peoria approximella (a moth named in New York for Peoria, IL). Photo of Michigan specimen courtesy Jim Vargo (used with permission).